Panthers at Canadiens
THE STORY: The Florida Panthers have their sights set on winning their first Southeast Division title. The first step in achieving that goal will be preventing their first four-game losing streak of the season when they visit Montreal on Tuesday. This is the fourth and final meeting with the Panthers winning the first three. The Canadiens are last in the Eastern Conference.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, RDS, TSN2 (Canadiens), FS Florida (Panthers)
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (36-24-15): Florida begins a four-game road-trip that will make or break its season. The Panthers are only three points ahead of the surging Washington Capitals, who are tied at 84 points with the Buffalo Sabres for the eighth and final playoff spot. “You have to have jump this time of year,” center Stephen Weiss said. “If you don’t have jump now then something is missing.” The majority of the Panthers' final seven games are against teams below them in the standings. “…The pride and parity of this league is right there,” defenseman Ed Jovanovski said. “We have to be ready to go every night.”
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (29-34-13): Montreal, which has made the playoffs in each of the last four campaigns, is playing out the remainder of this season. Some players will be working for jobs next season, but all of the players are playing for pride. “We’ve got guys in place for auditions that we’re hoping to see at some point in the future. The idea is to make sure we’re giving guys the appropriate responsibility and then it’s up to them to come though and play well,” coach Randy Cunneyworth said. “We still want to win hockey games. Regardless of where guys are, the end result remains that we still want the W.”
OVERTIME:
1. The Panthers have been outscored 17-4 while posting a 1-3-1 record on the road this month.
2. Florida goaltender Jose Theodore is 4-1-2 with a 1.66 goals against average in his last seven starts.
3. Montreal’s Erik Cole is one goal shy of a career-high with 31.