Florida Panthers and Sam Reinhart look forward to take the win against Montreal Canadiens

The Florida Panthers host the Montreal Canadiens at Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday night as the reigning Stanley Cup champions look to book their ticket for the playoffs. The matchup marks the first meeting of the season between the two Atlantic Division rivals.

Florida enters the contest riding momentum from Sam Reinhart's two-goal performance in a 5-3 victory over Washington. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have been one of the most in-form sides this season, with their young core swinging in full form.

Florida Panthers finding their rhythm after December surge

Florida sits at 21-15-2 with 44 points, positioning itself in the thick of the Atlantic Division playoff race. However, the team has struggled within the division, posting just a 3-5-0 record against Atlantic opponents.

The Panthers rank third in the NHL with 175 total penalties, averaging 4.6 per game. That undisciplined play has cost them at various points throughout the season, though they've shown improvement lately.

Over their last 10 games, Florida has gone 7-3-0 while averaging 3.5 goals per game. The defending champions have averaged 5.6 penalties and 13.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game during that stretch. The improved offensive production has been key to their recent success.

Anton Lundell leads the Panthers with 13 goals and 17 assists through 38 games. Sam Bennett has provided recent production with six goals and five assists over the past 10 contests, giving Florida secondary scoring behind their top line.

Montreal Canadiens bringing high-powered offense to Florida Panthers

Montreal has enjoyed a surprisingly strong season that has it firmly in playoff contention. The Canadiens sit at 20-12-6 with 46 points, two points ahead of Florida in the Atlantic Division standings.

The team has been effective within the division, posting a solid 6-4-1 record in Atlantic matchups. That success against divisional opponents has been crucial to their playoff positioning. Montreal ranks fifth in the NHL with 125 total goals, averaging 3.3 per game.

The young offensive core has exceeded expectations, making the Canadiens one of the league's most dangerous attacking teams. Cole Caufield paces Montreal's offense with 18 goals and 19 assists.

Rookie sensation Ivan Demidov has delivered on the hype with four goals and six assists over the last 10 games, giving the Canadiens another elite young talent to build around.

The Canadiens have gone 5-2-3 over their past 10 contests while averaging 3.5 goals per game. Montreal has averaged 4.4 penalties and 10.8 penalty minutes while giving up just 2.7 goals per game during that span. The balanced attack and improved defensive play have fueled their rise up the standings.

Both teams enter Tuesday's matchup healthy with no injuries listed. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at Amerant Bank Arena. This game will decide if the Panthers will continue their rise towards a playoff berth or if the Canadiens will shut the defending champions once and for all.

Also Read: Florida Panthers look to extend winning run after holiday break with Matthew Tkachuk's return nears


Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here