Ryder

If today's practice is any indication, Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau is moving Michael Ryder back onto a line with Saku Koivu and Christopher Higgins for tomorrow night's Bell Centre tilt against the Boston Bruins.

Other lines used by Carbo today: Andrei Kostitsyn with Tomas Plekanec and Alex Kovalev, the team's most consistent trio; Steve Bégin with Bryan Smolinski and Sergei Kostitsyn; and Guillaume Latendresse, Maxim Lapierre, Tom Kostopoulos and Mathieu Dandenault rotating in and out on a fourth line.

From Atlanta, The Gazette Pat Hickey asks, "Is there a player in the National Hockey League whose star has fallen faster than Michael Ryder?"

Defenceman Ryan O'Byrne earned two assists in his impressive NHL debut tonight.
Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau is making underachieving forward Michael Ryder and defencemen Patrice Brisebois and Josh Gorges healthy scratches for tonight's game in Boston against the Bruins.

The Bruins will start 20-year-old goalie Tuukka Rask against Canadiens' Carey Price, also 20; Rask fills in for No. 1 Tim Thomas, who was hurt in the final minute of last night's 4-3 overtime loss to the Devils in New Jersey and will be lost to the Bruins for a week, or longer, with the groin injury.

Rask will be backed up by Alex Auld, who was acquired today from the Phoenix Coyotes for forward Nate DiCasmirro and a 2009 fifth-round draft choice.

The Gazette's Pat Hickey writes today of head coach Guy Carbonneau's loss of patience with first-line winger Michael Ryder, who seems bound for the club's third line tomorrow night in Buffalo. The hard-working Tom Kostopoulos was elevated to the first line in Wednesday's practice.

Hickey also speaks to Canadiens goaltending coach Rollie Melanson, who speaks of the "healthy" competition between Cristobal Huet, tomorrow's starter in Buffalo, and Carey Price, Saturday's starter back home against Boston. 

Pat Hickey reports from this morning's Canadiens practice that Michael Ryder skated on the third line, with Tom Kostopoulos elevated to the first, working out with Saku Koivu and Christopher Higgins.

The likely lines to face the Buffalo Sabres on Friday:

First line: Higgins, Koivu, Kostopoulos
Second line: Plekanek, Kovalev, Kostitsyn
Third line: Begin, Smolinski, Ryder
Fourth line: Latendresse, Chipchura, Dandenault

Defence pairings seem likely to remain the same. Cristobal Huet is expected to get the start in goal, with Carey Price getting the call at home Saturday vs. Boston.

Canadiens' mostly first-line forward Michael Ryder figures hard work and more shots on goal will turn the tide and get him back on the scoresheet, where he had 30 goals and 28 assists last season.

Ryder was benched for most of the last Tuesday's third period against Atlanta, played well Thursday against Philadelphia, then was almost invisible Saturday against Toronto. He's trying the patience of head coach Guy Carbonneau, who nevertheless wants and needs production from the native of Bonavista, Nfld.

Dave Stubbs reports in today's Gazette column.