Eurolanche

Canadiens visit Avs, look to end skid

Season series: The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Oct. 18 behind two goals from P.K. Subban. Colorado scored the only goal in the first period, and then Montreal responded with three in the second, bookended by a power-play goal and an even-strength goal from Subban. Alex Galchenyuk scored the other goal for the Canadiens, who got 32 saves from Carey Price. Calvin Pickard made 33 saves for the Avalanche.

Canadiens (16-7-2) team scope: Montreal got swept in a home-and-home against the Buffalo Sabres. Montreal lost 2-1 on Friday in Buffalo before giving up a third-period lead Saturday night at Bell Centre on the way to a 4-3 shootout loss. Max Pacioretty scored his team-leading 11th goal Saturday. The Canadiens, who signed forward Brendan Gallagher to a six-year extension Saturday, enter Monday on a three-game losing streak (0-2-1), tied for their longest of the season. This is the first of a four-game trip against Western Conference teams.

Avalanche (9-10-5) team scope: Colorado has won three of its past four games, averaging more than four goals per game in the victories. Nathan MacKinnon has five assists in the three wins; he was held scoreless in a 3-2 loss against the Chicago Blackahwks on Wednesday. Rookie Calvin Pickard will be in goal against Montreal, his third straight start, coach Patrick Roy said after practice Sunday. Goalie Semyon Varlamov, who is on injured reserve because of a groin injury, might return Thursday against the Calgary Flames, according to Roy. Tyson Barrie had three assists in a 5-2 win Saturday against the Dallas Stars, and has seven points (seven assists) in his past seven games. Center John Mitchell will miss 7-10 days after he re-aggravated a leg injury that had already cost him three games against Dallas, Roy said. Forward Marc-Andre Cliche sustained an undisclosed injury Saturday; he will miss up to two weeks.

-- by Evan Sporer for NHL.com --