Canadiens vs Panthers: Game Thread, Lines, & TV Schedule

While the Habs will be looking to make their entry into the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs official, the Florida Panthers are trying to claw their way in, 3 points back of the Ottawa Senators with one more game played. The Panthers are currently slated as having an 8.3% chance to make the playoffs, and with the recent loss of Nick Bjugstad who is out for the rest of the season after undergoing back surged, the Panther's possibility of making the playoffs seems even more unlikely to materialize.

The Habs are coming off a 41-shot, 56.73 CF% performance on Thursday in Winnipeg. Ondrej Pavelec stole the game for the Jets, as the NHL's top thief sat on the Canadiens' bench watching his team get robbed. Tonight the Habs face Roberto Luongo who will be in the net for his 5th game after a 16 day layoff due to a lower body injury. Lou has gone 3-1-0, posting a .932 SV% and 1.75 GAA, only allowing more than 1 goal in the lost game to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

This is the 4th game of the 5 game regular season series with the Panthers in which the Habs are 2-0-1. The Habs are currently on an 9-game Saturday winning streak, with their last loss on a Saturday coming back on January 10 to the Penguins in overtime.

It appears as though Devante Smith-Pelly will sit tonight as he was not on any of the top four lines at the morning skate.

The puck drops at 7:00 PM EST.

Scratched: Mike Weaver, Sergei Gonchar, Manny Malholtra, Devante Smith-Pelly
Injuries: Tom Gilbert (upper body)

Scratched: Tomas Kopecky, Steven Kampfer, Sam Brittain
Injuries: Nick Bjugstad (back surgery), Al Montoya (groin)

Check out the enemy over at Litter Box Cats.

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