(Sports Network) - Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks will try to halt a three-game losing streak and get their first win of the season when they welcome Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens to General Motors Place.
Catch all the action today starting at 10pm et/7pm pt on TSN and TSN HD.
The Canucks came into the season as defending champs in the Northwest Division, but have yet to register a point in the opening three games. This marks the first time Vancouver has gone 0-3 to start a season since 2001-02.
Much of the reason for the poor start for Vancouver rests on goaltender Roberto Luongo, who is considered by many to be the best netminder in the NHL. The Canucks' captain started Monday's game in net, but was pulled early in the second period after giving up four goals on 12 shots. On the season, he has allowed 10 goals on 61 shots.
Montreal was dealt its first setback of the campaign Tuesday night in Calgary. Jaroslav Halak gave starting goaltender Carey Price a rest on Tuesday and made 24 saves in a loss to the Flames. But Price, who is 2-0 with a 1.89 goals-against average so far this year and has played an instrumental role in both his clubs wins, will get the start for Montreal tonight.
The good news for the Habs on Tuesday was that Guillaume Latendresse, Tomas Plekanec and Scott Gomez scored for Montreal, which is in the midst of its season-opening five-game road trip that will end Saturday in Edmonton. Following Saturday's test against the Oilers, the Canadiens will return to Quebec for a season-high six-game homestand.
Meanwhile, Vancouver has never opened a season on a four-game losing streak, but did go winless with a tie and three losses through the first four tests of the 1994-95 campaign.
After losing divisional games on the road to Colorado and Calgary to begin the season, the Canucks were dealt a 5-3 loss by Columbus in Monday's home opener at GM Place. Steve Mason made 40 saves to help the Blue Jackets skate to victory.
Andrew Raycroft relieved Luongo between the pipes and finished the game with 11 saves.
"We're confident we can come back," said Luongo. "That's not a big issue, but we have to be worried about playing 60 minutes and not pressing."
Despite the bad beginning, Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault has named Luongo the starter for tonight's game.
Willie Mitchell had a goal and an assist, while Christian Ehrhoff and Henrik Sedin each scored for the Canucks in Monday's loss.
Vancouver is playing the middle test of a three-game homestand tonight and will close the residency Sunday night against Dallas.
The Habs and Canucks split two meetings last year, with each club winning on its home ice. Overall, Vancouver is 10-1 with a tie in its last 12 meetings with the Canadiens, and Montreal has dropped seven straight and nine of its last 10 in British Columbia.