Maxim Lapierre News

Canadiens netminder Jaroslav Halak stops Maple Leafs' Matt Stajan as blue-liner Hal Gill defends last night at the Bell Centre.

Komisarek gets rude Montreal welcome Toronto Maple Leafs Mike Komisarek grabs Montreal Canadiens Maxim Lapierre during third period NHL hockey action in Montreal, October 31, 2009.

MONTREAL a ' The Montreal Canadiens officially became hockeya TMs most expensive Petri dish this summer, when Bob Gainey poured nearly $108 million experimental dollars into hockeya TMs most perplexing chemistry experiment.

After two consecutive losses against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Chicago Blackhawks, it has become painstakingly clear that the Montreal Canadiens do not have enough offensive depth to compete with the NHL's top-flight teams.

The Canadiens were six minutes into what was supposed to be a high-energy shooting and skating drill when head coach Jacques Martin decided he didn't like what he saw.

Montreal Canadiens teammates celebrate a goal scored by Maxim Lapierre as New York Islanders goalie Martin Biron skates by during third period NHL hockey action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Thursday October 22, 2009.

After a 2008-2009 season during which his offensive production was mediocre at best, Tomas Plekanec has found a renewed passion and his old offensive flair this season.

Roman Hamrlik scored 1:32 into overtime and the Montreal Canadiens extended their winning streak to four games with a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Monday night.

New York Rangers ' Marian Gaborik , right, of Slovakia , scores on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jaroslav Halak, of Slovakia , during the second period.

Canadiens' Brian Gionta is swarmed after his first-period goal against Thrashers last night.

The missing link? Centre Maxim Lapierre was skating at left wing on the second line with Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn during Canadiens' practice yesterday in Brossard.

Montreal Canadiensa center Glen Metropolit was back into action yesterday evening after missing six games with a rib injury.

Scott Gomez and Marc-Andre Bergeron scored in the first period to give Montreal its first two-goal lead of the season, sending the Canadiens on to a 5-1 win over the New York Islanders on Thursday night.

Plekanec picks up the pace in Montreal Montreal Canadiens centre Tomas Plekanec has had three straight 20-goal campaigns.

Mike Cammalleri scored his first of the season last time out, with the Montreal Canadiens hoping others can join him.

On Saturday, after a 3-0 home-ice loss to Minnesota, Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau said his players skated through their final exhibition game as though they were trying to avoid injuries.

It is important to score the first goal but it is a lot more important to score the winning goal.

Not even the players know what to expect when the Montreal Canadiens finally play their home opener.

The Montreal Canadiens will open their home season at the Bell Centre after playing their first five games of the 2009-2010 season on the road.

Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin stones Montreal Canadiens' Guillaume Latendresse during second period in Edmonton on Oct.