(Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to post three straight wins for the first time in over a month when they host the Montreal Canadiens tonight at Mellon Arena.
The defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins have won two straight and four of their last five contests. Pittsburgh last won three in a row at the end of seven-game winning streak that last from October 10-23.
Pittsburgh capped a three-game road trip with a dramatic victory Monday against Florida. Sidney Crosby scored on the power play 3:07 into overtime after Michael Rupp netted the equalizer late in the third to lift the Pens to a 3-2 decision at BankAtlantic Center.
Evgeni Malkin finished with two assists while Pascal Dupuis also scored for Pittsburgh. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 19-of-21 shots in the win.
"We didn't get a lot of power play time in the game," said Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. "But the guys stuck with it and got the puck to the net, which is what we were talking about."
Pittsburgh is 7-4-0 as the host this year and has won its last two games at the Igloo.
The Penguins destroyed Montreal, 6-1, when the clubs met for the first time this season back on October 28 in the Steel City. Pittsburgh has taken three straight and five of seven overall in the series.
The Canadiens come into tonight having won three of their last four and have recorded a point in four straight, going 3-0-1 over that stretch. Montreal was in action Tuesday evening against visiting Columbus and posted a 5-3 comeback victory over the Blue Jackets.
Marc-Andre Bergeron scored twice, including the go-ahead goal 4:56 into the third period, as the Habs scored three times in the third to get by Columbus, 5-3, at Bell Centre.
Mike Cammalleri, Glen Metropolit and Maxim Lapierre also tallied for the Canadiens, who suffered a 3-2 shootout loss to Detroit on Saturday. Tomas Plekanec registered two assists, while Carey Price stopped 33-of-36 shots.
"It's been a team effort," Price said of the team's play. "Sometimes it's pretty tough when you play in your own end, but everybody was working hard tonight. Everybody is just trying to keep it simple. Our guys played great in the second half of the game and we didn't give them much."
The Canadiens have played their last two games without centerman Scott Gomez, who is also questionable tonight with a groin injury. Defenseman Jaroslav Spacek could miss a second straight game this evening with a lower-body injury.
Montreal is just 5-6-0 as the road club this season, but the Habs have won three of their last four as the visitor.
