Montreal @ Pittsburgh preview
PPG Paints Arena
Last Meeting ( Oct 14, 2024 ) Pittsburgh 6, Montreal 3
The Pittsburgh Penguins will look to win back-to-back games for just the second time this season when they play host to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.
Captain Sidney Crosby scored twice, including the overtime winner, as Pittsburgh edged the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 on Thursday night.
Crosby now has three goals and nine assists in 12 games this season.
Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made 22 saves for his first win of the season.
Thursday's victory snapped a six-game winless skid (0-5-1) where the Penguins were outscored 27-13 and allowed at least four goals against in each contest.
"I thought (Thursday) was one of our more complete games," said Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan. "I thought we controlled territory. We played more of a north-south, straight-ahead game. We're not compromising our offense by playing a more calculated game. That's the conversation that we're having with the group.
"We're not going to score our way to success. We're going to defend our way to success. That's the message that we're preaching to the group. I thought a lot of guys bought in and played extremely well."
Nedeljkovic is 1-2-1 in four starts this season with a 3.18 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage. In five career games against the Canadiens, Nedeljkovic is 2-1-1 with a .944 save percentage and a 1.91 GAA.
Center Evgeni Malkin has a team-leading 11 assists and 14 points in 12 games this season, while forward Rickard Rakell leads the Penguins with six goals in 12 games.
Saturday is the second of three meetings between the Penguins and the Canadiens. Malkin recorded a goal and two assists, leading Pittsburgh to a 6-3 victory over Montreal on Oct. 14.
The Canadiens travel to Pittsburgh looking to avoid a third straight loss.
The Habs lost 6-3 to the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, opening a brief two-game road trip that wraps up Saturday in Pittsburgh.
Forward Cole Caufield scored in his fourth straight game and has six goals over his last six games. Captain Nick Suzuki added a goal and an assist in the loss.
"We're going through some things right now, and the frustrating thing is it's repeating mistakes by all of us," said forward Brendan Gallagher. "As individuals, I think we need to be more accountable toward the team. Once again, we're sitting here disappointed. We lost a game we felt like we handed it to them."
Habs defenseman Kaiden Guhle returned to the lineup on Thursday after missing five games due to an upper-body injury and had 21:31 of ice time in the loss.
Caufield leads the Canadiens with 10 goals in 11 games this season, while Suzuki has a team-high nine assists and 13 points in 11 contests.
Goaltender Sam Montembeault is 3-4-0 in seven starts this season with an .891 save percentage and a 3.67 GAA. In five career games against the Penguins, Montembeault is 2-1-1 with a .894 save percentage and a 3.40 GAA.
The two teams conclude the season series on Dec. 12 in Montreal.
--Field Level Media