Offence, defence hobbling hapless Habs

  Now, finally, Vigneault has what every coach needs: a little internal competition for jobs.

  Vigneault, unhappy with the quality of defenceman Igor Ulanov's play, made the veteran a healthy scratch for Wednesday night's 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators at a soldout Molson Centre.

  Ulanov, who's been known to take bad penalties in the past, fell into Vigneault's bad books since taking a double minor against the Los Angeles Kings Dec. 11. Ulanov was run into the boards and made a selfish play by seeking revenge on the spot. The Kings scored twice on the penalties on their way to a win.

  The depth of Vigneault's disillusionment with Ulanov was evident in the fact he kept him out of the lineup despite the fact Vigneault was deprived of regular Patrice Brisebois, who was with his wife, Michele, anticipating the birth of their first child.

  Scott Lachance, who hadn't played since hurting his back Nov. 27, got a chance to get back into the lineup and Barry Richter was shifted back to the blue line after playing the last few games on the wing.

  Vigneault's been given more options with the emergence of fireplug Francis Bouillon. He might be on the small side, but he's carved out a spot for himself on the Montreal blue line. The rookie has played 35 games, just one behind Eric Weinrich for the most among Canadiens blueliners. He's listed as 5-foot-8 and that's generous. But he went into the corner with Ottawa's Colin Forbes (6-3, 205) in the first period Wednesday night and it was Forbes who came out with the bloody nose.

  The Habs have also been helped by the acquisition of Karl Dykuis, who's been steady.

  Ulanov was asked what he thought aboutVigneault's decision.

  "There's nothing to think about," he said as he disgustedly threw his practice sweater aside. "I disagree definitely. It's the coach's decision. I have to take it.

  "I feel awful and I'm really disappointed. I've been labeled something I've never been. I'm not a penalty type of guy. I'm always in somebody's face and I like a physical type of game. Those things are going to happen. After those penalties (against the Kings), my ice time went down and I stopped killing penalties. We were third overall killing penalties and now we've dropped to ninth (12th actually). It's not fair."

  The fact of the matter is Vigneault made his point, though the Habs wound up making none Wednesday night.

  The Habs' defence wasn't so much the problem Wednesday night. They gave up but one even-strength goal while giving up one the power play and allowing the Senators one while short-handed.

  The score flattered the Habs, who were roundly out-played for the second-half of the game.

  Offence was the problem for a team that managed just six shots in the last half of the game.

  HEAR AND THERE: Talk is ex-Hab Stephane Richer was put on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning. It's unlikely any club will take a chance on the injury-plagued winger, not at $1.8 million and another year on his deal. Richer should show up for work and maybe force a buyout if the Lightning is serious about getting rid of him...

  *The Senators lost defenceman Sami Salo in the first period with another injury to his left wrist. He was playing just his second game back after missing 23 games with the injury. His condition will be evaluated Thursday.

  "I hit a guy and it was just in the wrong place," said Salo. "I'm going to see the doctor (Thursday), but it's not as bad as last time."

  Said captain Daniel Alfredsson, who was passing by: "You should drink more milk."...

  *Habs forward Sergei Zholtok just hit the crossbar during a Canadiens power play late in the first period. That's why they called him "The Postman" during his stint in Ottawa...

  *Canadiens acting captain Shayne Corson will have his shoulder looked at Thursday. Vigneault said he might have suffered a mild separation Wednesday night...

  *A picture of a man celebrating his 100th birthday was flashed on the Molson Centre scoreboard. The good folks at Molson couldn't have been happier as they caught the gentleman quaffing some of their product. A littel sip from the fountain of youth?

  *Canadiens defenceman Vladimir Malakhov has been skating on his own and his expected to rejoin his teammates in practice when they return from a three-game road trip at the end of next week. He could be about three weeks away from returning. He's missed all of the season to date with a knee injury...

  *The Habs had a ceremony before the game to dedicate the pressbox in the Molson Centre in the names of late broadcasters Rene Lecavalier and Danny Gallivan. It's now known as "Passerelle Lecavalier-Gallivan." The club also honoured broadcaster Richard Garneau before the game on the occasion of his being admitted to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

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