TORONTO vs MONTREAL
When: 2/10/2021 7:38 PM
Where:

TV: 7:38 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: MONTREAL , TORONTO

Oddsmakers currently have the Montreal listed as -105-moneyline favorites versus the Toronto, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.5.

One of the NHL’s oldest rivalries will be renewed atop the North Division when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.

Toronto recorded a 5-4 overtime victory over Montreal in the season opener on Jan. 13. Since that meeting, the teams have risen to the top two spots in the division, with the Leafs three points ahead.

On paper, the two clubs are among the league’s elite — with the odd scheduling caveat that they have barely played each other. Nine games remain between the Leafs and Habs over the final three months of the regular season.

As good as the two Original Six rivals have looked for much of the season, they each enter Wednesday’s matchup looking to improve on subpar performances.

The Maple Leafs recorded their lowest shot total (19) of the season Monday against the Vancouver Canucks but still emerged with a 3-1 victory. Toronto has gone eight games (7-0-1) without a regulation loss.

“We really didn’t have any business being in that game,” said Auston Matthews, who scored the game-winning goal 9:22 into the third period.

“You’ve got to … as a team, learn to fight through these kinds of games where maybe the puck’s not bouncing your way or you don’t have your good legs that particular night,” Matthews said. “Just fight through and find a way, and that’s what we did tonight.”

Matthews has scored in eight consecutive games as part of a 10-game points streak. The star forward has 14 points (11 goals, three assists) over those 10 games.

The Canadiens return to action after a pair of difficult games against the last-place Ottawa Senators. Montreal suffered a 3-2 loss on home ice on Feb. 4 before defeating the Senators 2-1 on Feb. 6 in Ottawa.

Despite the victory, Habs coach Claude Julien described his team as “a very ordinary group” in its most recent outing.

“I didn’t think we played our best games against Ottawa,” Julien said. “I’d even say that our second game was worse (than the first game). We have talent and depth, but if our work ethic and our combativeness aren’t at a maximum, we’re just like any other team.”

Montreal is 3-1-0 in its past four games.

The Habs also play Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers, so goalies Carey Price and Jake Allen are likely to split the two starts. Price likely will face Toronto because Allen started the most recent game, though Allen has played well enough (4-1-0 record, .940 save percentage) that it wouldn’t be surprising if he got the nod on Wednesday.

Price is off to a slow start by his normal standards, with a 4-1-2 record and an .899 save percentage through seven games.

Frederik Andersen also has been inconsistent over the season’s first month, but the Toronto goaltender has stopped 58 of 60 shots (.967 save percentage) over his past two games.

Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner has 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) over an eight-game points streak.

Montreal’s Jeff Petry and Josh Anderson have four goals apiece over their past four games. Anderson is riding a three-game scoring streak.

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MONTREAL vs OTTAWA
When: 2/6/2021 1:08 PM
Where:

TV: 1:08 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: OTTAWA , MONTREAL

Oddsmakers currently have the MONTREAL listed as -240-moneyline favorites versus the OTTAWA, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.5.

It has taken three weeks, but the Ottawa Senators finally have another chance to win back-to-back games.

They can do so with a second straight victory over the visiting Montreal Canadiens on Saturday afternoon.

Ottawa opened the season with a 5-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 15. The Senators then went 0-8-1 until Thursday’s 3-2 victory at Montreal.

Ottawa has been one of the NHL’s most generous teams by allowing 50 goals this season but yielded its fewest thus far on the campaign against the Canadiens. Montreal is the league’s highest-scoring club by averaging 4.18 goals per contest.

“I just felt like as a team, the way these games have been going for us, it’s really frustrating and it’s not a lack of effort,” Senators goaltender Matt Murray said following his 36-save performance on Thursday. “We’re trying our best every night. It just seemed like we were fighting against everything.

“It felt good to get off that streak, and this will propel us in the right direction.”

