Canadiens Bash Panthers

    Center Jonathan Huberdeau returned to his hometown of Montreal in his third career NHL game on Tuesday night as the Canadiens crushed the Florida Panthers 4-1 at Bell Centre. The Panthers swept the Canadiens last season for the first time in franchise history. It was the only visit by Florida to Montreal in this short 48-game season.
    Montreal(1-1-0) struck early and took the lead at 3:26 of the first period. Center Tomas Plekanec sent a pass to right wing Brian Gionta who streaked into the Panther zone on the right side. He returned the puck to Plekanec in the slot area where he snapped a shot by Florida goalie Scott Clemmensen for a 1-0 lead. The Cats slow start showed as the Habs outshot them 7-1 in the first nine minutes of the game.
    The Canadiens capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play with a goal from defenseman Andrei Markov. He received the puck from left wing Max Pacioretty who was in the right corner and fired a slapshot from the high slot around Clemmensen's blocker at 13:24.
    Florida(1-2-0) cut the lead down to 2-1 at 4:33 of the second period on a power-play goal. Defenseman Brian Campbell advanced a pass from the top of the zone to left wing Tomas Fleischmann at the left circle dot. He then passed off to right wing Tomas Kopecky at the right circle dot and he ripped a one-time slapshot by Montral goalie Carey Price for his first goal this season.
    The Habs responded with their on power-play goal as Markov scored for the second time of the game at 8:31. Markov pounded a one-time slapshot from the top of the zone off a feed from the left side by defensemen Raphael Diaz.
    The Panthers gave up another goal at 14:25 and were down 4-1. In his second NHL game, Montreal center Alex Galchenyuk scored his first NHL goal on a tip-in from the crease area on a shot by right wing Brandon Prust. Neither team scored in the third period.
    Panthers center Drew Shore played in his first NHL game tonight after he spent the lockout at San Antonio, which is the AHL affiliate of Florida. Clemmensen made 29 saves on 33 shots in his first game this season and his counterpart Price stopped 27 of 28 shots. The Cats went 1-for-8 on the power play while the Habs were 2-for-6 with the man advantage. The Panthers return home on Thursday night and take on the Ottawa Senators at BB&T Center.