Preview: Flames at Canadiens

FLAMES (24-23-3) at CANADIENS (28-13-7)
7:30 p.m. ET; SNE, RDS, SNW, NHL.TV

Flames team scope

The Calgary Flames hope their success at Bell Centre in recent seasons will continue Tuesday. Calgary is 3-1-0 in its past four games at Montreal. But the Flames have one win in their past six games (1-4-1), including a 4-0 loss at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday that extended their losing streak to three. Forward Johnny Gaudreau, who has not scored in 10 games, is frustrated that the Flames have allowed the first goal in eight straight games. "It's a lot easier to play when you start with the lead," Gaudreau told the Calgary Sun on Monday. "We're starting behind in these games, and it's tough to come back in this league. We have to be better with our starts. We keep saying that, and we have to do that." Gaudreau left the game in Toronto briefly after taking a hit from Leo Komarov along the boards in the second period. He went through the NHL's concussion protocol and returned. "I feel fine," Gaudreau said. "It's part of hockey. You're going to get hit every once in a while and with the concussion test stuff, they want to make sure you're alright. So I had to go in there and do that, and it was fine." Goaltender Chad Johnson will start after Brian Erriott played in the loss at Toronto.

Canadiens team scope

Montreal Canadiens center Alex Galchenyuk will not play after re-injuring his right knee. Galchenyuk aggravated an injury he sustained Dec. 4 that sidelined him for 18 games during a 3-2 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, though he did not leave the game and had an excellent scoring opportunity in overtime. "He was able to finish the game, but after further and deeper examination the doctors suggested that he shouldn't practice and he shouldn't play [on Tuesday]," coach Michel Therrien said after practice Monday. Galchenyuk has two goals and two assists in five games since returning from the original injury, including a season-high three points in a 3-1 win at the New Jersey Devils on Friday. The Canadiens, who did not have a morning skate, are 16-5-3 at Bell Centre, though they have lost four of their past five games at home (1-3-1).

Flames projected lineup

Johnny Gaudreau -- Sean Monahan -- Alex Chiasson
Matthew Tkachuk -- Mikael Backlund -- Michael Frolik
Kris Versteeg -- Sam Bennett -- Troy Brouwer
Lance Bouma -- Matt Stajan -- Freddie Hamilton
Mark Giordano -- Dougie Hamilton
TJ Brodie -- Dennis Wideman
Brett Kulak -- Deryk Engelland
Chad Johnson
Brian Elliott
Scratched:Micheal Ferland, Jyrki Jokipakka
Injured:Ladislav Smid (neck), Garnet Hathaway (upper body)

Canadiens projected lineup

Max Pacioretty -- Phillip Danault -- Alexander Radulov
Paul Byron -- Tomas Plekanec -- Artturi Lehkonen
Sven Andrighetto -- Brian Flynn -- Andrew Shaw
Daniel Carr --
Jacob De La Rose
-- Torrey Mitchell
Alexei Emelin -- Shea Weber
Mark Barberio -- Jeff Petry
Nathan Beaulieu -- Zach Redmond
Carey Price
Al Montoya
Scratched:Ryan Johnston
Injured:Alex Galchenyuk (knee), Brendan Gallagher (hand), Andrei Markov (groin), David Desharnais (knee), Greg Pateryn (ankle)

Status report

The Flames did not have a morning skate. Hathaway did not make the trip. ... Gallagher skated with a stick with no blade when he practiced with the special teams units before joining Markov, Desharnais and Pateryn for conditioning drills Monday. "I wasn't exactly a good patient last year, so they cut off my blade," said Gallagher, who also broke his left hand last season. "It's the doctor's way of not making me touch pucks. Apparently, it's in my best interest. It's the least amount of fun I've ever had playing hockey. It was a tough hour."

Who's hot

Monahan, whose five-game point streak ended Monday, has five goals and two assists in his past six games. ... Pacioretty has points in consecutive games (one goal, one assist).