Preview: Hurricanes at Canadiens

MONTREAL - The Carolina Hurricanes take a quick trip to Montreal to face off with the Canadiens in the front half of a back-to-back set.
The Canes will then return to Raleigh to host the defending Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals on Friday, the beginning of a five-game homestand.

Getting a String Together
Following the Hurricanes' 4-1 loss at home to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, captain Justin Williams tried to put into words what didn't go quite right for his team.
"We were right there. Then, just a little not quite, just a little not quite there, just a little late - a little bit of everything adds up," he said. "You've got to finish games off. That was a frustrating one, absolutely frustrating."
The Canes had just returned from a three-game California road trip that they capped off with a 4-1 win over the Ducks in Anaheim. The opportunity to begin a new, positive streak with the Canes back home was there for the taking, but they couldn't overcome a talented and deep Maple Leafs squad.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Now, the team comes to Montreal, where a hard-fought, one-goal win got the team back in the win column following a tough outing in Brooklyn.
"There's huge urgency. We're middling, which is what we've done the past few years. It's not good enough," Williams said. "We need to get a string together. I keep saying that it seems like every week. We need to get a string together."
Kuokkanen Gets the Call
With the Canes down a pair of forwards - Micheal Ferland doesn't feel 100 percent following a return from a concussion, and Jordan Staal is on injured reserve with a concussion - Janne Kuokkanen got the call from Charlotte, as announced on Wednesday morning.
Kuokkanen comes to the Canes as the Charlotte Checkers' team leader in points with 27 (11g, 16a).

"At the end of the day, you've got to know what you're getting when you bring up a kid. I don't think he's a fourth-line player who will play five or six minutes and bang guys around. That's not who he is, so that's not what we're going to do with him," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "We've got to make sure he gets the ice time and put him with good players in offensive situations that present in the game to see what he can do."
Kuokkanen played in four games with the Canes at the start of the 2017-18 season before totaling 40 points (11g, 29a) in 60 games with the Checkers.
"I think I'm more ready overall," he said. "My defensive game is much better than last year. I feel like I've got some power, also, and I'm stronger in the corners."
The Last Meeting
Just over two weeks ago, the Hurricanes fended off the Canadiens in a 2-1 win at Centre Bell. Curtis McElhinney stole the show with a 48-save performance, matching a career best, while Victor Rask and Trevor van Riemsdyk tallied for the Canes.
The Opposition
Since that last meeting, the Canadiens have won four of their last six games to begin the month of December, but the Habs are coming off a stinging loss on Tuesday. Wrapping up a three-game road trip in Minnesota, the Canadiens were routed, 7-1, by the Wild, which snapped a three-game winning streak. Montreal sits at 15-11-5 (35 points) on the season.
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Get Greasy
While struggling to score goals, the Canes might need a greasy one to get going. They got a pair of those here in their last visit to walk away with a 2-1 victory.
2. Hunker Down
The Canes weren't great defensively against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Some tweaks have been made since, including Haydn Fleury drawing in. The Canes will need to be better in their own end in order to get back in the win column.
3. Be Smart
Be smart in all areas of the ice. Simple plays to get the puck out, simple plays to get the puck in. Create chances off an aggressive forecheck, and backcheck with a purpose.
WORTH A CLICK
News
Videos
Gameday Links
WATCH, LISTEN & STREAM
Watch: FOX Sports Carolinas,
FOX Sports app
Listen: 99.9 The Fan,
Hurricanes app
,
Hurricanes.com/Listen