About Final Night time: Habs hit velocity bump on highway journey

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The Canadiens allowed three third-period objectives en path to a 4-1 loss towards the Florida Panthers at Amerant Financial institution Area on Saturday night time.

The Habs have now misplaced two straight on the highway popping out of the vacation break.

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Jake Allen made 22 saves. On the different finish, Montreal solely mustered 19 pictures whole on Anthony Stolarz, and that features 11 within the third interval.

Cole Caufield scored Montreal’s lone aim on the facility play. Nick Suzuki and Mike Matheson, taking part in in his five hundredth profession sport, offered the assists.

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No objectives within the first interval, however Michael Pezzetta dropped the gloves with Will Lockwood. Did the Habs obtain a message from the teaching workers about group toughness after the Stefan Noesen hit on Juraj Slafkovsky on Thursday in Carolina?

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After a low-event first interval, each groups hit the scoresheet within the second. Eetu Luostarinen gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead with a power-play aim on Allen.

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Caufield responded with a power-play aim of his personal, lifting a backhand over Stolarz in tight. It was his second aim in 13 video games, and ninth total on the season. With an help, Suzuki has 9 factors in his final seven, whereas Matheson’s help gave him factors in seven straight highway video games.

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The Habs adopted up the aim with a too-many-men penalty, and the Panthers thought they scored on the following energy play, however coach Martin St. Louis received his problem the play was offside. The sport remained 1-1 after 40 minutes.

Florida was outshooting Montreal 15-8 after two intervals, and though the Habs greater than doubled their shot whole within the third, the Panthers put the sport away. After Joel Armia took a penalty for eradicating the helmet of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Luostarinen regained the lead for his membership with yet one more power-play aim.

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The Habs put some strong offensive zone shifts collectively, nevertheless it was all for naught as Sam Bennett tipped house an Ekman-Larsson level shot for the 3-1 insurance coverage marker.

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Stolarz had the historical past books in thoughts when he tried to shoot on the empty web late, nevertheless it didn’t even depart Florida’s zone. However Carter Verhaeghe’s empty-netter was true, and the sport ended 4-1.

Given the low shot depend, it will possibly’t be totally shocking Hockey Stat Playing cards had the whole membership within the adverse when it comes to offensive impression.

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The Liveblog commenters didn’t come into this portion of the highway journey with excessive hopes. Montreal sometimes struggles within the Solar Belt, and the Panthers specifically have adopted up their Stanley Cup finals look with minimal hangover. They’ve now received 4 straight, together with profitable again to again video games towards the Rangers and Canadiens.

Issues don’t get any simpler for the Habs, who tackle the Tampa Bay Lightning within the final sport of 2023, and a robust Dallas Stars group on Jan. 2 to shut out the highway journey.

However the commenters don’t need excuses a couple of powerful schedule. The place’d the offence go?

3. “Simply beat by a greater group and no offence once more for the Habs.” -Kelly Morgan

2. “Penalties or not, for the reason that 2nd interval Florida was taking the sport over. As I mentioned earlier, you can’t be out shot 2 to 1 each sport and assume you will have an opportunity of profitable.” -DW Thompson

1. “The higher group received tonight. It seemed just like the Habs have been skating in fast sand all night time. Too many give aways, too many lazy performs. Must play once more tomorrow, so finest to simply neglect about this one, get a great nights sleep, and are available out sooner tomorrow.” -Doug Kirkby

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