After being eliminated from playoff contention in the previous game, the Florida Panthers played their third-to-last game of the regular season and lost to the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 on Sunday at BB&T Center. It was the third game of a five-game homestand for the Cats who have fallen in three of their last four games. The Canadiens are now two points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the first place in the Atlantic Division.
Montreal(48-22-10) commanded the beginning of the contest as they made the Panthers commit two penalties in a three-second span. The Habs scored on the 5-on-3 power play at 6:33. Tomas Plekanec passed the puck back-and-forth between him in the low right circle and Andrei Markov at the right point. Plekanec placed a cross-ice pass that went off Dan Ellis and into the Florida(36-29-15) cage for his 24th tally.
In the second period, the Panthers converted on their second power-play opportunity at 6:20. Alekander Barkov began the man-advantage with a win in the left faceoff circle and Jonathan Huberdeau tapped it back to the left point. Aaron Ekblad skated in a couple of feet in with the puck then blasted a slapshot by Carey Price to tie the game 1-1.
It took only 46 seconds for the Canadiens to regain the lead. P.K. Subban raced in on the right wing and sent a cross-ice pass through the slot area where Brandan Gallagher nailed a one-timer for his 24th goal of the season.
The Habs increased their margin to 3-1 at 11:27. Following a feed by Jeff Petry, P.A. Parenteau took a slaphsot from the slot which was saved, however he forwarded and scored on a wrist shot from the low right circle.
The deficit for Florida became three goals when Montreal moved it up to 4-1 with 2:18 left in the second. Willie Mitchell lost control of the puck in his own left defensive corner. Parenteau capitalized as he centered it to the top of the crease and Devante Smith-Pelly scored from close range.
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