Panthers Take Habs

The Florida Panthers began a four-game trip on the road Tuesday night and beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 at the Bell Center in a shootout. Florida had to enter a shootout for a third consecutive game and this time they were victorious. The Cats got a three-on-one break down the ice and Wojtek Wolski ripped a wrist shot from the right circle by the left shoulder of Carey Price for an unassisted goal at 13:04. It was his fourth goal since joining the team in February. Less than one minute later, the Habs evened the game at 1-1 on a power-play goal. Max Pacioretty banged a shot on net from the right of the crease that was saved by Scott Clemmensen. Eric Cole put in the rebound on a wrist shot from the hash marks of the left circle at 14:00. Montreal took their first lead of the game with 1:03 left in the second period as Louis LeBlanc scored on a one-on-one breakaway and finished it with a backhand shot. Florida was able to tie the game at 2-2 at 12:48 of the third period. Erik Gudbranson skated through the neutral zone when he put a drop pass to Mikael Samuelsson as he entered the Canadiens zone. Samuelsson flicked a wrist shot on net from the right point that sailed over Price's glove and into the net. There was no scoring in overtime and the Cats went to a shootout for their third straight game. On the Panthers first attempt, Wolski delayed his shot then went forehand. It was the only goal in the shootout as Clemmensen stopped all three attempts by the Habs. The Panthers extended their division lead over the Washington Capitals to five points. Florida travels to Minnesota and face the Wild on Thursday.