Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky, the first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, continues to improve.
The 21-year-old Slovakian has 13 goals in 38 games and is on pace to eclipse his career high of 20 tallies in 2023-24. He also has four goals and four assists in his past four games heading into the Canadiens’ Tuesday night contest against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla.
“I feel like I’m going in the right direction,” Slafkovsky said. “I just have to keep working.”
Slafkovsky logged two goals and an assist on Sunday, including the tying goal with four seconds left in regulation, but Montreal fell 5-4 to the host Tampa Bay Lightning in a shootout.
The Canadiens, who last season earned their first playoff berth since 2021, are 3-0-2 over their past five games.
Montreal is doing well despite having four forwards on injured reserve: Patrik Laine (abdomen), Alex Newhook (ankle), Jake Evans (lower body) and Kirby Dach (foot). Defenseman Kaiden Guhle (groin) also is injured.
Cole Caufield leads Montreal in goals (18), and Nick Suzuki tops the squad in assists (31) and points (42).
The Canadiens recalled goaltender Sam Montembeault from the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League, and he will start against the Panthers in his first NHL action since Dec. 9.
Montembeault, Florida’s third-round pick in 2015, was shipped to the minors two weeks ago for a conditioning period. He was recalled on Saturday, then backed up Joseph Fowler at Tampa Bay on Sunday.
The 29-year-old Quebec native has a 5-6-1 record with a 3.65 goals-against average and an .857 save percentage for the Canadiens this season. He lost both of his appearances for Laval, registering a 2.53 GAA and a .904 save percentage.
Last season, Montembeault had a career-high 31 wins for Montreal, finishing 31-24-7 with a 2.82 GAA, a .901 save percentage and a career-best four shutouts. He also was Canada’s third-string goalie at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
He will oppose a Panthers team that is 9-3-0 over the past 12 games following a 5-3 home win over the Washington Capitals on Monday.
Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who scored the go-ahead goal with 6:48 left in third period, praised Montreal when asked about the Panthers’ next opponent.
“They are a really good team,” Ekblad said. “I’ve always thought that they are extremely fast and dangerous. They have some awesome players who can make things happen. It will be a fun challenge.”
Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky posted career victory No. 446 on Monday to pass Terry Sawchuk for eighth place on the all-time NHL list. However, with games on consecutive nights, the Panthers likely will start Daniil Tarasov (4-6-1, 2.97 GAA, .900 save percentage) on Tuesday. Tarasov lost his most recent start, falling 6-2 to the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 20.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice said of his team heading into the matchup with Montreal, “It might be a challenge back-to-back, but we’ve played really well since the start of December.”
Fortunately for the Panthers, they have forward Sam Reinhart (21 goals, 21 assists). He produced two goals and an assist against Washington.
“He’s one of the best guys I’ve ever coached,” Maurice said. “We’ve asked a lot of him this year. He finds a way to always produce. He’s just a brilliant player with great hands.”
