Suzuki’s Late-Game Magic Brings Canadiens 3-2 Victory Over Panthers
-
By Doug Hirdle
- —
Summary:
- