As the 2024-25 NHL season wrapped up, the Florida Panthers entered their second consecutive Stanley Cup run. During the regular season, however, the Montreal Canadiens faced them four times and managed to win each encounter—a notable accomplishment. When Patrick Lane reached the Cup final and celebrated Florida’s success alongside Panthers captain Alexander Barkov, he joked about joining their team but said he was happy in Montreal, where he consistently outplayed Florida this season.
Their first meeting after Christmas took place in Florida, where rookie goalie Jacques Budowksy was quickly tested after Kayden Primeau was relegated. Coach Martin St. Louis didn’t hesitate to throw the rookie into the deep end against the reigning champions. Budowksy performed admirably, stopping 34 shots, while Kirby Dach led Montreal with two goals in a 4-0 victory.
In mid-March, the Panthers came to Montreal seeking revenge but were stifled by Samuel Montembeault’s strong goaltending, who stopped 21 out of 22 shots and earned third-star honors. Despite low shot volume, Montreal scored three goals. Sergei Bobrovsky had a difficult night, marking one of his weaker performances of the season.
Two weeks later, the Canadiens went to Sunrise and secured another win thanks to two power-play goals and gritty play. Montreal took the lead twice, responding each time to the Panthers’ efforts, but held on after gaining a third lead in the third period. Captain Nick Suzuki was instrumental, contributing two assists and scoring the game-winner.
The final regular-season meeting was a tight 3-2 overtime win for Montreal on April 11, a crucial game with playoff implications for the Canadiens and many Panthers regulars sidelined. Despite only 21 shots on Vitek Vanecek, Suzuki scored twice, including the game-winner less than 30 seconds into overtime.
Across their four meetings, Montreal outshot Florida 14-5 and capitalized on scoring opportunities, tallying eight goals total. Their success was aided by effectively limiting Florida’s top players—Barkov tallied just two points in the series, while Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett recorded one each. Poor goaltending performances from Florida also played a role, with Bobrovsky, Knight, and Vanecek posting save percentages below .850.
On the Canadiens’ side, rookie Blu-Rayner Lane Hatson led with seven points, followed by Suzuki and Dzallislavkovsky. Montembeault’s .935 save percentage and a shutout by Dobes were critical factors in Montreal’s victories.
Looking ahead, the question remains whether Montreal can replicate this success against Florida this season. GM Bill Jeet worked hard to retain the championship roster, re-signing all pending free agents and keeping key players like Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett, and Brad Marchand. Florida also bolstered their defense by signing veteran Jeff Petrie on a team-friendly deal. Petrie, at 37, hopes for one last Stanley Cup run and believes Florida could win three straight titles.
In goal, Bobrovsky will be backed up by new signing Danil Tarasov after Florida traded Spencer Knight to add Seth Jones to an already strong blue line. Tarasov’s NHL experience is limited, with 65 games played, a 3.44 goals-against average, and a .898 save percentage.
If the young Canadian goalie can perform against the champions this season as he did last year, it would be a big confidence boost for Montreal. However, the Canadiens have work to do replacing special teams players Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak, who left. Montreal’s penalty kill was highly effective against Florida last season, conceding only one goal on eight chances.
[Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imaggn Image]
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For hockey fans, this ongoing rivalry between the Canadiens and Panthers is significant because it highlights the competitive and unpredictable nature of the NHL, where underdog teams can challenge powerhouses. The evolving rosters and key player developments promise exciting matchups that could shape the future of the league and elevate fan engagement.
