{coyotes} COYOTES (9-8-1) at CANADIENS (14-3-2)

Wednesday, 18 November 2015

{coyotes} COYOTES (9-8-1) at CANADIENS (14-3-2)

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Thursday, November 19, 2015

7:30 PM ET

COYOTES (9-8-1) at CANADIENS (14-3-2)

TV: FS-A, RDS, CITYM

Season series: The Arizona Coyotes and Montreal Canadiens split two games last season. Arizona forward Lauri Korpikoski, who is playing for the Edmonton Oilers, scored twice in a come-from-behind 3-2 win on Feb. 1, the Coyotes' first victory at Bell Centre since 1996. Goalie Louis Domingue, who is playing for Springfield of the American Hockey League, made 18 saves in his first NHL start for his second win in the League. Montreal forward Alex Galchenyuk scored twice in the first 4:55 before the Canadiens blew a 2-0 lead.

Coyotes team scope: Arizona did not practice Wednesday. The Coyotes skated at Bell Centre on Tuesday after a 5-2 loss at the New York Islanders on Monday, their second loss by that score to begin a four-game road trip. Expect goalie Mike Smith to start against Montreal after backup Anders Lindback made saves on 27 of 31 shots Monday. "I'm sure Smitty will be ready to go on Thursday," Tippett told the Arizona Republic after practice Tuesday. Defenseman Nicklas Grossman practiced Tuesday but is not ready to return from the lower-body injury that has sidelined him for the past five games. "He's still coming, still day-to-day, but he's moving in the right direction," Tippett said. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has two goals and four assists during a six-game point streak, the longest of his NHL career.

Canadiens team scope: Goalie Carey Price joined his teammates for practice for the first time in November on Wednesday. Price, who went through individual on-ice workouts the previous four days, has not played since he sustained a lower-body injury Oct. 29. "It seemed like three months, but fortunately for us, the team kept pushing on and played well and was able to give me the chance to take my time," said Price, who expects it will take a few practices for him to regain his timing and game shape. He will not play Thursday, which means rookie Mike Condon will make his ninth straight start. Coach Michel Therrien said Price will advise him when he is ready to return. Therrien will leave forward Alexander Semin out of the lineup Thursday. "There are certain things that he needs to adjust, first of all about the way we play, the pace of the game," Therrien said. "Those are the things that he needs to concentrate on." Torrey Mitchell will play right wing with Galchenyuk and Lars Eller, and left wing Paul Byron will return after being a healthy scratch the past two games. Defenseman Alexei Emelin did not practice, and Therrien said he will not be available through the weekend because of the lower-body injury that has sidelined him for the past two games.