One streak will end when the New York Red Bulls and Montreal Impact meet on Wednesday night at Saputo Stadium.
The Red Bulls will try for their fourth straight league victory and sixth in seven games while the Impact go for their first three-game winning streak in more than two years.
New York (9-6-5) has outscored its past three MLS opponents 9-2, beating Philadelphia 3-1 on Saturday - 11 days after being knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup by the Union on penalties.
The Red Bulls finish a run of five of six games on the road against the Impact, and they've won three of their past four away from home after a 1-3-3 start. Coach Jesse Marsch says his group didn't play its best in its last two victories - starting with a 2-0 win at Orlando on July 18 - but the final results were something to build on.
"The beginning of the year we said we wanted to make sure that we put an emphasis on road games," Marsch told the team's official website. "I think in both games, even though we weren't our sharpest, we were the more dangerous team and we walked away with the wins. That's going to be an important recipe for success moving forward."
Even if he won't admit it, this one figures to have added meaning for Marsch. It's his first game back in Montreal since he was the Impact's coach for their inaugural 2012 MLS season before leaving via mutual agreement.
"Not much to it," Marsch said. "It's a long time ago now, they've moved on. I'm excited to see my friend (coach) Frank Klopas, but other than that just getting our team ready for another good effort on the road."
Two Red Bull players also return to Montreal. Quebec native Karl Ouimette and Felipe Martins each played for the Impact from 2012-14.
Montreal (8-8-3) has found a rhythm even before suiting up Didier Drogba, the former Chelsea striker who was acquired via a sign-and-trade with Chicago last week. Drogba will be introduced to fans at halftime of Wednesday's game, though it is still uncertain when he will make his Impact debut.
It could be sooner rather than later after Montreal traded forward Jack McInerney to Columbus on Tuesday - a day before his 23rd birthday - for a second-round draft pick in what was believed to be a salary cap-related move. McInerney has 36 goals midway through his sixth MLS season, making him the second-youngest player in league history to score that many behind ex-Crew forward Stern John (44).
McInerney only scored once in his last eight MLS games, yet the Impact play the first of four straight at home looking for their first three-game winning streak since May 11-June 1, 2013. Even if Drogba's impact is limited to a halftime introduction, Montreal has Marsch's attention.
"I think even without Drogba it's still a dangerous team," Marsch said. "I've been impressed with them this year and it's a team that we'll have to make sure we limit on the counter."
Midfielder Ignacio Piatti has five goals in his last six games, including two in Montreal's 3-2 win over New York City FC on Saturday.
The Red Bulls are 5-2-1 against the Impact all-time but just 1-2-1 in Montreal.
