Canadiens know all too well the price of injury

It was about this time last season that the Montreal Canadiens lost star goalie Carey Price and their season went into a tailspin.

They are determined not to let anything like that happen again after learning this week that their first-line centre and scoring leader Alex Galchenyk, as well as centre David Desharnais, will be out six to eight weeks with knee injuries.

The news only worsened Thursday when the club learned defenceman Greg Pateryn is expected to be out of action eight weeks with a fractured ankle. 

"We certainly saw that last year and we know how to handle it," winger Brendan Gallagher said Thursday. "We know how quickly it can go south.

"For us, it's about maintaining our focus. It's about picking up points. We can't really worry about (Galchenyuk and Desharnais) right now. We know we'll get them back eventually and we have to find a way to win games. The guys in here are definitely capable of doing that."

Won only 19 games after Price went down

The Canadiens led the NHL with a 19-4-3 record when Price suffered a season-ending knee injury last season. They won only 19 games the rest of the campaign as the overall standings leaders eventually fell out of the playoff picture.

They're first overall again, but now must find a way to keep winning with a group of centres that includes the struggling Tomas Plekanec and defence-oriented Phillip Danault, Torrey Mitchell and Brian Flynn. Others, such as gritty winger Andrew Shaw, may also get a look at centre.

Galchenyuk went down after a collision with Anze Kopitar during a 5-4 shootout win in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. Desharnais moved into his spot on the top line, but got hurt on what appeared to be a harmless check in a corner during a 3-2 overtime loss Tuesday night in St. Louis.

While the injuries will give some younger players a chance to show what they can do in offensive roles, more production will be needed from veterans who have been slow to get on track.

Plekanec ended a 13-game goal drought with a nifty one in St. Louis for his second goal of the season. Captain Max Pacioretty, a consistent 30-goal scorer, looks to be coming out of his early-season fog with three goals in his last six games to give him seven in 26 outings.

And Gallagher had a goal and two assists on the team's recent five-game western road trip.

"The three of us obviously would like to produce more and it's coming," said Gallagher. "We were all able to score a goal or two on the road trip, with a couple of assists here and there.

Trade speculation

"It goes a long way, But at the same time, when you lose a hockey game you're just as upset whether you score or you don't, and vice versa. The business we're in is about wins and losses. For sure, we'd all like to produce a little more. If we want to win right now we're all going to have to. The group we have in here is certainly willing to do whatever it takes to win without those guys in the lineup."

There has been speculation the Canadiens may try to trade for a centre but until, or if, that happens, coach Michel Therrien will get by with the players he has.

"Through good times and bad, (general manager) Marc Bergevin is always trying to improve the team, but as a coach, my job is to find internal solutions," said Therrien. "Five on five, I really like the way we play.

"Our power play has to be effective. We're a fast team and we can't lose that identity. Those (injured) guys aren't there, but the guys on the ice are going to have to make sure we keep the same pace. It's starting to get recognized around the league that our pace is really good. We want to make sure we're demanding to play against. That will be our focus."

The injury news wasn't all bad for Montreal.

While defenceman Greg Pateryn emerged from the road trip iffy after taking a shot on a foot in St. Louis, rearguards Nathan Beaulieu and Zack Redmond were pronounced ready to go for Thursday night's game against New Jersey. Redmond, an off-season signing, was to make his debut with the Canadiens.