ANAHEIM -- Los Angeles Kings coach Terry Murray put his top line back together for tonight's game against the Anaheim Ducks, reuniting Simon Gagne and Anze Kopitar with Justin Williams, who had been demoted to the third line.
Murray also put Dustin Brown back at left wing.
"He's so effective coming off that left side on the attack," Murray said of Brown. "I just want to take advantage of it right now."
Penner feels good: Kings forward Dustin Penner returned to the lineup last Saturday and scored his first goal of the season after he missed nine games with a hand injury.
Penner, whose season has been interrupted by injuries, said this is the best he's felt all season.
"It's a combination of the extra work I put in, and also I'm injury free," Penner said.
Penner's goal came on a tip in front of the net, which is exactly the type of net presence that coach Terry Murray has preached.
"That's the attitude that we need to re-establish as a team again," Murray said. "We're getting away from that the last several games. Overall, his game was real good. I just want to make sure there's no back off the gas pedal here."
Kings searching for entry point: An inability to generate shots has been an ongoing point of emphasis for the Kings, who remain among the worst-scoring teams in the NHL.
"I personally think it starts with our neutral-zone play, coming up the ice together," captain Dustin Brown said. "Sometimes we get too spread out. Whether it's a quick counter or a long counter, we've got to be able to identify that, as a group of five, and come together.
"You look at our team, we have nine or 10 guys that have scored 20 goals. So guys can score goals. But we can't score goals when we're dumping the puck and not getting it back, and the result of that is our neutral zone. As players, we have a system in place, guys need to identify a quick counter or a long counter. Those are really are two options. Right now we're getting caught in between those … it puts guys where they have to chip it in. There's no speed. There's no pressure on the puck."
Blog Central
POSTED ON Tuesday, 12.06.2011 / 3:34 PM
By Curtis Zupke - NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - At the Rink blog
Williams promoted back to Kings' first line
POSTED ON Tuesday, 12.06.2011 / 3:30 PM
By Curtis Zupke - NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - At the Rink blog
Beleskey getting shot on Ducks' top line
ANAHEIM -- Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau is getting to know his team better, and one of the young pieces that has caught his attention is winger Matt Beleskey.
Boudreau put Beleskey with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry in the third period of Sunday's game, and that will be the case when Anaheim hosts rival Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
The move is not surprising because Beleskey played with Getzlaf and Perry briefly a couple of seasons ago under former coach Randy Carlyle.
Boudreau said it's part of learning about his team.
"A lot of these young guys I'd like to see," Boudreau said. "I think I pretty well know what Teemu (Selanne) can do. … When you're in the East you don't hear about Matt Beleskey, and you don't hear too much about Andrew Cogliano, even though he's a Toronto boy. … You don't hear a lot about those guys. It's intriguing to see what they can and can't do, and that takes a little bit of time."
Beleskey is taking the place of Bobby Ryan, who has been dropped to the second line with Saku Koivu and Selanne. Cogliano is back at third-line center.
Anaheim recalled center Nick Bonino in an attempt at offensive depth, although Bonino arrived late and won't play Tuesday. Bonino has 20 points in 17 games with the Syracuse Crunch.
"We're looking for scoring on the third and fourth lines," Boudreau said. "I think in today's game you need four lines that can score. Bonino, from what I've gathered … he's an offensive guy and we've got to give him an opportunity."
Parros available: Ducks winger George Parros is a game-time decision after he missed 13 games with an eye injury.
Anaheim desperately needs size on its bottom-six forward unit, and it's possible that it could ice a fourth line of Parros and Jean-Francois Jacques.
Boudreau, who coached Parros in Washington's organization, said it's not just about toughness, though.
"I'm not getting guys to fight," Boudreau said. "I told him when I had him (that) he's got to play. He's not just going to sit on the bench and take somebody’s spot."
Kings-Ducks connections: Boudreau has roots in the Kings' organization as coach of its AHL-affiliate Manchester from 2001 to 2005.
