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Price, Canadiens hoping to stop slide vs. Panthers

Jan 29, 2009 - 11:48 AM Montreal (27-14-6) at Florida (22-17-8), 7:00 p.m. EST

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- A lack of experience in the crease hurt the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs last season and the problem is starting to carry over into this campaign.

All-Star goaltender Carey Price will attempt to bounce back from a shaky outing and help the Canadiens snap a three-game losing streak when they face the Florida Panthers on Thursday.

Price, who is still looking for his first win of the month after missing eight contests with a sprained right ankle, made just 19 saves Tuesday as Montreal suffered a 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"Our goalies are going to have to be stronger," Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau said. "We can't win games giving up four or five goals every game, and that's the way it's been over the last two or three weeks."

The 21-year-old Price, who is backed up by fellow second-year netminder Jaroslav Halak, has posted a 16-6-5 record with a 2.44 goals-against average and .915 save percentage on the season.

Rookie Michael Frolik recorded a goal and two assists as the Panthers skated to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.

David Booth and defenseman Bryan McCabe also scored for Florida, which avoided a third straight loss and continues to jockey with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.