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MONTREAL – Canadiens GM Bob Gainey announced Friday that forward Tomas Plekanec has been assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League for conditioning purposes.

Plekanec, 23, played in 31 games with the Canadiens in 2005-06 before suffering a knee injury on Dec. 17 in Minnesota that caused him to miss the last 13 games. So far this season, the native of Kladno, Czech Republic has 12 points, including four goals. The 5-foot-11, 198 - pounder also played in two games with the Canadiens in 2003-04, but was held pointless.

Plekanec was selected in the third round, 71st overall by the Canadiens at the 2001 NHL draft.

Plekanec should be in uniform on Saturday night as the Bulldogs complete the back-end of a home-and-home series against the Manitoba Moose, in Winnipeg.