Having lost four straight games, two in overtime, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves sitting in 12th spot in the East and struggling for victories.
The Canadiens currently sit 29th in the NHL in goals-for per game and 22nd in the league in goals-against.
Habs GM Bob Gainey has been actively looking to strengthen both sides of the rink, according to reports, with goal-scoring being a focal point.
With superstar defenseman Andrei Markov out at least three more weeks and sniper Brian Gionta still recovering from a broken foot, the Canadiens will get some relief when big blueliner Hal Gill and newcomer Benoit Pouliot return to the lineup in the coming days.
However, Gainey and his staff remain on the hunt for some help up front and it has been widely reported that he is looking to package brothers Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn in a trade.
The Canadiens have been linked to showing interest in Florida's Nathan Horton, and Chicago's Patrick Sharp and Cam Barker, though nothing appears to be imminent.
[ From the Editor ]
In order to take on salary, the Habs have to send some the other way. I'm not too sure what's available to them, and if the Kostitsyn brothers are valued enough, right now, by some of the other teams in the league. Does Montreal want to get better? Yes. Do they want to acquire a top-six forward? Of course. But that doesn't mean they're on the verge of pulling the trigger. And regarding all the Chicago talk, the Hawks do not want to move Sharp and will find it very difficult to move Barker, so I wouldn't hold my breath. -- David Pagnotta
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