Report Says Vigneault to Get Canadien Job

Alain Vigneault has signed a contract to become the next coach of the Montreal Canadiens, according to a published report.

Vigneault, 36, a former Ottawa Senators assistant coach who spent the last season and a half with the junior Beauport Harfangs, signed the deal on Saturday, Le Journal de Montreal reported.

Vigneault would replace Mario Tremblay, who resigned last month after the team was eliminated from the first round of playoffs.

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The defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche, which avoided elimination in the Western Conference finals Saturday but still trails the Detroit Red Wings, 3-2, will try again today to prolong its season in Detroit. This time, it may get a boost from the return of center Peter Forsberg.

Forsberg, Colorado’s top scorer with 28 goals and 86 points, missed the Avalanche’s 6-0 victory over the Red Wings Saturday because of a charleyhorse in his right leg. He has “more of a chance” to play today at Joe Louis Arena, according to Coach Marc Crawford. The Avalanche hardly missed him, moving Joe Sakic between wingers Valeri Kamensky and Claude Lemieux to form a line that collected four goals and eight points.

“I’ve been against the wall many times, but I’ve never felt as confident as I do with this club,” Lemieux said.

The Red Wings have won six consecutive home playoff games since losing their opener to St. Louis, and they’re emphasizing the positive. “Like they rebounded after a 6-0 loss [in Game 4], we’ll rebound after a 6-0 loss as well,” Detroit center Steve Yzerman said.

A seventh game, if necessary, would be played Thursday at Denver.