The following year Boudreau coached Hershey in the Calder Cup where the Bears played a Portland team that had Getzlaf, Perry and current Kings forward Dustin Penner, who were sent down by Anaheim after the Ducks were eliminated by Edmonton in the conference finals.
Penner, who won a Stanley Cup playing with Getzlaf and Perry on the so-called Points Per Game line in 2007, said it was surprising to see his former team struggle.
"I know what they're going through," Penner said. "I did it for four years in Edmonton. It's definitely surprising. To what extent, I don't know. I think they rely heavily on their top two lines. When you look at every team that comes into Staples Center, they've got three or four lines. I'm not saying they won't have it in a year or two, but right now their bottom six, I don't know if they have 100 games combined."
Boudreau put Beleskey with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry in the third period of Sunday's game, and that will be the case when Anaheim hosts rival Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
The move is not surprising because Beleskey played with Getzlaf and Perry briefly a couple of seasons ago under former coach Randy Carlyle.
Boudreau said it's part of learning about his team.
"A lot of these young guys I'd like to see," Boudreau said. "I think I pretty well know what Teemu (Selanne) can do. … When you're in the East you don't hear about Matt Beleskey, and you don't hear too much about Andrew Cogliano, even though he's a Toronto boy. … You don't hear a lot about those guys. It's intriguing to see what they can and can't do, and that takes a little bit of time."
Beleskey is taking the place of Bobby Ryan, who has been dropped to the second line with Saku Koivu and Selanne. Cogliano is back at third-line center.
Anaheim recalled center Nick Bonino in an attempt at offensive depth, although Bonino arrived late and won't play Tuesday. Bonino has 20 points in 17 games with the Syracuse Crunch.
"We're looking for scoring on the third and fourth lines," Boudreau said. "I think in today's game you need four lines that can score. Bonino, from what I've gathered … he's an offensive guy and we've got to give him an opportunity."
Parros available: Ducks winger George Parros is a game-time decision after he missed 13 games with an eye injury.
Anaheim desperately needs size on its bottom-six forward unit, and it's possible that it could ice a fourth line of Parros and Jean-Francois Jacques.
Boudreau, who coached Parros in Washington's organization, said it's not just about toughness, though.
"I'm not getting guys to fight," Boudreau said. "I told him when I had him (that) he's got to play. He's not just going to sit on the bench and take somebody’s spot."
Kings-Ducks connections: Boudreau has roots in the Kings' organization as coach of its AHL-affiliate Manchester from 2001 to 2005.
The following year Boudreau coached Hershey in the Calder Cup where the Bears played a Portland team that had Getzlaf, Perry and current Kings forward Dustin Penner, who were sent down by Anaheim after the Ducks were eliminated by Edmonton in the conference finals.
Penner, who won a Stanley Cup playing with Getzlaf and Perry on the so-called Points Per Game line in 2007, said it was surprising to see his former team struggle.
"I know what they're going through," Penner said. "I did it for four years in Edmonton. It's definitely surprising. To what extent, I don't know. I think they rely heavily on their top two lines. When you look at every team that comes into Staples Center, they've got three or four lines. I'm not saying they won't have it in a year or two, but right now their bottom six, I don't know if they have 100 games combined."
POSTED ON Tuesday, 12.06.2011 / 3:16 PM
By Curtis Zupke - NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - At the Rink blog
Potential lineups for Kings, Ducks
Here's how the lineups could look for tonight's game between the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings at Honda Center:
KINGS
Simon Gagne - Anze Kopitar - Justin Williams
Dustin Brown - Jarret Stoll - Trent Hunter
Dustin Penner - Andrei Loktionov - Ethan Moreau
Kyle Clifford - Colin Fraser - Kevin Westgarth
Drew Doughty - Rob Scuderi
Jack Johnson - Slava Voynov
Matt Greene - Davis Drewiske
Jonathan Quick
Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell is skating but is still out with a groin injury. Alec Martinez (upper body) has been cleared for contact.
