PITTSBURGH (Ticker) — After having their three-game winning streak snapped, the Montreal Canadiens face an opponent they have done well against recently as they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday afternoon.
Montreal moved a season-high five games over .500 after posting a 3-1 home win over Buffalo on Tuesday. But the Canadiens ended a four-game homestand with a 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday.
Goaltender Jose Theodore had not allowed more than one goal in his five previous starts and gave up four for the first time since December 12. The 2002 Vezina Trophy winner fell to 9-4-3 in his last 16 decisions.
Pierre Dagenais scored the lone goal for Montreal, which managed just 15 shots and dropped to 10-5-3-1 in its last 19 contests.
The Canadiens have not suffered consecutive regulation losses since losing three in a row from November 1-7 and are 13-3-2 in the last 18 meetings with the Penguins.
Montreal has posted a pair of 4-1 home wins vs. the Penguins this season and is 7-4-1 in its last 12 trips to Pittsburgh. Theodore has stopped 38 shots in the two victories and is 10-3-1 lifetime against the Penguins.
One night after a suprising 4-2 victory at New Jersey, the Penguins suffered a 3-1 loss at Boston on Thursday. Goalie Jean-Sebastien Aubin made his second straight start, stopped 24 shots and allowed a power-play goal with 2:52 remaining.
The Penguins have lost three in a row at home, allowing a total of 15 goals.