Skip to main content

Taylor Hall of the Edmonton Oilers stick handles around Alec Martinez of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center on November 3, 2011 in Los Angeles.Harry How

When the Edmonton Oilers last visited Montreal, the Canadiens were kind enough to provide an antidote to a lengthy rough patch.

That December evening resulted in a 4-3 overtime win (the unlamented Dustin Penner tucking the winner past Carey Price seconds after a P.K. Subban turnover).

It provided the Oilers with back-to-back wins for the first weekend of last season, and the youthful bunch from Edmonton are hoping this year's visit will also help them find the winning patch after a dismal showing in Phoenix on Saturday.

"We're coming off one of our bad losses, so this is a really good chance to get a win in a building that everyone loves to play in," 19-year-old winger Taylor Hall said after his team's morning skate.

The 8-3-2 Oilers, who sit a surprise third in the West, will make one significant lineup change: second-year forward Magnus Paajarvi will sit in favour of Ales Hemsky, who is returning from injury.

The Habs (5-6-2) are also looking to return to the win column after a penalty-filled loss in New York on Saturday and may also be forced into a change, winger Andrei Kostitsyn, who co-leads the team in goals, is suffering from an unspecified injury.

Defenceman Yannick Weber could be moved to forward as part of a lineup shuffle if Kostitsyn can't play.

Interact with The Globe