DUCKS
Matt Beleskey - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry
Bobby Ryan - Saku Koivu - Teemu Selanne
Niklas Hagman - Andrew Cogliano - Devante Smith-Pelly
Jean-Francois Jacques - Maxime Macenauer - George Parros
Cam Fowler - Francois Beauchemin
Toni Lydman - Luca Sbisa
Sheldon Brookbank - Kurtis Foster
Jonas Hiller
Anaheim activated backup goalie Dan Ellis and re-assigned Jeff Deslauriers. Ellis had a groin injury.
KINGS
Simon Gagne - Anze Kopitar - Justin Williams
Dustin Brown - Jarret Stoll - Trent Hunter
Dustin Penner - Andrei Loktionov - Ethan Moreau
Kyle Clifford - Colin Fraser - Kevin Westgarth
Drew Doughty - Rob Scuderi
Jack Johnson - Slava Voynov
Matt Greene - Davis Drewiske
Jonathan Quick
Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell is skating but is still out with a groin injury. Alec Martinez (upper body) has been cleared for contact.
DUCKS
Matt Beleskey - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry
Bobby Ryan - Saku Koivu - Teemu Selanne
Niklas Hagman - Andrew Cogliano - Devante Smith-Pelly
Jean-Francois Jacques - Maxime Macenauer - George Parros
Cam Fowler - Francois Beauchemin
Toni Lydman - Luca Sbisa
Sheldon Brookbank - Kurtis Foster
Jonas Hiller
Anaheim activated backup goalie Dan Ellis and re-assigned Jeff Deslauriers. Ellis had a groin injury.
POSTED ON Saturday, 12.03.2011 / 3:36 PM
By Curtis Zupke - NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - At the Rink blog
Markov's return delayed, minor knee surgery needed
LOS ANGELES - Montreal defenseman Andrei Markov will undergo a minor surgery on his knee and will miss about three weeks, Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier said Saturday before a game against Los Angeles.
“Markov’s knee is almost at full strength,” Gauthier said. “He’s undergoing arthroscopic surgery to clean up debris.”
Markov had been cleared for contact weeks ago and there was speculation that he might return this week during the team's California trip. Markov has not played in more than a year because of knee surgery and has played only 52 regular season games the past two seasons.
“Markov’s knee is almost at full strength,” Gauthier said. “He’s undergoing arthroscopic surgery to clean up debris.”
Markov had been cleared for contact weeks ago and there was speculation that he might return this week during the team's California trip. Markov has not played in more than a year because of knee surgery and has played only 52 regular season games the past two seasons.
POSTED ON Friday, 12.02.2011 / 3:05 PM
By Curtis Zupke - NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - At the Rink blog
Ducks put big line back together
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- New Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau's first big adjustment was to put Bobby Ryan on the top line with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.
Former coach Randy Carlyle had moved Ryan to the third line to try and generate offense. But Boudreau drew from his experience as Washington coach when he played Anaheim.
"All I know is that when we played against them, they were great," Boudreau said of the trio. "They were always dominant. That's my memory of them. We get them back playing like that, and they should be, again, as a good as any individual line in the League."
Boudreau also is quite familiar with Selanne, who scorched Washington with 2 goals and 2 assists Nov. 1.
"(I'll) tell him to do it every night," Boudreau said. "Usually you get a little slower when you get older, but he was fast that night and Saku (Koivu) looked great that night, too. Let's hope that they can continue that."
Here's a look at how the Ducks' lineup could shape up tonight.
Bobby Ryan - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry
Matt Beleskey - Saku Koivu - Teemu Selanne
Niklas Hagman - Andrew Cogliano - Devante Smith-Pelly
Andrew Gordon - Maxime Macenauer - Ben Maxwell
Cam Fowler - Francois Beauchemin
Toni Lydman - Luca Sbisa
Nate Guenin - Sheldon Brookbank
Jonas Hiller will start in goal, with Jeff Deslauriers backing him up.
