Florida Panthers Try to Continue Dominance of Canadiens

The Florida Panthers are smarting after a rough start to their game Monday night and the Montreal Canadiens could be the perfect elixir.

The Panthers have taken care of business against the Canadiens time and again.

With its shootout win in Sunrise last month, Florida has won 11 of the past 12 against the Canadiens including the past seven.

In those 11 wins against Montreal, it is outscoring the Canadiens 59-26.

The Panthers are heavy betting favorites (-225 on the money line) tonight at Bell Center.

Florida may be without Carter Verhaeghe after he appeared to sustain some sort of upper-body injury in the third period of a 6-4 loss to the host Toronto Maple Leafs.

Paul Maurice did not have any real update on Verhaeghe following the game other than to categorize him as day-to-day.

Nick Cousins, who was scratched Monday, could get back into the lineup.

So, too, could Kyle Okposo as he has only played in three of 10 games since being acquired from Buffalo at the NHL Trade Deadline.

One player who will be in tonight is captain Sasha Barkov who simply loves playing the Canadiens.

In 34 games against Montreal, Barkov has 46 points off 24 goals.

The starting goalies tonight are expected to be Anthony Stolarz going against Sam Montembeault.