The Montreal Canadiens (44-20-7) hope to continue their winning ways against a Carolina Hurricanes team (26-34-9) that is coming off its fourth loss in five games tonight at the Bell Centre.

Carolina has dealt some talent in the form of Andrej Sekera, Jiri Tlusty and Tim Gleason since the last contest between the teams.

But Danny Biega, 23, will make his NHL debut tonight for the Hurricanes in his hometown. The West Island Harvard graduate has played at the Bell Centre before, however, in a minor league game when he was 10.

The Canadiens are trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak at Bell Centre since a four-game skid Feb. 13-21, 2012. Another defeat seems unlikely with the last-place Hurricanes coming to town.

Montreal has won 12 of 16 in the series, including four straight by a 14-3 margin. Carey Price has started each of those last four victories, improving to 8-1-1 with a 1.78 goals-against average over a 10-game stretch against Carolina.

The Canadiens have outscored Carolina 32-12 during a 7-1-0 run at home.

Carolina (26-34-9) is coming off its fourth loss in five games, 2-1 in overtime to Ottawa on Tuesday. Elias Lindholm provided the offense with his 15th goal 12:59 into the first period, but Anton Khudobin allowed the winner with 14 seconds remaining in OT.

Khudobin has stopped 53 of 57 shots while starting the last two games. He could be back between the pipes Thursday with Cam Ward's status uncertain due to the flu.

Khudobin is 2-5-2 with a 3.01 GAA since the beginning of February, and he's 0-2-0 with a 3.00 mark against Montreal. Ward is 4-7-1 with a 3.15 GAA in his last 12 starts in the series.

Ward has surrendered three or four goals in all but one of his last eight road starts, going 4-3-1 with a 3.33 GAA.

Whoever is in goal will need to be wary of Max Pacioretty, who has seven goals and 12 points in his last eight games against Carolina. Pacioretty leads the Canadiens with 60 points, 39 of which have come at home.

Hurricanes captain Eric Staal, pointless in the last four games, has also come up empty in his last four visits to Montreal. Defenseman Justin Faulk, who has a team-high 45 points, has been limited to four assists in 10 games against the Canadiens.

Price figures to be back in goal for Montreal after resting against the Panthers. He's 2-4-1 with a 2.29 GAA in his last seven starts.

-With a file from The Associated Press