The Panthers are heavy. They are also fast, intense and strenuous. Big shoulders… You can't breathe for a second when you put the stick of your stick on the puck.
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consequence of this reality. You spend the evening defending yourself, you prolong your presence because you cannot leave your territory. Then fatigue takes hold of you and puts you in a vulnerable position. Either to make a mistake or to commit a crime.
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The Canadian players experienced it to the fullest on Thursday night at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise. Nevertheless, Martin St-Louis' troops managed to take a point from the Panthers despite being stuck in their zone for the first 40 minutes of the game.
The latter needed the shootout to win 4 to 3. It was the very last shooter of the session, Anton Lundell, who sealed the outcome of the game with a masterful feint at the expense of Samuel Montembeault.
Under these conditions we can speak of a nice consolation for the Montrealers. Still, this is the ninth straight loss (0-8-1) for the Habs in Gator Land.
Thanks Sam!
The Canadian shook off his fleas in the third period. However, it was thanks to Montembeault that the score was still close even after two. Once again, Bécancour's goalkeeper was solid in front of his goal. For the seventh time this season, he was called into action for a second straight game and faced a barrage of 36 shots.
Even Evan Rodrigues' hook shot that showed us the size of Montembeault's skates couldn't beat his concentration.
Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart scored the locals' three goals with the help of his 23rd power play goal of the season and his fifth in the penalty shootout.
Due to his complicity in Reinhart's 41st and 42nd goals of the season, Barkov now has 46 points in 34 games against the Canadian.
Run after the puck
The St. Louis force didn't help its cause by offering four numerical superiorities to one of the best major attacks on the circuit (he still managed five himself).
As mentioned above, this is what happens when you spend most of the evening chasing the puck. One way to avoid this is to win the faceoffs. But once again the Canadian players were completely eaten. The Panthers even won the two overtime duels.
In fact, the Canadian hasn't had so much puck possession often that we can say his first two goals were the result of rare brain cramps from the Atlantic Division leaders.
The first time, Nick Suzuki was forgotten deep in the neutral zone. The Canadian captain was hit by a 120-foot pass from Arber
Juraj Slafkovsky scored the second goal after a throw-in won by Suzuki, and the Panthers' defensive front completely froze.
The third pass, which gave the Habs the lead for the only time in the game, was the work of Alex Newhook. His first power play goal in a Canadian uniform.
Suzuki again
Here, too, we can only emphatically emphasize Suzuki's work. With Montembeault he was the spark plug for his team. He was involved in all of his team's goals.
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In 11 games in February, he scored 11 goals and added six assists. You can instantly engrave his name on the Molson Cup for the shortest month of the year.
In fact, Suzuki has even excelled at the NHL level. Only Auston Matthews has run the red light more times than him in the last month.
After the game, the Canadian flew to Tampa, where he will play for victory against the Lightning on Saturday evening. Amalie Arena is another amphitheater where the Habs battle. He has a record of 1-8-2 in his last 11 games in this building.
It will not be easy.