MTL@EDM: Five things you need to know

EDMONTON - Here are five things you need to know ahead of Saturday's matchup against the Oilers at Rogers Place.

1. Following victories in Vancouver and Calgary earlier in the week, the Canadiens will be looking to remain perfect on their Western Canada road trip when they hit the ice in Edmonton. In their most recent outing against the Flames, Claude Julien's contingent overcame 2-0 and 3-2 deficits before earning a 4-3 victory in overtime. It was Max Domi who registered the game-winning goal with 68 seconds remaining in the extra frame. Brendan Gallagher, Joel Armia and Nick Suzuki also found the back of the net for Montreal, and goalteneder Carey Price made 24 stops in between the pipes. Resiliency really was the primary theme on Thursday night, and the Canadiens can certainly carry that momentum into the tilt in Alberta's capital.

2.During his pregame press conference, head coach Claude Julien confirmed that he was sticking with the same lineup that bested the Flames. That means that defenseman Victor Mete isn't going to return just yet. He has missed the last nine games with an ankle injury. There is a strong possibility that Mete will be good to go in Winnipeg on Monday night, though. We'll just have to wait and see. There was no morning skate for the Canadiens on Saturday, so the players should be fresh and ready to rock in the provincial capital.

3. The Canadiens have struggled in recent years in Edmonton with just one win in their last five games. That lone victory was back on March 12, 2017. But with Price playing the way he is right now, Julien's squad is always in prime position to register a W. It doesn't hurt that captain Shea Weber is rolling offensively, too. The veteran defenseman will be looking to extend his point streak to six games on Saturday. He has two goals and six points in his last five outings. Tomas Tatar is also hot at the moment. Despite having his four-game goal streak snapped in Calgary, he's clearly in the zone offensively playing on a line with Gallagher and Phillip Danault.

4.The Oilers dropped their second straight game on Friday night, falling 5-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins at Rogers Place. Zach Kassian and Riley Sheahan scored for Edmonton in a losing effort. Goaltender Mike Smith surrendered four goals on 25 shots. Head coach Dave Tippett's group is led by the dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The pair leads the League in scoring. McDavid has 59 points (20g, 39a) on the year, while Draisaitl has 58 points (21g, 37a). Keeping both snipers off the scoresheet will be key to victory, but that's easier said than done. Staying out of the penalty box will also will huge since the Oilers boast the League's second-ranked power play.
5.Puck drop on Saturday is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET. You can watch the game on Sportsnet East, Sportsnet West, Sportsnet Pacific, Citytv and TVA Sports, and listen to all the action on TSN Radio 690 and 98,5 fm. Following the contest, the Canadiens will travel to Winnipeg where they'll enjoy a well-deserved day off on Sunday.
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