Preview: Coyotes at Canadiens

GAME 50:
Coyotes (23-22-4) at Canadiens (27-18-5)
Arizona will attempt to sweep its three-game road trip vs. eastern Canadian teams in Montreal on Wednesday night.

WHERE: Bell Centre | WHEN: 5:30 p.m. (AZ time) | TV:FOX Sports Arizona | RADIO:ESPN 620 AM

ABOUT THE 'YOTES:
• Coming off wins at Toronto and Ottawa, Arizona will enter the game with 50 points, two behind Colorado, which holds the second wildcard spot in the Western Conference standings with 33 games to play.
• The Coyotes will play minus captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who left Tuesday's game at Ottawa because of a lower-body injury. Ekman-Larsson, who ranks second on the team with 26 points and second with 20 assists, will be evaluated further by the club's medical staff once the team returns to Arizona.
"Obviously 'O' is a big part of our team," Head Coach Rich Tocchet said. "A lot of adversity has hit this team ... We've got (Ilya Lyubushkin) coming back in the lineup as the next man up. That's the way we've got to approach this and go day-to-day. We'll see how it goes with 'O.' We can only worry about what's ahead of us right now ... We're playing a tough team in Montreal. They're going to be rested. This is where you've got to play really smart."
• Goalie Calvin Pickard, who last played in an NHL game on Nov. 24, will make his first start for the Coyotes, who claimed him off waivers from Philadelphia on Nov. 29.
"I don't want to put too much pressure on myself because I've played at this level before and I know I can play at this level," Pickard said earlier this week. "When the time comes, I'll be ready."

Tocchet said Pickard, who is 32-46-9 in 98 NHL games, has been patiently waiting for an opportunity.
"All I know is this guy, for two months, has not complained, and he works hard," Tocchet said. "I really hope we play well in front of him. It's going to be tough for him. He hasn't seen live NHL action for a while. But he's got a smile on his face and he's looking forward to the challenge. That's all you can ask from a kid like that. I'm a big fan of him, character-wise for sure."

• Alex Galchenyuk will play at the Bell Centre, where he has scored 64 of his 116 NHL goals, for the first time since the Canadiens traded him to Arizona last June. Galchenyuk played six seasons for Montreal, which drafted him third overall in 2012.
"I'm definitely looking forward to the game," Galchenyuk said. "The crowd is always passionate and the fans here have been great. I don't really know what to expect, but I'm sure there'll be a lot of emotions for me ... Montreal will always have a special place in my heart. I started my NHL career at 18 years old ... I have so many memories and every single time I played at the Bell Centre I had a blast."

• Vinnie Hinostroza will try to stretch his goal-scoring streak to three games. Hinostroza scored twice on Tuesday in Arizona's 3-2 win at Ottawa, and once on Sunday in a 4-2 victory at Toronto.
• Arizona has won 14 road games this season, which ranks second among Western Conference teams. Only the Calgary Flames (16) have won more away from home.
ABOUT THE CANADIENS:
• Montreal has won four of its past five games and currently holds the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference standings with 59 points ... Max Domi leads the Canadiens in points (44) and assists (28). He will enter the game riding a four-game point streak ... Brendan Gallagher is Montreal's top goal producer with 19 ... Carey Price is 10-1-0 vs. the Coyotes with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage ... The Habs average 33.2 shots per game, which ranks fifth highest in the League ... Montreal's next home win will be the 2,000th home win in team history.