MTL@FLA: Postgame

Before the two teams hit the ice, the Panthers retired goaltender Roberto Luongo's No. 1 jersey, raising it to the rafters at the BB&T Center.

Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: F��licitations au Montr��alais Roberto Luongo qui devient le premier joueur �� voir son chandail retir�� par les @FlaPanthers. 👏Congratulations to Montrealer Roberto Luongo on becoming the first player to have his jersey retired by the @FlaPanthers. pic.twitter.com/Igm88ADEca

Luongo became the first player in franchise history to have his number officially retired.

After missing Thursday night's contest in Tampa because of the flu, Brendan Gallagher returned to the lineup to play alongside Artturi Lehkonen and Phillip Danault.

Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: Gally est de retour. 👊Gally's back.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/Ke5LmmHBxb

Carey Price was given the night off, so Charlie Lindgren made his sixth start of the season for Montreal.

Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: Le gardien partant de ce soir. 🥅Tonight's starting goaltender.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/tqEDW8Pz74

Before things got underway, the Panthers paid tribute to Hall of Famer, Henri Richard, who passed away at age 84 on Friday.

Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: Regardez l'hommage complet des @FlaPanthers d��di�� �� Henri Richard, ce soir.Watch the @FlaPanthers' full tribute to Henri Richard from this evening.#MerciHenri pic.twitter.com/Ica1CgVOMF

There were no goals to report in the first period.

Lindgren was a busy man, though, turning aside 13 shots.

The Panthers struck first in this one. Centerman Lucas Wallmark opened the scoring at the 10:22 mark of the second period, beating Lindgren with a nifty backhand maneuver.

Wallmark's goal came just 15 seconds after the Canadiens had killed off a slashing penalty to Max Domi.

That's the way things stood after 40 minutes.

Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: Quelques photos de Sunrise. 📸Shots from Sunrise.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/0KIixPvTvN

Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar put the Panthers up by a pair just 41 seconds into the third period, beating Lindgren with a point blast.

That put Joel Quenneville's contingent in the driver's seat, but there was still plenty of time remaining in the final frame.

Unfortunately, Jonathan Huberdeau was the next player to light the lamp just 3:32 later, giving Florida a 3-0 lead.

Jake Evans responded for Montreal at the 8:04 mark of the stanza, putting a wicked wrister from the slot by Panthers goaltender Chris Driedger.

Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: Un deuxi��me but pour Jake Evans cette saison.Jake Evans gets his second of the season.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/WTZ93aGFkp

It was his second goal of the season. The marker was unassisted.

Mike Hoffman added an empty-netter for Florida with 1:54 left in regulation.

That's the way things finished up.

The Canadiens will return to Montreal on Sunday.

They'll be back in action on Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators at the Bell Centre.