Ottawa rookie Tim Stutzle, 19, has been heading in the right direction for a while now with a goal in three straight games. He also had two assists on Thursday. Stutzle is the second-youngest player in Senators’ history to record three or more points in a regular-season game (Alexandre Daigle, 18 years, 244 days), per NHL Public Relations.

“With every shift, every game I play, I get more confidence to make plays,” said Stutzle, the third overall draft pick in 2020.

“After the win, it’s a great feeling.”

Murray (2-4-1, 4.40 goals-against average) could be back in net for the Senators, who are playing their first home game since Jan. 21. Backup Marcus Hogberg (0-4-0, 4.54 GAA), though, could be in line for his fourth start of the season.

Either will try to help the Senators hand Montreal back-to-back losses for the first time in 2020-21. Thursday’s defeat marked just the second time this season that the Canadiens lost in regulation.

Josh Anderson scored for the third time in two games and seventh overall for the Canadiens, who admit they were outplayed all over the ice after owning an 11-5 goal advantage in sweeping Vancouver over the previous two contests.

“(The Senators) played a lot better than us,” said Montreal’s Nick Suzuki, who was held without a point for just the second time this season on Thursday.

“They were hard on the forecheck, and it didn’t look like we were prepared for that. So, as a team it’s got to be a lot better Saturday.”

The Canadiens’ Carey Price (4-1-2, 2.81 GAA) saw his three-game winning streak come to a halt after yielding three goals on 22 shots. He’s stopped 90 of 93 shots during a personal three-game winning stretch at Ottawa.

Jake Allen, who’s posted a 2.02 goals-against average and .930 save percentage while winning three of his first four starts for Montreal, could also get the nod on Saturday.

Four of Brendan Gallagher’s five goals on the season have come in the last six games for the Canadiens.

Defenseman Thomas Chabot, meanwhile, has two goals with two assists in the last three games for the Senators, who’s most recent home win over the Canadiens came on Oct. 20, 2018.

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VANCOUVER vs MONTREAL
When: 2/1/2021 7:00 PM
Where:

TV: 7:00 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: MONTREAL , VANCOUVER

Oddsmakers currently have the VANCOUVER listed as 140-moneyline favorites versus the MONTREAL, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

Winners of four straight games, the Vancouver Canucks look to extend their streak against the last team to defeat them when the Canucks visit the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.

This is already the fourth meeting of the year between the two teams, with Montreal posting a 2-0-1 record over the first three games. After the Canucks collected a 6-5 shootout victory on January 20, the Canadiens dominated the next two games, outscoring Vancouver by a 12-5 margin.

Those losses now look like an early turning point for the Canucks, who are a perfect 4-0-0 since last facing the Canadiens. Vancouver reeled off three straight wins over the Ottawa Senators and then recorded a 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.

Canucks coach Travis Green felt the victory over Winnipeg was his team’s best overall effort of the season, a “200-foot game” that saw Vancouver excel in all facets.

“I thought we were on top of our game, the type of game we want to play,” Green said. “It takes a lot of work, a lot of effort from our players to play the way we need to, to have success. It looked more like our team from last year.”

Vancouver has allowed only one goal in every game of the four-game win streak, outscoring opponents 20-4.

Montreal is looking to rebound from its first regulation loss of the season, a 2-0 shutout to the Calgary Flames on Saturday. The Canadiens outshot Calgary by a 37-33 margin but were thwarted by goalie Jacob Markstrom (37 saves) and 22 blocked shots from the Flames.

“We just weren’t able to put the puck in,” forward Brendan Gallagher said. “It comes down to outworking the goaltender. We all put those expectations on ourselves to put the puck in, and we just didn’t do it.”

The Habs were 0-for-5 on the power play against Calgary. It was just the second time in eight games this season that Montreal didn’t score at least one power-play goal.

Canadiens forward Josh Anderson is questionable for Monday after leaving Saturday’s game due to flu-like symptoms. Coach Claude Julien said Anderson tested negative for COVID-19 and will be tested again prior to Monday.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi also briefly left Saturday’s game after a hit from Calgary’s Dillon Dube, but Kotkaniemi returned to play in the third period. Kotkaniemi passed concussion protocols but could potentially be a question mark for Monday’s lineup.

