Martin St-Louis makes his first key decision ahead of Panthers rematch

On Thursday, Martin St-Louis chose to cancel the morning session. It removes a major clue for fans who like to try to predict the lineup early. As a result, everyone will have to wait until later in the day to get a clearer picture.

We will not know the line combinations or the choice of the starting goaltender until the game begins.

Tonight's matchup is the second meeting of the season series against Florida. On December 30, Montreal defeated the Panthers 3-2 in overtime. The scenario was perfect for building tension.

Nick Suzuki scored two goals, including the game-winner at 3:24 of overtime on the power play. It all stemmed from a roughing penalty assessed to Brad Marchand at 1:27.

On the season, the Canadiens have 54 points in 43 games, and the race in the Atlantic remains tight. The Panthers are right behind with 47 points in 42 games; nothing is guaranteed. These kinds of matchups are often decided by a small detail, and St-Louis appears intent on controlling the timing.

In terms of production, Suzuki already has 14 goals, and Cole Caufield has already reached the 21-goal mark. For Florida, Sam Reinhart is already at 44 points, while Marchand has 23 goals. Marchand is also 37 years old, and he knows how to add some edge when it matters.

What will be interesting tonight is how the Canadiens' players respond to Brad Marchand.

The players have not forgotten the antics of the Panthers' pest, and it could make for a very entertaining night.

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