Canadiens at Kings
The Montreal Canadiens seek their first victory since the season opener when they continue their California trip Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. Montreal began 2017-18 with a shootout victory in Buffalo but is 0-4-1 since, including a 5-2 setback at San Jose in the first contest of its three-game trek.
One good sign for the Canadiens has been the recent play of Jonathan Drouin, who has recorded a goal and an assist in each of his last two games to reach 100 career points. Los Angeles, which has begun the season with a five-game point streak, is wrapping up a four-game homestand during which it improved to 2-0-1 with a 3-2 triumph over the New York Islanders on Sunday. Captain Anze Kopitar and defenseman Drew Doughty each recorded a goal and an assist in the win, with the latter's tally coming while short-handed early in the third period and proving to be the winner - his second in as many games. Kopitar leads the Kings with eight points and has recorded at least a goal and an assist in three of his last four contests.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN2, RDS (Montreal)
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (1-4-1): Tuesday's contest was Montreal's first since parting ways with Mark Streit, who mutually agreed with the team a day earlier to have his contract terminated following a failed attempt to assign him to the minors. The 39-year-old Streit, who spent his first three NHL seasons with the Canadiens, posted a minus-2 rating in two games after signing a one-year contract in July. Defenseman Joe Morrow, who signed with Montreal in July after three campaigns in Boston, made his team debut Tuesday and posted a minus-1 rating in 10 minutes, 22 seconds of ice time.
ABOUT THE KINGS (4-0-1): Kopitar shares the team goal-scoring lead of four with Dustin Brown, who is off to a strong start. The 32-year-old Brown, who served as Los Angeles' captain from 2008-16, has recorded four tallies in five games after scoring 15 or fewer in 79 or more contests in each of the last four seasons. Defenseman Jake Muzzin has become something of a power-play specialist as five of his 10 goals since the beginning of 2016-17 have come with the man advantage.
OVERTIME
1. Kings C Jeff Carter, who led the club with 32 goals last season, has yet to tally in 2017-18.
2. Montreal has registered more than two goals only once this campaign, scoring three in an overtime loss to Toronto on Saturday.
3. Los Angeles recalled RW Justin Auger from Ontario of the American Hockey League and assigned C Jonny Brodzinski to the Reign.