The Canadiens and Canucks also play on Tuesday, leaving both teams likely to use both goalies during the back-to-back series.

Carey Price is Montreal’s probable starter in net for Monday. Backup Jake Allen got the start on Saturday and played well in the loss, stopping 31 of 32 shots.

Thatcher Demko will likely start for the Canucks on Monday, with Braden Holtby tentatively scheduled for Tuesday. The red-hot Demko is 3-0-0 with a .971 save percentage over his last three starts.

Vancouver has three players with 11 points in 11 games played this season — Brock Boeser (eight goals, three assists), Bo Horvat (five goals, six assists) and Quinn Hughes (one goal, 10 assists).

The Canadiens are 17-1-4 over their last 22 games against Vancouver dating to the 2009-10 season. The Canucks haven’t recorded a regulation victory in Montreal since Jan. 16, 2007.

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MONTREAL CANADIENS vs MINNESOTA WILD
When: 8:00 PM  ET, Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota

TV: 8:00 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: MINNESOTA , MONTREAL

Oddsmakers currently have the MONTREAL listed as 150-moneyline favorites versus the MINNESOTA, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

The Minnesota Wild sustained the worst result of their season after falling for the fifth time in six outings to conclude a Western Canadian road trip. The Wild look to get back on track Tuesday when they open a four-game homestand versus the Montreal Canadiens, against whom they have won seven straight encounters.

“It’s a test of character now. You either bounce back or you start blaming everybody else. We’ve got to look at ourselves,” Minnesota coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters. The view hasn’t been favorable for Devan Dubnyk, who dropped his fourth decision in five outings after yielding three goals on six shots before being relieved in Friday’s 7-2 setback in Edmonton – although he owns a 7-1-1 mark with one shutout, a 2.21 goals-against average and .929 save percentage in nine career encounters with the Canadiens. Carey Price likely will provide the opposition as the former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner has proven to be a workhorse by starting seven games in a row and 11 of the last 12 for Montreal, which has won three in a row heading into the finale of its three-game road trip. Price, who is 4-6-0, 3.21, .883 in 10 career meetings against Minnesota, turned aside 37 shots and foiled seven of eight power plays in Sunday’s 3-2 victory versus Chicago.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TSN2, RDS (Montreal), FS North, FS Wisconsin (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (15-10-5): Max Domi added to his team-leading totals by scoring his third goal in three contests against the Blackhawks. Fellow offseason acquisition Tomas Tatar netted the go-ahead tally on a deflection with 1:17 remaining in the third period to extend his point streak to three games and give him 12 goals, two shy of the 23-year-old Domi. Fellow forward Brendan Gallagher, who has 13 goals, scored twice in a 6-3 loss to Minnesota on Nov. 2, 2017.

ABOUT THE WILD (15-12-2): Boudreau expressed optimism toward the potential return of captain Mikko Koivu, noting that the versatile two-way center could return to action during the team’s homestand. “That’s the way we look at it,” Boudreau said of Koivu, who missed Minnesota’s game against the Oilers with a lower-body injury. “It’s nowhere near anything we thought. He’s working out hard right now. We’ll see how he goes (Tuesday).” Koivu is part of a three-way tie for the team lead in assists (17) with fellow center Mikael Granlund, who set up three goals in last season’s series versus Montreal to boost his point total to 11 (two goals, nine assists) in 10 career contests and defenseman Ryan Suter.

OVERTIME

1. Montreal D Shea Weber has recorded 25 points (six goals, 19 assists) in 43 career games against Minnesota.

2. Wild C Eric Staal has registered 43 points (21 goals, 22 assists) in 46 career contests versus the Canadiens.

3. Montreal D Jeff Petry has answered a five-game point drought with four (two goals, two assists) in his last four outings.

