The Florida Panthers are like many other NHL teams. The Christmas break came at a perfect time for them.
The Panthers hope that the four days off gave their players enough time to reset as they prepare for their game on Saturday afternoon against the Montreal Canadiens in Sunrise, Fla.
“We need these four days bad,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said after a 4-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday. “Between guys with the flu and a bunch of guys that played not at 100 percent, I think most of them will get right back to good.”
The most important concern is the health of Matthew Tkachuk, who had to be helped off the ice late in the first period after taking a hard hit to his right knee.
He wasn’t on the ice to start the second period, but he returned a few minutes later at the start of a 5-on-3 power play and finished the game.
“It’s because he knows,” Maurice said. “Because he knew that he wasn’t the only guy in the training room at that point and we couldn’t afford to lose two or three guys at once.”
Maurice also mentioned that Tkachuk likely understood the game was being closely officiated and that teammates would be in the penalty box as well.
“Matthew’s got a great emotional feel for the game about what needs to happen next,” Maurice said. “He just knew that we needed him back. He wasn’t at 100 percent, obviously.”
On the other hand, Montreal was trying to extend its longest winning streak of the season to four games but lost 5-4 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday after giving up the last two goals in the third period.
“It’s hard to win in this league,” Montreal center Jake Evans said. “You’ve got to play three full periods.”
The Canadiens are also concerned about forward Patrik Laine, who didn’t return for the second period after taking a few big hits in the first, with the biggest one coming from defenseman Dante Fabbro at 14:08. Laine played only two more shifts after that hit.
Montreal will now face five straight road games after the Christmas break.
The Canadiens will play back-to-back afternoon games against the Panthers and Lightning before flying west to play the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. They will then travel to Chicago on Friday and Denver to face the Colorado Avalanche the next night.
The Canadiens are seven points behind the final wild-card spot in the West, so they need to collect points on this road trip.
“We’re trying to get back into the playoffs,” Evans said.
The Panthers, however, have four consecutive home games after the Christmas break, following a stretch where they played eight of their first 11 games this month on the road.
“The four days (off) will be great for this team,” Maurice said. “It was our third home game this month and still a little traveling here from the start of the season, and I thought it showed (against the Lightning). Not so much the will, just the ability to push through.”
