Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu will miss a second consecutive game after taking a puck to the throat on Tuesday night against the Senators. Mark Barberio, who was recalled from the AHL's St. John's IceCaps on Wednesday morning, will make his second straight appearance with the big club after suiting up against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Charles Hudon didn't travel with the team to the Motor City. He remained in Montreal for precautionary reasons after suffering an upper-body injury working out on the ice in Brossard on Friday morning.
Petr Mrazek will get the start in goal for Detroit as starter Jimmy Howard suffered a lower-body injury on Friday night in the Red Wings' 5-4 overtime win over the Devils in New Jersey. Howard was forced to leave the game in the first period, and will be out for at least a week, according to head coach Jeff Blashill. Jared Coreau will serve as Mrazek's back-up after being called up from the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.
On Thursday night, the Canadiens snapped Carolina's five-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory at the Bell Centre. Captain Max Pacioretty scored the game-winning goal when he managed to sneak the puck past Cam Warm to start the third period. Carey Price, meanwhile, turned aside 31 of the 32 shots he faced to up his record to 12-1-1 on the year.
It was defenseman Mike Green who lifted Detroit to its second straight win on Friday night at the Prudential Center, as he lit the lamp with 1:42 remaining in the extra frame. Frans Nielsen scored twice in regulation, while Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha found the back of the net as well.
In their only other meeting of the year to date back on November 12, the Canadiens blanked the Red Wings 5-0 at the Bell Centre.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Sportsnet and TVA Sports, as well as on TSN Radio 690 and 98,5 fm.
