The Eastern Conference-leading Montreal Canadiens attempt to extend their winning streak to five games when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. Montreal, which is even in points with the Pittsburgh Penguins but has a game in hand, is coming off a 4-3 shootout victory at home over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. Lars Eller opened the scoring seven minutes into the game and ended it in the third round of the bonus format.
New Jersey earned three of a possible four points during its home-and-home series with the Atlantic Division-rival Philadelphia Flyers. It posted a 5-2 victory at home on Wednesday and dropped a 2-1 decision in a shootout on the road two days later. The Devils have gone 3-1-1 over their last five contests after enduring a six-game winless streak (0-5-1).
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, CBC, RDS (Montreal), MSG (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (18-5-4): David Desharnais will continue to call Montreal home as the center signed a four-year contract extension on Friday. The deal reportedly will pay Desharnais an average of $3.5 million. "I couldn't be any happier right now," the 26-year-old said. "To be part of the Canadiens, for me, means an incredible amount. I was hoping this was coming, I just didn't know when." Desharnais has registered eight goals and eight assists in 27 games this season. Right wing Michael Ryder is expected to miss Saturday's contest with a lower-body injury.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (13-9-6): David Clarkson ended his 13-game goal-scoring drought in Friday's loss as he netted New Jersey's lone tally in regulation. Clarkson, who leads the Devils with 11 goals, had not scored since Feb. 15 - also against Philadelphia. "Obviously, with everybody being all over me about the scoring drought, it's nice," Clarkson said. "It definitely feels good and I've got to continue now to keep going and keep putting the puck on net." Johan Hedberg has made 11 straight starts since Martin Brodeur went down with a back injury and is 3-6-2 over that span.
OVERTIME
1. Montreal has won five of its last six on the road but has recorded only six wins in its last 28 visits to New Jersey.
2. Devils C Andrei Loktionov suffered an undisclosed injury Friday and is questionable for Saturday's contest.
3. The road team has won 10 of the last 12 games in the all-time series.
PREDICTION: Canadiens 4, Devils 2