Montreal @ Ottawa preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 4, 2018 ) Ottawa 2, Montreal 5

Max Domi and Jonathan Drouin are proving to be a formidable duo up front and they seek a second straight standout performance when the Montreal Canadiens go for a sweep in the home-and-home set against the host Ottawa Senators on Thursday. Domi and Drouin combined for three goals and three assists as the Canadiens pulled away for a 5-2 victory over Ottawa at home Tuesday for their second win in three games.

“I know how (Drouin) is going to pass the puck,” Domi told reporters after Drouin set up Domi's team-leading 12th and 13th goals Tuesday. “You read the spin on it. He knows where the sweet spot is. Good players like (Drouin) can find that and all I had to really do was smack the puck.” Domi, who had 45 points in 82 games with Arizona in 2017-18 before the offseason trade, leads Montreal with 30 in 28 outings and Drouin boasts 17 of his 25 points in the past 15 contests. The Canadiens have points in eight of the last nine meetings (7-1-1) against the Senators, who saw their season high-tying three-game winning streak come to end after giving up three goals in a 3:39 stretch late in the second period Tuesday. “Everything tonight was self-inflicted for us,” Ottawa defenseman Dylan DeMelo told reporters. “They did a good job of capitalizing on their opportunities. … It would be a setback if there’s a snowball effect. If we can rectify it, and I’m very confident we can, I think when Thursday comes you’ll see a better effort from us.”

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

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (13-10-5): Right wing Brendan Gallagher scored his first goal in five games Tuesday to sit second on the team behind Domi with 12 and one ahead of linemate Tomas Tatar. Artturi Lehkonen registered three of his five goals this season in the last three games, including the final tally in Tuesday’s victory, and fellow forward Paul Byron owns two assists in three games since returning from injured reserve. Former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner Carey Price (9-8-4, 3.01 goals-against average, .899 save percentage) has won two of three starts this month after finishing November with four straight losses and is expected in net Thursday.

ABOUT THE SENATORS (12-13-3): Center Matt Duchene leads the team with 34 points - 22 coming in 15 games during November - but he has managed one point (assist) and one shot on net combined in the first two games this month. Right wing Mark Stone notched his team-leading 13th goal Tuesday and boasts four tallies along with two assists in the last five games to reach 30 points - third on the team behind Duchene and defenseman Thomas Chabot (31). Gritty rookie forward Brady Tkachuk, who recorded 16 points (nine goals) in his first 14 NHL games this season, has not hit the scoresheet in three consecutive contests - a season high.

OVERTIME

1. Chabot entered Wednesday leading all defenseman in the league in points and tops Ottawa with 77 shots.

2. Montreal D Shea Weber boasts three points, a plus-four rating and 14 shots in four games since returning from offseason surgery.

3. The Senators own points in 11 of 15 home games (9-4-2) this season, but sit last in the league in penalty killing overall (70.7 percent).

PREDICTION: Canadiens 4, Senators 2