MTL@NJD: What you need to know

NEWARK - The Canadiens begin their final multi-game road trip of the season with a stop at Prudential Center to take on the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.

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The Habs left for the Garden State on Wednesday after losing to the Senators at the Bell Centre the night before. In that game, Brendan Gallagher marked his return from an eight-game absence by scoring just 2:31 after the opening puck drop, but Montreal would only hold the lead for a shade under 13 minutes in the game. Justin Barron and Cole Caufield each scored an equalizer in the second period in response to goals by Tim Stützle and Brady Tkachuk, respectively, but Ottawa scored three unanswered goals in the third period to take it by a 6-3 margin.

Acquired at the trade deadline in exchange for Artturi Lehkonen, Barron celebrated his first NHL goal on Tuesday in just his seventh NHL game. But after practice on Wednesday, the team announced that the rookie defenseman, along with Paul Byron, would not travel on the two-game excursion. The pair, along with Nick Suzuki, had taken therapy days and weren't on the ice for the skate.

One notable name who was on the passenger list for the flight to New Jersey was goaltender Carey Price, who is expected to continue practicing with the team on the road.
Caufield, meanwhile, continued his solid play after being named the NHL's Rookie of the Month last week. He was also named co-winner of the Molson Cup for the month of March along with Suzuki. His goal against the Sens was his 16th of the season, just seven behind rookie leader Tanner Jeannot of Nashville. With the tally coming on the power play, Caufield leads all rookies with four goals and nine points with the man advantage since March 1.

In his pregame media availability, interim head coach Martin St-Louis announced that Tyler Pitlick, Kale Clague, and Chris Wideman would draw back into the lineup. They would take the places of Byron and Barron, as well as Jordan Harris, who will watch from the press box. Jake Allen gets the start in goal.

Speaking of the Devils, they're winless in four games after suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the New York Rangers on Tuesday. Yegor Sharangovich scored the lone goal for New Jersey, while Nico Daws made 14 saves in the loss.
However, the Devils' biggest loss likely happened in their previous game against the New York Islanders, when they lost both Nathan Bastian and Jack Hughes to injury. While Bastian remains day-to-day for the time being, New Jersey announced on Tuesday that Hughes would be out the remainder of the season with a low-grade MCL sprain. For their part, Sharangovich and Jimmy Vesey were hurt in the Rangers game; the former might be able to dress against the Habs, but the latter had imaging work done on his left leg and the team is awaiting results.
The Devils are right ahead of the Canadiens in the Eastern Conference standings with 54 points (24-40-6). Jesper Bratt leads the team with 65 points (22G, 43A), with Hughes (56 points), Sharangovich and Dawson Mercer (40 points each) next on the list.
Thursday's contest is the final one of the Devils-Canadiens season series for 2021-22. New Jersey holds the edge, having beaten Montreal 7-1 at the Bell Centre on February 8 and again 3-2 in a shootout on March 27.
Broadcast information
Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. ET.
Watch the game on TSN2 and RDS, and listen on the radio on TSN 690 and 98,5 fm.