The Montreal Canadiens could have a very different looking blue line group when they face the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre tonight.

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The Habs lost more than just a 4-2 decision to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night. Defenceman Alexei Emelin suffered what appeared to be a right shoulder injury after colliding into the boards in the opening minute of the game, while top blueliner P.K. Subban hurt his right foot blocking a shot from Ottawa's Bobby Ryan late in the second.

Emelin didn't return to the game, while Subban came back in the third period but appeared to be labouring on the ice.

On Thursday morning, the team announced that Sergei Gonchar was placed on injured reserve. Gonchar was hurt after a hit against the glass by David Clarkson in Saturday's 2-1 Montreal win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night. 

The Canadiens called up defenceman Jarred Tinordi from Hamilton after the game and head coach Michel Therrien said he would be in the lineup against Florida.

The Habs are tied for the Eastern Conference lead, thanks in large part to Carey Price's dominance. And after a night off, Price will be back in net.

With 78 points, Montreal (37-16-4) is tied with Tampa Bay for the top spot in the conference with three games in hand. 

Price has won five straight and 10 of 11 starts, posting a 1.16 goals-against average and three shutouts during that span. His 1.93 GAA is the league's lowest and his 32 wins rank second. He was perfect in his most recent outing, stopping 25 shots in a 2-0 victory at Detroit on Monday. Price has also won his last four meetings with the Panthers behind a 0.75 GAA.

Pacioretty's goal Wednesday was his fourth in six games and gave him 11 points in 11 contests. Also contributing lately is Subban, who has five assists in four games and six in the last four at home.

While the Canadiens seem to be on their way to a third straight playoff appearance, the Panthers are chasing just their second postseason berth since 2000. They are three points behind Boston in the race for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.

"It was our goal at the first of the year to be in the race, and we are in the race," first-year coach Gerard Gallant said. "When we're playing good hockey we have a chance to beat anybody."

Gallant's club opened a five-game road trip with a 3-2 victory over Toronto on Tuesday, ending a three-game skid.

Nick Bjugstad continues to be the Panthers' top offensive threat, leading the team with a career-high 21 goals. His next tally will give him the most by a Panther in a single season since 2011-12.

The third-year center has five goals and two assists in eight games, scoring in each of the last two. He had Florida's goal in the shootout loss to Montreal in December.

Jimmy Hayes scored his 17th goal Tuesday and has seven points in his last eight games.

Roberto Luongo made 27 saves to beat the Maple Leafs and allowed two goals or fewer for the sixth start in a row. He's 1-6-1 with a 2.98 GAA in his last eight matchups with Montreal.

Panthers (62PTS) at Canadiens (78PTS)

MTL is 1-0-0 vs FLA this season, SOW in FLA
Teams split two games in MTL last season
MTL (37-16-4):
3-0-1 past 4 games, 8GA, 9/9 on PK
Pacioretty (2G, 1A) last 2GP
FLA (25-19-12):
1-2-1 past 4 games, 5GF, 2/14 on PP
Bjugstad (2G) past 2GP