Check here for a look at the potential Flyers' lineup.
For more on the game, check out the preview here.
Former coach Randy Carlyle had moved Ryan to the third line to try and generate offense. But Boudreau drew from his experience as Washington coach when he played Anaheim.
"All I know is that when we played against them, they were great," Boudreau said of the trio. "They were always dominant. That's my memory of them. We get them back playing like that, and they should be, again, as a good as any individual line in the League."
Boudreau also is quite familiar with Selanne, who scorched Washington with 2 goals and 2 assists Nov. 1.
"(I'll) tell him to do it every night," Boudreau said. "Usually you get a little slower when you get older, but he was fast that night and Saku (Koivu) looked great that night, too. Let's hope that they can continue that."
Here's a look at how the Ducks' lineup could shape up tonight.
Bobby Ryan - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry
Matt Beleskey - Saku Koivu - Teemu Selanne
Niklas Hagman - Andrew Cogliano - Devante Smith-Pelly
Andrew Gordon - Maxime Macenauer - Ben Maxwell
Cam Fowler - Francois Beauchemin
Toni Lydman - Luca Sbisa
Nate Guenin - Sheldon Brookbank
Jonas Hiller will start in goal, with Jeff Deslauriers backing him up.
Check here for a look at the potential Flyers' lineup.
For more on the game, check out the preview here.
POSTED ON Friday, 12.02.2011 / 3:00 PM
By Curtis Zupke - NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - At the Rink blog
Boudreau trying to settle into new job
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Bruce Boudreau's remarkable journey over the past 48 hours came to a peaceful interlude after he fulfilled all his media obligations Thursday.
"Last night, when I left here at 6 o'clock, I went to bed," Boudreau said Friday after his first game-day skate as coach of the Anaheim Ducks. "It's been a long two days."
Boudreau didn't have much time to study his new team since he was hired as Anaheim coach late Wednesday. He will make his Ducks coaching debut Friday against Philadelphia in a new era for the club and Boudreau.
Asked how much of a crash course he's had to do on his new team, Boudreau said, "As crash a course as you can get.
"It's still a whirlwind. I'll be glad when it gets back to a little bit of normalcy -- for the players, too -- to get into that routine of what they'll be used to. It's probably a little bit a change from what they're used to. Whether that's good or bad, we'll see."
Boudreau said he has conducted three 1-on-1 meetings with players to get to know them better and begin that relationship.
"I think it's important to know what goes on in their life," Boudreau said. "If they've got two sick kids at home and they look really tired, it's not that they're out all night, it's maybe they're up all night because the kids are up all night. Little things like that help go a long way."
The Ducks appear to be in full-honeymoon mode with Boudreau. There was laughter and smiles in the locker room and a sense of renewed energy.
"He's very positive," Teemu Selanne said. "You can see he's really excited about the situation, and that's great … overall everything has been really good."
Tonight's game will be just six days after he coached his last game with Washington, the shortest turnaround in NHL history, according to the lias Sports Bureau. Boudreau acknowledged it's unusual.
"I went to the visitors' bench first," he said. "I'm not used to this. I'm sure it will happen in a hurry and I'll get used to it. But it doesn't happen very often."
"Last night, when I left here at 6 o'clock, I went to bed," Boudreau said Friday after his first game-day skate as coach of the Anaheim Ducks. "It's been a long two days."
Boudreau didn't have much time to study his new team since he was hired as Anaheim coach late Wednesday. He will make his Ducks coaching debut Friday against Philadelphia in a new era for the club and Boudreau.
Asked how much of a crash course he's had to do on his new team, Boudreau said, "As crash a course as you can get.
"It's still a whirlwind. I'll be glad when it gets back to a little bit of normalcy -- for the players, too -- to get into that routine of what they'll be used to. It's probably a little bit a change from what they're used to. Whether that's good or bad, we'll see."