PREDICTION: Wild 3, Canadiens 1

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SAN JOSE SHARKS vs MONTREAL CANADIENS
When: 7:00 PM  ET, Sunday, December 2, 2018
Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec

TV: 7:05 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: MONTREAL , SAN JOSE

Oddsmakers currently have the SAN JOSE listed as -125-moneyline favorites versus the MONTREAL, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

The scuffling San Jose Sharks look to avoid a winless five-game road trip and extend their mastery in the series when they visit the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night. The Sharks are 0-3-1 on their trek while allowing 20 goals after a frustrating 6-2 loss at Ottawa on Saturday afternoon in which they totaled 38 shots – nine by major preseason acquisition Erik Karlsson.

“We’ve just got to stop the bleeding,” San Jose captain Joe Pavelski told reporters after the loss. “We’ve got to put an end to this, figure it out, find a way to win. We’ve got to fix it in here. There’s nothing else coming right now.” The Sharks have won six straight meetings with the Canadiens, who snapped a five-game losing streak Saturday with a 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers at home as captain Shea Weber scored his first two goals of the season. Weber, who missed the first 24 games of the season while recovering from offseason knee surgery, had an assist in his season debut Tuesday against Carolina and the defenseman scored the first two in Saturday’s triumph as Montreal built a 4-0 lead and cruised from there. The Canadiens also welcomed back forward Paul Byron, who missed a little over a month with a lower-body injury, and he registered an assist in 14 minutes, 28 seconds of playing time.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), Sportsnet, Sportsnet One, RDS (Montreal)

ABOUT THE SHARKS (12-10-5): Karlsson’s return to Ottawa, where he spent the first nine seasons of his career before the trade, was eventful and he told reporters afterward: “It’s going to be nice to move on now. I’m excited to play (Sunday) in Montreal and hopefully sort this mess out.” Fellow defenseman Brent Burns notched an assist for the third straight game Saturday and leads the team with 27 points while center Logan Couture has eight points in the last seven games to push his total to 25. Pavelski had an assist in the loss at Ottawa and posted three of his team-best 16 goals in the previous two contests.

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (12-9-5): Center Max Domi (11 goals) had not hit the scoresheet in three straight games before notching an assist Saturday and leads the team with 27 points while Tomas Tatar (11 goals) scored once and set up another to tie Jonathan Drouin for second at 21. Artturi Lehkonen scored twice against the Rangers after managing the same amount in his first 25 games and fellow forward Kenny Agostino recorded his fourth point in six games. Goalie Carey Price (8-7-4) snapped a four-game losing streak with 20 saves Saturday, but could give way to Antti Niemi (4-2-1) in the second of a back-to-back.

OVERTIME

1. Montreal F Andrew Shaw needs one goal to reach 100 and one point to get to 200 in his career.

2. San Jose F Timo Meier, who is second on the team with 13 goals, could miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury.

3. Sharks Gs Martin Jones (6-1-0) and Aaron Dell have won seven of their eight career decisions against the Canadiens.

PREDICTION: Canadiens 4, Sharks 3

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MONTREAL CANADIENS vs CALGARY FLAMES
When: 9:00 PM  ET, Thursday, November 15, 2018
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta

TV: 9:05 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: CALGARY , MONTREAL

Oddsmakers currently have the MONTREAL listed as 125-moneyline favorites versus the CALGARY, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

The Calgary Flames managed only four goals during a three-game road trip against their Pacific Division rivals in California, but they will look to get back on track against an opponent that is struggling mightily to shut down the opposition. The Flames will look to dent Montreal’s porous defense when they open a four-game homestand against the Canadiens on Thursday night.

Calgary had won four straight before dropping two of three in California, with the lone win a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. “Everyone wants to be on the scoresheet and get points, but … you have to make a difference to help the team win,” forward Sam Bennett said. “If it’s not going (in), if you’re not getting on the scoresheet, you have to contribute in other ways.” The Canadiens were bludgeoned by Edmonton 6-2 in the opener of their three-game trek through Western Canada and have surrendered 21 goals while dropping three of their last four. “You can’t win games 6-5 and 5-4 all the time,” Montreal defenseman David Schlemko said. “We talked about that, and it’s time to buckle down and execute.”

