Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
Just 48 hours after a tense showdown in Florida, the Montreal Canadiens and the Florida Panthers resume hostilities — this time in Montreal. Surprisingly, the Canadiens lead the season series 3-0, having defied odds in every encounter so far as clear underdogs.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens delivered a masterclass performance on the road, ending their losing streak. They blocked 23 shots, dug deep in their own zone, and capitalised on two power play chances. The Canadiens’ depth of talent allows them to get the most out of minimal resources: Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky and Patrik Laine all know how to find the back of the net. That said, signs of growing pains persist — in March, they allowed 3.37 xG per game, the third-worst mark in the league.
Florida Panthers
The Panthers’ recent struggles have been about finishing. Despite generating a healthy 3.41 xG per game in March (4th in the league), they averaged just 2.36 goals (5th worst). Even without Matthew Tkachuk, this is still one of the deepest squads in the NHL: nine players with 12+ goals, not to mention the return of Brad Marchand from injury. The talent is there — they’ve just been misfiring.
Montreal Canadiens vs Florida Panthers Prediction
Tensions boiled over after the final buzzer in the last meeting, when Niko Mikkola launched the puck at an opponent, sparking a mass scuffle. Expect tempers to flare from the first faceoff — high emotions, retaliations, and power play opportunities on both sides could be on the menu. Eight of the Montreal Canadiens’ last ten games have gone over the total, and given the narrative and recent history, it’s a perfect setup to back goals once more.
