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Geoffrion makes Bell Centre debut on TSN Radio 990

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TSN.ca Staff
3/1/2012 2:50:58 PM
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The Canadiens haven't racked up many goals over their losing streak, but scoring wasn't an issue the last time they faced the Wild.

Montreal hopes to avoid matching its longest losing streak of the season tonight as it hosts equally-struggling Minnesota.

You can listen to the game live at 7pm et on TSN Radio 990 at TSN.ca/Montreal.

It will mark the first home game for forward Blake Geoffrion, who will wear the bleu, blanc et rouge beneath the banners for the retired numbers of his great-grandfather Howie Morenz and grandfather Bernie (Boom Boom) Geoffrion. Blake chose to wear No. 57 in his first game with the team on Tuesday, paying homage to Boom Boom's No. 5 and Morenz's No. 7.

"It's an honour to wear the Geoffrion name on the back and to be a part of this family and the tradition here," Geoffrion told reporters on Wednesday. "Pressure comes along with that but I'm my own player. I'll just play as hard as I can."

The Canadiens have dropped five straight in regulation and sit last in the Eastern Conference with 58 points. They have been outscored 16-5 over their current slide and are in danger of matching the season-worst 0-4-2 drought posted back on Oct. 13-24.

David Desharnais scored the lone Montreal goal in a 2-1 setback to hosting Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Carey Price made 20 saves but was outdueled by Mathieu Garon's 23 stops for the Lightning.

"I think we had a couple of late shifts that hemmed them up into their own zone and we had some opportunities, but that's the way it goes sometimes," Canadiens head coach Randy Cunneyworth said. "You have to credit their goaltender. He played a very good game."

Montreal has won three of its past four versus Minnesota, including an 8-1 road victory in the lone meeting between the clubs last season. That seven- goal triumph featured the first hat trick of Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban's career and he also added an assist.

The Wild are 2-2-0 with a tie all-time at home versus the Canadiens and come into this game with their own offensive issues. Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the Kings marked their ninth defeat in 12 games and Minnesota has been held to one goal or less in eight of their past 13.

Minnesota was shut out in its first game since trading steady defenseman and the franchise's all-time leader in games played, Nick Schultz, to Edmonton for the more offensive-minded blueliner Tom Gilbert.

"It was nice. The first period I was trying to get my feet under me," said Gilbert, a Minnesota native. "I wish we had scored a couple more goals, but it was a good experience."

Los Angeles jumped on Minnesota for three goals in the first period on Tuesday and Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom came up with just 15 saves.

"We didn't create any breaks because we didn't deserve any and earn any. It was another game where we started on our heels. They took it to us and we didn't fight back," said Wild forward Kyle Brodziak.

Minnesota had won three of four coming in, but sit six points back of the Stars for the eighth spot in the West.   
  

Geoffrion family (Photo: Getty Images)

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(Photo: Getty Images)

TSN's Game Notes

MTL has gone 3-1-1 vs MIN since the lockout, 1-1-0 in MTL

Teams last met in MTL in Dec. 2009, MIN win

MTL:

MTL has lost 5 straight games, scoring 5G

MTL has gone 0-3-1 over their past 4 at home, allowing 14G

Desharnais has 2G, 1A over the past 2 games

MIN:

MIN has gone 1-2-0 over their past 3 games, allowing 11G

MIN has gone 3-12-3 over their past 18 on the road, scoring 20G

Heatley has 3A over the past 2 games

For games notes for all of tonight's games, click here.

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