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Canadiens-Maple Leafs Preview

Dec 25, 2009 - 8:43 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Montreal (18-18-3) at Toronto (13-17-8), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Montreal Canadiens have been getting strong performances from Glen Metropolit, Andrei Markov and their league-leading power play. They weren't nearly as successful in their last matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Undefeated so far on a season-high seven-game road trip, the Canadiens look to avenge one of their worst losses of the season Saturday night against their Original Six rival.

Montreal (18-18-3) is 2-1-0 against Toronto (13-17-8) this season, but lost the last matchup 3-0 at home Dec. 1 as rookie Jonas Gustavsson and journeyman Joey MacDonald combined to make 26 saves. It was the third time the Canadiens have been shut out this season.

But Montreal has found the back of the net 12 times in winning the first three contests of its current swing. The power-play unit has continued to be effective, going 8 for 13, and they lead the NHL by converting 24.6 percent of their chances.

Metropolit scored twice with the man advantage and Markov had his third such goal in three games in a 5-1 win over Carolina on Wednesday.

Metropolit is four goals shy of matching his season high of 14 tallied in 77 games with Atlanta and St. Louis in 2006-07.

Markov, meanwhile, has given the Canadiens perhaps their biggest spark over their current run with four points in three games after missing two months with a leg injury.

"He's a great asset for us on the power play," said center Tomas Plekanec, who notched one of his three first-period assists against the Hurricanes on Markov's goal 89 seconds into the contest. "He can make the pass. He can do anything."

Plekanec has a goal and eight assists on the road trip. He leads the Canadiens with 43 points, and is second in the NHL with 36 assists with four coming in two games versus the Maple Leafs prior to the last meeting.

Montreal's Carey Price started in goal then, but the Canadiens are now giving the majority of the playing time to Jaroslav Halak, who has given up a total of four goals while starting each of the last three games.

Halak made 46 saves against the Hurricanes, one short of the career high he set in a 4-3 overtime win over the Thrashers on Monday. He's 2-1-0 with a 2.33 goals-against average in three games at Toronto.

The Maple Leafs have been held to two goals or fewer in four straight contests, and are 1-3-1 after winning eight of their previous 11. Toronto is coming off its fourth straight road loss, 3-1 against the New York Islanders on Wednesday night.

At home, the Maple Leafs have won five of their last seven (5-1-1).

Niklas Hagman scored his team-high 16th goal against New York after managing one assist in the previous five games.

Phil Kessel, though, remains in a slump, going without a point in his last four contests. He has 13 goals and eight assists in 26 games, including two assists against Montreal earlier this month.