CANADIENS (21-9-5) at PANTHERS (15-14-7)
7 p.m. ET; FS-F, SNE, RDS, NHL.TV
Canadiens team scope
Goalie Al Montoya will start for the Montreal Canadiens against the team he played for during the past two seasons. Montoya, who appeared in 45 games for the Panthers from 2014-16, is 3-4-2 with a 2.82 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in 10 games in 2016-17. The Canadiens, coming off a 4-3 overtime loss at the Tampa Bay Lightning with Carey Price in goal, are 4-2-0 in the second of back-to-back games. Montreal comes to BB&T Center with a three-game losing streak after failing to hold a 3-1 third-period lead against Tampa Bay. "We were guilty," coach Michel Therrien said after the game. "A lack of effort. A lack of desperation. The desperation was not there. They certainly had more desperation than us." The Canadiens will be looking to end a five-game losing streak against the Panthers, including a four-game sweep last season and a 4-3 overtime loss in Montreal on Nov. 15.
Panthers team scope
Already missing key forwards, the Florida Panthers likely will be without center Aleksander Barkov on Thursday. Barkov left Florida's 3-2 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday in the second period, shortly after being hit in the side by a slap shot from teammate Keith Yandle, and is day to day. He leads the Panthers with 27 points and had a season-high five-game point streak come to an end against Toronto. "He's our best player," Yandle said. "He plays in all situations. When he's out there, he's in control of the game. Anytime you lose your best player, offensively and defensively, it's definitely missed. Whether it's 5-on-5 or a shootout, you wish he was out there." Coach Tom Rowe said after the game he wasn't sure whether Roberto Luongo or James Reimer would start, but the goalies have split starts in Florida's six back-to-back sets this season and Luongo played against Toronto. If Florida breaks its pattern and goes with Luongo for a second consecutive night, he'll make his third try at getting his 448th career victory, which would move him past Terry Sawchuk into sole possession of fifth place on the all-time list. … Florida is 3-1-2 in the second of back-to-back games.
Canadiens projected lineup
Max Pacioretty -- Phillip Danault -- Brendan Gallagher
Paul Byron -- Torrey Mitchell -- Alexander Radulov
Artturi Lehkonen -- Tomas Plekanec -- Brian Flynn
Daniel Carr -- Michael McCarron - Chris Terry
Al Montoya
Carey Price
Scratched: Sven Andrighetto, Michael McCarron, Joel Hanley, Ryan Johnston
Injured: Andrei Markov (lower body), Greg Pateryn (ankle), Alex Galchenyuk (knee), David Desharnais (knee), Andrew Shaw (concussion)
Panthers projected lineup
Seth Griffith -- Nick Bjugstad -- Jaromir Jagr
Jussi Jokinen -- Vincent Trocheck -- Jonathan Marchessault
Kyle Rau -- Denis Malgin -- Colton Sceviour
Paul Thompson -- Derek MacKenzie -- Shawn Thornton
Keith Yandle -- Aaron Ekblad
Jakub Kindl -- Jason Demers
Michael Matheson -- Mark Pysyk
James Reimer
Roberto Luongo
Scratched: Dylan McIlrath, Michael Sgarbossa
Injured: Reilly Smith (concussion), Aleksander Barkov (undisclosed) Jonathan Huberdeau (lower leg), Alex Petrovic (ankle)
Status report
Neither team held a morning skate. Petry likely will play his 400th NHL game. Andrighetto and Johnston were healthy scratches against Tampa Bay after being recalled from St. John's of the American Hockey League this week. … Bjugstad finished the game against Toronto playing on a line with Jagr and Griffith. The Panthers recalled Sgarbossa from Springfield of the AHL on Thursday. Sgarbossa was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 16 in a trade for forward Logan Shaw and has four goals and eight assists in 14 games with Springfield. He had two assists in nine games with the Ducks.
Who's hot
Petry has five goals and three assists in his past eight games. Pacioretty has nine goals in his past 11 games. Terry has two goals and an assist in five games since being recalled from St. John's. … Jagr has five assists in the past four games and needs one more to tie Paul Coffey for fifth on the NHL's all-time list. Demers has two goals and three assists in the past five games. Matheson has a goal and two assists in the past five games.
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