Boudreau said he has conducted three 1-on-1 meetings with players to get to know them better and begin that relationship.
"I think it's important to know what goes on in their life," Boudreau said. "If they've got two sick kids at home and they look really tired, it's not that they're out all night, it's maybe they're up all night because the kids are up all night. Little things like that help go a long way."
The Ducks appear to be in full-honeymoon mode with Boudreau. There was laughter and smiles in the locker room and a sense of renewed energy.
"He's very positive," Teemu Selanne said. "You can see he's really excited about the situation, and that's great … overall everything has been really good."
Tonight's game will be just six days after he coached his last game with Washington, the shortest turnaround in NHL history, according to the lias Sports Bureau. Boudreau acknowledged it's unusual.
"I went to the visitors' bench first," he said. "I'm not used to this. I'm sure it will happen in a hurry and I'll get used to it. But it doesn't happen very often."
POSTED ON Wednesday, 11.30.2011 / 4:28 PM
By Curtis Zupke - NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - At the Rink blog
Potential lineups for Canadiens, Ducks
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Here's what the lineups likely will look like when the Canadiens and Ducks hit the ice in the Honda Center tonight.
The Ducks will have a new top line trio, with Matt Beleskey sliding into Bobby Ryan's spot.
The big news for the Canadiens will be the NHL debut of 2009 first-round pick Louis Leblanc, who will start on the third line.
CANADIENS
Andrei Kostitsyn - Tomas Plekanec - Brian Gionta
Michael Cammalleri - David Desharnais - Erik Cole
Travis Moen - Louis Leblanc - Lars Eller
Mathieu Darche - Petteri Nokelainen - Yannick Weber
Josh Gorges - P.K. Subban
Hal Gill - Raphael Diaz
Alexei Emelin - Frederic St-Denis
Peter Budaj will start in goal, with Carey Price spending the night as the backup.
DUCKS
Matt Beleskey - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry
Andrew Cogliano - Saku Koivu - Teemu Selanne
Bobby Ryan - Ben Maxwell - Niklas Hagman
Andrew Gordon - Maxime Macenauer - Devante Smith-Pelly
Cam Fowler - Toni Lydman
Francois Beauchemin - Luca Sbisa
Sheldon Brookbank - Nate Guenin
Jonas Hiller will start in goal, with Jeff Deslauriers serving as the backup. Regular backup Dan Ellis will miss about a week, according to coach Randy Carlyle, due to a sore groin.
For more on tonight's game, check out the preview here.
The Ducks will have a new top line trio, with Matt Beleskey sliding into Bobby Ryan's spot.
The big news for the Canadiens will be the NHL debut of 2009 first-round pick Louis Leblanc, who will start on the third line.
CANADIENS
Andrei Kostitsyn - Tomas Plekanec - Brian Gionta
Michael Cammalleri - David Desharnais - Erik Cole
Travis Moen - Louis Leblanc - Lars Eller
Mathieu Darche - Petteri Nokelainen - Yannick Weber
Josh Gorges - P.K. Subban
Hal Gill - Raphael Diaz
Alexei Emelin - Frederic St-Denis
Peter Budaj will start in goal, with Carey Price spending the night as the backup.
DUCKS
Matt Beleskey - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry
Andrew Cogliano - Saku Koivu - Teemu Selanne
Bobby Ryan - Ben Maxwell - Niklas Hagman
Andrew Gordon - Maxime Macenauer - Devante Smith-Pelly
Cam Fowler - Toni Lydman
Francois Beauchemin - Luca Sbisa
Sheldon Brookbank - Nate Guenin
Jonas Hiller will start in goal, with Jeff Deslauriers serving as the backup. Regular backup Dan Ellis will miss about a week, according to coach Randy Carlyle, due to a sore groin.
For more on tonight's game, check out the preview here.
POSTED ON Wednesday, 11.30.2011 / 4:22 PM
By Curtis Zupke - NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - At the Rink blog
Anaheim breaks up top line
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- It's not too surprising that Anaheim broke up its top line of Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry given its offensive struggles.
