MIN@MTL: Turning the corner

BROSSARD - After losing 4-1 to the Nashville Predators at home on Saturday night, the Habs will be looking to quickly return to their winning ways against a rather difficult opponent.

With a 20-17-3 record, and an attack featuring 10 players with at least 20 points so far this season, the Canadiens are in for quite the challenge as they take on Bruce Boudreau's troops.
The task looks all the more daunting when you consider that Montreal has not won a game against the Wild since November 8, 2014, losing eight straight since then.
This will be the second and final meeting between the two clubs this season.
In December, the Habs had a tough night at the Xcel Energy Center, losing 7-1.
"The last game in Minnesota, special teams made the difference. We had gotten more scoring chances at five-on-five than them, but we didn't do a good job on the penalty kill and the power play didn't produce," recounted Claude Julien. "I think that sums it up. There's for sure a feeling of revenge, but we also want to be motivated by getting our spot in the playoffs back."

It's with that stinging defeat in mind that Julien's troops will take to the ice on Monday night.
"It's never a performance you want to remember. We want to move on to other things and tonight, it's a good chance for us to close the book on it," posited Phillip Danault. "Whenever we play them, it seems they always want to win more than we do. I would say that's the difference. There are no excuses tonight, we have to want it more than them and to play a big 60 minutes."

"This is the last time we're going to see these guys in the regular season, at least. I think everyone remembers what happened in December, it wasn't a very positive feeling for us leaving the rink. It felt like we got embarrassed," admitted alternate captain Brendan Gallagher. "As a professional athlete, if you feel like you got embarrassed, you have to respond the right way. I think we have enough character in this locker room to do that. We know they're a good team; it's not going to be easy. We definitely have to compete and find the net as early as possible, and go forward from there."

For Gallagher, the game gives his team a chance to bounce back after a tough night at the office against Nashville on Saturday.
"We know we didn't play well enough. We have to move on, though. It's time to correct it," he added. "One thing we've been pretty decent at this year is responding to efforts we weren't really happy with. Hopefully, we can do that again tonight."
Armia with Drouin and Domi
Julien made an adjustment up front at Monday's morning skate.
Joel Armia was placed on the first line alongside Max Domi and Jonathan Drouin, while Paul Byron was reunited with Artturi Lehkonen and
Jesperi Kotkaniemi on the third trio.
The Habs bench boss said that the idea to link Armia up with Drouin and Domi had been bouncing around in his head for a little while now.
"It was our goal and our idea to do that. We wanted to give Armia a few games before putting him in that position," explained Julien. "At the same time, you can't think that Armia is going to change everything. I think the other two players also have to try to create more. They've done a good job this season. It's just been more difficult lately. It's about taking control back and doing the good things that were giving them chances to score and produce."
Schlemko on waivers
Following practice, the Canadiens announced that they had placed defenseman David Schlemko on waivers.
The Edmonton native has played 18 games for the Habs this season, collecting two assists.