RECAP: Montreal Canadiens 4, Florida Panthers 2
The Florida Panthers fall to 0-3 on the season against the Montreal Canadiens behind three assists from rookie phenom Lane Hutson.
SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers failed to claw their way back against the Canadiens, falling 3-2 on Sunday night after Nick Suzuki gave Montreal an early third-period lead.
Suzuki hammered a one-timer past Sergei Bobrovsky off of a feed from Lane Hutson 2:02 into the third period to give Montreal the lead.
It was the third of three assists for Hutson, who leads all NHL rookies in assists (54) and points (59).
The Canadiens (34-30-9, 77 points) climbed into a wild card spot with the win. They sit in a tie with the New York Rangers in points with one extra game remaining on their schedule.
Florida (44-26-3) sits in second place in the Atlantic Division with the loss. The Panthers trail the Toronto Maple Leafs for the top spot in the division by a point while sitting in a tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning for second.
Bobrovsky stopped 18 of 21 shots in the loss for the Panthers.
Patrik Laine opened the scoring for Montreal with 7:57 to go in the first period, blasting a one-timer past Bobrovsky on the power play. Calder Trophy contender Lane Huston picked up his 52nd assist of the season with the pass, which leads all rookies.
Sam Reinhart tied the game up 1:13 later with a quick backhander off of a feed from Barkov.
Juraj Slafkovsky put Montreal ahead with yet another power play goal 11:27 intot he second period. His cross-crease feed, intended for Cole Caufield, was deflected in off Jones’ skate and past Bobrovsky’s outstretched stick.
Seth Jones tied the game at 2-2 for Florida with 3:36 to go in the second period. He blasted a one-timer off of a feed from Aleksander Barkov that snuck through Samuel Montembeault’s five-hole and in.
The Panthers could not come up with another answer after Suzuki gave Montreal the lead early in the third period.
Brendan Gallagher scored an empty-net goal for the Canadiens to seal the victory.
Florida and Montreal will finish off their two-game home-and-home set at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night.
