Pre-game notes

Brian Gionta will not play for the second straight game with an undisclosed lower body injury. Gionta took a Mike Cammalleri shot off his foot a few games ago. Gionta is the Canadiens leading goal scorer with eight.

Canadiens are 0-3-0 at the Bell Centre in November.

Hurricanes are 7-0-1 in Montreal since the lockout.

Carolina recently ended a 14 game losing streak,the longest in franchise history. Hurricanes are winless on the road this season.

Tom Kostopoulos will face his former teammates for the first time.

Hurricanes players will have 14 of their fathers in attendance.

21 scouts from 15 NHL teams will attend the game. Scouts are taking a break from the QMJHL All Stars vs Team Russia games.

Game time is 7:30 pm. EST. at the Bell Centre.

expected Canadiens lineup

Gomez, Metropolit, Cammalleri
Plekanec, Pacioretty, Andrei Kostitsyn
Lapierre, Moen, Latendresse
White, Stewart, Pyatt

Hamrlik, Spacek
Mara, Gorges
Bergeron, Leach

Carey Price starts in goal for the Canadiens; Michael Leighton for the Hurricanes.

scratches: Carle, Chipchura, Stewart, Gionta (lower body), D’Agostini (concussion), Laraque (upper body), Gill (leg), Markov (ankle), O’Byrne (knee)