Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien has decided to make some minor adjustments to his lineup, as the Habs get set to face the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.
Colby Armstrong will play on the right wing of the third line with Lars Eller and Alex Galchenyuk and Gabriel Dumont centres the fourth line with Travis Moen and Ryan White. The reason why Therrien has decided to make these changes is to see what Dumont, a 22-year-old from Ville Degelis, QC, can bring as a centreman in the NHL. Dumont, who is a natural centreman, was called up on March 2 from the Habs' AHL affiliate team, the Hamilton Bulldogs and has been playing on the wing with the big club. The Canadiens need to see if he's got the skills to be a consistent centreman at the NHL level.
Armstrong, who scored his first goal of the season on Saturday in New Jersey, is a player who despite his lack of production has been able to elevate his game, according to Therrien. The coach also stated that Armstrong is capable of playing with skilled hockey players and pointed out that Armstrong played on a line with Sidney Crosby when he was playing in Pittsburgh.
Things seem to be progressing well for Rene Bourque. Tuesday was the first time he was able to practice with his teammates since February 21. Bourque, who is recovering from a concussion, was practicing with a no-contact jersey and the team has yet to announce when he is expected to be back in the lineup.
Lines from the morning skate:
Ryder - Plekanec - Gionta
Pacioretty - Desharnais - Gallagher
Galchenyuk - Eller - Armstrong
Moen - Dumont - White
Markov - Emelin
Gorges - Subban
Bouillon - Tinordi
