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Canadiens-Capitals Preview

Jan 5, 2010 - 4:00 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Montreal (21-20-3) at Washington (24-11-6), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Montreal Canadiens have played better on the road than they have at home recently. They already pulled off a rare victory in the nation's capital earlier this season.

The Canadiens look to win again in their return to the Verizon Center when they take on the Washington Capitals, who are trying to avoid four straight regulation losses for the first time in more than two years.

Montreal (21-20-3) is 12-10-1 on the road this season, including 7-2-1 over its last 10 away from home. The Canadiens briefly returned home over the weekend following a 6-1 road trip, but lost 1-0 to Buffalo on Sunday for their fourth straight defeat in Montreal.

"It's frustrating to lose, especially 1-0, but you've got to give those guys credit," said Carey Price, who made 29 saves.

Price started in place of the red-hot Jaroslav Halak, who has won five of his last six starts including a 5-4 victory at Florida last Wednesday. Price could be back in net for this contest. He's started both games this season against Washington, including a 32-save effort in a 3-2 victory over the Capitals at the Verizon Center on Nov. 20.

That loss is one of only three in regulation Washington (24-11-6) has suffered at home this season. The Caps are 12-3-3 at the Verizon Center, and after the defeat to the Canadiens won five straight there, outscoring opponents 21-8 in that span. The Capitals' home winning streak ended with a 6-3 loss to Carolina on Dec. 28.

Washington has dropped two more games on the road since, including a 2-1 defeat at Los Angeles on Saturday.

The Capitals lost despite outshooting the Kings 27-19. Mike Green scored in the second period, but Alex Ovechkin was held without a point for the seventh time this season.

Washington has lost six of the games that Ovechkin has failed to record a point, including the home loss to the Canadiens.

"I don't think the team is relying too much on him because, when he was out of the lineup for eight games, we were 6-2," said coach Bruce Boudreau. "I mean, it might be something like, 'Hey, Alex is playing, so let him do it.' But if we're in that syndrome, we'd better get out of it in a hurry because we won't win too many games."

Ovechkin had a goal and an assist in a 4-3 shootout win at Montreal on Nov. 28, giving him 11 goals and 11 assists in 18 career games against the Canadiens.

He will try to help the Capitals avoid four consecutive regulation losses for the first time since going 0-5-0 from Nov. 10-21, 2007.

Washington center Nicklas Backstrom returned to practice Monday after missing Saturday's game with migraines. He has two assists this season against the Canadiens, and at least one point in eight of his 10 career games versus Montreal.