The Montreal Canadiens (20-12-5) face the Florida Panthers (20-15-2) in an Atlantic Division clash that pits two playoff contenders against each other. Montreal, sitting second in the Atlantic, has been one of the league’s surprises with a potent offense led by Juraj Slafkovsky and solid goaltending from Samuel Montembeault, but injuries to key forwards could test their depth. The Panthers, fourth in the Atlantic and fresh off a Stanley Cup defense, rely on Sam Reinhart’s scoring touch and a resilient defense, though their own injury woes have led to inconsistency. This matchup at Amerant Bank Arena could turn on special teams, as both rank in the top half for power play efficiency, but Florida’s home dominance and recent form give them a slight edge in what might be a high-scoring affair.
Venue Location
Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida. This 19,250-seat venue has been the Panthers’ home since 1998 and is known for its vibrant atmosphere during key games. Florida boasts a 12-8-2 home record this season, averaging 3.6 goals per game at home compared to 3.1 on the road.
Puckdrop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET (local time same). The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and regional networks like Bally Sports Florida and TSN/RDS, with streaming available on ESPN+ and NHL.tv.
Injury Report
Both teams are dealing with significant absences, particularly in the forward groups, which could force adjustments to lineups and increase reliance on younger players.
Montreal Canadiens:
Jake Evans (C): Out – Lower body. Expected to miss 4-6 weeks; placed on IR after a collision in a recent game, impacting faceoff duties and penalty kill (averaging 10:45 TOI).
Alexander Newhook (C): Out – Ankle. Games played: 17; secondary scoring loss (6 goals, 6 assists).
Kaiden Guhle (D): IR-LT – Expected return around January 8. Key defenseman whose absence thins the blue line.
Kirby Dach (C): IR-LT – Expected return around January 4. Long-term issue affecting forward depth.
Additional notes: No other major updates, but the team is monitoring minor ailments; core like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield are available.
Florida Panthers:
Aleksander Barkov (C): Out – Knee. Games missed: 36; massive loss for playmaking and faceoffs (team captain, averaging 20+ points when healthy).
Matthew Tkachuk (LW): Out – Lower body. Games missed: 36; key offensive driver (physical winger with 30+ goal potential).
Tomas Nosek (LW): Out – Knee. Games missed: 36; depth forward for penalty kill.
Jonah Gadjovich (LW): Out – Upper body. Adds grit when healthy.
Dmitry Kulikov (D): Out – Upper body. Veteran defenseman impacting pairings.
Cole Schwindt (RW): Out – Arm. Placed on IR earlier in December.
Additional notes: Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell are healthy and leading the charge; goaltending duo of Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight remains intact.
These injuries could lead to increased ice time for prospects like Florida’s Mackie Samoskevich and Montreal’s Lane Hutson.
Player Matchups
With injuries sidelining stars like Barkov and Tkachuk for Florida, and Evans/Newhook for Montreal, the focus shifts to secondary scorers and defensive pairings.
Nick Suzuki (MTL) vs. Sam Reinhart (FLA): Captain vs. leading scorer. Suzuki (team-high points, strong faceoffs) anchors Montreal’s top line with vision and two-way play; Reinhart (22 goals, recent two-goal game) thrives on the power play and could exploit mismatches inside.
Juraj Slafkovsky (MTL) vs. Anton Lundell (FLA): Young guns. Slafkovsky (8 points in recent games, physical edge) brings size and skill to Montreal’s attack; Lundell (breakaway specialist, recent game-winner) provides Florida with defensive reliability and counterattack speed.
Cole Caufield (MTL) vs. Aaron Ekblad (FLA): Sniper vs. shutdown D. Caufield (quick release, goal-scoring threat) aims to beat Bobrovsky from range; Ekblad (veteran blueliner) must contain him while quarterbacking Florida’s transitions.
Other notes: Lane Hutson (MTL D, 5 assists recently) vs. Florida’s power play; Samuel Montembeault (MTL G, confirmed starter) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA G), with Montembeault seeking redemption after shaky outings.
Montreal’s speed favors them if Florida’s depleted forwards tire.
Recent Team Forms
Florida enters with momentum from a recent win, while Montreal has been streaky but competitive.
Montreal Canadiens (5-2-3 in last 10 games): Coming off a 5-4 shootout loss to Tampa Bay on December 28. Averaged 3.1 GPG while allowing 3.4, with a -3 differential. Key wins: 6-2 vs. Boston (December 23), 5-2 at Vegas earlier. Losses highlight special teams issues (3 PP goals allowed vs. Capitals). Road form: 3-4-1 in last 8 away. Form: L-W-L-W-W (last five).
Florida Panthers (7-3-0 in last 10 games): Fresh off a 5-3 win over Washington on December 27, with Reinhart scoring twice. Averaged 3.5 GPG and allowed 3.0, posting a +5 margin. Standouts: 4-0 at Dallas (December 13), but a 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay (December 27) exposed gaps. Home strength: 6-3-1 in last 10 at Amerant Bank. Form: W-L-W-W-W (last five).
Series History
Montreal holds a slight all-time edge, with a 54-54-6-4 record in 118 regular-season games against Florida. Last season, the Canadiens swept the series 4-0, outscoring the Panthers by an average of 2.2 goals per game. In their most recent meeting (April 2, 2024), Montreal won 5-3. At Amerant Bank Arena, Florida is 27-30-3 all-time vs. Montreal, but the Canadiens have won 3 of the last 5 visits. Average total goals in the last 10 head-to-heads: 5.8, with the over hitting in 6 of 10.
Betting Trends
Spread: Florida is 18-19 ATS overall and 10-12 at home; Montreal is 20-17 ATS and 9-10 as road underdogs.
Total (O/U): The over has hit in 18 of Montreal’s 37 games (48.6%) and 20 of Florida’s 37 (54.1%). In last five head-to-heads, over is 3-2.
Trends: Montreal is 2-9 SU in last 11 road games vs. Florida but 5-2-3 ATS in last 10 overall. Panthers are 7-3 ATS in last 10 but 3-7 ATS when missing multiple stars. Total has gone over in 12 of Montreal’s last 17 games. Lines may shift if additional injuries emerge.
Game Odds
Montreal Canadiens 6.5
Florida Panthers – 135
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, December 29, 2025
