Capitals tonight

Opponent: Montreal Canadiens

Site: USAir Arena, Landover

Time: 7:30

TV/Radio: HTS/WWLG (1360 AM), WTEM (570 AM)

Outlook: The Capitals (15-15-3) return to action tonight against the Canadiens. Washington went into the Christmas holidays with a 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders but is 4-2-1 during its past seven games. Montreal (18-14-2) shut out the Penguins Saturday with a 29-save performance by Jocelyn Thibault. Thibault is 4-1-1 since joining the Canadiens in a trade that sent All-Star G Patrick Roy to Colorado. Pierre Turgeon leads Montreal in points with 38. The last time Montreal was this hot was Nov. 1, when it carried a six-game unbeaten streak into USAir Arena. That night, the Capitals won, 5-2. Washington will be without LW Craig Berube (serving a 10-game suspension) and probably Kelly Miller, who continues to recover from a groin/stomach muscle strain.