The Montreal Canadiens (18-10-2) are hoping to keep the shine off the crown of the thus-far disappointing Stanley Cup champion L.A. Kings (15-9-5) as the two teams battle at the Bell Centre tonight at 7:30.

The Canadiens are likely to repeat the experiment of having young Alex Galchenyuk centre the top line with Max Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher on his flanks after the line had an impressive outing in a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday, ending a three game losing skid.

At practice Friday teammates offered praise to Galcheyuk, who impressed at the centre position after being switched from the wing.

“He did a really good job of using his speed, and being above the puck and being on the right side of the puck and that created a lot of chances offensively,” said linemate Brendan Gallagher.

“He’s a smart player, he’s skilled, he can make a lot of good plays with the puck, it’s easy to work with him,” Thomas Plekanec told CTV Montreal at practice Friday.

Sven Andrighetto will be on the wing along with Tomas Plekanec and Jiri Sekac, a new combination that combined for the winning goal Tuesday. Andrighetto has one goal and one assist in the two NHL games he has played since being called up from Hamilton.

The Canadiens should be well-rested, while the Kings continue a road trip which saw them beat the Senators in Ottawa 5-3 last night.

Defenceman P.K. Subban will play against the Kings after he missed yesterday's practice due to illness.

The Kings won both meetings against the Canadiens last season after seven straight losses to the Habs. This season they have been struggling to regain the form which landed them two Stanley Cups in the last three years, partly because some their top scorers are having trouble racking up points. Jeff Carter has just seven goals, Anze Koptar six and Marian Gaborik four.

"I don’t think it concerns me, we have a lot of guys who can produce on any given night, it’s the way it goes sometimes, nobody’s really producing now, but we’re going ot make it through,” said Anze Kopitar.

The Habs are expected to ice a lineup of:

Pacioretty - Galchenyuk - Gallagher

Andrighetto - Plekanec - Sekac

Bournival - Desharnais - Parenteau

Prust - Malhotra - Weise

Markov - Subban

Emelin - Gonchar

Beaulieu - Gilbert

Price (starter)

Tokarski

Scratches: Tangradi, Allen

Injured: Eller (UBI), Weaver (concussion)