Sep 18 Habs 2 for 2 in Pre-season Play

Brian Gionta scored in the third period and missed an open net but he was all smiles at the end of his first game as a Hab as the Canadiens went on to a 2-1 preseason victory over the Ottawa Senators on Friday night.

Young Eric Nielson gave some pointers to Georges Laraque and Gregory Stewart as to how to take the bull by the horns and throw the gloves down, making himself the target for the evening.

Max Pacioretty and Ben Maxwell both had great games with Maxwell getting a breakaway opportunity that was saved, but then showed great patience on a lucky bounce which he jumped on and outwaited the Ottawa goaltender for his first goal of the pre-season. Paccioretty got an assist on Gionta's goal and did not look out of place at the NHL level, more specifically, on a line with Gionta and Plekanec.

The Canadiens did not have as easy a time with puck posession as they did with Florida the day before, but Ottawa, with their recent dumoing of Danny Heatley and acquisitions of Michalek, who got the Sens' only goal, Cheechoo and Kovalev, look to be a team to be reckoned with this season.

Read the Habs game recap for all the details and stats.

pic from rds.ca

Tags: Ben Maxwell \ Brian Gionta \ Eric Nielson \ game recap \ habs \ Hal Gill \ Max Pacioretty \ Montreal Canadiens \ Ottawa Senators \ pre-season \ result \ score