MANCHESTER, England -- As statements of intent go, it couldnt have been much bigger. "If we only consider this season," Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said, "there is just one club in Manchester -- and its ours." That comment -- an eye-catching one from a coach usually so reserved in front of the media -- was made last month ahead of a Champions League game against Barcelona. To some, it was a mere statement of fact, with City 12 points ahead of United in the Premier League at the time and still in contention for trophies on four fronts. To others, it was unnecessary goading. And it no doubt will have hit a nerve over at Old Trafford, at a club that is the reigning English champion and had ruled football in the city for the past three decades. For that reason, United may take even more pleasure than usual if it can beat City in Tuesdays Manchester derby at Old Trafford. "Well, Manchester United had lots and lots of seasons of domination," Moyes said Monday, when asked about Pellegrinis comment. "I dont think if I was a manager I would have turned round and necessarily said that we were the only club in Manchester because football does change, it goes in cycles." "I think its important for us to show the level weve got," Moyes added, "and that were not as far away as many people would have us." For the first time in a generation, City will head across town as the favourite to beat its fiercest rival at Old Trafford. United is down in seventh place in the standings after a turbulent first season under Moyes and City, to many, is the team most likely to be raising the Premier League trophy on May 11. Pellegrinis side is six points behind first-place Chelsea with three games in hand. If it wins its remaining 11 games, City cannot be stopped. "We always expect to go and win," said a confident Pellegrini, whose first Manchester derby ended in a 4-1 victory for his side in September. "Its not just because Manchester United has had a difficult season (that) we are going to go there and win." That derby defeat was Uniteds first crushing loss under Moyes this season -- and a few more have followed over the next six months. But what a difference a week has made for the United manager. He woke last Monday to scathing headlines after an embarrassing 3-0 home loss to Liverpool, with suggestions abound that his time could be up if United was eliminated from the Champions League. Seven days later and bolstered by two victories in a four-day span that kept the team in Europe and got it back on track in the league, Moyes was clicking his fingers as he walked cheerily through the clubs training complex and sitting a little comfier in his chair at the pre-match news conference. Its been that kind of season for Alex Fergusons replacement -- a massive low one week followed by a big high the next. Theres been no consistency and of the many alarming statistics to blight Moyes short reign, one perhaps stands out -- United has just one win this campaign against a team in the current top nine. "We want to try to perform better in the bigger games than weve done, Ive got no doubt about that," said Moyes, whose team is 18 points behind Chelsea. "Ive got no doubt it will improve, and I want us to show were still in there fighting." Toby Alderweireld Belgium Jersey . Alen, 28, hit .315 with five home runs, 59 RBI and a career-high nine stolen bases for the Goldeyes last season. He is the longest serving catcher in Goldeyes history, having already spent five seasons with the organization. Leander Dendoncker Jersey . 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The Montreal Alouettes announced Tuesday that they have acquired the return specialist from Calgary, as well as the Stampeders fifth-round draft pick in the 2014 CFL Canadian Draft.The sliding Montreal Canadiens have struggled to put the puck in the net during their three-game losing streak, but the Habs hope to solve their scoring woes and return to the win column when they visit the Buffalo Sabres in Wednesdays battle at First Niagara Center. You can catch all the action live on TSN Radio 690 Montreal with coverage beginning at 6pm et. Two former Canadiens will suit up against their old team for the first time as both former captain Brian Gionta and defenceman Josh Gorges will be in the lineup for the Sabres. Gionta, who is now captain of the Sabres, has one point in 13 games with his new club, while Gorges has a minus-6 rating, also appearing in 13 games for Buffalo. The Canadiens began the season with an impressive 7-1-0 mark, but since then Montreal has gone 1-3-1 while dropping four of their last five contests. Montreals latest setback came Tuesday evening against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks, who notched a 5-0 victory and dealt the Habs their second shutout defeat of the season, both of which have come over the past five tilts. Montreal has been credited with five goals over the past five games and one of those tallies was for beating Calgary last Tuesday in a shootout. The Canadiens are currently ranked 27th in the league this season with an average of 2.15 goals per game. The Habs defense hasnt been firing on all cylinders either, with Montreal yielding a total of 11 goals over its past two losses. The Canadiens were handed a 6-2 home defeat by Calgary on Sunday before getting routed by the Blackhawks. The Canadiens sent 28 shots Corey Crawfords way on Tuesday, but the Montreal native stopped every one to record the shutout. Kris Versteeg scored a pair of goals to help the Blackhawks cruise to victory. Carey Price was on the hook for all five goals on 32 shots for the Canadiens, who have lost three in a row for the first time since March 6-12 of last season. Despite the loss, I liked our intensity in the first half of the game, said Canadiens coach Michel Therrien. Usually we show a lot more character, but it wasnt there tonight. We now have to focus and remember to play three periods together. Therrien will look to Dustin Tokarski to start in goal for this evenings contest. Rookie prospect Jiri Sekac and Jarred Tinordi make their way back into the lineup this evening as well, while Rene Bourque, Travis Moen and Nathan Beaulieu sit out tonights contest. After getting swept in a brief homestand, the Canadiens are on the road for just one game before returning to Montreal for a four-game stay at the Bell Centre.ddddddddddddThe Habs are 4-2-1 as the visiting team this season. Montreal hopes to get back on track against the Sabres, who have dropped the last five meetings in this series. The Habs also have claimed three straight in Western New York. The Sabres, however, are coming off just their third win in 13 games after edging the visiting Detroit Red Wings in Sundays shootout decision. Buffalo had lost three straight and seven of its previous eight games before notching the 3-2 win over the Wings. Sundays victory also was the first home win for the Sabres this season, improving Buffalos record at First Niagara Center to 1-4-1. The Sabres are playing the second part of a four-game homestand tonight. Zemgus Girgensons scored the winner in the shootout for Buffalo in the third round. Girgensons deked back to the forehand and lifted the puck into the left corner of the net. Michal Neuvirth preserved the win by not biting on Henrik Zetterbergs fake and making the stop. Brian Flynn and Chris Stewart scored in regulation for the Sabres, while Neuvirth stopped 36 shots in the win. Although he leads the Sabres with 32 shots on net this season, Stewarts tally was his first of the campaign. That one felt good, Stewart said. Ive had ample opportunities around the net, some golden chances this year. Ive been a little bit snake bitten. To get that one, hopefully tides will turn. Buffalo will try to record consecutive wins for the first time this season. The Sabres last registered back-to-back victories during a three-game winning streak from Feb. 25-28. Neuvirth will get the start for Buffalo tonight and he boasts a 5-3-0 record and 2.24 goals against average in his career versus the Habs. Montreal backup Dustin Tokarski, who is expected to give Price a rest tonight, has never faced the Sabres. Canadiens (17PTS) at Sabres (7PTS) MTL was 4-0-0 vs BUF last season, winning last 2 games by shutout MTL has won 5 straight vs BUF, 4GA BUF (3-9-1): won last game, have not won 2 straight this season 1 regulation win this season shutout 5 times past 9 games Ennis (1G, 2A) past 3 games, only player on team with more than 2G (4) MTL (8-4-1): 0-2-1 past 3 games, outscored 14-4 shutout twice in their past 5 games 0/17 on PP last 7 games Plekanec (4G, 1A) in 7 road games this season ' ' '