Samuel Montembeault still has the upper hand over the Panthers

Vincent Larue
Samuel Montembeault still has the upper hand over the Panthers
Credit: DansLesCoulisses.com

The Canadiens played their second game in two nights against the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre. The defending champions were in town for the first time this season.

The only change to the line-up for the home team was the return of Samuel Montembeault to the net. His first start at the Bell Centre since returning from Laval.

Here's the Habs lineup:

On the Panthers' side, Brad Marchand was not in the lineup due to an injury he sustained against the Maple Leafs last Tuesday.

Here's the Panthers lineup with Sergei Bobrovsky in net:

Just two minutes into the first period. Noah Dobson unleashed a shot from the point after a face-off won outright by Oliver Kapanen.

A powerful, precise shot that found its way into the back of the net.

1-0 Montreal.

A Jayden Struble blunder behind the net almost ended up in Samuel Montembeault's cage, but Montembeault stayed alert and made the save.

Struble had his goalkeeper to thank.

Towards the end of the period, Juraj Slafkovsky passed the puck with his skate in front of the net and Oliver Kapanen hit it in the air to send it into Bobrovsky's net.

The Habs doubled their lead.

Samuel Montembeault was having a big game so far, but when he went to retrieve a puck behind his net, he passed it directly behind him… to Sam Bennett, who didn't miss his chance.

The Panthers forward threw the disc into an abandoned net.

Despite the defending champions' dominance in the second period, Alexandre Texier doubled his side's lead with six minutes left in the period.

The French player redirected a pass-shot from Alexandre Carrier behind the goal line.

It was 3-1 for the Habs after 40 minutes of play.

Early in the period, Philipe Danault is chased off for a high stick… that wasn't his.

Fortunately for the Habs, the Panthers were unable to close the gap on the power play.

Him again! Alexandre Texier tried to be generous on a two-on-one with Cole Caufield. And when he tried to make a pass, the puck came back to him.

The latter fired just over Bobrovsky, who was lying flat on his back.

Having just come out of the penalty box, Sam Bennett (yes, him again) collected a return left by Montembeault to cut the deficit to two goals.

The Panthers player, who was ignored by Team Canada, scored his second of the game.

Juraj Slafkovsky scored into an empty net, without shooting the puck into the net.

Slaf's stick was broken by the Panthers' defenseman as he was about to carry the disc into the abandoned net.

The goal is awarded!

Seconds later, Alexandre Texier hit the puck in the air and completed his hat trick in the process.

Hats off to the rink.

Final score: 6-2 in favor of the Canadiens.

The Canadiens next face the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday at the Bell Centre.


overtime

– Oliver Kapanen scored his 15th goal of the campaign to pass Beckett Sennecke for first place among rookies in goals scored.

– It was the Habs' seventh straight win over the Florida Panthers, and their second of the season.

– The Habs' French forward, Alexandre Texier, is enjoying an offensive streak of two games in 24 hours. Number 85 has six points, including four goals, in two games.

Québécois defenseman Alexandre Carrier is also on an offensive roll. Carrier is best known for his defensive play, but has picked up an assist in his last three games.

– Solid performance from Samuel Montembeault! Even though he allowed a poor goal, he kept his team in the game when the Panthers exerted a lot of pressure.

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