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Habs clip Panthers in SO thanks to Parenteau

Dec 31, 2014 - 6:37 AM Sunrise, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - P.A. Parenteau netted the lone marker in the shootout and Montreal overcame some late Florida heroics to post a 2-1 victory on Tuesday.

Brendan Gallagher tallied in regulation for the Canadiens, who have won four in a row and tied idle Tampa Bay atop the Atlantic Division.

Dustin Tokarski managed to stop 36 shots over the game's first 65 minutes and all three chances in the breakaway rounds.

"This year he's been a rock," Gallagher said of Tokarski. "He's been very consistent when he's been in net,"

Nick Bjugstad provided the lone offense for the Panthers, who dropped the second game in their last six. Roberto Luongo took the loss despite 33 stops.

"You feel fortunate to get the one (point), but I thought we played well enough to win the hockey game," Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant said.

Tokarski was 1:49 from a shutout when an defensive breakdown cost his club. Bjugstad was left alone up the middle to accept an Aaron Ekblad pass and score with a fluttering shot inside the right post.

Hayes nearly ended the game inside of 10 seconds left in overtime, but his shot from the left side zipped through the crease without even touching iron. Price had accidentally sent a blind, backhanded clear up that side expecting one of his teammates.

After Alex Galchenyuk and David Desharnais failed on their shots, Parenteau managed to sneak a wrister off the tip of Luongo's glove to start the third round.

Jonathan Huberdeau's final opportunity was deflected away by Tokarski's shoulder to end the contest.

After several close calls by both teams for almost two-thirds of regulation, Gallagher finally netted the game's first goal with 66 seconds in the middle period.

He fired from the right wing, and the puck sailed between a Panthers defender's legs and squeezed through Luongo's pads.

Game Notes

The Panthers have participated in a shootout in five of their last eight games ... Florida has recorded at least one point in 10 of its last 11 home contests (7-1-3) ... Montreal upped its defensive streak to eight straight games allowing two goals or fewer.