FLA@MTL: Game recap

MONTREAL - The Canadiens failed to find their mojo in Thursday night's 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre.

Sean Farrell made his Bell Centre debut against the Cats.

Prior to puck drop, the Canadiens announced that David Savard would not play against the Panthers. The defenseman is considered day-to-day with a lower body injury.
Savard's absence made way for Chris Wideman who played in place of No. 58.
Sam Montembeault started in goal for Montreal.
Farrell wasted no time introducing himself to the Bell Centre faithful.
Before the game was two minutes old, the newcomer scored his first career NHL goal. A harmless shot on net made its way through the Panthers' netminder and crossed the goal line to put the Habs up 1-0.

Cue the celebration.

Florida was quick to respond, however. Anton Lundell evened things at one apiece not three minutes later.
That was how was the first period would end. The Panthers owned a 13-6 advantage in the shot department through 20 minutes of play.
The middle frame belonged to Matthew Tkachuk and the Panthers.
The Cats' leading scorer buried his 36th and 37th goals of the season to give the visitors a two-goal advantage heading into the second intermission.
After two, the shots were 21-13 in favor of Florida.
A pesky Panthers defense held their own in the third period, limiting the Canadiens to only seven shots on goal.
Lundell tallied his second of the night midway through the final stanza to put the visitors up 4-1.
Rafael Harvey-Pinard cut into the Florida lead in the final minutes of the game on a nifty redirection in front of the Panthers net, but that was as close as the Habs would get.

Tkachuk completed the hat trick via an empty-net goal with 19 seconds remaining.
That was all that Thursday night's contest would offer.
Montreal is back at the Bell Centre on Saturday night when the Carolina Hurricanes come to town.
Game time is scheduled 7:00 p.m.