Canadiens at Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins squandered a chance to keep pace with first-place Washington in the Metropolitan Division but can get back within two points of the top spot when they host the offensively challenged Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. Pittsburgh dropped a 4-1 road decision against the New York Islanders on Tuesday to fall four behind the Capitals and are even in points with Columbus for second place with nine games remaining.
Phil Kessel notched an assist in the loss to reach the 80-point plateau for the third time in his career - and first since 2013-14 while with Toronto - and is two shy of matching the career high he set in 2011-12 with the Maple Leafs. Montreal is hoping to get on the scoreboard for the first time in three contests and halt a three-game skid that began with a 5-3 home setback against Pittsburgh last Thursday. The Canadiens, who will miss the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, have been blanked in each of their last two games and enter this matchup with a scoreless streak of 147 minutes, 3 seconds. Montreal will welcome back former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner Carey Price, who has not played since Feb. 20 due to a concussion.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, RDS (Montreal), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (26-35-12): Price, who is winless in his last five starts (0-3-2), served as Antti Niemi's backup in Monday's 2-0 loss to Florida and is anxious to get back in the crease. "I wouldn't be playing (on Wednesday) if I was nervous about the condition of my head," the 30-year-old told the team's website. "I'm very confident. ... The old saying back home is, 'You can't worry about the fall if you're going to ride the horse.'" Brendan Gallagher is tied with Alex Galchenyuk for the team lead with 44 points, which is three shy of the career high he set in 2014-15.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (41-27-5): Matt Murray returned to action against the Islanders, making 36 saves after missing nine games with a concussion. Captain Sidney Crosby, who was kept off the scoresheet Tuesday for the second time in three contests, has not gone two games without a point since Feb. 17 and 18. The 30-year-old superstar is on the verge of another milestone as his next assist will be the 700th of his illustrious career.
OVERTIME
1. Penguins C Evgeni Malkin, who leads the team with 89 points, needs one assist to reach 50 for the fifth time in his career and first since 2011-12.
2. Montreal has been shut out a league-high 12 times this season.
3. Pittsburgh C Derick Brassard had just two points in his first seven games with the Penguins after being acquired from Ottawa in a three-team trade on Feb. 23, but has recorded an assist in three straight contests since.