Preview: Canadiens (20-15) at Flyers (14-15)
Date: January 05, 2016 7:30 PM EDT
The Montreal Canadiens could be poised to regroup from a month-long lull, but injury has again impacted a forward group that just returned to full strength.
The Canadiens try for their third win in four games in their first contest without key forward Dale Weise when they visit the sliding Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.
Montreal (22-15-3) opened 2016 with Friday's 5-1 win in the Winter Classic at Boston, seemingly turning the page from a dismal December. Right wing Brendan Gallagher had a goal and an assist in his first game after missing more than a month with two broken fingers on his left hand.
Montreal went 5-11-1 without Gallagher, who despite the missed time is the third on the Canadiens with 10 goals. The improved health of the club's roster didn't last long, however, as Weise was lost for 2-3 weeks Friday.
Weise, whose 11 goals are a career high, left in the second period with an arm injury after the agitating forward recorded his ninth assist of the season.
"I think everybody realizes how important Weise has been for us ever since he was acquired (in February 2014). Every night he gives us energy, plays an important role and he's one of those guys that can spark us when we aren't playing well," Gallagher told the team's official website.
It might not matter, however, with Gallagher back in the lineup, as evidenced by the Canadiens' 17-4-2 mark when he plays.
"It just felt good to be a part of the team again. To get on the ice and battle with the guys, that's the part you miss," he said. "When you are injured you are away from everyone for so long you kind of feel like you're not part of the team really, because you can't help contribute."
The Canadiens hope it's the beginning of them digging out from the significant lows of last month. The club went 1-10 from Dec. 3-26, scoring two or fewer goals nine times in that span.
Montreal, though, has totaled nine goals in its last two wins. The Canadiens, closing an eight-game road stretch that has kept them away from home since Dec. 17, have won three straight over Philadelphia - the first of those coming in the most recent meeting at Wells Fargo Center, 4-3 in a shootout Oct. 11, 2014.
The Flyers (15-15-7) were swept on a three-game road trip that followed a 3-0-1 stretch, totaling five goals. They've lost five straight away from home.
Philadelphia's 2-1 defeat to Los Angeles on Saturday was its fifth game in six with two or fewer goals. The Flyers' 2.11 goals per game is ahead of only Anaheim's 1.89, and it appears coach Dave Hakstol is going to try a big change to shake things up.
Hakstol formed a forward unit of his top point scorers in Claude Giroux (29 points), Jakub Voracek (25) and Wayne Simmonds (21) in Monday's practice and might feature the line Tuesday.
Giroux has recorded one point in his last seven games, but Voracek has 10 in his past eight and Simmonds four in four.
"If we play together next game, I think we need to find chemistry as soon as possible," Giroux said.
Steve Mason, expected to start Tuesday, has won all three of his appearances against Montreal with a 1.63 goals-against average.
Ben Scrivens will make his second start for Montreal after being acquired from Edmonton on Dec. 28. He made 27 saves in a 3-1 loss at Florida the next day.
