The Montreal Impact’s brain trust has told seven players who represented the club in NASL that they won’t be part of the team’s MLS plans for 2012. Striker Ali Gerba — who played for the Canadian national team as recently as this summer’s Gold Cup — is the biggest name on the list.

While it’s still improbable that the Impact will overhaul FC Edmonton for the last playoff spot, FCE’s recent struggles have made the race a lot more interesting than it needed to be.

In the end, the new graphic was well-received but the evening ended on a down note for Montreal, who dropped a 3-1 decision to the third-place Minnesota Stars, a game in which it did not challenge seriously for victory.

By the time the whistle blew ending the hostilities, both streaks had come to an end as the hosts took the game by a 1-0 score with 38-year-old Eddy Sebrango giving his team the win and taking the team scoring lead with three goals and six points despite having played in only six of the Impact’s 18 games thus far.

Cameron Knowles has done enough to prove to the Montreal Impact that he’s recovered from a broken leg suffered nearly two years ago. The Impact announced Tuesday that the club has signed the New Zealand fullback and ex-Portland Timber for the rest of the season.

While it has a long and hallowed tradition is show business, “break a leg” is probably not the best way to wish Cameron Knowles good fortune on the pitch. Presently in Montreal on tryout with the Impact, the 28-year-old New Zealand native is attempting to come back from not the first, but the second broken leg of his career.

As the Montreal Impact prepares to face the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Stade Saputo Wednesday night, the team has brought another familiar face back into the fold. The club announced Tuesday that Canadian striker Marco Terminesi, a deal that lasts until the end of the 2011 season.