Montreal @ New Jersey preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 28, 2019 ) New Jersey 6, Montreal 4

Sitting nine points out of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, the Montreal Canadiens are acutely aware that they need to go on a run, particularly since their longest winning streak this season is three games. The Canadiens have won six of nine overall and three straight on the road entering Tuesday's game at the New Jersey Devils.

Montreal has posted back-to-back wins three times over the past nine games, only to be denied a third straight victory each time -- the latest coming in a 4-3 setback to Columbus on Sunday. “If we won three games and lost one and won another three we’d be OK,” coach Claude Julien said. “But it's more about we haven’t had a long, long winning streak and that’s what we need right now." The Devils have dropped five of six (1-3-2) but have earned points in all three games coming out of the All-Star break, dropping a shootout decision to Nashville before falling in overtime to Dallas. Despite its last-place standing in the Metropolitan Division, New Jersey has dominated the series against the Canadiens, winning seven in a row and both matchups this season.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: MSG, RDS, TSN2

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (24-23-7): Julien decided to cancel Monday's practice due to the flu that is sweeping through Montreal's locker room. “It’s not just a Montreal thing, it’s a league thing,” Julien said. "Obviously, the flu bug being around, there’s fatigue. These guys put out a lot of energy. They’re always together. Everywhere you turn around you’re touching the same thing, so it just takes one or two players." Goaltender Carey Price is among the players victimized and did not travel with the team to New Jersey.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (18-24-9): New Jersey has manpower issues of a different nature as top-line center Nico Hischier and defenseman Sami Vatanen did not practice Monday due to injuries but both remain possibilities to face Montreal. The Devils dipped into the minors to call up forward Joey Anderson, who had 15 goals and 34 points in 44 games at Binghamton of the American Hockey League. "My confidence with the puck is as high as I've ever had it," said Anderson, who had four goals in 34 games with the Devils last season. "I'm confident making plays."

OVERTIME

1. Canadiens F Tomas Tatar has scored in three straight to reach 20 goals for the fifth time.

2. Devils fourth-line C Kevin Rooney has two goals during a three-game point streak.

3. Montreal called up G Cayden Primeau from Laval of the AHL on an emergency basis.

PREDICTION: Devils 4, Canadiens 3