Ottawa @ Montreal preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 20, 2018 ) Montreal 3, Ottawa 4

The Ottawa Senators were only two points out of a playoff spot when the week began and can extend their winning streak to a season-high four games when they visit the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday to start a home-and-home set. The Senators, who host the Canadiens on Thursday, rallied to win at Philadelphia to start the run before knocking off the New York Rangers (3-0) and San Jose (6-2) at home with two of their best efforts of the season.

“We’ve seen ourselves grow in the last two games,” Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson told reporters after Saturday’s win over the Sharks. “. … We’re starting to string some momentum together, and playing in the right direction, playing the right way, and I think our guys are getting rewarded, too.” Anderson is expected back in net after turning aside 63 of the 65 shots he faced the last two games as the Senators attempt to catch the rival Canadiens for fifth place in the Atlantic Division with Montreal dropping six of its last seven games (1-4-2). The Canadiens outshot San Jose 22-7 in the final 20 minutes Sunday, but did not score and suffered a 3-1 setback. “We knew they were going to be hungry and I think they were the better team in the first period,” Montreal defenseman Jeff Petry told reporters after scoring the only goal Sunday. “And as the game went on, I think we got better, but that’s something we need to do from the start.”

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, RDS, TSN2, TSN5

ABOUT THE SENATORS (12-12-3): Thomas Chabot led all NHL defensemen to start the week with 31 points and became the third fastest Ottawa blue liner (27 games) to reach 30 - behind only Wade Redden (24) and Erik Karlsson (26). Center Matt Duchene did not make the scoresheet Saturday, but recorded eight goals and 14 assists in 15 games during November and leads the team with 33 points. Right wing Mark Stone, who scored twice against Montreal earlier this season, tied Duchene for the team lead with 12 goals Saturday and has five of his 29 points in the last four games.

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (12-10-5): Max Domi, in his first season with Montreal, has made the scoresheet once in the last five games but leads the team with 27 points - five better than fellow forward Jonathan Drouin, who boasts 14 points in his past 14 games. Left wing Tomas Tatar has two goals in his last five games to tie Domi and right wing Brendan Gallagher for the team lead with 11 tallies. All-Star defenseman Shea Weber, who missed the first 24 contests while recovering from knee surgery, has two goals, one assist, a plus-2 rating and 11 shots in his first three games back.

OVERTIME

1. Montreal F Andrew Shaw registered his 200th career point Sunday and needs one goal to reach 100.

2. Ottawa D Mark Borowiecki (upper body) has missed five straight games and is expected to sit out the home-and-home series with Montreal.

3. The Canadiens are 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings, but dropped a 4-3 overtime decision at Ottawa on Oct. 20.

PREDICTION: Canadiens 4, Senators 2