Montreal Canadiens vs
Florida PanthersPredictions & Preview

Canadiens vs Panthers: Montreal Faces Tough Test Against High-Flying Florida Amid Defensive Struggles

After coming out of the holiday break, two teams are set to face off in the Sunshine State in search of a victory. Montreal, who fell to Columbus in their previous game, will be facing off against Florida, who was shut out by Tampa Bay in their last match. The Panthers have dominated in recent matchups with an 8-2 advantage in the last 10 meetings, but the Canadiens managed to secure a win in their most recent matchup. Florida opens as the betting favorite at -313 with no movement in the line.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Canadiens +272 | Panthers -313
• Spread: Canadiens +1.5 (+105) | Panthers -1.5 (-125)
• Total: Over/Under 6.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Florida will win straight-up is 76%.

Montreal vs Florida Stats

Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens saw their three-game win streak come to an end with a loss to Columbus on the road. They currently stand sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 14-17-3 record, 15 points behind the top-seeded Florida and 11 points behind the final playoff spot held by the Bruins. Montreal is tied for 19th in the league in offensive production, scoring an average of 2.94 goals per game, and ranks 29th in goals against, allowing an average of 3.59 goals per contest. They have a 22% success rate on the power play, ranking 13th in the league, and an 82% success rate on penalty killing, ranking 10th. Despite a strong offensive performance against Columbus, Montreal struggled defensively and ultimately lost the game. Their goalie Sam Montembeault made 27 saves in the defeat. Looking to bounce back, Montreal will likely start Montembeault in goal again in their upcoming game.

Florida Panthers Analysis

The Florida Panthers recently had their four-game win streak snapped by Tampa Bay in a shutout loss at home, leaving them with a 22-12-2 record on the season. Currently holding the top spot in the Atlantic Division with a two-point lead over Toronto, the Panthers rank 6th in the league for goals scored per game at an average of 3.44, while also tying for 20th in goals against with an average of 3.11 goals allowed per game. They have a strong power play success rate of 26.3% and a solid penalty killing rate of 80.8%. In their recent game against Tampa Bay, the Panthers struggled offensively and ended up being shutout. Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves in the loss and is expected to start in goal again for the next game. The Panthers have a power ranking of 5 and are ranked 4th in offense and 17th in defense. In their last three matchups against Montreal, Florida went 2-1-0. For more insights and NHL picks, be sure to check out our free NHL picks.

Montreal faces tough test against high-flying Panthers amid defensive struggles

Montreal enters this matchup on a three-game winning streak, showcasing strong offensive capabilities but struggling defensively. Their challenge against the Panthers will be to contain a formidable offensive threat. While Florida has been lacking on defense, their improved performance this season suggests a possible rebound from last year's Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Overall, the Panthers demonstrate superiority in both offense and defense, likely resulting in a second consecutive loss for Montreal.

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