#MTLHockey Preview
Match Up
The Canadiens (17-10-2) return home for the first time this month to host the Canucks (18-8-2) Tuesday night. The game is set to start at 7:30 and can be seen on RDS, Sportsnet East and Sportsnet Pacific.This is the second and final meeting between the Habs and Canucks this season, the Canadiens took advantage of two late goals the first time these teams met to salvage a point in a 3-2 overtime loss. Henrik and Daniel Sedin combined in OT for the game winning goal.
What to Watch
For the first time this season Max Pacioretty won't line up next to David Desharnais at the start of the this game. Instead, Alex Galchenyuk will center the top line, a position many Habs fans expect the 20 year old to fill for many seasons to come. Galchenyuk has six goals and 18 points on the season, putting him behind just Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec for the team lead at 20.The twins are once against leading the Canucks in scoring, but newcomers Radim Vrbata and Nick Bonino have been pitching in regularly as well. Vrbata with 12 goals and 23 points in 26 games is on pace for a career year, his previous best is 62 points with the Coyotes.
What's at Stake
The Canadiens have gone 1-5-1 in their last seven, crashing down the standings the Eastern conference along the way. The Habs are at the start of a five game homestand that will take them close to Christmas. They can recover some ground over the next two weeks and starting the stay off with a win will help their cause.Who's Out
Lars Eller (shoulder) is out indefinitely for the Habs. Mike Weaver suffered a concussion Saturday night in Dallas and could miss significant time as well. The good news for Montreal is that Michael Bournival is healthy and expected to make his return to the line-up on Tuesday.The Canucks are without Dan Hamhuis (lower body) and Zach Kassian (finger). Shawn Matthias (head) missed the last Canukcs last game against the Senators Sunday and may not be ready to play Tuesday either.
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