Montreal hosts the Florida Panthers, a team that had the Canadiens' number last season, on Tuesday night.

Montreal (2-1-1) lost three of four games last season to the Panthers. The Habs were outscored by a combined 9-1 in the games Florida won, but emerged victorious once, in a 1-0 shootout.

Montreal goaltender Cristobal Huet gave his teammates a chance to win in their last game.
(Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)

The Canadiens have yet to score more than three goals in a game this season, with just nine in total in four games. Michael Ryder, Guillaume Latendresse and Steve Begin are still looking for their first goals of the season.

Coach Guy Carbonneau will bench Latendresse and Begin on Tuesday in favour of centre Mikhail Grabovski and winger Garth Murray.

"I want energy," said coach Guy Carbonneau after the Tuesday morning skate. "We were missing that the other day against Carolina and we're trying to bring that energy back."

Goaltender Cristobal Huet held the Canadiens in their home opener on Saturday for two periods while they were outshot 30-8. The Hurricanes scored a late third-period goal to seal a 3-1 win.

Montreal played short-handed on six occasions and was scored on twice.

Koivu gets lone marker

Saku Koivu set up Chris Higgins to give Montreal an early lead and its only goal.

"If you don't play 60 minutes in this league, there's no way you're going to win," defenceman Patrice Brisebois told reporters.

Brisebois, who played for Montreal's 1993 Stanley Cup team, received a warm ovation in his return to Bell Centre. The veteran spent the last two seasons with the Colorado Avalanche.

Huet finished with 35 saves and is expected to be rewarded with the start against Florida.

Jokinen nears club record

Florida (2-3) experienced some defensive struggles early this season but has won two in a row.

Six different Panthers scored a goal each in a 6-4 win over Sunshine State rival Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Olli Jokinen had a goal and two assists, with Ruslan Salei and Nathan Horton contributing a goal and an assist.

With Jokinen's next goal, he will tie Scott Mellanby for the most in franchise history.

Goalie Tomas Vokoun made 38 saves as Florida was badly outshot. Vokoun had a shutout in his previous start against New Jersey, rebounding from a pair of poor outings to begin the season.

Defenceman Cory Murphy had two assists against the Lightning and has boosted Florida's power play.   

The Kanata, Ont., native played the last six seasons in Europe and shone for Canada's gold medal team at the world championships in May.

Florida is playing three games this week in Quebec and Ontario, with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators to follow.

Montreal returns to action on Thursday for a Northeast Division clash in Ottawa.

With files from the Canadian Press