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Canadiens-Penguins Preview

Oct 27, 2009 - 5:41 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Montreal (6-5-0) at Pittsburgh (9-2-0), 7:30 p.m. EDT

The Pittsburgh Penguins won nine of their first 10 in defense of their Stanley Cup, but their seven-game winning streak ended their last time out.

The Montreal Canadiens' unbeaten run is still going.

The Canadiens look for their first five-game winning streak in more than a year Wednesday night at Mellon Arena, where the Penguins try to bounce back in the finale of a five-game homestand.

Pittsburgh (9-2-0) outscored its opponents 27-13 in winning seven straight from Oct. 8-23, getting two third-period goals and another in a shootout from Sidney Crosby on Friday to come from behind for a 3-2 victory over Florida.

The Penguins didn't seem to have much energy a day after that comeback, however, falling 4-1 to New Jersey on Saturday.

"It's one of those nights you don't ever want to happen," forward Bill Guerin said. "There's another game in a couple of days. We'll get back on the horse."

Like Pittsburgh, Montreal (6-5-0) also enjoyed a lengthy homestand, and after dropping its first two games, bounced back to win the final four. The last two required more than 60 minutes, with Mike Cammalleri's goal lifting the Canadiens past the New York Rangers 5-4 in overtime on Saturday and Roman Hamrlik scoring in OT to beat the Islanders 3-2 on Monday.

"You're never really comfortable in overtime, but it shows a lot about our character," forward Travis Moen, who had a goal and an assist Monday, told the Canadiens' official Web site. "We just roll up our sleeves and we keep finding ways to win."

Montreal last won five in a row Oct. 11-20, 2008.

The Canadiens' new top line of Cammalleri, Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta had provided the bulk of the offense in the previous three wins, combining for six goals and six assists, but that unit was held to one assist Monday.

Unlike the two previous times those three had been held without a goal, though, Montreal earned a victory.

The Penguins and Canadiens split four meetings last season, with both Pittsburgh wins coming after Dan Bylsma took over for the fired Michel Therrien in mid-February. Bylsma, however, knows he'll see a much different Montreal team than the one that relied upon Alex Kovalev, Saku Koivu and Alex Tanguay - all of whom left via free agency - last season.

"Montreal certainly poses a different look than they have in the past," Bylsma told the Penguins' official Web site. "They have some dangerous players, a new top line and kind of a different look and different things to be worried about."

Part of that new look, at least for now, is goaltender Jaroslav Halak. The fourth-year backup has played in each of the four straight wins, posting a 1.93 goals-against average. Starter Carey Price is 2-4-0 with a 3.36 GAA.

Price is 4-2-0 with a 2.80 GAA against Pittsburgh, but coach Jacques Martin is expected to ride Halak, who has never faced the Penguins.

Marc-Andre Fleury should be in net for Pittsburgh as he looks to bounce back from his first loss of the season. He's never fared very well against the Canadiens, going 6-5-1 with a 3.88 GAA.

Evgeni Malkin has scored goals in his past three games versus Montreal, while Crosby has been held to one assist in that stretch.