Vasilevskiy hasn't allowed a goal in 164:29 and has three shutouts in his past four starts. The Lightning are 12-2-0 in their past 14 games and lead the NHL with 60 points. Montreal is 0-5-0 and has scored four goals during its losing streak. The Canadiens had a players-only meeting following their 4-1 home loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday after returning from a 2-5-0 road trip.
Players to watch
Vasilevskiy leads the NHL with 26 wins. He is first in goals-against average (1.95) and save percentage (.937) among goaltenders who've played at least 15 games. Canadiens goalie Carey Price is 0-4-0 and has allowed 11 goals in his past four starts.
They said it
"We don't know what to expect from Montreal because they're still looking for their best because they haven't won their last five games, and it's just going to be another tough game." -- Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev "Cracking the whip right now is not going to help our hockey team. So that's on me, and if people don't agree with what I'm doing, that's fine. I'm doing the right thing for the team ." -- Canadiens coach Claude Julien
Callahan will return after missing eight games because of an upper-body injury. … Galchenyuk was sick and did not practice Wednesday. Julien said it's doubtful that Weber will return before the break for the All-Star Game in Tampa Bay on Jan. 28. The Canadiens did not hold a morning skate.
Stat pack
Kucherov leads the NHL with 56 points (25 goals, 31 assists) in 39 games. He has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in his past 11 games. Johnson has 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in his past 13 games. Hedman has 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in his past 10 games. ... Pacioretty hasn't scored a goal in his past 13 games.
