(My Sportsbook) - The Tampa Bay Lightning will try to avoid their longest losing streak in nearly eight years when they visit the Montreal Canadiens for tonight's matchup at the Bell Centre.

The Lightning have gone 0-7-2 during a nine-game skid and another setback will give Tampa its longest losing streak since dropping 10 straight from January 12-29, 2001.

The latest defeat came Wednesday night in Buffalo, as Thomas Vanek scored two goals, including the game-winner late in the second period, to lead the Sabres to the 4-2 decision at HSBC Arena. Vanek currently leads the NHL with 22 tallies on the season.

Martin St. Louis and Mark Recchi had the goals for the Lightning, while Mike Smith made 33 saves in defeat.

The Bolts last earned a victory in a home game against Nashville on November 21. That 4-1 decision over the Predators is the only victory for interim head coach Rick Tocchet, who is 1-7-4 since taking over for the fired Barry Melrose.

Lightning forward Ryan Malone missed his third straight game because of an upper-body injury, while forward Adam Hall was scratched, also for an upper- body injury. Both players are considered day-to-day and are questionable for tonight's test.

The Lightning are playing the third portion of a four-game road trip, which they will wrap Saturday in Ottawa. Tampa is just 3-8-3 as the visiting team this year and has lost eight straight and 10 of its last 11 road tests.

Meanwhile, things have been going well recently for the Canadiens, as they've won four of their last five games and have registered a point in five straight (4-0-1).

Montreal last played on Tuesday night when it handed the visiting Calgary Flames a decisive loss. Robert Lang scored twice and Jaroslav Halak made 32 saves to lift the Habs to a 4-1 decision at the Bell Centre.

For Halak, it was his first start since November 28 and his first victory since beating Florida on October 20. No. 1 goaltender Carey Price, who is 13-4-4 this season, is expected to be back between the pipes for the Canadiens tonight.

Matt D'Agostini scored his fourth goal in as many games and Andrei Markov also lit the lamp for the Canadiens, who also earned at least a point for the 10th time in their last 12 games overall (7-3-2).

Markov also added an assist and has now recorded a point in five straight games, posting three goals and four assists over that span. The defenseman has 23 points on the season to place him third in the NHL in scoring amongst blueliners.

The Habs are 9-2-3 at home this season and have won four of their last five games in Montreal. The club is 4-0-1 on a franchise-record seven-game homestand that will end Saturday against Washington.

The Canadiens have won three of five, five of eight and eight of the last 12 meetings with the Lightning. Tampa has also dropped three of four and four of its previous six tests in Montreal.