(My Sportsbook) - The suddenly-hot Montreal Canadiens will shoot for a fourth straight victory as they continue their push for the playoffs by hosting the rival Ottawa Senators tonight at the Bell Centre.

The Canadiens, who began the month of March with losses in seven of nine games, have since won five out of six and have posted decisive victories in each of their last three trips to the ice. The Habs have also recorded at least a point in six straight contests, going 5-0-1 over that stretch.

With 92 points, Montreal is close to clinching one of the eight Eastern Conference postseason berths. The Habs are currently seventh in the East and are three points ahead of the New York Rangers and Florida, who are tied for the eighth seed. Montreal is also just one point back of idle Pittsburgh for the East's sixth spot.

Montreal has fared well against the Senators this season, winning four of the five matchups. The Canadiens have taken seven of 10 overall in the series and Ottawa has dropped three straight and four of five in Quebec. This is the final meeting between the clubs this season.

The Canadiens have outscored the opposition, 15-4, during their three-game win streak and are coming off Saturday's 6-2 blowout victory in Toronto. Montreal is now 6-3-3 since general manager Bob Gainey replaced fired head coach Guy Carbonneau.

Alexei Kovalev registered a goal and three assists to lead the Habs to Saturday's decision at Air Canada Centre. Kovalev also recorded three assists in Thursday's win over the Islanders and now has seven goals and eight helpers during a six-game point streak.

Guillaume Latendresse, Josh Gorges and Maxim Lapierre had a goal and an assist each in the win. Christopher Higgins and Alex Tanguay also lit the lamp for the Canadiens.

Jaroslav Halak recorded 34 saves in place of Carey Price, who missed a second consecutive game with the flu. Price is considered day-to-day with the illness. The Canadiens have sent goaltender Marc Denis back to their AHL affiliate in Hamilton, meaning Price will at least be ready to serve in a backup role tonight.

In other injury news, the Habs will be without defensemen Andrei Markov and Mathieu Schneider tonight, as both players are sidelined with upper-body injuries. Markov leads the Canadiens with 64 points this year, while Schneider has 16 points in 21 games with Montreal on the season.

Tonight's test marks the second-to-last home game of the regular season for Montreal, which will play its next two tilts on the road before completing their schedule Saturday against Pittsburgh. The Canadiens are 24-8-7 as the host this season.

Ottawa, meanwhile, has been eliminated from postseason contention, but was able to record a win its last time on the ice. The Senators halted a two-game slide by recording Saturday's shootout decision over visiting Philadelphia.

Mike Fisher scored in the fifth round of the shootout as the Sens slipped by the Flyers, 4-3, at Scotiabank Place.

After Claude Giroux went backhand to forehand and smacked it off the right side of the net, Fisher skated in on net and buried a wrister past Antero Niittymaki for the win.

Jason Spezza had a goal and an assist while Chris Kelly and Nick Foligno also lit the lamp for the Senators. Alex Auld stopped 31 shots in the win.

Ottawa is just 13-22-4 as the guest this year and has lost four of its last five road games. Next up for the Sens is a two-game homestand that begins Tuesday against Boston. Ottawa will then close its regular season Saturday in Toronto.