Canadiens at Panthers
THE STORY: The Montreal Canadiens will look to snap a three-game losing streak when they visit the Florida Panthers on Sunday. The Panthers lead the Southeast Division and sit third in the Eastern Conference, but are in a dogfight with the Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals for the top position. This is the third of four meetings this season between the clubs. Florida won the first two meetings – once on the road and once at home.
TV: 5 p.p. ET. RDS, TSN-Habs, FS-Florida
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (24-28-10): Montreal, which finds itself in the basement of the Eastern Conference, is struggling though a disappointing season on many levels. Thanks to All-Star Carey Price, goaltending isn’t one of them. Despite one of the heaviest workloads in the NHL, Price sports a 22-23-9 record with four shutouts. Price will give way to Peter Budaj on Sunday in the first of two games against teams from the Sunshine State. “He’s been very patient and he’s ready to take on the task. I think the workload has been great on Carey Price, who’s performed very well,” said coach Randy Cunneyworth on his decision to give Budaj just his ninth start of the season.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (28-20-12): Florida added LW Wojtek Wolski from the New York Rangers on Saturday in exchange for AHL defenseman Mike Vernace and a third-round pick in the 2013 NHL draft. The trade paid off immediately as Wolski scored the tying goal in an eventual 3-2 shootout win for the Panthers on Saturday over the host Carolina Hurricanes. Of concern for the Panthers is their penalty killing. Ranked 24th in the NHL, the Panthers have given up a power-play goal in four of their last five games.
OVERTIME:
1. Max Pacioretty has six goals in his last eight games for Montreal.
2. Stephen Weiss has four points in his last seven games for Florida.
3. Jose Theodore, who made 26 saves against the Hurricanes, is 16-11-6 on the season with two shutouts.