Huberdeau has three assists to help Panthers top shorthanded Canadiens

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Jonathan Huberdeau had three assists when the Florida Panthers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 at FLA Live Arena on Saturday.

Sam Bennett scored twice, and Sam Reinhart had two assists for the Panthers (21-7-4), who have won three straight. Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves.
Florida is 17-3-0 at home this season, scoring at least five goals in 11 of 20 games.
"I think the way we want to play is infectious," Reinhart said. "When you see one line playing with that speed, playing simple and attacking the game, it translates well to the next line, And guys seem to feed off that."
Jonathan Drouin and Nick Suzuki scored for the Canadiens (7-23-4), who played two skaters short, with 11 forwards and five defensemen, after forward Jake Evans and defenseman Alexander Romanov were placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol before the game. Sam Montembeault made 43 saves.

The Canadiens, who have 16 players in NHL COVID-19 protocol, lost forward Cedric Paquette to a neck injury in the second period.
"We put up a good fight for two periods," Drouin said. "When you're playing a full lineup on the other side with 10 forwards and five [defensemen], it's hard to stay in for 60 minutes and that's what happened."
Bennett, who returned after not playing in a 9-3 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday because of illness, gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead 32 seconds into the game on a one-timer off Anthony Duclair's pass from behind the net.
"It's never fun to sit out and watch the team," Bennett said, "but it felt great to get back in the lineup and contribute early and help the team get a win."
Drouin tied it 1-1 at 3:48 when he scored on a deflection. Suzuki gave Montreal a 2-1 lead at 9:29 of the second period with a 4-on-4 goal off a rebound.

Barkov made it 2-2 at 15:02 with a power-play goal after getting a pass across the front of the net from Reinhart.
Frank Vatrano gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead at 17:30 when he redirected Reinhart's pass with one hand on his stick.
"It's a tough game," Panthers coach Andrew Brunette said. "We talked about it pregame. You put up nine the other night, then you score right away. You hate to say you don't like that, but a lot of times, that's the kiss of death when you get one early and you think it's going to be easy. "
Bennett extended Florida's lead to 4-2 at 15 seconds of the third period when he deflected MacKenzie Weegar's shot from the point.
"That kind of goal at the start of a period is tough when you're trying to come back in the situation we're in, but the guys never quit," Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme said.

Huberdeau got his third secondary assist of the game on Bennett's second goal and has scored eight points (one goal, seven assists) in the past two games.
"It's fun to watch, it's more fun to be a part of it," Reinhart said. "I've always known what he's capable of and to see it on a nightly basis is pretty exciting."
Mason Marchment scored at 13:04 of the third for the 5-2 final.
NOTES: The Canadiens announced after the game that they, as well as their American Hockey League affiliate in Laval, were pausing all activities until Thursday for safety reasons. Montreal previously had its next four games, all at home, postponed through Jan. 10. … Florida's 17 victories through 20 home games are the second-most in NHL history (Boston Bruins, 18-2-0 in 1929-30). … Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe did not play the final six minutes because of a minor injury, but Brunette said it was precautionary and Verhaeghe should be fine. … Canadiens forward Cam Hillis played 10:50 and had two shots on goal in his NHL debut.