Matt Beleskey takes Ryan's place at left wing, as Ryan drops to the third line, with Ben Maxwell and Niklas Hagman.
Coach Randy Carlyle indicated that it's just an experiment for now.
"We still think that (Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry) group is going to have to play together for an extended period of time," Carlyle said. "Because you make a change for one game or two games, there's nothing etched in stone. We're trying to stimulate, spark, kick, coddle, pat on the back, whatever you have to do to get your hockey club to play to a higher level."
Beleskey played with Getzlaf and Perry a couple of seasons ago and the group had chemistry.
"With those two guys, it makes the game a little easier," Beleskey said. "For me, I've just got to create space for them. Go to the net and get in the way of people to open up lanes for them. Hopefully that helps them have a little more time with the puck."
In other Ducks news, Ryan told the Orange County Register he wouldn't be surprised if he was traded.
Matt Beleskey takes Ryan's place at left wing, as Ryan drops to the third line, with Ben Maxwell and Niklas Hagman.
Coach Randy Carlyle indicated that it's just an experiment for now.
"We still think that (Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry) group is going to have to play together for an extended period of time," Carlyle said. "Because you make a change for one game or two games, there's nothing etched in stone. We're trying to stimulate, spark, kick, coddle, pat on the back, whatever you have to do to get your hockey club to play to a higher level."
Beleskey played with Getzlaf and Perry a couple of seasons ago and the group had chemistry.
"With those two guys, it makes the game a little easier," Beleskey said. "For me, I've just got to create space for them. Go to the net and get in the way of people to open up lanes for them. Hopefully that helps them have a little more time with the puck."
In other Ducks news, Ryan told the Orange County Register he wouldn't be surprised if he was traded.
POSTED ON Wednesday, 11.30.2011 / 4:16 PM
By Curtis Zupke - NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - At the Rink blog
Leblanc to make NHL debut for Canadiens
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- There will be one new face and a different overall look for the Montreal Canadiens tonight against the Anaheim Ducks.
Rookie Louis Leblanc will make his NHL debut, centering the Habs' third line, flanked by Travis Moen and Lars Eller. Yannick Weber will move back to the fourth line, with Petteri Nokelainen and Mathieu Darche, while Frederic St-Denis goes in on defense.
Andrei Markov did not participate in practice because it was a "therapy day," Montreal coach Jacques Martin said.
Peter Budaj will get the start in goal tonight, with Carey Price expected to start at San Jose on Thursday.
Leblanc, who didn't arrive in time for practice Tuesday, was given jersey No. 71 and skated with his new teammates for the first time Wednesday.
He didn't have time to be nervous -- yet.
"I'll try the pre-game nap," Leblanc said. "The emotions are starting to kick in now. I'm just going to go in there and have fun."
Asked if it might be easier making his debut on the road, where the spotlight isn't as intense, Leblanc said, "Maybe it's a good thing, but it's a hockey game and I'm just going to go out there and have fun tonight."
Moen said he was excited to play with the 20-year-old Leblanc.
"We'll try to calm him down a bit," Moen said. "Playing with me and (Eller), just make the simple play. We're the type of players where you chip the pucks deep, we'll go get them. We'll try and get him his first goal."
Rookie Louis Leblanc will make his NHL debut, centering the Habs' third line, flanked by Travis Moen and Lars Eller. Yannick Weber will move back to the fourth line, with Petteri Nokelainen and Mathieu Darche, while Frederic St-Denis goes in on defense.
Andrei Markov did not participate in practice because it was a "therapy day," Montreal coach Jacques Martin said.
Peter Budaj will get the start in goal tonight, with Carey Price expected to start at San Jose on Thursday.
Leblanc, who didn't arrive in time for practice Tuesday, was given jersey No. 71 and skated with his new teammates for the first time Wednesday.
He didn't have time to be nervous -- yet.
