Canadiens at Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins can cap a December to remember as they vie for their fourth straight win on Saturday against the visiting Montreal Canadiens. Pittsburgh has enjoyed a scintillating 11-1-2 run to keep white-hot Columbus in its sights in the top-heavy Metropolitan and looks to avenge an early-season 4-0 setback to Atlantic Division-leading Montreal.
Captain Sidney Crosby didn't play in that contest due to a concussion, but has made up for lost time by scoring in five straight contests as part of his six-game point streak (five goals, four assists). The two-time Hart Trophy winner netted his NHL-best 26th goal in Wednesday's 3-2 triumph over Carolina as Pittsburgh extended its home point streak to 10 games (9-0-1). Montreal snapped a three-game skid and improved to 1-1-1 on its seven-game road trip on Thursday with a 3-2 overtime victory over Florida. Veteran backup Al Montoya made 31 saves against his former team and turned aside all 36 shots he faced in the first meeting with Pittsburgh on Oct. 18, although Carey Price is expected to get the nod on Saturday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBC, TVAS (Montreal), ROOT (Pittsburgh)
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (22-9-5): Captain Max Pacioretty (team-leading 15 goals, 30 points) had a goal and an assist on Thursday to increase his point total to 15 (10 goals, five assists) in his past 12 games. The 28-year-old also scored and set up a goal in the last meeting with Pittsburgh and has marched all over the Penguins to tune of 21 points (12 goals, nine assists) in 24 career encounters. Fellow forward Phillip Danault had an assist and scored 39 seconds into overtime on Thursday to increase his point total to seven (two goals, five assists) in his past 10 games.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (24-8-5): Veteran Marc-Andre Fleury will get the nod on Saturday as fellow goaltender Matt Murray is sidelined week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Fleury owns a 5-0-1 mark in his last six decisions and opened the season with nine straight victories while carrying the mail after Murray sustained a broken hand in the World Cup of Hockey. Goaltender Tristan Jarry was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League after posting a 13-5-1 mark with a 2.15 goals-against average in 19 games this season.
OVERTIME
1. Following Saturday's tilt, Pittsburgh will enjoy a full week off in between contests when it returns to the ice versus Tampa Bay on Jan. 8 to conclude a three-game homestand.
2. Price has dropped four of his last six starts (2-2-2) and owns an .891 save percentage in that stretch.
3. The Penguins have 13 power-play goals in their last 10 games, but went 0-for-8 with the man advantage versus the Canadiens in the October meeting.