Two of the NHL’s most penalized teams are set to meet at Bell Centre on Thursday, as the Florida Panthers (21-20-5) head to take on the Montreal Canadiens (19-23-3). Florida is coming off a high-scoring 5-4 overtime loss against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. The Panthers committed nine penalties in the game, conceding two power play goals.
Four players found the net for the Panthers. Aleksander Barkov scored and provided an assist to lead the team in scoring. Sergei Bobrovsky only had 32 saves on 37 shots against (.864%) in the loss.
Montreal beat the Jets 4-1 on Tuesday. Evgenii Dadonov was the leading goal scorer for the Canadiens, netting twice. Sam Montembeault was impressive in the win, making 25 saves (.961%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Panthers won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 7-2 victory in December. Barkov led Florida with five points (3G 2A). Arber Xhekaj led Montreal with two points (1G 1A). Bobrovsky got the win, saving 25 of 27 shots (.925%).
FACING OFF
Florida is averaging 3.28 goals per game for the season, 11th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Canadiens team that is allowing 3.62 goals a game (26th). Meanwhile, Montreal has found the net 2.58 times a game on average, 29th in the league, and the Panthers are allowing opponents to score 3.41 goals per game (23rd).
Florida averages more shots/game (35.1) than most teams in the league, ranking second, though the team’s 9.4% shooting percentage is 25th. Montreal’s average of 28.0 attempts ranks 30th. Expect several power play opportunities in this matchup, as the Panthers and Canadiens have more penalties per game than most teams in the NHL.
The Canadiens have been penalized 4.49 times a game on average (28th), while the Panthers are averaging 4.93 penalties, most in the league. The Canadiens’ 15.94% power play percentage is the third-worst in the league, while the Panthers rank 15th with a conversion rate of 21.60%. In terms of penalty killing, Florida has the league’s 21st-ranked PK% at 75.29%, while Montreal is 22nd at 75.16%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 56 points this season, eighth-most in the NHL, Matthew Tkachuk is the top skater for the Panthers. He has 22 goals and 34 assists in 43 games. In the net, Spencer Knight (9-7-3) is Florida’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 3.06 GAA and a .906% save percentage. Bobrovsky (12-13-1) leads the Panthers in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 3.19 and a save percentage of .899%. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield lead the Canadiens in scoring with 37 and 36 points, respectively.
Suzuki has 16 goals and 21 assists, while Caufield has 26 goals (9th) and 10 assists (). Montembeault (8-7-2) has the best goals against average for Montreal at 3.17. He has a save percentage of .910%.
Jake Allen (10-16-1) has played the most games in net for the Canadiens this season. He has a 3.52 GAA and a .892% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Florida is 10-14-2 on the road this season. Montreal is 10-11-0 at Bell Centre this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Florida Panthers
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
