Canadiens' focus on defensive play has paid off

Monday, 12.02.2013 / 1:06 PM

By Arpon Basu - Managing Editor LNH.com / 2013-2014 At the Rink Blog

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BROSSARD, Quebec -- The New Jersey Devils have historically been a team known for their ability to slow the play down and shut down the opposition, no matter their offensive strength.

But of late, it is their opponents Monday night, the Montreal Canadiens, who have been the defensive juggernauts.

The Canadiens enter the game Monday at Bell Centre having allowed two goals or fewer in 10 straight games, riding a 7-1-2 record over that span.

"We're focusing on playing solid defensively and taking time and space away. It's the same thing with any team," Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said. "Right now we have a healthy lineup and there's a healthy internal competition. I think it's good. But we want to be a team that dictates the game, and this is what we've been doing. The guys, with their work ethic, are doing a good job at it."

Carey Price, the starter in goal Monday for the Canadiens, has been a big reason for that defensive excellence, starting seven of those 10 games.

"We've had a good penalty kill and played some good defense, but I think a lot of the credit has to go to our goalies," Montreal center Lars Eller said. "We've been good at not allowing goals in this year, usually that's going to carry you far."

The Devils will counter in goal with Martin Brodeur, who has a 19-8-1 record with a 1.62 goals-against average and .941 save percentage in 29 career games at Bell Centre.

Here are what the lines likely will look like for the Canadiens and Devils:

DEVILS

Dainius Zubrus – Travis Zajac – Jaromir Jagr

Adam Henrique – Patrik Elias – Steve Bernier

Damien Brunner – Andrei Loktionov – Michael Ryder

Tim Sestito – Jacob Josefson – Cam Janssen

Andy Greene – Mark Fayne

Eric Gelinas – Jon Merrill

Anton Volchenkov – Marek Zidlicky

Martin Brodeur

Cory Schneider

Scratched: Mattias Tedenby, Peter Harrold