• The Habs (26-11-2) are coming off a big week, going 4-0 on the road, including a 4-1 win at Pittsburgh. Montreal regained the top spot in the Atlantic Division and jumped to fourth in the league with 54 points; four points shy of the first place, Anaheim Ducks. They are 9-1-0 in their last ten games.

• Carey Price. Price picked up his 200th career win last week and has 22 this season (2nd) as well as a save percentage of .929 (4th).
• P.K. Subban. Subban already has eight goals this season, two shy of where he finished last season. He hasn’t scored since December 12 against Los Angeles but consistently gets assists, adding four in his last two games.

• The Habs are on a hot streak, winning six straight and have seen an increase in their offensive performance, while continuing to keep the puck out of their net, averaging just 2.26 goals against (3rd).

• The Montreal offence had a successful week but still are struggling to get shots on net, only averaging 27.5 (27th). The Habs’ power-play continues to flounder, dropping to 14.6 per cent.

• The Lightning (25-12-4) are coming off a 4-2 win against Ottawa last Sunday and start their week against Montreal on Tuesday. Tampa Bay is second in the Atlantic Division and second in the league with 54 points. They are 6-3-1 in their last ten games.

• Tyler Johnson. With 43 points this season (4th), Johnson is an offensive force that is going to be tough to stop. He also leads the league with a + 26 rating and has six points in his last three games.
• Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov is ninth in the league with 17 goals this season and also tied for first in the league with a + 26 rating. He has five points in his last three games.

• The Lightning offence is on fire right now, averaging 3.24 goals a game (1st) and their defence is first in the league, only allowing 27 shots against per game.

• Tampa Bay struggles to win faceoffs, with a win percentage of 49.7 per cent.

Season Series

• October 13, 2014 | MTL 1 TBL 7 | Recap – Canadiens vs Lightning: High-Flying Habs Come Crashing Back to Earth

• The Penguins (24-10-5) last game was a 4-1 loss last Saturday against Montreal. They will play Boston Wednesday, then Montreal again Saturday. Pittsburgh is first in the Metropolitan Division and seventh in the league with 53 points. They are 5-4-1 in their last ten games played.

• Chris Kunitz. Kunitz has six power-play goals this season and has racked up four points in his last four games.
• David Perron. Perron scored in his first game in a Penguins jersey (against the Habs) since coming in a trade with Edmonton. No doubt that he will have extra incentive to perform at the Bell Centre back in his home province and playing on the first line with Sidney Crosby.
• Sidney Crosby. Personal repugnance aside, Crosby has 32 assists this season (2nd), and five in his last two games. Crosby always seems to play well at the Bell Centre against the team he cheered for as a youngster.

• The Penguins have a lot of offensive talent, averaging 2.97 goals per game and a strong penalty-kill at 87.8 per cent (2nd).

• Pittsburgh gives their opponents plenty of scoring chances, allowing 30.4 shots against per game.

Season Series

• January 3, 2015 | MTL 4 PIT 1 | Recap – Canadiens vs Penguins: Habs Beat Pens For 6th Straight Win
• November 18, 2014 | MTL 0 PIT 4 | Recap – Penguins vs Canadiens: Not Ready for Prime Time