The Montreal Canadiens took a 5-2 loss at San Jose Thursday night, not all that surprising considering regular goalie Carey Price got the night off in the 2nd game of a back-to-back situation. Price had started eight in a row prior to that loss and figures to be back in the crease tonight.

Both teams will be playing their third game in four nights; Ducks are 6-18 in their last 24 in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation while Canadiens are 9-2 in their last 11 in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation.

The Habs enter Friday as owners of the second wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and I expect to see a motivated Montreal team make light work of Anaheim Ducks, a Western Conference bottom-feeder.

8* play on Montreal Canadiens.