An excerpt from the TSN game review of the Habs 3-1 win over the Panthers:

Any teams thinking they’ll catch a break when the Montreal Canadiens rest starting goaltender Carey Price could be in for a rude awakening.

Backup Jaroslav Halak made 35 stops and Francis Bouillon scored the third period winner in his first game back from injury as the Canadiens extended their winning streak to five games with a 3-1 victory Monday over the Florida Panthers.

Halak improved his save percentage to .967 on the season while allowing a single goal in both his starts. He’s been a perfect compliment to Price, who has a .939 save percentage and a 3-0-1 record thus far.

The Canadiens (5-0-1) are one of four NHL teams remaining who have yet to lose in regulation, largely because they’ve only allowed 10 goals in six games.

”It was one of his best games (with the Canadiens), and it’s not easy for him because it had been several days since he played,” Habs coach Guy Carbonneau said of Halak. ”It’s fun for a coach to have two guys like that who you can send in there against anybody.”

Saku Koivu scored in his third straight game and Tomas Plekanec scored into an empty net for the Canadiens while Andrei Markov extended his points streak to six games with an assist on Koivu’s goal.