CAR@MTL: What you need to know

MONTREAL -- The Canadiens' homestand continues with a matchup against the Hurricanes tonight.

BUY TICKETS: Hurricanes @ Canadiens
Here's everything you need to know heading into the game:
1.The Habs suffered their second straight loss on Thursday night, falling 5-2 to the Panthers. Sean Farrell and Rafael Harvey-Pinard scored for Montreal, while goaltender Sam Montembeault made 24 saves. Farrell's goal at the 1:23 mark of the opening frame was the first of his NHL career after recently making the jump from the NCAA and Harvard University. Harvey-Pinard, meanwhile, continues to light the lamp on a regular basis. He has 14 goals in just 32 appearances this season and five goals in the last four games alone. Matthew Tkachuk paced the Panthers offensively with a hat trick and an assist to reach the 100-point mark for the second straight campaign. Florida swept the season series, winning all four games versus head coach Martin St-Louis and company.

2. As part of its efforts around the NHL's Hockey Is for Everyone program, the Canadiens will be celebrating Autism Acceptance Month with various initiatives to show support to autistic individuals. For the game against the Hurricanes, Canadiens players will wear special helmet decals adorned with a multi-colored infinity sign symbolizing neurodiversity, the broad and diverse spectrum of experiences of autistic people, and the importance of autism acceptance. Youngsters from Hockey Adapté and the Giant Steps School will attend the game thanks to the generosity of Ford Canada, the Club's corporate partner. The Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation's private suite will also host autistic youth for the game.

3. The Hurricanes are in the midst of a three-game winless skid following a 3-2 loss to the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday night. Defenseman Jake Walman scored with four seconds left in regulation to seal the win for Detroit. Brent Burns and Jacob Slavin lit the lamp for Carolina, while goaltender Frederik Andersen made 19 saves. Martin Necas leads Rod Brind'Amour's contingent in scoring with 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists), while Sebastian Aho ranks second in that department with 63 points (33 goals, 30 assists). The Hurricanes are without sniper Andrei Svechnikov, who recently underwent reconstructive surgery on his right ACL.
4. This is the third and final matchup between the Hurricanes and the Canadiens this season. Carolina secured a 6-2 victory on February 16 in Raleigh, before posting a 4-3 shootout win on March 7 in Montreal. It was a familiar face in Jesperi Kotkaniemi who scored the shootout-winner against his former squad to the dismay of the Habs' faithful.

5. Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. You can watch the game on Sportsnet East, CityTV, Bally Sports South and TVA Sports, and listen on the radio on TSN 690 and 98,5 fm.