(SportsNetwork.com) - Just a few days removed from an emotional opener to their current homestand, the Montreal Canadiens hope to pick up a second straight victory on Friday night when they take on the Los Angeles Kings.
The Habs began a five-game stay at the Bell Centre on Tuesday, a game that took place one week after franchise icon Jean Beliveau died at the age of 83. It marked the first time the Canadiens played at home since his passing.
Montreal honored the legend with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, with Brendan Gallagher scoring a second-period goal and Tomas Plekanec lighting the lamp for the winner with 4:16 to play.
Carey Price made 15 saves as Montreal snapped a three-game slide and won for only the second time in eight games.
"It was a little bit emotional before the game. But I'm glad to be part of this night, and glad we got her (Mrs. Beliveau) a victory," said Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty, who had an empty-net goal along with an assist. "Everyone had some extra energy. We worked hard, and would have liked to have had a couple more goals, but we're getting chances."
Price should start again tonight and is 3-1-0 in his career versus the Kings with a 2.64 goals against average and .910 save percentage in four meetings.
Los Angeles plays the third of a five-game road trip and snapped a two-game slide with a 5-3 win over Ottawa on Thursday. It was a welcomed offensive showing after the Kings managed only eight goals total over their previous five games.
The Senators' Mark Stone scored a game-tying short-handed goal just 1:44 into the third period, but Anze Kopitar and Trevor Lewis countered with goals for the Kings less than two minutes apart not long after.
Defenseman Jake Muzzin assisted on both tallies as part of his career-high three-assist night and he has picked up a goal and 13 helpers over his past 16 games.
Kopitar, meanwhile, picked up his first goal since Nov. 15, snapping a 10-game drought without one.
"There were two or three times in the game where we had good responses," Kings head coach Darryl Sutter said. "It's not easy sailing."
Matt Greene, Justin Williams and Tanner Pearson also tallied, while Jonathan Quick came up with 32 saves for Los Angeles.
Quick is 1-2-0 with a 2.68 GAA and .882 save percentage in three career meetings with the Habs, while backup Martin Jones has faced them only once before. That came on Dec. 10 of last year and he picked up a 31-save shutout.
The Kings had lost seven straight to the Canadiens before winning both meetings last season. The Jones-led 6-0 victory in Montreal snapped Los Angeles' five-game slide at the Bell Centre.
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