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Oilers close out road trip against Canadiens

Oct 22, 2013 - 3:19 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Edmonton Oilers will try to end a difficult road trip on a positive note when they visit the Montreal Canadiens for Tuesday's battle at the Bell Centre.

The Oilers lost the first four games of a six-game road trip to bring their overall losing streak to five contests, but finally earned a victory in Saturday's 3-1 triumph over the Ottawa Senators.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins led the way for Edmonton in its first win since Oct. 7 against New Jersey, scoring a pair of goals to help the Oilers down the Sens on Saturday afternoon. Nugent-Hopkins sealed the win with an empty-netter in the final minute of regulation, giving him for four goals on the season.

Devan Dubnyk made 35 saves and Jordan Eberle also lit the lamp for the Oilers, who overcame the loss of forward Taylor Hall to a left knee injury in the second period.

"We're all really happy we got those two points. It was nice that we could get a couple for (Dubnyk) early so we set ourselves up well," said Nugent-Hopkins.

Hall flew back to Edmonton for evaluation and is expected to miss at least four weeks of action with his latest ailment. The first overall pick of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft has battled injuries throughout his brief career and has never played in more than 65 games in a season. Hall is tied for the team lead this season with eight points.

The Oilers, who are 1-4-1 on the road this season, will host Washington in their next game on Thursday, but will then head out on another two-game road trip.

The Canadiens, meanwhile, will try to get back in the win column on Tuesday after having a four-game winning streak halted in Saturday's home loss against Nashville. Rookie Seth Jones' tally late in the third period lifted the Predators to the 2-1 victory at Bell Centre.

Jones' second career NHL goal came after a nifty pass off the boards to David Legwand, who made a return pass to the crashing defenseman. The fourth overall pick in this year's draft received the puck and patiently skated towards the goal before wristing a shot past Carey Price with 1:27 remaining.

Brendan Gallagher scored the lone goal for Montreal, while Price allowed both goals on 37 shots.

"We had too many penalties in the first, and we were flat," said Gallagher. "In the end, that's how we lost the game."

In addition to losing Saturday's game, the Canadiens saw forwards Brandon Prust and Daniel Briere join their growing list of injured players.

Prust, who has two goals and an assist this season, suffered a shoulder injury after crashing into the boards on Saturday and he is expected to miss at least four weeks of action. Meanwhile, Briere is out after sustaining a concussion on Saturday. The veteran winger has one goal and two assists in eight games this season.

Briere and Prust join defensemen Davis Drewiske (shoulder), Alexei Emelin (right knee surgery), Douglas Murray (upper body) and forwards Max Pacioretty (hamstring) and George Parros (concussion) on the shelf.

Montreal has recalled Michael Blunden and Patrick Holland from the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL to replace the recent losses of Briere and Prust.

The Habs are playing the third tilt of a five-game homestand on Tuesday and will welcome Anaheim and San Jose to Montreal before the residency ends.

The Canadiens have won the last two meetings in the series against Edmonton, but the Oilers have taken two straight in Montreal.