Special teams were the key to the Montreal Canadiens’ 4-1 defeat against the Florida Panthers on Saturday night at Amerant Bank Arena.
Before the game, Martin St. Louis’ men had the fourth-worst shorthanded unit in the National Hockey League, with an efficiency of 72.9%. Against the Panthers, the team’s setbacks in this facet of the game continued, with it allowing two goals short of a man.
This meeting was presented on TVA Sports and on TVA Sports Direct.
It was Eetu Luostarinen who scored the two goals for the local favorites in the numerical advantage, including the winning goal. Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe also shook the ropes for the Sunrise team.
The Canadian’s only goal came from the stick of Cole Caufield. With a one-man advantage, number 22 received Nick Suzuki’s pass before beating Anthony Stolarz with a magnificent backhand shot from a difficult angle.
The CH failed to generate much offense, shooting only 20 times on the Panthers’ goal. The Montreal club, however, had some interesting opportunities.
Indeed, in the first seconds of the third period, Josh Anderson could have given his team a 2-1 lead when he was launched into a breakaway. Stolarz, however, saved his shot.
Jake Allen made 22 saves on the 25 shots he faced.
With this setback, the Habs suffered a sixth consecutive defeat against the Panthers, and an eighth in a row in the den of the “Cats”. Montreal now has a record of 15-15-5, good for sixth place in the Atlantic Division.
The Bleu-Blanc-Rouge will be back in action on Sunday against the Lightning in Tampa Bay. The club will conclude its seven-game road trip against the Dallas Stars on January 2, before returning home on January 4 when the Buffalo Sabers are the visitors at the Bell Centre.
SUMMARY
THIRD PERIOD
17:13 | GOAL – Carter Verhaeghe (FLO) scores in an empty net
15:24 | GOAL – A long shot from Oliver Ekman-Larsson (FLO) is deflected on the way by Sam Bennett, Jake Allen (MTL) is beaten 3-1
13:11 | Brendan Gallagher (MTL) takes a good wrist shot during an offensive charge, Anthony Stolarz (FLO) resists
11:36 | Good slapshot from David Savard (MTL), Anthony Stolarz (FLO) makes the save
7:34 | GOAL – Eetu Luostarinen (FLO) scores with a nice feint in front. digital, his second goal of the match
6:42 | Joel Armia (MTL) is punished for roughness in the opposing zone. It still has to be done.
5:10 | Jake Allen (MTL) frustrates Sam Reinhart (FLO)
5:01 | Nick Cousins (FLO) causes a turnover and shoots, Jake Allen (MTL) holds on
2:26 | Jayden Struble (MTL) blocks a shot from Carter Verhaeghe (FLO)
0:09 | Josh Anderson (MTL) escapes, but Anthony Stolarz (FLO) holds on to his feint
0:00 | Start of the third period
SECOND PERIOD
19:55 | Juraj Slafkovsky (MTL) misses a check with injury, ends the period in pain
18:48 | Eetu Luostarinen (FLO) causes a turnover and escapes, but Jake Allen (MTL) resists
17:13 | Mike Matheson (MTL) wastes a great chance on attack with a weak shot
15:52 | Jake Allen (MTL) resists a dangerous shot from Nick Cousins (FLO)
12:47 | Jake Allen (MTL) stands in front of a shot from Kevin Stenlund (FLO)
9:13 | Carter Verhaeghe (FLO) scores after a nice exchange, but CH contests for offside and the goal is recalled
9:08 | The CH obtains a surplus in dice. digital, but the shot from David Savard (MTL) misses the target
7:52 | The CH is punished for sending too many men on the ice
7:01 | GOAL – Posted at the mouth of the net, Cole Caufield (MTL) surprises Anthony Stolarz (FLO) with a backhand shot in front. digital, it’s 1-1
6:15 | Nick Suzuki (MTL) gets a chance at the top of the slot, his shot hits the horizontal bar
5:31 | Penalty to Evan Rodrigues (FLO) for holding
4:05 | GOAL – Eetu Luostarinen (FLO) hits the puck in flight and scores forward. digital
2:22 | Penalty to Nick Suzuki (MTL) for holding
1:56 | Save by Jake Allen (MTL) on a dangerous shot from Aleksander Barkov (FLO)
0:00 | Start of the second period
FIRST PERIOD
17:49 | Anthony Stolarz (FLO) stands out on a shot from Michael Pezzetta (MTL) from the slot
4:30 p.m. | Ryan Lomberg (FLO) pushes Justin Barron (MTL) into his net dangerously, a melee breaks out
15:56 | Joel Armia (MTL) misses the target during a overkill orchestrated by Brendan Gallagher (MTL)
15:15 | Nick Cousins (FLO) causes a turnaround, escapes but fails to beat Jake Allen (MTL)
12:00 | Jake Allen (MTL) makes the save on a dangerous shot from Ryan Lomberg (FLO)
9:35 | Strong contact between Sam Bennett (FLO) and Nick Suzuki (MTL)
7:30 | Carter Verhaeghe (FLO) is punished for high stick
4:40 | Great attack from CH’s first trio, but Nick Suzuki is too generous
2:53 | Tough fight between Michael Pezzetta (MTL) and William Lockwood (FLO)
1:05 | First threat of the Panthers’ first line: Sam Reinhart (FLO) cannot take advantage
0:00 | Start of the meeting
Lineups for tonight’s match: