As a result, the Canadian becomes a beast for the Florida Panthers.
Frenchman Alexandre Texier played a sensational match, scoring a hat-trick to lead CH to a decisive 6-2 victory over the Florida Panthers. It was the second three-point game in 24 hours for Texier, who had a goal and two assists in a win over the Calgary Flames the day before.
Thus, Martin St. Louis’s team won their seventh victory in a row and their second in 10 days over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.
Sent into action for the third time since his time with the Laval Rocket, Samuel Montembeault was again strong, making 24 saves. The only downside: He was directly responsible for the Panthers' first goal because he passed the puck directly to Sam Bennett after a dangerous move out of bounds.
However, he got his team out of trouble on several occasions, most notably in the mid-period and late in the third period when the Panthers had just closed the gap.
Luckily, the Habs were able to capitalize on all their chances, stopping veteran Sergei Bobrovsky four times in just 18 shots. The fifth goal was scored into an empty net by Juraj Slafkovski.
Noah Dobson gave CH the lead in the first period with a cannonball from the point that deflected off Quebecer AJ Greer before hitting the net.
Oliver Kapanen then continued his great performance in his first full NHL season by scoring the puck in mid-air off Slafkovski's skate. When football, baseball and hockey meet in one episode! The Finn finally finished the game with three points.
With the win, CH temporarily moves into first place in the Atlantic Section with 56 points, the same as the surprising Detroit Red Wings, his next opponents. However, the Tampa Bay Lightning trail by one point and have played two fewer games than the Habs so far.
3rd PERIOD
19:09 – BUT: Amazing! Alexandre Texier scored a hat-trick in the final minutes of the match. The crowd goes crazy!
17:59 – BUT: Juraj Slafkowski closes the scoring by scoring into an empty net.
15:35 – Sam Bennett comes close to scoring a hat-trick during a two-on-one, but Montembeault stops his shot from point-blank range.
11:23 – BUT: Coming out of the penalty area, Sam Bennett's return cut the gap to two goals.
9:12 – Sam Bennett visits the cell after caning Zachary Bolduc.
7:26 – BUT: Suddenly a double! Alexandre Texier tries to pass to Cole Caufield during a one-on-one play, but his pass comes back to him and he hits the back of the net for his second goal of the match.
4:26 – Samuel Blais and Donovan Sebrango are chased in the same sequence and both teams play four on four for two minutes.
1:35 – Kapanen and Joe Veleno go out alone in front of an outnumbered Bobrovsky, but the goalkeeper resists the Quebecer's shot.
1:06 – Exiting the penalty area, Lundell was hit in the face with his stick. However, he was hit by his teammate's stick, but the officials sent Phillipe Danault off anyway.
0:00 – Start of the third period.
2ND PERIOD
20:00. – End of period.
16:54 – Anton Lundell puts a stick in Texier's face and is chased for four minutes.
13:41 – BUT: Long live France! Alexandre Texier continues his irresistible momentum with his fifth goal of the season. It was also CH's first shot of the second period.
10:00 – Midway through the period, CH still hasn't gotten a single shot against Bobrovsky in the second period.
5:33 – BUT: Oh no! Samuel Montembeault comes out of the gate and passes the ball… straight to Sam Bennett, who scores in the abandoned cage. The gap is closing.
2:00 – Maki Samoskiewicz uses his speed to easily get past Jayden Struble, but drops the puck while attempting a feint in front of the team goalie.
1:16 – Montembeault makes his toughest save of the match, pushing away Sam Bennett's shot with his right hand.
0:00 – Start of the second period.
1ST PERIOD
20:00. – End of the first period.
17:41 – Moments after a great play, Slafkowski returns to the penalty box after committing an obstruction.
17:35 – BUT: Slafkovsky makes a brilliant pass to Oliver Kapanen with his skate, and the Finn deflects the puck in mid-flight for his 15th goal.e goal of the season.
15:15 – Lane Hutson makes a dash like only he knows the secret and passes it to Zachary Bolduc in the slot, but the Quebecer can't direct the free kick towards Sergei Bobrovsky.
10:45 – Uvis Balinskis roughly obstructs Cole Caufield and is penalized. The Canadian will be able to deploy his five-man attack for the first time in the match.
6:24 – Guilty of fouling Aaron Ekblad, Juraj Slafkowski heads to the penalty box.
5:21 – Jayden Struble makes a mistake behind the goal, but Samuel Montembeault corrects his defender's mistake with a decisive save.
2:59 – BUT: Noah Dobson directs a cannonball that bounces off AJ Greer and into the net. CH takes an early lead in the match.
0:00 – Start of the match
