Canadiens at Red Wings preview

CANADIENS (33-23-7) at RED WINGS (23-31-9)
7:30 p.m. ET; FS-D, TSN2, RDS, NHL.TV

The Canadiens lost 2-1 to the New Jersey Devils on Monday, their sixth defeat in eight games (2-5-1), but still hold the first wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference by one point over the Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins. All three teams play on Tuesday.
The Red Wings have lost five straight (0-3-2) and have allowed five goals or more in three of their past five games.
Detroit will have Jimmy Howard back in goal after he missed the past two games with an illness.

Players to watch

Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin is without a point in his past seven games after having nine points (three goals, six assists) in the previous three.
Red Wings center Dylan Larkin has 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in his past 16 games.

They said it

"We've got to be better - it is as simple as that. We've got to find a way to score goals and defend a little bit better. That's as a whole, from top to bottom." -- Canadiens forward Max Domi
"I think the time before the deadline is hard for a multitude of reasons. When guys get traded, it is hard on the team, and when guys think they might get traded, it is hard on them. Now we know this is our team going forward, and let's try to get better." -- Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill

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Canadiens projected lineup

Jonathan Drouin -- Phillip Danault -- Brendan Gallagher
Tomas Tatar -- Max Domi -- Andrew Shaw
Paul Byron -- Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- Joel Armia
Artturi Lehkonen -- Nate Thompson -- Matthew Peca
Victor Mete -- Shea Weber
Mike Reilly -- Jeff Petry
Brett Kulak -- Jordie Benn
Carey Price
Antti Niemi
Scratched:Charles Hudon, Nicolas Deslauriers, Christian Folin, Dale Weise, Jordan Weal
Injured: None

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Red Wings projected lineup

Anthony Mantha -- Dylan Larkin -- Darren Helm
Tyler Bertuzzi -- Andreas Athanasiou -- Filip Zadina
Luke Glendening -- Frans Nielsen -- Michael Rasmussen
Justin Abdelkader -- Jacob de la Rose -- Luke Witkowski
Niklas Kronwall -- Mike Green
Danny DeKeyser -- Filip Hronek
Madison Bowey -- Trevor Daley
Jimmy Howard
Jonathan Bernier
Scratched: Jonathan Ericsson
Injured: Evgeny Svechnikov (knee surgery), Thomas Vanek (hip)

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Status report

The Canadiens did not skate Tuesday morning after playing on Monday in New Jersey. … Bowey will make his Red Wings debut after being acquired last week from the Washington Capitals for defenseman Nick Jensen.

Stat pack

Gallagher has 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in his past 10 games. … Mantha has six points (one goal, five assists) in a three-game point streak.