Julien: 'They're going to be tough games'

EL SEGUNDO - To say that California hasn't been kind to the Canadiens in recent years would be an understatement.

The Habs have just two wins in their last 15 games in the Golden State, both of which have come in a shootout.
But, Claude Julien's troops can begin turning the tables on their California struggles come Tuesday night when they open their three-game road trip in Los Angeles against a Kings squad that just snapped a 10-game winless streak over the weekend.
It's a big trek for the Canadiens, to say the least, and picking up points is of the utmost importance right now to maintain their standing in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
"It's a very important trip. They're big games," said assistant captain Paul Byron, following Monday's on-ice session at the Toyota Sports Center. "Our history out here is a little bit disappointing, but we had a really good practice with a lot of intensity. To keep it going into the game, we have to get off to a good start."

That certainly wasn't the case in the Canadiens' previous outing on Saturday night when they fell behind just 21 seconds into the first period and couldn't find a way to claw their way back versus Pittsburgh.
Even if the Kings are going through a tough time, that wouldn't be a recipe for success in the City of Angels.
Julien believes his group understands the need to play a solid brand of hockey from start to finish on the West Coast this time around.
"If you look at last year, we didn't have a lot of success. This year, though, we've had a lot more. We have a different team. They're going to be tough games. They always are in California," mentioned Julien. "We know that L.A. picked up a big win over Chicago. It's up to us to prepare well. At this time of year, every game is important, including these three games. They're all big teams. We'll have to skate well against them."

Nate Thompson, who will be squaring off against his former team for the first time since joining the Habs' fold on February 11, believes the Canadiens' approach to every single one of their 16 remaining outings should be rather straightforward.
"I think it's cliché. One game at a time. We have to worry about Tuesday night first," insisted Thompson. "The teams on the outside looking in are still tough teams to play. They've got nothing to lose. You still have to bring your "A" game. Every point right now matters to us. We're in a dogfight right now for the playoffs, so we have to get points."
It remains to be seen if Carey Price will be good to go between the pipes.
The seven-time All-Star didn't skate on Monday after coming down with the flu. Instead, he remained at the team hotel to recover.
If Price feels healthy on Tuesday, however, Julien confirmed that he will get the nod and have another shot to tie Hall-of-Famer Jacques Plante for top spot on the franchise's all-time wins list among goaltenders.
Up front, meanwhile, the veteran bench boss made one notable line change at practice that could carry over into the tilt at STAPLES Center.
Paul Byron and Jonathan Drouin swapped spots. Byron was featured with Max Domi and Andrew Shaw, while Drouin lined up with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia.
Thompson back in familiar territory
There's no denying Thompson's strong ties to Southern California.
It's plain to see that the 34-year-old centerman will forever be linked to the area at heart.
"I wasn't here for a long time, but it felt like I was a part of the team for a while just because my wife's from here and I played in Anaheim for a few years. I got really close to some of the guys over there," said Thompson . "They were a first-class organization to me, [general manager] Rob Blake was great to me and my family. It was a little weird practicing on the other side today."

While his focus is squarely on helping his new club clinch a playoff berth, he still does his best to keep in contact with some former teammates and follow their progress, too.
"It's been a tough go for them this year. I've kept in touch with a lot of guys, just kind of checking in and seeing how they're doing," said Thompson. "It was good that they got that win and stopped that losing streak the other night, but hopefully they don't get the win on Tuesday night."