Montreal Canadiens shrug off Senators goaltender change

The Montreal Canadiens are one of the best franchises in sport when it comes to embracing their past — but if you ask defenceman P.K. Subban about the 2013 playoffs, it's clear he would rather forget it.

​In that year Craig Anderson backstopped the Senators to victory over Montreal in the first round.

"That was two years ago. It's a brand new year, so our focus is just to prepare the way we always prepare for games," Subban said.

Ottawa lost games one and two in Montreal this year, so Sens coach Dave Cameron is replacing goalie Andrew Hammond with Craig Anderson.

This move has its risks: Anderson hasn't played much recently — only four times since Jan. 21 — but Cameron says he's comfortable making the change because Anderson is a proven NHL-level starting goaltender.

The crowd factor

The Senators need a spark and if it doesn't come from the goaltending change, it could come from the home crowd tonight.

"There are going to be times in this game where their crowd is involved and it feels like they have us against the wall, but it's going to be important to keep the focus level where it needs to be," says Habs forward Brendan Gallagher.

Ottawa's fans have seen their team come back before. Their team was 14 points out of a playoff spot but went 22-4-4 in their final 30 games of the regular season to make the playoffs just in time.

Ottawa is also putting their enforcer Chris Neil into the line up for tonight's game.

A loss tonight, however, could put them in a hole that is too deep for them to climb back out of.

Canadiens coach Michel Therrien has not announced any line-up changes for his team.