The Montreal Canadiens will try to meet a big challenge on Saturday afternoon as they cross swords with the Florida Panthers.
What’s more, he will have to do without the services of forward Jake Evans and defender Alexander Romanov who were both added to the COVID-19 protocol on Saturday morning.
With 44 points, the Panthers are fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, behind the Washington Capitals (47 points), the Tampa Bay Lightning (47 points) and the Carolina Hurricanes (45 points). .
Interim head coach Andrew Brunette’s men have won their last two matches. They had also crushed the Lightning 9 to 3 on Thursday. As a result, they pocketed a 16th win in 19 home games this season.
In his second clash following an absence related to COVID-19, Quebec striker of the Panthers Jonathan Huberdeau paid a night of five points at the expense of the “Bolts”. Anthony Duclair has scored three times in his last two meetings.
In net, Sergei Bobrovsky has lost just three times in regulation since the start of the campaign and is posting a .917 save rate.
Thus, the duel promises to be rather uneven as the CH languishes in the bottom of the Eastern Association standings, with 18 points, and has a staggering number of players following the COVID-19 protocol. Because of this, forward Cam Hillis could make his NHL debut.
Absent against the Hurricanes on Thursday, Quebecer Jonathan Drouin could be back at his post.