Blackhawks at Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens have strung together victories for the first time since mid-December and will try to keep moving in the right direction when they host the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday. Montreal began a stretch of nine home games in 12 contests with a 2-0 victory over Calgary on Monday for its second straight victory after an eight-game slide (0-7-1) dropped it out of Eastern Conference playoff contention.
"Obviously a momentum builder," Montreal's Carey Price told reporters after making 31 saves, tying Ken Dryden for third all-time in club history with his 46th shutout. "We just carried on from last game. Right until the end, guys were diving in front of pucks. That's what winning hockey is all about." The Canadiens have been without a key piece to their offense as Brendan Gallagher, whose 15 goals are second on the club to Tomas Tatar (16), has missed six of the last seven games with a concussion and didn't participate in Tuesday's practice. Chicago has won two straight after a 3-2 overtime victory at Ottawa on Tuesday and like Montreal has a steep climb to get into Western Conference postseason position. Blackhawks rookie left wing Dominik Kubalik continued his tear with two goals Tuesday and has seven during a five-game goal streak, giving him 18 on the season.
TIME: 7:30 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Chicago, Sportsnet, RDS
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (21-20-6): Jonathan Toews scored in overtime Tuesday and assisted on Kubalik's goals, and has three goals and seven assists in six January games. Patrick Kane (team highs of 24 goals and 59 points) had two assists versus Ottawa, and has four goals and 12 of his 997 career points in the last seven contests. Robin Lehner made 20 saves Tuesday and is expected to yield the net Wednesday to Corey Crawford, who is 9-2-2 with a 1.54 goals-against average and .954 save percentage versus Montreal.
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (20-20-7): Tatar paces the club with 39 points and has four assists in his last five games but hasn't scored a goal in eight contests. Rookie center Ryan Poehling, who scored a hat trick in his NHL debut last season in his only game of 2018-19, scored Monday for the first time in 20 contests this season. Max Domi (12 goals, 33 points) hasn't hit the scoresheet in three straight games and in four of the last five contests while Shea Weber (32 points, plus-8 rating) hasn't recorded a point in seven of the last eight games.
OVERTIME
1. Montreal D Ben Chiarot (plus-6) returned Monday after missing two games (lower body) and played 24 minutes, 11 seconds.
2. Chicago hasn't allowed a power-play goal in the last four games (0-for-9) and is 28-for-30 on the penalty kill over its last 13 contests.
3. The road team has won five straight meetings - all by one or two goals and in regulation.