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS RDS, TSN2 (Montreal), Sportsnet West (Calgary)

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (9-6-3): Forward Max Domi got the day off from practice Wednesday but he scored his team-leading 10th goal against Edmonton to extend his points streak to seven games. Domi’s marker allowed him to surpass his season total in 82 games with Arizona last season and gave him five goals and six assists during his point streak. Coach Claude Julien said after practice that he was leaning toward starting goaltender Carey Price, who has surrendered 19 goals in his last four appearances but who had a strong outing in a 3-2 win over Calgary on Oct. 23.

ABOUT THE FLAMES (10-7-1): Veteran Mike Smith has allowed at least three goals in eight of his 12 starts, but he will get the nod after turning aside 26 of 28 shots in Sunday’s 3-1 loss at San Jose. “At points in the season, it hasn’t been there,” Smith said. “It was nice to get in a game like that and keep it close as long as we could there, and have a good couple days of practice. It’s about going into tomorrow and just being myself and hopefully get a big win.” Calgary will feature a revamped second line with Mikael Backlund centering Matthew Tkachuk and Bennett.

OVERTIME

1. Flames F Johnny Gaudreau has two goals and 11 points in nine games against Montreal.

2. Domi had two assists versus Calgary last month, giving him 12 points in 13 games versus the Flames.

3. Flames F Dillon Dube will sit out one more game, coach Bill Peters said.

PREDICTION: Flames 4, Canadiens 3

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BUFFALO SABRES vs MONTREAL CANADIENS
When: 7:30 PM  ET, Thursday, November 8, 2018
Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec

TV: 7:35 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: MONTREAL , BUFFALO

Oddsmakers currently have the BUFFALO listed as 115-moneyline favorites versus the MONTREAL, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.5.

The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres each put together three-game winning streaks last month, but neither team has been able to generate much consistency since then. The Canadiens have alternated losses and wins over their past nine games while the Sabres have dropped four of five entering Thursday night’s matchup in Montreal.

The Canadiens were denied a chance at back-to-back victories after surrendering four unanswered goals, including three in the third period, in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss at the New York Rangers. “At times in key crucial moments of the game, I think we have to have a better killer instinct,” Montreal forward Brendan Gallagher said. “It’s tough to sit here at the end of the day when those things are in your control and we could have had a better outcome.” Buffalo also is coming off a road loss to the Rangers, although coach Phil Housley had no issues with his team’s effort after it poured 40 shots on goal. “I liked the way we played the game tonight,” Housley said. “If we continue to play like that, we’re going to win a lot of hockey games.”

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG-Buffalo, RDS, TSN2 (Montreal)

ABOUT THE SABRES (7-6-2): Buffalo’s No. 1 line of captain Jack Eichel, Jeff Skinner and Jason Pominville was held off the scoresheet Sunday after erupting for nine points in the previous game versus Ottawa and 38 in the previous seven contests. Conor Sheary netted the team’s lone goal in Monday’s loss and has scored in back-to-back games after managing only one assist during an eight-game goalless drought. Housley said that defenseman Nathan Beaulieu, who has appeared in only one of the past eight games, will return to the lineup Thursday against his former team.

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (8-5-2): Forward Max Domi has scored in four consecutive games and his nine tallies in his first season with Montreal have all come in the past nine contests, matching his total from 82 games with the Arizona Coyotes in 2017-18. Such consistency has been lacking in net, however: Carey Price was singed for three goals on eight shots in the third period against the Rangers and has surrendered a combined 13 tallies in his last three starts. For the season, Price owns a 5-4-2 record with an unsightly 2.81 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.

OVERTIME

1. Domi has seven goals in his last seven games, including two in a 4-3 loss at Buffalo last month.

2. Skinner had three assists versus Montreal last month and has 11 goals and 20 points in 26 games against the Canadiens.

