A well-rested Carey Price - who sat out Wednesday’s 4-2 loss in Ottawa last night - hopes to continue his success tonight at 7:30 p.m. against the visiting Florida Panthers (25-19-12).
Price has won his last four meetings with the Panthers behind a 0.75 GAA. He made 36 saves and Max Pacioretty had two goals and an assist in a 4-1 road victory March 29.
Hulking defenceman Jarred Tinordi, who was called up from AHL Hamilton after Alexei Emelin went down with injury, is expected to start on defence in his 40th NHL game tonight, although it's possible that Gregy Pateryn or Mike Weaver could suit up instead.
Montreal did not have a morning skate in preparation for the game against the Panthers, who arrived in Montreal Wednesday.
With 78 points, Montreal (37-16-4) is tied with Tampa Bay for the top spot in the conference with three games in hand. The Canadiens failed to take sole possession Wednesday, falling 4-2 at Ottawa despite matching their season high with 44 shots.
Montreal failed to record a point for the first time in seven games (5-1-1).
"We played a game that we can't play," coach Michel Therrien said. "It was good to get 44 shots, but we gave up too much to our opponents."
Dustin Tokarski made 35 saves Wednesday to lose his third consecutive start.
Price, meanwhile, has won five straight and 10 of 11 starts, posting a 1.16 goals-against average and three shutouts during that span. His 1.93 GAA is the league's lowest and his 32 wins rank second.
He was perfect in his most recent outing, stopping 25 shots in a 2-0 victory at Detroit on Monday.
Tokarski turned aside 36 shots in a 2-1 shootout win Dec. 30, Montreal's third straight in the series.
Pacioretty's goal Wednesday was his fourth in six games and gave him 11 points in 11 contests.
Also contributing lately is defenseman P.K. Subban, who has five assists in four games and six in the last four at home.
While the Canadiens seem to be on their way to a third straight playoff appearance, the Panthers are chasing just their second postseason berth since 2000. They are three points behind Boston in the race for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
"It was our goal at the first of the year to be in the race, and we are in the race," first-year coach Gerard Gallant said. "When we're playing good hockey we have a chance to beat anybody."
Gallant's club opened a five-game road trip with a 3-2 victory over Toronto on Tuesday, ending a three-game skid.
Nick Bjugstad continues to be the Panthers' top offensive threat, leading the team with a career-high 21 goals. His next tally will give him the most by a Panther in a single season since 2011-12.
The third-year center has five goals and two assists in eight games, scoring in each of the last two. He had Florida's goal in the shootout loss to Montreal in December.
Jimmy Hayes scored his 17th goal Tuesday and has seven points in his last eight games.
Roberto Luongo made 27 saves to beat the Maple Leafs and allowed two goals or fewer for the sixth start in a row. He's 1-6-1 with a 2.98 GAA in his last eight matchups with Montreal.
-With a file from The Associated Press
