The Montreal Canadiens are currently playing some very strong hockey. They have earned points in 10 of their last 12 games. Looking at this stretch, it is striking to see that the two regular-season losses were against teams that were at the bottom of the standings at the time: the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Canadiens forward Patrik Laine, who missed the previous four games with an illness, returned to the lineup and scored his club's lone goal in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Stars. It was his ninth power-play tally in just 14 games this season.

Patrik Laine returned for the Canadiens against the Dallas Stars on Saturday. The forward had missed the past four games because of an illness. He has 10 points (eight goals, two assists) in 13 games, with all of his goals coming on the power play. Laine replaced Michael Pezzetta in the lineup.

Kirby Dach scored twice while Lane Hutson, who leads all rookies in points, recorded his first three-assist game to pace the Montreal Canadiens to a 5-3 victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday in Salt Lake City.

The Montreal Canadiens hope to remain red-hot when they host the Western Conference-contending Dallas Stars on Saturday night at Bell Centre in downtown Montreal. And based on the latest reports, they could have one of their top forwards back in their lineup.