Here are five things you should know about the Canadiens-Penguins game at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio):
The matchup: This is the first half of a back-to-back set for the Canadiens, who are home to the Ottawa Senators Wednesday. Montreal is coming off a 2-1 win over the Rangers in New York Friday in what was the tail end of a back-to-back set. The Canadiens are on a 2-6-2 run in their last 10 games and are two points out of a playoff spot. The Penguins have won three in a row and are 6-2-2 in their last 10. They have moved into one of the wild-card spots in the East.
Another setback for Hudon: Charles Hudon latest attempt to establish himself as a full-time NHL player has ended. Hudon was returned to the AHL’s Laval Rocket on the weekend and the Canadiens have called up Riley Barber. Hudon is Laval’s leading goal-scorer (nine) but he managed only one assist in nine games with the Canadiens. Barber, who will play on the fourth line with Nate Thompson and Matthew Peca, is Laval’s leading scorer, with 18 points in 21 games. He’ll be playing his first game with the Canadiens.
Who’s in goal? Claude Julien hasn’t been forthcoming about his choice of goaltenders this season, but you can be assured that Carey Price will get the call in this game. As far as playing back-to-back, consider that when the Canadiens had back-to-back games last month in Columbus and then at home against Ottawa, Price played both games. He lost 5-2 to the Blue Jackets and lost 2-1 in overtime to the Sens. And while Julien wouldn’t commit to using rookie Cayden Primeau in one of these games, he could face Ottawa for his second NHL start.
Medical updates: Both teams are missing key players, but the Penguins have the biggest hole in the lineup because Sidney Crosby is out following surgery to repair a sports hernia. The Penguins are also missing forwards Patric Hornqvist and Nick Bjugstad and defenceman Brian Dumoulin. Jesperi Kotkaniemi didn’t accompany the team to Pittsburgh, but he hasn’t been placed on the injured-reserve list, which means the Canadiens don’t believe his concussion will keep him out of the lineup for long. Forwards Jonathan Drouin and Paul Byron and defenceman Victor Mete are on the injured-reserve list.
Malkin steps up: When a key player is injured, coaches talk about the necessity of other players stepping up. In the case of the Penguins, Evgeni Malkin has a history of doing that whenever Crosby has been sidelined. He has four goals and six assists in the past six games, while Jake Guentzel has four goals and four assists. One player who has not stepped up is former Canadien Alex Galchenyuk. He has two goals and eight assists in 21 games and is reportedly on the trading block.
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