Penguins at Canadiens preview

PENGUINS (40-26-5) at CANADIENS (26-32-12)
7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TSN2, RDS, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV

Pittsburgh is tied in points with the Washington Capitals, who have played two fewer games. The Capitals play at the New York Islanders on Thursday.
The Penguins, 3-1-1 in their past five games and 15-5-2 in their past 22, have scored four goals or more in seven of their past 12 games. Center Sidney Crosby is two assists shy of 700 in the NHL.
The Canadiens, 1-3-2 in their past six games and 4-7-6 in their past 17, trail the Columbus Blue Jackets by 15 points for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Montreal has allowed five goals or more in three of its past five games.

Players to watch

Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in his past seven games, and 38 points (18 goals, 20 assists) in his past 21.
Canadiens goaltender Antti Niemi is 3-0-3 with a 1.78 goals-against-average and a .950 save percentage in his past six starts.

They said it

"In this league there's no bad team. There are teams that are outside the playoffs, but there are still tons of good players on those teams, and they're going to make you pay if you don't respect them." -- Penguins defenseman Kris Letang after a 4-3 overtime loss at the New York Rangers on Wednesday
"Whoever you're on the ice with, [Derrick] Brassard, [Evgeni] Malkin, [Sidney] Crosby, you're going to have your hands full, with [Phil] Kessel on some line. So it's going to be a challenge for every centerman and every line tonight." -- Canadiens center Jonathan Drouin

Penguins projected lineup

Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Conor Sheary
Carl Hagelin -- Evgeni Malkin -- Patric Hornqvist
Bryan Rust -- Derick Brassard -- Phil Kessel
Tom Kuhnhackl -- Riley Sheahan -- Carter Rowney
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Jamie Oleksiak -- Justin Schultz
Olli Maatta -- Chad Ruhwedel
Tristan Jarry
Casey DeSmith
Scratched: Josh Jooris, Matt Hunwick
Injured: Matt Murray (concussion), Dominik Simon (concussion), Zach Aston-Reese (upper body)

Canadiens projected lineup

Paul Byron -- Jonathan Drouin -- Brendan Gallagher
Alex Galchenyuk -- Jacob de la Rose -- Artturi Lehkonen
Nikita Scherbak -- Logan Shaw -- Charles Hudon
Nicolas Deslauriers -- Byron Froese -- Daniel Carr
Mike Reilly -- Jeff Petry
Karl Alzner -- Noah Juulsen
Jordie Benn -- Brett Lernout
Antti Niemi
Charlie Lindgren
Scratched: Michael McCarron
Injured:Carey Price (concussion), Ales Hemsky (concussion), Max Pacioretty (lower body), Victor Mete (hand), David Schlemko (upper body), Rinat Valiev (undisclosed), Phillip Danault (neck), Andrew Shaw (head)

Status report

The Penguins did not hold a morning skate. … Price was on the ice early for a fifth straight day. He took part in the morning skate and likely will practice Friday. ... Murray faced shots for a second straight day. "So he's making significant progress," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "The next step would be he'll participate in a full practice when we get one."

Stat pack

Hornqvist needs two points for 400 in the NHL. … Galchenyuk has eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past eight games.