PREVIEW: Red Wings focused on good habits Tuesday at Canadiens

MONTREAL -- Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde has been the first to point out that inconsistency has plagued the club at various times this season.

So when the Red Wings (34-33-9; 77 points) face the Montreal Canadiens (30-41-6; 66 points) Tuesday night at Bell Centre, Lalonde said it's up to
his players to prove they can maintain good habits
night in and night out.
"It's about us," Lalonde said. "Keep playing the right way, those habits, good start, manage the game, manage the puck…all those things we've been preaching of late. Again, we've been doing it. And of late, we've been rewarded with some wins."
Puck drop from Bell Centre is set for 7 p.m., with broadcast coverage on Bally Sports Detroit Extra and the Red Wings Radio Network (97.1 The Ticket in Detroit).

On Sunday, captain Dylan Larkin recorded his second career NHL hat trick and goalie Alex Nedeljkovic made a season-high 43 saves in Detroit's 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. 2022 eighth overall pick Marco Kasper also made his NHL debut for the Red Wings, who secured their first regulation win in Toronto since April 2, 2016.
"I thought we were pretty good," Nedeljkovic said. "I know the shot total was kind of lopsided, but that doesn't tell the whole story. They got some high-end skill over there. But I thought we were ready to go from puck drop. We were ready to compete."
The Canadiens were most recently shut out by the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-0, on Saturday. Nick Suzuki's 61 points and 38 assists lead the club, while Josh Anderson (21-11-32) has five points in the past five games.
Montreal has used three different goalies this season, with Jake Allen seeing most of the time in net. The 32-year-old goaltender is 15-24-3 with a 3.55 goals-against average and .891 save percentage.

Tuesday's game will wrap up the season series between the Original Six clubs.
"We certainly take a lot of pride in being one of those Original Six," Lalonde said. "It is special and different when you play another Original Six team."
The Red Wings are 2-0-1 against the Canadiens this season.