"I'll try the pre-game nap," Leblanc said. "The emotions are starting to kick in now. I'm just going to go in there and have fun."
Asked if it might be easier making his debut on the road, where the spotlight isn't as intense, Leblanc said, "Maybe it's a good thing, but it's a hockey game and I'm just going to go out there and have fun tonight."
Moen said he was excited to play with the 20-year-old Leblanc.
"We'll try to calm him down a bit," Moen said. "Playing with me and (Eller), just make the simple play. We're the type of players where you chip the pucks deep, we'll go get them. We'll try and get him his first goal."
POSTED ON Tuesday, 11.29.2011 / 5:50 PM
By Curtis Zupke - NHL.com Correspondent /NHL.com - At the Rink blog
Pacioretty: I made bad decision
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Montreal Canadiens begin a three-game West Coast trip as a team in transition.
The three-game suspension to Max Pacioretty, announced Monday, and the uncertainty surrounding defenseman Andrei Markov, who is extremely close to returning from a year-long injury, have left the club searching for answers as it prepares for Wednesday's game against a struggling Anaheim team.
With Pacioretty out for the entire road trip due to his hit to the head of Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang in Saturday's game, the Canadiens called up top prospect Louis Leblanc to play forward.
Leblanc, a center, is expected to make his NHL debut Wednesday against Anaheim. The No. 18 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, Leblanc is ranked as the club's top prospect by The Hockey News. He has four goals and 10 points with a minus-7 rating in 14 games with Hamilton of the American Hockey League.
"He's a player that has good vision, is good without the puck," Montreal coach Jacques Martin said after Tuesday's practice. "Unfortunately he missed training camp this year, but he's a young player that we feel has a good upside and good potential."
However, Leblanc will not slide right into Pacioretty's spot. There will have to be some line juggling against the Ducks.
The changes could include Andrei Kostitsyn on a line with Tomas Plekanec, who has been playing with Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta, while Pacioretty had success on a line with Erik Cole and David Desharnais.
"We got to try and find some solution to get (offense)," Martin said. "We probably need more from our top guys."
Pacioretty spoke with reporters for the first time since the suspension was handed down.
The forward admitted it was "tough to agree" with the decision by NHL Senior Vice President Brendan Shanahan.
Pacioretty delivered an open-ice hit to Letang after the Pittsburgh defender put a shot on goal in Montreal's zone in the third period Saturday. No penalty was called. Letang suffered a broken nose but returned to the game and scored the winning goal in overtime.
"If you look at the situation, me and Letang made eye contact," Pacioretty said. "I think that's what gave me the green light to try and hit him. I felt he put himself in a vulnerable position."
Asked if the incident will alter his style, Pacioretty said, "I'm going to be completely honest: I've been scared to hit people out there. A lot of times you're going in on the forecheck and the defenseman turns his back to you. Things of that nature happen. It's a fast game and injuries are going to happen. That's why it's tough out there, especially for someone who's expected to finish their hits.
"The blame's still on me. I made a bad decision. Down the road, I'm definitely not going to make that decision when someone comes through the middle. But I don't see why I should give him a free pass to come through our zone like that and get a free shot on net."
Martin reiterated Tuesday that "I'm disappointed with the decision, but I accept it and move forward. We have three games on this trip and they're important."
Markov update: The Canadiens will also soon face decisions on defense as Markov nears readiness to play again. Martin said Tuesday that he didn't know if Markov would play during Montreal's three-game trip through California.
"I don't know if there will be a possibility or not," Martin said. "It's something that's going to be left up to him, but I think that it's good that he's practicing."
Markov has not played in more than a year. He re-injured his surgically repaired right knee in a collision with Eric Staal on Nov. 13, 2010, and had a second reconstructive surgery the following month. In Tuesday's practice, Markov again played the point with P.K. Subban during power-play drills.
"He's getting closer, but I don't know when he'll be back," Martin said. "I think it's good for him to be involved in intense practice this week."
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