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LONDON, Ont. — The Canadiens finished a weekend rookie tournament with a 1-1-1 record, but the team brass was happy with the results from a development standpoint.

“It was good to get some competition,” director of player development Martin Lapointe said after the Canadiens played games against rookies from Ottawa, Pittsburgh and host Toronto.

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“When we have an internal camp we have scrimmages, but it’s different when you’re playing against other teams,” Lapointe added. “You might hold back when you go to hit a teammate, but the situation here is more competitive.”

That competition was reflected in the fact the young Canadiens were involved in seven fights over the three days, prompting 6-foot-6 Michael McCarron to say the Canadiens are a team that will not back down.

The bad blood that has marked the Montreal-Ottawa rivalry at the National Hockey League level was evident Sunday as the Canadiens closed out the weekend with a 2-1 loss to the Senators in a game that was highlighted by the goaltending.