Montreal @ Vancouver preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 3, 2019 ) Vancouver 0, Montreal 2

The Montreal Canadiens are embarking on a season-long seven-game road trip that will carry them through the end of the calendar year -- and it may be the best thing for the club considering the struggles on home ice. The Canadiens will kick off the trek against one of their favorite opponents when they take on the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.

Montreal has won seven straight against the Canucks, including its last three visits to Vancouver, but it will be looking to rebound from a 2-1 home loss to league-worst Detroit. "It's going be really tough," forward Tomas Tatar said of the upcoming stretch. "Every road game is a battle, so it's going to be a tough seven games. Hopefully, we'll be ready for it." The Canucks hit a favorable portion of the schedule with five straight and seven of eight at home after giving up 10 goals in consecutive losses at San Jose and Vegas. "It's well known you don't want to give up the first goal in the league," coach Travis Green said after his team fell to 6-12-4 when yielding the opening tally. "It's hard to come back in this league."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, RDS, TSN2 (Montreal), Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (15-12-6): General manager Marc Bergevin told reporters Monday that he expected the club to be in contention for a playoff spot, although he noted that the dismal home record (8-8-3) and a 27th-ranked penalty kill among "areas that I'd like to see us improving." Tatar prevented a shutout in the final minute versus Detroit with a short-handed tally in the final minute, stretching his goal-scoring streak to three games. Tatar has seven goals and 10 points in 16 games against Vancouver.

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (16-14-4): Vancouver scored only seven goals in dropping three of its last four -- the only win in that span was a 1-0 victory in overtime -- following a stretch in which it amassed 18 tallies in winning three of four. “We need to skate and play our game and dictate the pace and when we do that, I think we’re competitive every night," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said. Second-year center Elias Pettersson scored for the third time in his last six games to take over the team lead with 14 goals.

OVERTIME

1. The Canucks are 1-for-12 on the power play in the last four games.

2. Canadiens C Phillip Danault has 13 points in 14 road games.

3. Canucks F Sven Baertschi cleared waivers and will remain with Utica of the American Hockey League.

PREDICTION: Canadiens 3, Canucks 2