{coyotes} COYOTES (17-26-6) at CANADIENS (32-13-3)

Saturday, 31 January 2015

{coyotes} COYOTES (17-26-6) at CANADIENS (32-13-3)

Sunday, February 1, 2015

1:00 PM ET

COYOTES (17-26-6) at CANADIENS (32-13-3)

TV: CITY, RDS

Season series: The Montreal Canadiens and Arizona Coyotes each won one game in 2013-14. Coyotes forward Radim Vrbata scored two goals in a 5-2 win on March 6 at Gila River Arena. Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty had two goals and an assist in a 3-1 win at Bell Centre on Dec. 17, 2013.

Coyotes team scope: Arizona has lost eight of its past nine games after a 7-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. "We gave up too many chances," coach Dave Tippett told the Arizona Republic. "Once you get behind, you start chasing the game. You look like an ugly team." Goaltender Mike Smith was pulled after allowing five goals on 20 shots and was replaced by Louis Domingue, who was making his NHL debut. "Bottom line is, the goaltender has to be good for you and ours wasn't very good tonight," Tippett said. Domingue, a Quebec native, is expected to start. Forward Joe Vitale (upper body) will not play Sunday and forward Martin Hanzal (upper body) is questionable, according to Tippett. The Coyotes haven't defeated the Canadiens in Montreal since a 5-4 overtime win on Oct. 28, 1996. Arizona wraps up an eight-game road trip Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Canadiens team scope: Montreal goaltender Carey Price made 36 saves for his second consecutive shutout in a 1-0 overtime win against the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Price has stopped 100 of 102 shots (.980 save percentage) in three starts since the All-Star break. He ranks second in the League in save percentage (.933) and wins (27). Pacioretty, who scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win against the New York Rangers on Thursday, had the game-winner in overtime Saturday. He leads the Canadiens in goals (23) and points (40). Defenseman P.K. Subban recorded his 200th NHL point with an assist on Pacioretty's goal. The Canadiens have won five games in a row and will play the third of a four-game homestand Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres.

Team Stats