The Canadiens also have work to do on special teams as they hope to get the power play clicking (0 for 13), while also shoring up the penalty kill (58.8%).
During Wednesday's practice, head coach Dominique Ducharme shuffled the deck up front and on the back end, featuring new forward lines and D pairings.
Among the changes, Mike Hoffman was on a line with Nick Suzuki and Brendan Gallagher, while Cole Caufield skated with Mathieu Perreault and Tyler Toffoli.
At the other end of the ice, the Hurricanes arrive in Montreal undefeated following a pair of 6-3 and 3-2 wins opposite the New York Islanders and Nashville Predators, respectively.
Through two games, Carolina's penalty kill is operating at a 100% efficiency (7 for 7) and the power play has produced two goals in nine opportunities with the man advantage (22.2%).
Winger Andrei Svechnikov leads the team in goals (3) and points (4) while goaltender Frederik Andersen has backstopped both Canes' wins with a .926 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against-average.
Thursday's game will notably mark the return of Jesperi Kotkaniemi to the Bell Centre. The former Canadiens first-round pick (3rd overall) from 2018 is still looking for his first point in a Carolina uniform.
Broadcast Information:
Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.
Tune-in live on TSN2 and RDS or listen-in on TSN690 and 98,5 fm on the radio.
