It’s been a tough road trip so far for the Florida Panthers.
For the second time in three games since leaving South Florida, the Panthers couldn’t pick up the two points, this time falling to the Montreal Canadiens 3-1.
The home team got off on the right foot, and they did it on the power play.
Veteran sniper Patrik Laine was given three shot attempts from the same spot inside the left circle, and the third one finally beat Sergei Bobrovsky at the 5:15 mark of the opening frame.
Cole Caufield scored his 33rd goal of the season late in the period to give the Habs a 2-0 lead after one.
Panthers rookie Mackie Samoskevich would get the Cats on the board early in the second, picking the puck up behind Montreal’s net before walking in front and beating Sam Montembeault under the glove.
That would be as close as Florida would get on this night.
Christian Dvorak took advantage of a Sam Bennett turnover to restore Montreal’s two-goal lead in the third period, and that would be it in terms of scoring.
Florida ended up outshooting the Canadiens 11-2 during the final frame, but Montembeault stood tall and earned his team a huge two points in the standings.
On to Long Island.
QUICK THOUGHTS
Samoskevich has four points over a modest three-game point streak.
In 11 games since the start of February, Samoskevich has racked up six goals and nine points.
Bennnett extended his point streak to five games, accumulating three goals and six points during the run.
Over his past nine games, Bennett has four goals and 10 points.
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