GAME: Carolina Hurricanes (7-10-8-1) at Montreal Canadiens (11-11-3-1).
Montreal Canadiens goalie Jose Theodore hopes to continue baffling the frustrated Carolina Hurricanes as the teams complete a home-and-home series at the Bell Centre.
Theodore made 36 saves Friday as Montreal rallied for a 1-1 tie in Carolina, extending the Canadiens' unbeaten streak to five (2-0-2) and continuing the Hurricanes' offensive woes.
"I don't know how to explain it," Hurricanes right wing Jeff O'Neill said. "We had shots on net, we were going to the net, we had tons of chances, nothing is going in."
It was the 20th time in 26 games the Hurricanes have had at least 30 shots on goal. But Carolina has scored two or fewer goals in 19 of those games.
"We're just not getting the bounces," center Ron Francis said. "The bounce they get goes up in the air, over a couple of our guy's heads, and ends up in our net."
Although he may not be able to match the form he displayed in 2001-02 when he won the Hart and Vezina Trophies, Theodore is having a much better season than he did in 2002-03, when he finished with a 2.90 goals-against average. His current GAA is 2.31.
Hurricanes goalie Kevin Weekes has also been sensational. Weekes stopped 26 of 27 shots Friday to lower his goals against average to 2.10.
Weekes and Theodore both have four shutouts this season. New Jersey's Martin Brodeur leads the NHL with five.
STANDINGS: Hurricanes - 23 points, 3rd place, 7 PB, Southeast Division. Canadiens - 26 points, 5th place, 9 PB, Northeast Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Hurricanes - Josef Vasicek, 9 goals; O'Neill, 13 assists; Erik Cole, 16 points; Jesse Boulerice, 59 PIM. Canadiens - Richard Zednik and Sheldon Souray, 8 goals; Mike Ribeiro, 12 assists and 16 points; Craig Rivet, 40 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Dec. 4): Hurricanes - Power play: 11.9 percent (14 for 118), 25th in NHL. Penalty killing: 83.5 percent (91 for 109), 18th. Canadiens - Power play: 14.0 percent (14 for 10), 23rd. Penalty killing: 78.3 percent (70 for 92), 27th.
GOALTENDERS: Hurricanes - Weekes (7-8-6, 4 SO, 2.10 GAA); Jamie Storr (0-3-2, 0, 2.97). Canadiens - Theodore (9-10-2, 4, 2.31); Mathieu Garon (2-2-1, 0, 2.17).
SEASON SERIES: Tied, 1-1.
LAST MEETING: Friday; tied, 1-1. At Carolina, Ribeiro scored a power-play goal with less than six minutes remaining to tie it for the Canadiens.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Hurricanes - 2-7-3-0 on the road; Canadiens - 6-6-2-0 at home.
