Scrivens solid but Barkov, Panthers wrest division lead back from Canadiens
The best team in the Atlantic won't be on the ice at Gillette Stadium on Saturday.
Aleksander Barkov scored twice while Jaromir Jagr netted another as the Florida Panthers spoiled Ben Scrivens' debut and recaptured top spot in the division with a 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night.
Scrivens, steady, made 26 saves in his first NHL appearance this season and wasn't necessarily culpable for any of the three goals, but was ultimately no match for Roberto Luongo. The Panthers netminder stopped 27 shots for his 16th win of the season.
Barkov, meanwhile, continued his exemplary play of late. He squeezed a power-play goal through traffic in the first period before chasing down an Erik Gudbranson pass midway through the third and putting an expert move on Scrivens in tight.
The Barkov goal. Wow: pic.twitter.com/q7VHspKYAP
— Cats on the Prowl (@Cats0ntheprowl) December 30, 2015
The Panthers, now fourth in the league standings, will finish December on a seven-win streak, and having totaled 11 wins in their last 14 outings.
Montreal will meet the Boston Bruins, coming off a rousing 7-3 win over the Ottawa Senators, in the Winter Classic on Saturday.