Sometimes the final result does not necessarily represent the true outcome of the match. The Canadian had further proof of this on Thursday evening.
Anton Lundell scored the decisive goal in a shootout and the Florida Panthers defeated the Montrealers 4-3 at Amerant Bank Arena.
After a spectacular overtime, during which both teams had good scoring opportunities, Lundell served a cup of coffee to Samuel Montembeault to confirm his team’s victory. Aleksander Barkov and Cole Caufield also scored in the shootout.
Twenty-eight points separated the two teams before the first faceoff of the game, but Martin St-Louis’ squad did not seem intimidated at all. She responded to the Panthers’ physical play, but she also showed what she could become with a little more experience.
“We played an excellent match,” insisted St-Louis. There’s not much you can’t love except the result. The players know how they played and it’s disappointing not to be rewarded. We went to another level tonight. It was a fun match to coach. I am very encouraged. »
The Panthers (40-16-4) became the second NHL team to reach 40 wins this season, after the New York Rangers, and they beat the Canadiens (23-28-9) for a third times in as many duels in 2023-2024.
Barkov, the captain of the Panthers, stood out thanks to a goal and two assists, but that of the Habs, Nick Suzuki, had nothing to envy him. He set the tone with several good scoring chances and he also had a goal and two assists.
“It’s nothing new for him. He found consistency as a captain this year, St-Louis analyzed. There is nothing that impresses “Suzy” or stops her. He’s not afraid of anyone and he’s making his mark in the NHL. »
Sam Reinhart hit the target on the power play and penalty kill for the Floridians, who occupy first place in the Atlantic Division. Anthony Stolarz blocked 28 pucks.
Alex Newhook and Juraj Slafkovsky also found the back of the net for the Montreal team, which hasn’t won at Sunrise since December 28, 2018. Samuel Montembeault finished the game with 32 saves.
“We’re proving to ourselves that we can hold our own against anyone, anytime,” said defenseman Arber Xhekaj. Our standards are very high. It hurts to lose, but you have to remember all the good things we did tonight. »
The Bleu-blanc-rouge will return to action on Saturday evening, when they finish their stay in Florida by facing the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Tighter than expected
The Panthers started the game with confidence and they applied a lot of pressure on their opponents from the first minutes. Montembeault notably had to stand out on a good shot from Sam Bennett, following a turnaround from David Savard.
At the other end of the ice, Stolarz closed the door on Suzuki before setting the table for his team’s first goal.
The Panthers goalie made a clearance along the boards and the puck was deflected off the skate by Carter Verhaeghe. Reinhart grabbed it in the center and then passed it to Barkov, who deceived Montembeault’s vigilance with a quick wrist shot.
The celebrations lasted only 83 seconds. The home team opened the neutral zone and Xhekaj fired a long pass from one blue line to the other towards Suzuki. The Habs captain came alone in front of Stolarz and took his revenge with a shot over the glove.
Helped by a numerical superiority, the Panthers had a start to the second engagement as convincing as the first. The Canadian was able to resist, but the pace was established and it was difficult to slow down.
Paul Maurice’s men spent more and more time in the enemy zone, exhausting the Montrealers. Johnathan Kovacevic took a penalty, which was over, but when Savard went to the penalty box for a second time in the match, the defense finally broke.
Positioned along the right boards, Barkov slipped the puck towards Matthew Tkachuk, near the goal line. The Panthers pest immediately spotted Reinhart in the crease, who quickly drew the lead to give his team the lead.
Quietly, the visitors came to their senses and knocked on the door in the last seconds. Slafkovsky was initially frustrated by Stolarz, causing a faceoff with three seconds left. Suzuki then won the face-off to allow the Slovak to move the ropes just before the sound of the siren.
The Canadian’s power play went up and down in the final third, leading to a goal for both teams. Newhook first accepted a handover from Caufield to lodge the disc over Stolarz’s left shoulder, but Reinhart was surgical on Montembault’s expense while Oliver Ekman-Larsson sat in the penalty box.
“It’s not pleasant,” Montembeault said of Reinhart’s tying goal, shorthanded. I think when I watched it afterwards, I might have liked to have played it differently. I was expecting more of a pass. It’s a good throw, but it’s frustrating. We played a good third period and I think we deserved to win. »