3. The Canadiens recalled F Kenny Agostino from Laval of the American Hockey League.

PREDICTION: Canadiens 4, Sabres 2

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MONTREAL CANADIENS vs NY RANGERS
When: 7:00 PM  ET, Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

TV: 7:05 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: NY RANGERS , MONTREAL

Oddsmakers currently have the MONTREAL listed as -250 moneyline favorites versus the NY RANGERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 211.5.

The New York Rangers attempt to extend their season-high winning streak to four games when they host the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday for a battle between Original Six teams. New York had not recorded consecutive victories this campaign prior to its current run, which was stretched with Sunday’s 3-1 home triumph over Buffalo.

Jimmy Vesey ended his six-game goal-scoring drought with authority as he registered his second two-goal performance of 2018-19 for the Rangers, who have posted four of their six wins at home. New York could be without a pair of forwards against Montreal as Ryan Spooner (lower body) is day-to-day while rookie Brett Howden, who has recorded a goal and four assists in his last five games, exited Sunday’s win after crashing face-first into the end boards. The Canadiens are hoping to register consecutive victories for just the second time this season after edging the New York Islanders 4-3 in a shootout on Monday. Montreal rallied from a 3-1 deficit and improved to 3-1-2 on the road when Joel Armia scored the lone goal of the bonus format in the fifth round.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN2, RDS (Montreal), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (8-4-2): Max Domi has been wielding a hot stick for Montreal, registering at least one of his team-leading 15 points in nine of his last 10 games after notching a goal and an assist on Monday. The 23-year-old center, who is the son of former NHL enforcer Tie Domi, has tallied in seven of his last nine contests. The Canadiens are hoping forward Jonathan Drouin also is heating up, as the 23-year-old scored a goal and set up another versus the Islanders after recording just one assist in his previous five games.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (6-7-1): Mats Zuccarello has notched seven points in his last nine games and leads the team with seven assists. The 31-year-old Norwegian’s next assist will be his 221st, snapping a tie with Phil Esposito for 25th place on the franchise list. Henrik Lundqvist has posted back-to-back victories following an 0-3-1 stretch and needs two wins to tie the legendary Jacques Plante (437) for seventh place on the all-time list.

OVERTIME

1. Lundqvist has gone 4-0-0 with one shutout, a 0.94 goals-against average and a .967 save percentage in his last four appearances – including playoffs – versus the Canadiens.

2. Montreal LW Artturi Lehkonen scored the game-tying goal on Monday, his first tally since the season opener at Toronto on Oct. 3.

3. The Rangers recalled 20-year-old C Lias Andersson, who recorded a goal and an assist in seven games with the club last season, from Hartford of the American Hockey League.

PREDICTION: Rangers 5, Canadiens 2

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MONTREAL CANADIENS vs NY ISLANDERS
When: 7:00 PM  ET, Monday, November 5, 2018
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York

TV: 7:05 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: NY ISLANDERS , MONTREAL

Oddsmakers currently have the MONTREAL listed as -105-moneyline favorites versus the NY ISLANDERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.5.

The New York Islanders attempt to extend their winning streak to six contests when they wrap up their three-game homestand Monday against the Montreal Canadiens. New York, which has earned points in six straight (5-0-1), has allowed only two goals while posting victories over Pittsburgh and New Jersey during the string at home.

Josh Bailey notched a pair of assists in Saturday’s 3-0 triumph over the Devils to increase his team-leading total to 15 points and extend his streak to eight games (two goals, nine assists). Montreal is coming off a 1-2-0 homestand that concluded Saturday with a 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay. Max Domi scored 58 seconds into the contest, but the Canadiens were unable to muster any more offense and continued their trend of alternating victories and defeats since posting a three-game winning streak from Oct. 13-17. Montreal has earned at least one point in four of its five road contests this season (2-1-2), posting a 3-0 triumph at Boston on Oct. 27 in its last game away from home.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN2, RDS (Montreal), MSG Plus 2 (New York)

