The Florida Panthers (22-17-3) will continue its six-game road trip and try to stop a six-game losing streak to the host Habs, when they take on the second-place Montreal Canadiens (24-13-6) at Bell Centre.
Florida opened the trek north with a clunker, dropping a lackluster 4-1 decision to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Carter Verhaeghe ended a cold spell with his 12th of the season to snap Joseph Woll’s shutout bid. Unfortunately, it was way too little, way too late for the Cats, who fell behind by giving up three goals in a 4:25 span of game play. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 of 22 and lost for the third time in his last four starts. Sam Bennett saw his career-best nine-game point streak halted and Brad Marchand was held out after playing the first two periods. Just a bad night all around.
The Canadiens enter the tilt on a red-hit 7-1-2 run and just one point behind the Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning. thanks to last night’s 4-1 decision over the visiting Calgary Flames. Alexandre Texier scored a goal and added two assists and Lane Hutson, Oliver Kapanen and Cole Caufield also lit the lamp. Jacob Fowler got the start and made 28 saves, so it looks like we’ll see former Panther Sam Montembeault tonight.
- WHEN: 7 p.m. ET
- WHERE: Bell Centre – Montreal, QC
- ON THE TUBE: Scripps
- ON THE DIAL: 104.3 WQAM (D/B), Thunder 100.3 (Keys)
- SOCIALS: #TimeToHunt, #GoHabsGo, #FLAvsMON, @LitterBoxCats, LBC FaceBook
- ENEMY INTEL: Eyes On The Prize
- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 2 of 3 (0-0-1)
- LAST MEETING: MON 3, @FLA 2 (OT) (Recap) – 12/30/2025
- NEXT MEETING: April 7, 2026
- PROJECTED STARTERS: Florida: Bobrovsky (17-11-1 .885 / 2.85 3SO) Montreal: Montembeault (7-6-1 .865 / 3.48 1SO)
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / Montreal
Thursday in the Atlantic (Standings/Panthers Playoff Chances)
- Calgary (18-20-4 40P) at BOSTON (22-19-2 46P) 7 p.m.
- Vancouver (16-21-5 37P) at DETROIT (25-15-4 54P) 7 p.m.
- BUFFALO (22-15-4 48P) at New York Rangers (20-18-6 46P) 7 p.m.
- TORONTO (20-15-5 45P) at Philadelphia (22-12-7 51P) 7 p.m.
- OTTAWA (20-17-5 45P) at Colorado (31-4-7 69P) 9 p.m.
Idle: TBL (55P)