[3:00 PM] Canadiens @ Kings

Who will WIN this matchup?

Montreal Canadiens (16-6-2)

@ Los Angeles Kings (13-10-1)

 

Starting Goalies:

Carey Price(MON): Confirmed

Peter Budaj(LAK): Unconfirmed

 

• The Los Angeles Kings continue to stay afloat in the competitive Pacific Division without No. 1 goaltender Jonathan Quick as they begin a three-game homestand Sunday against the Montreal Canadiens. Much of the credit goes to Peter Budaj as the No. 3 goalie appeared in 22 straight games (20 starts) – a run originally necessitated by a groin injury to No. 2 Jeff Zatkoff, but prolonged on merit. Zatkoff, though, could be on the verge of regaining his backup role – or No. 1 position with Quick likely out another two months with a groin injury – after stopping 25 of 26 shots over the last two periods in relief of Budaj on Thursday in a 4-3 victory in Arizona.

• Atlantic Division-leading Montreal played its fourth consecutive 2-1 game Friday, losing at San Jose and leaving them 1-2-0 on a five-game road trip that concludes Tuesday in St. Louis.

• Alex Galchenyuk owns a team-most nine goals with three in his last six games and leads the club with 23 points. Alexander Radulov (four goals, 14 assists) left Friday’s game with a cut just below his eyebrow that required stitches after the stick of San Jose’s Logan Couture went underneath his visor, but Galchenyuk’s linemate is expected to play Sunday. Carey Price (13-3-1, 1.71 goals-against average, .946 save percentage), who is riding his first losing streak of the season (two games), allowed two or fewer goals in 14 of his 17 games.

• Marian Gaborik recorded an assist in each of his last two games – his second and third contests of the season since returning from a foot injury sustained during the World Cup of Hockey – and is skating on a line with Anze Kopitar and Trevor Lewis. Kopitar recorded two assists Thursday and has three in four games since missing five with hand and wrist injuries. Jeff Carter leads the team with 10 goals, but scored only one in the last four games after exploding for four in three contests while Jordan Nolan recorded his first two tallies of the season Thursday to snap a 66-game drought dating to April 9, 2015.

• The Canadiens won 4-1 on Nov. 10 in the first of two meetings this season to snap a three-game slide in the series, but lost their last three in Los Angeles.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Montreal Canadiens

Confidence: 5/10

Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Previous Pick
Next Pick