Canadiens at Panthers
THE STORY: Two teams going in the wrong direction will square off in the final game of 2011 when the Florida Panthers host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night. Both teams are limping into the New Year. The Southeast Division-leading Panthers fell into a quick hole and absorbed their fourth defeat in five games with a 4-1 loss to the visiting New York Rangers on Friday night. That pales in comparison to the Canadiens, who have dropped six of seven as they prepare to close out a six-game road trip. Montreal snapped a five-game losing streak with a 6-2 win at Ottawa on Tuesday, but blew a two-goal lead at Tampa Bay on Thursday night to fall to 1-5 under coach Randy Cunneyworth. The Canadiens have won four straight late-December matchups at Florida, including the last two seasons on New Year’s Eve.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBC, RDS
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (14-17-7): One of the few bright spots on the road trip for Montreal has been the play of rookie defenseman Raphael Diaz, who has six points in his last four games. Diaz collected three assists in the win at Ottawa and added two more against Tampa Bay. The Canadiens will open 2012 with six of their first seven games at the Bell Centre, giving them a chance to boost their league-worst total of five wins at home.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (19-12-7): Florida fell behind in the first 35 seconds Friday in the 4-1 loss to the Rangers. The one positive was the return of second-leading scorer Stephen Weiss after a two-game absence. The Panthers are trying to hold it together with six forwards out due to injury. Florida cannot complain about the production from its blue line. Jason Garrison leads league defensemen with 11 goals and Brian Campbell is the second-league scorer among defensemen with 30 points.
OVERTIME:
1. Montreal has won six of its last eight visits to Florida.
2. Panthers D Mike Weaver signed a two-year contract extension Friday.
3. In their last six losses, the Canadiens have surrendered 25 goals.