Habs score early and often, romp to 6-0 win over Carolina

Montreal Canadiens' Brandon Prust, right, and Carolina Hurricanes' Matt Corrente fight during first period NHL pre-season action in Quebec City on Friday, September 20, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

An improved Canadiens squad scored early and often against a disorganized Carolina Hurricanes team in Quebec City Friday, netting four goals in the first frame and singles in the final two periods to coast to a 6-0 victory.

Greg Pateryn started the goal-fest by blasting a one-timer from the point past Cam Ward at just 3:30 into the game.

The young defence hopeful, who has been praised by coach Michel Therrien for his solid play at camp, benefited from some fierce forechecking by David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty, who got assists on the play.

Just 26 seconds later, the Habs doubled their lead as Alex Galchenyuk potted in an easy rebound off a Brandon Prust breakaway at 7:35.

Ward made the initial save off Prust but was helpless as Galchenyuk came in as a trailer to score the easy marker.

Prust had been sprung on the break on a long pass from Swedish hopeful Magnus Nygren, who had not impressed on defence up until the game.

Desharnais then made it 3-0 by banking a shot off Ward from behind the net. The play started when a P.K. Subban shot knuckleballed into the crease, Sebastian Collberg jumped on the rebound and his shot ended up behind the net where Desharnais seized on it and popped it in at 11:07.

Michael Bournival then made it 4-0 at 15:41 of the first, as he hit gold on a low shot past Ward on a pass from Patrick Holland.

The two swooped down the left wing with little resistance from the Hurricanes defence, one which has a new cast - that includes former Hab MIke Komisarek - after being the weakest in the league last season.

The Canadiens dressed forwards Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais, Sebastian Collberg, Brandon Prust, Alex Galchenyuk, Mark McCarron, Patrick Holland, Micahel Bournival, Christian Thomas, Nick Tarnasky Gabriel Dumont and Mike Blunden

Suiting up on defence were: Jared Tinordi, P.K. Subban, Josh Gorges, Magnus Nygren, Darren Dietz and Pateryn.

Peter Budaj started in nets and turned back all 10 shots against him while the Habs got 11 against the Carolina net in the first period.

Budaj was replaced by Dustin Tokarski midway through the second, having ceded no goals in his half-game stint.

P.K. Subban scored the lone goal of the second period on his second attempt at beating Ward on a powerplay slapshot from the point found the twine at 7:39. Bournival and Nygren got their second points of the game on the goal.

Pacioretty completed the scoring on a penalty shot in the third period. He was awarded the opportunity after being hauled down by Komisarek. Pacioretty approached Ward from the right wing before popping the puck top shelf above Ward's blocker.

Possible openings on defence

Posts might be up for grabs on the Habs' defence, as Francis Bouillon and Andy Murray are day-to-day with lower-body injuries, Nathan Beaulieu has been sidelined by a shoulder injury suffered in an early intra-squad game and David Drewiske is out for the next four weeks with a shoulder injury.

Indeed Dietz had already been sent down to Hamilton before the team was forced to call him up.

The Canadiens, who lost by one goal at home against Buffalo and Boston earlier this week, appeared to have much more energy against the Hurricanes, who play could not have pleased Coach Kirk Muller.

The Hurricanes will hope to fare better in Montreal Saturday where they play at the Habs' traditional home shrine, the Bell Centre in a game starting at 7 pm.

The Habs will then complete their pre-season schedule by hosting New Jersey on Monday at 7:30, visiting the Senators in Ottawa on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and then by hosting the same Sens at the Bell Centre on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The regular season starts on Tuesday October 1 as the Habs host the Toronto Maple Leafs in a game that starts at 7 p.m.