MTL@PIT: Five things you need to know

PITTSBURGH - Here are five things you need to know ahead of Tuesday night's game against the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.

1. The Canadiens are back in action for the first time since Friday night, when they beat the New York Rangers 2-1 at Madison Square Garden. Forward Brendan Gallagher opened the scoring with his 13th of the season, most on the Habs in 2019-20. Veteran Nate Thompson scored the game-winner for the Canadiens with just 1:07 left in regulation. Goaltender Carey Price shone in net for Montreal, turning aside 29 of the 30 shots he faced. The win in New York was a second in three outings for Claude Julien's troops.

2. Speaking of Price, the Habs netminder has had a stellar start to the month, posting a 2-1-0 record in three starts in December. The Anahim Lake, BC native has a 2.01 goals-against average and .931 save percentage to go with it.

3. Forward Riley Barber is expected to make his Canadiens debut against the Penguins. The 25-year-old was recalled from the AHL's Laval Rocket on Sunday afternoon. In 21 games with the Rocket this season, Barber has six goals for 18 points. The Washington Capitals' sixth-round pick (167th overall) in 2012 found himself on the fourth line alongside Nate Thompson and Matthew Peca at practice on Monday at the Bell Sports Complex.

4. The Penguins face Montreal in the midst of a three-game winning streak, with two shutout wins among them. Forward Jake Guentzel leads his team in the goal-scoring (16) and points (31) departments, while center Evgeni Malkin has the most assists on the team with 18. Malkin is Pittsburgh's second-leading scorer with 26 points in 19 games. Mike Sullivan's troops will have to do without the services of Sidney Crosby against the Canadiens, as the Penguins captain has been out since their November 9 game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
5. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. You can catch all the action on TSN2 and RDS on television, and on TSN 690 and 98,5 fm on the radio. The Canadiens return home immediately following the game, as they have a date with the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre on Wednesday night.