Music: {allcanada} CAPITALS (17-5-1) at CANADIENS (19-4-3)

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

{allcanada} CAPITALS (17-5-1) at CANADIENS (19-4-3)

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Thursday, December 3, 2015

7:30 PM ET

CAPITALS (17-5-1) at CANADIENS (19-4-3)

TV: RDS, CITYM, CSN-DC

Season series: The Montreal Canadiens won two of three games against the Washington Capitals last season. All three games went beyond regulation, with Washington winning 5-4 in a shootout at Bell Centre on April 2 to avoid being swept. Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban had a goal and three assists. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and forward Joel Ward, who is now playing for the San Jose Sharks, each scored twice and defenseman John Carlson had three assists.

Capitals team scope: Defenseman Brooks Orpik won't play, but he is traveling to Montreal and will take part in the morning skate Thursday. He remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Washington has had an eventful week despite not playing for four days since its 4-2 win at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Goalie Braden Holtby was named NHL Second Star of the Month for November on Monday, and the Capitals engaged in team-building activities at Joint Base Andrews, formerly Andrews Air Force Base, in Maryland on Tuesday. Washington coach Barry Trotz referred to Holtby as the Capitals' eraser after practice Wednesday. "Goaltending is all about giving your team the attitude," Trotz told the Capitals website. "If you're unsure about your goaltending, you're not going to have much attitude in a positive way. You're always going to be doubting, the trust factor's not there, so it's like having a bad quarterback, it just doesn't work."

Canadiens team scope: Montreal coach Michel Therrien retained his new line combinations at practice Wednesday. Therrien reunited left wing Max Pacioretty and center David Desharnais on a line with Dale Weise during the Canadiens' 2-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He also paired Czech forwards Tomas Plekanec and Tomas Fleischmann with Paul Byron on right wing. "I'm happy I did it because it gave the team a lot of energy starting in the second period and with that energy, we were very dynamic," Therrien said. "It allowed our team to put a lot of pressure on the other team and limit their shots on goal, limit their chances and play within our structure, so the players were very positive about the changes that were made." Injured forward Michael Bournival was placed on waivers Wednesday. Bournival, who will report to St. John's of the American Hockey League if he is not claimed, has not played because of concussion-like symptoms.