Florida Panthers get steamrolled by the Montreal Canadiens 5-1

After playing a marvelous game in Washington D.C., the Florida Panthers flew over to face the Montreal Canadiens. Would the Cats extend their win streak by two?

As usual, the Florida Panthers started the game off well and were pouring pressure deep into Montreal territory. Applying pressure early on in games seems to be a common theme for our Cats, but doesn’t seem to get us on the scoreboard first (the majority of the time).

The first period was well-played by both sides, but no one could break the deadlock. Twenty seconds into the second period and the Panthers struck first. Entering the zone at the time of the goal was Aleksander Barkov, who wasted no time and quickly fed Huberdeau the puck. Immediately as Jonathan received the puck, he dropped it back for Keith Yandle, who wristed a shot past Carey Price’s glove and into the net:

The goal would give the Cats a 1-0 lead and undoubtedly a perfect start to the second period. After the goal was scored, however, the Panthers play began to diminish and was starting to look sloppy. Gone was the intensity we saw earlier on in the game, as the tides (momentum) were starting to shift over Montreal’s way.

More and more throughout the remainder of the second, the Panthers were taking unnecessary penalties and were forcing themselves to play short-handed most of the period. James Reimer was solid in-goal and was making every save possible, to preserve the Cats one-goal lead. Despite all the key saves Reimer’s was making, the Habs found their first of the night and evened out the scoreline.

With roughly four and a half minutes remaining in the second, Alex Galchenyuk pounces on the loose rebound that came from Brendan Gallagher’s initial shot. Needless to say, Galchenyuk’s goal bounced over Reimer’s blocker and into the net:

Unfortunately for the Panthers sake, the Canadiens weren’t finished there. Two minutes after the Habs tying goal, Shea Weber cashed in on the man advantage and grabbed the Habs first lead of the night. After receiving a pass from Jonathan Drouin near the blue line, Shea quickly one-timed the puck and found it’s way past James Reimer.

The Panthers misery continued as seventeen seconds later the Canadiens added a third goal and extended their lead by two. Brendan Gallagher promptly stripped the puck off of Keith Yandle, skated around Ekblad and wristed home his third of the season:

Gallagher’s goal would mark the end of the second period and would send the Cats headed to the locker room mind blown. The third period also wasn’t going Florida’s way as the Habs struck again, nine minutes into the final period.

Once again, Shea Weber tallied his second goal of the night while teeing up a shot from the point. His howitzer would sail over Reimer’s glove and into the net top-shelf. The goal would now give the Canadiens a 4-1 lead and would also deny Florida any chance from making a comeback of some sorts.

Max Pacioretty and the Canadiens weren’t done there as they then added a fifth goal to the party. Phillip Danault skated around the net and quickly saucered a puck between Mark Pysyk’s legs and onto Pacioretty’s stick. With almost the entire net left empty, Max quickly slotted the puck home and recorded his second of the year:

Max’s goal would be the final one of the night and would signal a 5-1 result in favor of the Montreal Canadiens.

Overall, you’re not going to win too many games in this league by only showing up to play for twenty minutes. Games consist of three periods, twenty minutes each. The Cats letdown after the first and their unnecessary penalties became the deciding factor in this one. Your Florida Panthers will travel back home to take on the injured riddled Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, October 27th @7:30 pm.