SEEING STARS AT BELL CENTRE
The canadiens (25-31-12 heading into monday night’s game in columbus) face the dallas stars (38-25-6) for a home date tuesday (7:30 p.m., tsn2, rds, tsn radio 690). stu cowan has five things to watch for in the game:
1
The return of Radulov Alexander Radulov will play his first game at the Bell Centre since leaving the Canadiens last summer as a free agent and signing a five-year, US$31.25million contract with the Stars. The 31-year-old right-winger has been worth the money so far, posting 25 goals and 35 assists in 69 games, already surpassing his output from last season, when he had 18 goals and 54 assists in 76 games with the Canadiens.
2
Home sweet home
The Canadiens wrapped up a sixgame road trip Monday and will be happy to return home. The Canadiens went into Monday’s game with the worst road record in the NHL (9-21-4) but have been much better at the Bell Centre, where they are 16-10-8. This game will mark the 12th time this season the Canadiens have played on back-to-back nights — they have a 3-6-2 record in those second games. 3
The goalies
Antti Niemi will start in goal for the Canadiens after Charlie Lindgren got the call in Colum- bus against the Blue Jackets. Goaltending was a problem for the Stars last season when Niemi posted a 12-12-4 record, 3.30 goals-against average and .892 save percentage. The Stars acquired Ben Bishop from the Los Angeles Kings last May and he has posted a 26-17-4 record, 2.49 GAA and .917 save percentage. 4
Pateryn’s back, too
Former Canadiens D -man Greg Pateryn has averaged 19:40 of ice time and has a goal and nine assists to go with a plus-3 rating with the Stars. The Canadiens traded Pateryn to Dallas on Feb. 27, 2017, along with a fourthround draft pick in exchange for Jordie Benn, who before Monday was averaging 19:04 of ice time and had four goals and nine assists along with a plus-1 rating.
5
Taylor or Tyler?
Heading into the 2010 NHL draft, there was a debate over who should go No. 1 overall: Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin? The Edmonton Oilers took Hall with the No. 1 pick and the Boston Bruins took Seguin at No. 2. Hall is with the New Jersey Devils, posting 30 goals and 44 assists in 64 games this season, while Seguin has 36 goals and 29 assists in 69 games with the Stars.