Canadiens at Penguins
THE STORY: Tomas Plekanec believes he can solve the persistent problem plaguing the Montreal Canadiens. When asked why the Canadiens are dead last in the NHL on the power play (12.3 percent), Plekanec reasoned the team needs to make better decisions with the puck. "We have good personnel," Plekanec said Thursday. "We have guys that can move the puck, guys that can shoot, guys that can stand in front of the net and be a good screen. We have all that, but I'd say it's decision making - to make the plays that are there happen." The Canadiens have been mired in a three-game funk with the man advantage, highlighted by an 0-for-7 effort in a 3-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. Montreal will have a tall order to right the ship Friday when it travels to the Steel City to face the streaking Pittsburgh Penguins. Coach Dan Bylsma's club posted its fourth straight win with a 4-1 triumph over the New York Rangers on Thursday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network; RDS, TSN (Montreal); ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh)
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (17-21-8): All-Star goaltender Carey Price has dropped four in a row, although his team isn't giving him much support during that span. Montreal has scored only three goals during the stretch. Price struggled in his last meeting with Pittsburgh, surrendering four goals in a 4-3 overtime loss on Nov. 26. Left wing Max Pacioretty, who scored in the teams' last meeting, had three goals and an assist in his previous two games before being blanked by the Capitals.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (25-17-4): All-Star Evgeni Malkin was voted the NHL's Third Star of the Week for last week's effort - and he's looking to better his standing in the next voting. The Russian collected his sixth and seventh goals in four games by tallying twice during Thursday's 4-1 victory over the Atlantic Division rival New York Rangers. Malkin has traditionally feasted on the Canadiens, securing 25 points in 20 career contests.
OVERTIME:
1. Penguins defenseman Kris Letang suffered a broken nose in his previous contest versus Montreal. The blue-liner returned to the game and netted the overtime winner. Letang missed his team's next 21 contests before notching an assist Thursday.
2. Marc-Andre Fleury has won three in a row and boasts a 12-8-1 career mark versus the Canadiens.