Hurricanes @ Canadiens

Who will WIN this matchup?

Carolina Hurricanes (11-9-3)

@ Montreal Canadiens (11-8-5)

Starting Goalies:

Curtis McElhinney (CAR): Confirmed

Carey Price (MON): Unconfirmed

Current odds:

Carolina Hurricanes: (-115)

Montreal Canadiens: (-105)

• Captain Shea Weber is in line to make his season debut as the skidding Montreal Canadiens aim to snap a four-game winless skid on Tuesday against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes. Sidelined following offseason knee surgery, Weber will be a welcome sight for sore eyes for a Canadiens’ defense that has been extremely generous as well as provide a booming shot for the power play. Weber was paired with David Schlemko during Monday’s practice, although Julien said that Victor Mete fared well while playing with the 33-year-old last season.

• While Montreal has scored just two goals in each of the last three contests of its four-game skid, Carolina netted 11 during a three-game winning streak before dropping a 4-1 decision to the New York Islanders on Saturday. Captain Justin Williams scored for the third time in four games and gave the Hurricanes a power-play tally in seven of their last nine outings.

• Sebastian Aho leads the team in both assists (18) and points (25), however the 21-year-old Finn scored twice in Carolina’s 3-1 win over Montreal last Dec. 27. Aho has collected eight points (three goals, five assists) in his last eight games while countryman Teuvo Teravainen has seven (two goals, five assists) in that same stretch. Micheal Ferland, who has scored a club-best 11 goals, has been held off the scoresheet in seven of 11 contests this month.

• The expected return of Weber gave Montreal the go ahead to place fellow defenseman Karl Alzner on waivers. The 30-year-old Alzner has recorded one point (an assist) in eight games this season and 12 (one goal, 11 assists) in 82 contests in 2017-18 after signing a five-year, $23.125 million deal prior to the latter campaign. “It kind of just reminds you that hockey’s a business,” the 31-year-old Schlemko told reporters. “As great as a guy Alzy is, that’s a management decision and we all wish him the best. Hopefully he lands somewhere and gets his feet underneath him.”

• Carolina G Curtis McElhinney will receive the start on Tuesday, per The Raleigh News & Observer.

• Canadiens C Paul Byron took part in Monday’s practice after missing 13 games with a lower-body injury, although Julien said he would not face the Hurricanes.

• Carolina D Jake Bean, 20, is expected to make his NHL debut after joining F Valentin Zykov in being recalled from Charlotte of the American Hockey League.