The Montreal Canadiens know they have little room for error amid their quest to reach the postseason.
Especially when facing the Florida Panthers, who, despite being without some key performers, appear capable of defending their Stanley Cup crown.
Looking to rebound from a blown opportunity, the Canadiens eye a season-high fourth straight home victory Saturday night against the Atlantic Division-leading Panthers.
Montreal entered play Friday one point out of the final wild-card spot in the crowded Eastern Conference playoff chase. The Canadiens are 1-1-2 following a five-game winning streak.
On Wednesday, Montreal overcame a 2-0 hole at Seattle to lead 4-2 midway through the third period. However, the Kraken struck twice to force overtime, then scored an NHL-record four seconds into the extra session to hand the Canadiens a stunning 5-4 defeat.
“It’s tough. We needed this win,” said Montreal’s Juraj Slafkovsky, who scored twice Wednesday. “We were right there and lost it in the end.”
Slafkovsky has three goals in two games, and six goals with five assists over his last 10 contests. Personal accomplishments aside, he also knows a bounce-back team performance is a must.
“We’ve got to win on Saturday. There’s no option,” Slafkovsky said. “We can’t lose more games like this, especially when we’re right there, up two goals.”
Montreal has scored four goals apiece during its three-game home winning streak.
Florida, which has won 12 of its last 15, rebounded nicely from Tuesday’s 3-2 loss at Boston by winning 3-2 Thursday at Toronto to build a four-point lead on the second-place Maple Leafs in the Atlantic.
The Panthers continue to thrive despite being without injured star Matthew Tkachuk (groin), key defenseman Aaron Ekblad (suspension) and recent acquisition Brad Marchand (upper-body injury). It’s a testament to the focus and culture built within the organization.
“It’s just part of our DNA at this point,” said Florida’s Sam Bennett, who scored twice Thursday.
“It’s who we are. That’s the style we play. … Lots of guys are stepping up right now and it’s helping us.”
With six goals and seven assists in 12 games, Bennett continues to shine. Meanwhile, talented rookie teammate Mackie Samoskevich has three of each during six March games.
“He’s a great player and he’s going to be a great player in this league for a long time,” Bennett said of Samoskevich, who has 24 points in 57 games this season.
When it comes to special teams, the Panthers are 6-for-15 on the power play in the last five games, and they have killed 25 of 26 penalties over the last eight.
Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky owns a 1.63 goals-against average with a .935 save percentage during his 10-3-0 starting stretch. New backup Vitek Vanacek could get a second start after he stopped all 21 shots he faced during a 4-0 win over Buffalo on March 8, his first action since being acquired from San Jose.
Montreal’s Sam Montembeault has a 2.11 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage amid his own 5-0-1 starting run. Backup Jakub Dobes (2.11 GAA) stopped 30 of 35 shots on Wednesday, and Florida remembers he made 34 saves during a 4-0 win in his stellar NHL debut Dec. 28.
Canadiens star Nick Suzuki has six goals with 16 assists in the last 17 games.
