Martin Brodeur faces down Maxim Lapierre and the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night, hoping to tie Patrick Roy for career victories. (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)

What should be paramount in the minds of the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night is ensuring they don't turn New Jersey goalkeeper Martin Brodeur's shot at NHL history into a simple coronation (CBC Sports, CBCSports.ca, 7 p.m. ET).

All other eyes will be on Brodeur's attempt to tie Patrick Roy for career wins at 551 in the city of his birth, and rightly so. Especially since a shutout would give him 101, just two back of Terry Sawchuk's all-time mark.

But the Habs have a hockey game to win and a key two points to obtain in their race for an Eastern Division playoff spot, not to mention a decent seed.

Montreal (36-24-8) was in fifth place to start Saturday, but that was still just three points up on ninth place Florida and five ahead of 10th place Buffalo.

On the other hand, Les Canadiens are two back of Philadelphia for fourth and home ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.

Coach Bob Gainey, who came down from the management suite to take over the team from Guy Carbonneau last Monday, seems to have the right mental approach.

"We'll be doing our best to see whatever milestone [Brodeur] is going for tomorrow does not happen tomorrow," he said at his Friday news conference.

Gainey won his first game back of the bench 4-3 over Edmonton on Tuesday, but fell in overtime to the lowly New York Islanders two days later.

"We sometimes give off the impression that we look like we are a deer trapped in the headlights," he said. "The other team is taking advantage of our hesitation and our lack of assertiveness and confidence to play simple plays."

Habs goaltender Jaroslav Halak, out since Feb. 28 with the flu, is scheduled to start on Saturday against Brodeur, bringing a four-game winning streak with him.

Forward Alex Kovalev, playing well after being sat down for a week in February, could miss his second game in a row with his own illness.

Kovalev or not, the Montreal offence may be in for a tough night against Brodeur, who is 6-1 with a 2.08 goals against average since coming back from a four-month injury break on Feb. 26.

He's well-aware of the moment, coming as it is in front of family and friends.

"It just adds to the story, you couldn't ask for a better script," Brodeur said. "It's definitely going to be a different atmosphere. I'll try to maintain my emotions and try not to be distracted by it at all."

Nothing seems to have distracted his New Jersey teammates, who are 44-20-3 overall and didn't miss a beat without their star goalie.

The Devils lead the Atlantic division by nine points on Philadelphia while sitting six back of Boston for top spot in the conference. New Jersey has also won all three games with Montreal so far this season and 12 of their last 15.

With files from the Associated Press