MONTREAL \u2013 The Florida Panthers will open the Canadian portion of their final road trip of 2025-26 with a matchup against the high-flying Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n
Sitting at 37-37-3, the Panthers opened their trip with back-to-back losses in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n
With five games left before getting a well-earned breather, the defending Stanley Cup champions want to finish as strong as they can.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to bounce back,\u201d head coach Paul Maurice said. \u201cWe want to come out and play. It\u2019s a tough situation for everybody, but we want to be proud of how we try in this game.\u201d<\/p>\n
With more than half their usual roster already sidelined for the rest of the season due to injuries, the Panthers will be down another key player against the Canadiens as star forward Matthew Tkachuk has returned to South Florida to welcome his first child into the world.<\/p>\n
On a tear since returning from offseason surgery, Tkachuk has recorded 32 points (13G, 19A) in 30 games this season.<\/p>\n
With no Tkachuk, Mackie Samoskevich will slide up to the top line to play alongside Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeed,\u201d Maurice said of the line’s strength. \u201cMackie\u2019s had a tough year. He\u2019s played so much better than his stats.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finally getting rewarded for his play,\u00a0Samoskevich, who\u2019s in his second full season with the Panthers, has scored in four of his last five games.<\/p>\n
No strangers to one another, Samoskevich has spent 568:22 of ice time at 5-on-5 with Bennett since 2024-25.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe plays with a lot of pace, and that\u2019s kind of one of my strengths,\u201d Samoskevich said of lining up alongside Bennett. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of fun. They\u2019re very good in transition. Me and him, and obviously Hags (Veraheghe) has a lot of speed, too. It\u2019ll make for a good combination.\u201d<\/p>\n
In net, Daniil Tarasov will appear in his third straight game for the Panthers.<\/p>\n
Manning the crease in 29 games this season, he\u2019s posted a 10-15-2 record with a 3.22 goals-against average and .892 save percentage.<\/p>\n
With their ticket to the playoffs already punched, the Canadiens sit at 45-22-10 and have won eight of their last 10 games.<\/p>\n
Looking to bounce back against Florida, the Canadiens saw their winning streak snapped at eight games in a 3-0 loss to New Jersey on Sunday. Owning the fifth-ranked offense in the NHL with 3.45 goals scored per game, Montreal was held without a goal at home for just the third time this season.<\/p>\n
Nick Suzuki leads the Canadiens in scoring with 95 points (27G, 68A), while Cole Caufield sits second with 85 points (49G, 36A). With one more goal, Caufield will become the first Canadiens skater to reach the 50-goal mark since Stephane Richer netted 51 during the 1989-90 season.<\/p>\n
Since March 6, Caufield has scored 14 goals in 16 games.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so fun to watch,\u201d Samoskevich said. \u201cHe\u2019s definitely one of those guys you study and watch what he does.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the blue line, reigning Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson has built off his strong rookie campaign. In addition to leading Montreal\u2019s blueliners, his 74 points (12G, 62A) are tied for the fourth-most among defensemen in the NHL.<\/p>\n
Of Hutson’s 74 points, 55 have come at even strength.<\/p>\n
Between the pipes, Jakub Dobes has been the No. 1 for the Canadiens, posting a 27-8-4 record with a 2.73 goals-against average and .904 save percentage. Only 24 years old, Dobes shut out the Panthers in his NHL debut last season, stopping all 34 shots he faced in a 4-0 win on Dec. 28, 2024.<\/p>\n
Per reports from Montreal’s morning skate, Dobes is likely to start tonight.<\/p>\n
Owning an 0-1-1- record against the Canadiens this season, the Panthers suffered a 6-2 loss in their last meeting on Jan. 8 in Montreal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you play here, it\u2019s so fun,\u201d Samoskevich said of Bell Centre. “There\u2019s always energy in the building. It might not be for you, but gives you energy and fires us up. I know the guys will be ready, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
THEY SAID IT<\/p>\n
\u201cHe couldn\u2019t move the puck very much. Good veteran captain. Wanted to be on the ice with the guys. Was chirping everybody out there. We appreciate it.\u201d \u2013 Paul Maurice on Aaron Ekblad joining morning skate despite having a broken finger<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just have to have the mindset to defend first and manage the puck. They\u2019re very good in transition and very quick. Just being smart. If we don\u2019t have anything, we don\u2019t need to force anything.\u201d \u2013 Mackie Samoskevich on defending Montreal\u2019s potent offense<\/p>\n
FIVE CATS STATS<\/p>\n
– A.J. Greer has scored a team-high nine goals in the first period.<\/p>\n
– Carter Verhaeghe has recorded 14 multi-point games.<\/p>\n
– Over the past three seasons, Sam Bennett has scored five goals in 10 games vs. Montreal.<\/p>\n
– The Panthers are 26-9-2 when scoring first this season.<\/p>\n
– Six of Mackie Samoskevich\u2019s 10 goals have been scored on the road.<\/p>\n
PROJECTED LINEUP (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)<\/p>\n
Forwards<\/p>\n
Carter\u00a0Verhaeghe \u2013 Sam Bennett \u2013 Mackie Samoskevich<\/p>\n
Jesper Boqvist \u2013 Eetu Luostarinen \u2013 A.J. Greer<\/p>\n
Tomas Nosek \u2013 Cole Schwindt \u2013 Noah Gregor<\/p>\n
Cole Reinhardt \u2013 Luke Kunin\u00a0\u2013 Vinnie Hinostroza<\/p>\n
Defensemen<\/p>\n
Gustav Forsling \u2013 Dmitry Kulikov<\/p>\n
Tobias Bjornfot \u2013 Seth Jones<\/p>\n
Donovan Sebrango \u2013 Mike Benning<\/p>\n
Goaltenders<\/p>\n
Daniil Tarasov<\/p>\n
Sergei Bobrovsky<\/p>\n
RECENT TRANSACTIONS<\/p>\n
– April 5: D Mikulas Hovorka loaned to Charlotte (AHL)<\/p>\n
– April 1: D Tobias Bjornfot and D Mikulas Hovorka recalled from Charlotte (AHL)<\/p>\n
– March 24: F Noah Gregor recalled from Charlotte (AHL)<\/p>\n
HOW TO WATCH\/LISTEN<\/p>\n
When:\u00a0Tuesday, April 7 at 7 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
Where:\u00a0Bell Centre \u2013 Montreal, QC<\/p>\n
TV & Streaming:\u202fWSFL, WHDT, WFTX, PanthersPlus.TV\u00a0<\/p>\n
Radio:\u00a0560 WQAM-AM (Dade\/Broward); 100.3 WCTH-FM (Florida Keys); 101.7 WCZR-FM (Treasure Coast); Panthers GameDay App; SiriusXM\u00a0App & Streaming 931<\/p>\n