Canadiens and Hurricanes separated by just three points
Here are five things you should know about the Canadiens-Hurricanes game at PNC Arena Wednesday (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN-690 Radio):
1. That warm feeling
As the temperature plummets in Montreal, the Canadiens will escape to warmer climes with a three-game trip to Carolina and Florida. The trip opens in Raleigh, where the Canadiens and the Hurricanes will meet in the first of three games this season. Both teams are chasing a playoff spot. Carolina, which has won its last two games, is ninth in the Eastern Conference, three points out of a wild-card spot. The Canadiens, who are coming off a 4-1 loss in Edmonton, are three points behind Carolina and the Hurricanes also hold a game in hand.
2. Price keeping busy
The Canadiens have three games in four nights and nobody should be surprised if Carey Price starts in goal in all three games. Before Antti Niemi gave him a night off in Calgary, Price started a careerhigh 12 consecutive games after returning from a lower-body injury that sidelined him for 10 games. He made back-to-back starts in that stretch, beating Ottawa 3-1 on Nov. 29 including back-to-back wins over Ottawa on Nov. 29 and winning 6-3 on Nov. 30 in Detroit. He was pulled from the Dec. 9 home game against Edmonton but put together a solid 8-3-1 record.
3. Special teams need help
The Canadiens scored three power-play goals on their swing through Western Canada, but Montreal ranks 19th in the NHL with a success rate of 18.9 per cent. It’s still better than the penalty-kill, which was once a source of pride for the Canadiens. The Canadiens gave up four powerplay goals in those three games and are 28th with a success rate of 77.1 per cent. The offence in general leaves something to be desired. Scoring is up in the league, but down in Montreal, where the Canadiens rank 25th with 2.69 goals a game.
4. Ward regains No. 1 spot
The Hurricanes brought in Scott Darling to be their go-to goaltender, but Cam Ward is back in the top spot after a strong run leading up to Christmas. Ward, who rose to prominence as a rookie in 2006 when he bounced the Canadiens from the playoffs en route to the Stanley Cup, has started five of the last six games and has a 4-1-0 record with a 2.18 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. In Darling’s only start in the past two weeks, he was shelled by the Toronto Maple Leafs 8-1.
5. Bargains galore
If you’re in the Raleigh area, you can pick up a cheap ticket for the game. Lower-bowl seats are available at the box office for as little as $70. The Hurricanes would have the smallest crowds in the NHL if more Islander fans weren’t waiting for a new arena. The Isles are averaging 11,599 while the Hurricanes are at 12,003. Things might be looking up because owner Peter Karmanos Jr. has an agreement to sell the club to Texas billionaire Tom Dundon, who has the wherewithal to boost the payroll and keep the team in Carolina.