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (7-4-2): Domi is proving to be a solid acquisition after coming over from Arizona for former 30-goal scorer Alex Galchenyuk in mid-June. The 23-year-old son of former NHL enforcer Tie Domi, who was drafted 12th overall by the Coyotes in 2013, leads Montreal with 13 points – notching at least one in eight of his last nine games – and has recorded a goal in six of his last eight contests. Carey Price has won three of his last five starts and is nine victories away from 300 for his career.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (8-4-1): Thomas Greiss, who posted his ninth career shutout on Saturday, has allowed only three goals on 105 shots in his last three starts. The 32-year-old German is tied with Chris Osgood and Kelly Hrudey for seventh place on the franchise list with six shutouts, is even with Glenn Healy for seventh with 66 victories and shares 10th place with Garth Snow at 127 games played. Scoring first has been key for New York, which is 7-0-1 when recording the initial goal and 1-4-0 when allowing it.

OVERTIME

1. Islanders C Brock Nelson’s goal on Saturday was his 106th, moving him past Ed Westfall and Benoit Hogue for 28th place on the franchise list.

2. Montreal has dominated the all-time series of late, winning nine of the last 12 meetings.

3. Bailey’s next goal will be his 128th and snap a tie with Jason Blake for 19th in franchise history.

PREDICTION: Islanders 3, Canadiens 2

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WASHINGTON CAPITALS vs MONTREAL CANADIENS
When: 7:30 PM  ET, Thursday, November 1, 2018
Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec

TV: 7:35 PM
LINE: 0
PREDICTION: MONTREAL , WASHINGTON

Oddsmakers currently have the WASHINGTON listed as -125-moneyline favorites versus the MONTREAL, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.

The Washington Capitals have a chance to post back-to-back victories for the first time this season when they wrap up a four-game road trip with a visit to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night. The defending Stanley Cup champions have enjoyed spectacular success in Montreal, winning five in a row and 12 of their last 13 at the Bell Centre.

First-year coach Todd Reirden acknowledged that the Capitals are “still a work in progress” after their spirited run to claiming the Stanley Cup last season. “As much as you want to talk about building momentum from last year — and we have the majority of our players back — it’s tough to replicate the intensity that goes on, and just the detail in our game could improve,” Reirden said. The Canadiens, who will be trying to avoid dropping two in a row for the first time this season, opened a three-game homestand with a 4-1 loss to Dallas and now have to face Washington and Tampa Bay over the next three nights. “It’s too bad because we worked hard,” Montreal coach Claude Julien said. “The effort was there but the result just wasn’t.”

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, RDS, TSN2 (Montreal), NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (5-3-2): Defenseman Brooks Orpik sustained a lower-body injury in Saturday’s 4-3 shootout win at Calgary and has been ruled out of Thursday’s matchup by Reirden. Madison Bowey played 10 1/2 minutes against the Flames and could be paired with another second-year blue-liner in Christian Djoos versus Montreal. “This is the growth of them as young players, to see where they are at and to see how they do in these situations,” Reirden said. “That’s how we’ll start the game, and throughout the game they’ll probably play with other players as well. … But those will be our three pairs to start the game.”

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (6-3-2): Leading goal scorer Brendan Gallagher and Paul Byron both missed Wednesday’s practice, but only the latter’s status is in question after he suffered a lower-body injury against Dallas. “Gallagher was definitely just a maintenance day,” Julien said. “Same thing with Paulie, but Paulie I think is more day-to-day. I know Gallagher will be fine tomorrow. Can’t say the same about Paulie yet. We’ll go about it on a day-to-day basis.” With Gallagher and Byron absent, Julien juggled his lines and put together the all-Finnish trio of Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Armia on one unit.

OVERTIME

1. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin had four goals and an assist in three games versus Montreal last season.

2. Canadiens G Carey Price has labored against the Capitals with a 6-13-4 record and 3.30 goals-against average.

3. Washington’s top-ranked power play is converting on 37.1 percent (13-for-35) of its chances.

PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Canadiens 2

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