The Montreal Canadiens will try to stop a three-game losing streak on Thursday by visiting the Florida Panthers, a team also in a precarious situation in the Atlantic Division standings.

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Defeated 4 to 1 by the Tampa Bay Lightning the day before, the Habs occupy the cellar of the division, but their next rivals are not doing much better this season. Head coach Paul Maurice's troop is in sixth place with a record below the respectability threshold. On the other hand, it will count on the returns of key elements like Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad and Radko Gudas.

Only a few substitutes will put on the skates for the Canadiens during the optional session scheduled for the morning. Chief Instructor Martin St-Louis will meet with reporters around 5 p.m. It is logical to believe that Samuel Montembeault will face his former team, Jake Allen having been stationed in Tampa.

The seven-game road streak that began Dec. 19 will conclude with stops at the Washington Capitals on Saturday and the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.