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(AP) Two of the best offensive teams in the NHL meet as the Montreal Canadiens host the Detroit Red Wings at the Bell Centre.
The Canadiens and Red Wings each average three goals per game, tying them with Atlanta and Edmonton for fifth in the league heading into Sunday’s games.
The Red Wings won each of their first three games by scores of 3-2, then suffered their first loss of the season Saturday, 4-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Detroit lost despite building a 3-1 lead midway through the game and outshooting Pittsburgh 26-11 over the final two periods.
The Red Wings, who gave the Penguins eight power-play chances, also had a potential go-ahead goal disallowed 3:06 into the third.
“Somehow we got out of the first period (with a lead), which is a credit to our penalty killers,” said coach Dave Lewis, whose team lost just three games last season when leading after two periods.
“But you just can’t do that. It takes the rhythm out of the game for your forwards and defensemen. And we have to do a better job collectively of holding a lead.”
Brett Hull returned to Detroit’s lineup after missing Thursday’s win over the Vancouver Canucks with a sore back. Jason Woolley made his season debut, replacing Derian Hatcher, who is out four to six months after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Thursday.
The Canadiens also had a three-game winning streak snapped on Saturday, falling 1-0 to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Goalie Jose Theodore, who has allowed just three goals in his last four games, turned away 24 shots. However, the Canadiens also struggled with discipline — they were charged with seven penalties and lost the game on a power-play goal in the first period.
“We took way too many penalties tonight,” defenseman Sheldon Souray said. “We didn’t have a chance to play our defensive system — we were penalty killing.
“Jose made some huge saves but when you take that many penalties and give that many opportunities against such a great team, we were lucky to be down just by one after two.”
The Canadiens are allowing just 1.60 goals per game, tying them with four other teams for second in the NHL heading into Sunday’s games.
