Canadiens struggling against their division rivals

The Canadiens go into the weekend as the Northeast Division leaders despite the fact they haven’t played well against other teams in their division.

The Canadiens are 2-4-1 against division rivals. That’s troublesome because, after facing the New York Rangers at home Saturday, the Canadiens head into a stretch in which three of their next four games are on the road against Northeast Division teams.

The Canadiens are in Ottawa Monday, Toronto Wednesday and then play backto-back games next weekend with a home game against Pittsburgh Saturday and a date with the Bruins the following night in Boston.

The Canadiens have split two games with Ottawa, have lost their only game against the Bruins and have already lost twice to the Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre. The two losses to the Leafs have been Montreal’s worst games this season, during which they were outscored 10-1.

Montreal gets one break on Monday because Ottawa’s Craig Anderson, who has been the top goaltender in the league this season, is out with a sprained ankle. The Senators have already weathered the loss of Jason Spezza (back surgery) and Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson (severed Achilles tendon) but it may be too much to rely on rookie Robin Lehner if Anderson is out for any length of time.

Anderson was injured during Thursday’s win over the Rangers. The Senators were also missing Milan Michalek, Peter Regin and Guillaume Latendresse with a variety of minor ailments, but they found a way to win in a shoot- out. You also have to give some credit to coach Paul Mac Lean, who’s proving he’s not just another pretty face.

By the way, Canadiens fans shouldn’t feel too smug about that first-place thing. Thursday’s meltdown against the New York Islanders and Boston’s win over Tampa Bay means the Bruins are only two points behind Montreal and they hold three games in hand.