Canadiens Lineup

Artturi Lehkonen – Max Domi – Joel Armia 

Jonathan Drouin  – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Tomas Tatar  – Jesperi Kotkaniemi –  Paul Byron

Kenny Agostino – Michael Chaput – Nicolas Deslauriers

Victor Mete – Shea Weber

Mike Reilly – Jeff Petry

Brett Kulak – Jordie Benn

Antti Niemi – Carey Price 

Karl Alzner, Matthew Peca, Charles Hudon

Andrew Shaw

Game Report

After a huge emotional win in Boston on Monday night, the Canadiens were faced with a back-to-back. Fortunately, the Habs were back in the friendly confines of the Bell Centre and facing the Florida Panthers, who are winless in 2019.

It was the perfect opportunity to start Antti Niemi who is in the midst of a miserable season, in search of a morale boost. Niemi has struggled since the pre-season and has held the dubious honour of owning the worst goals against average in the NHL.

Montreal has done a good job this season of beating struggling teams and clubs who are out of a playoff position. The Panthers fit the bill on both counts coming into the game ranked 26th in the NHL.

Giving up a 5-spot tonight, Florida has now allowed four or more goals in seven consecutive games. And the Panthers leave Montreal having lost seven straight.

All to say, the Canadiens got the opponent they needed. With their 26th win, Montreal remains in a wild card position having bumped their goal differential to the positive side, now at plus-4.

For Niemi, it may not have been pretty nor particularly difficult, but his performance was the confidence lift that he badly needed.

With Florida so desperate for a win, shots were coming from all over the ice. As play-by-play man Dan Robertson said, “the Panthers can’t get a grade A scoring chance.”

Despite the lopsided shot advantage, the Panthers just edged the Canadiens 14-13 in high danger scoring chances.

Bell Centre fans were brought to their feet with a highlight reel goal from Jesperi Kotkaniemi. For a rare time this season, the Habs rookie played more than 15 minutes. Max Domi’s icetime suffered as he let his emotions get the better of him, albeit finally ending his 17-game goalless streak.

Will Paul Byron be getting a call from the Department of Player Safety tomorrow? The Canadiens winger left his feet to deliver a dangerous hit to MacKenzie Weegar in the second period. The Panthers defenceman left the game in the second period and did not return after following the league’s concussion protocol.

Montreal will have a day off on Wednesday, then begin getting ready for another back-to-back in Columbus on Friday and back at home on Saturday against the Flyers.

Plus / Minus

▲  Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Antti Niemi

▼  Michael Chaput, Mike Reilly, Kenny Agostino, Jeff Petry, Nicolas Deslauriers, Phillip Danault, Paul Byron