Troy Perkins is thrilled to be playing in Montreal. Just ask him.

"I'm happy to be there, to be honest," Perkins said after the Impact's training session at Jeld-Wen Field Tuesday afternoon.

What the former Portland player isn't happy about is the way the Timbers handled the entire affair surrounding the trade that sent him to Montreal last summer.

"For me, it's a bit of a slap in the face the way they went about it," Perkins said. "I think I've taken the high road the whole way. I'm still going to."

Perkins was traded to Montreal for current Portland goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts August 7. The move was widely seen as the first major personnel decision by incoming coach Caleb Porter that started his overhaul of the roster. Perkins, who will play in Portland for the first time since the trade, will get his chance to show the Timbers what they shipped to Canada when the Impact take on Portland Saturday night at Jeld-Wen Field.

Perkins said he was blindsided by the trade and wasn't happy about leaving Portland. Then general manager Gavin Wilkinson said the acquisition of Ricketts represented "an upgrade." That comment further angered the 31-year-old Perkins, one of the more popular players on the Timbers during his 1 1/2 seasons in Portland.

"People see that with the moves they've done this offseason and the way they present things to the public," Perkins said. "If that's the way they want to do it, that's fine. That's their prerogative."

The affair wasn't the type of sendoff the eight-year veteran expected after coming to Portland in a trade with D.C. United in December 2010, one of the first major acquisitions by the Timbers before their inaugural MLS season in 2011.

Perkins appeared in 51 matches - 51 consecutive starts for the club from April 23, 2011, to Aug. 3, 2012 - while playing in Portland. During his time with the Timbers, Perkins compiled 12 shutouts, 157 saves, a 1.44 goals-against average and a 14-23-13 record. He posted a MLS career-high nine shutouts in 2011.

"I never even got a phone call or an e-mail from (team owner) Merritt (Paulson) saying, 'Thanks for everything you did for the club' or 'We're moving forward in a different direction,' " Perkins said.

Paulson did thank Perkins for his contributions via Twitter the morning after the trade: "Will miss Troy Perkins...great pro, class guy. Thanks for everything, Troy."

Perkins says he is in a better place now. The Impact, which remained in playoff contention until the final two weeks of the 2012 season, is coming off a surprising 1-0 win at Seattle Saturday in their season-opening game of 2013. Seattle outshot Montreal 15-9 in the game, but the Impact's tight defense and Perkins' three saves helped preserve the win.

"He is a very important piece, because he has a lot of experience. He gives a lot of security for the defense," Montreal coach Marco Schallibaum said. "He speaks up a lot and he has this quality that he has been a good goalkeeper for many years."

The shocking result occurred after the Impact - who had won just two of 17 (2-12-3) road games in 2012 - defeated a squad that had lost just four of 17 home games in 2012 while playing in one of the most intimidating venues in MLS. Perkins said the win gives the Impact the confidence that it can earn three points away from home.

"It gives us the mentality that we can get a result. We're not the same team we were last season with some troubles on the road," Perkins said. "That's in the past and we have to put that behind us."

Perkins hasn't given his teammates any advice on what to expect from the Timbers fans, but the win at Seattle occurred in front of 38,998 fans at CenturyLink Field, giving the Impact a hint of the atmosphere in Portland.

"Coming here, it's the same idea. Less people, but they're right on top of you. So it feels the same," Perkins said. "It's going to be a game where we have to manage the atmosphere and manage the emotion."

Perkins said he hopes to receive a warm reception from the Portland fans, but then he'll get down to the business of trying to win another game.

"They're great people - great fan base. This is something special," Perkins said. "My wife's jealous that I'm here without her. Emotionally it's tough outside of the field. On the field, I'm thrilled to be where I'm at."

Perkins has re-established himself after the relocation and his family has adjusted to living in Montreal. In short, he is moving on with his life and career.

"Even coming here this soon after the trade, it doesn't feel like I belong here anymore," Perkins said. "I've grown accustomed to the lifestyle and my kid loves it there. He's learning French and he's having a lot of fun."

Notes: Montreal midfielder Collen Warner signed a contract extension with the team Feb. 28. Warner, a former University of Portland star, set personal bests with appearances in 29 games with 27 starts during the 2012 season, his first with Montreal. The 24-year-old was selected by the Impact in 2011 expansion draft after spending his first two MLS seasons with Real Salt Lake.

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