Game Day: Montreal Canadiens at Florida Panthers

 Calm and courteous as ever, Habs-loving snowbirds from north of our border fall in line for admission to the BAC in Sunrise.

Habs @ Cats, 7p - BankAtlantic Center, FSN-FL (HD)

 

Panthers: 22-17-8  52P, 2nd in SE    Canadiens: 27-14-6  60P, 2nd in NE

LAST 10:    FLA: 6-1-3      MON: 6-4-0

HOME & AWAY:   FLA (H): 11-6-5    MON (A): 12-10-2

GAME 4 of 4     SEASON SERIES: 3-0 MON

ALL-TIME: 25-25-6 (!)

• Florida has an opportunity to reclaim their status as the only club with a winning record against Montreal, though have lost five in a row dating to last season
• The Canadiens have lost their past three games
• Andrei Markov has a nine-game assist streak
• Montreal has outscored Florida 14-8 this year
• Boston likes playing the Habs

 AT THE ENDS

BATTERED & BRUISED

 Though unfortunate, the tragic death of Youppi paved the way for Habbi the Pig to delight Canadiens fans across the continent. The molestation charge remains unresolved, according to his attorneys.

DIVISIONALLY SPEAKING

None of the SE teams were in action last night. Washington gets another evening of rest today while the others play.

From a conference standpoint, Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby decided another loss wasn't acceptable, so he willed his Pens to victory with a four-point third period against the Rangahs, pulling out a 6-2 win. This leaves Pittsburgh with the same 52 points Florida currently has. Thanks, Sid.

On the positive side, Buffalo could really have used a few of those ten goals they piled up on Tuesday, since Wednesday the Sabres ran into a well-prepared wall in Calgary, losing 5-2 behind a Mike Cammalleri hat trick. The loss  keeps the Panthers - and Penguins - three points out of seventh place in the East.

TONIGHT IN THE SOUTHEAST

• NY Islanders @ Atlanta, 7p. The Tavares race soldiers on.
• Tampa Bay @ Carolina, 7p. Up-and-coming vs. Also-ran? Big consequences - around the conference - hinging on the outcome of this one.

THE CHASE FOR EIGHTH...AND BEYOND

Neither Pittsburgh (52P) nor Buffalo (55P) - the only  "questionables" with a realistic shot at the postseason - are in action this evening.

LITTER BOX LINERS

• Miami Herald:  David Booth keeps improving
• Sun-Sentinel: No story as of 9 a.m.
• Palm Beach Post:  "borrowed" GR's Booth story
• Montreal Gazette:  Habs take best shots at Price
• Le Journal de Montreal:  Carbo n'a pas apprécié...
• AP via NHL.com: game preview
• AccuScore via Sporting News
• Panthers website
• Canadiens website

FROM THE BLOGOSPHERE

• Cat Scratch (FLA)
• Panthers on the Prowl (FLA)
• Eyes on the Prize (MTL) an SBNation blog
• Four Habs Fans (MTL)

THE WARMUP

Steve Begin and Anthony Stewart got acquainted exactly one month ago today.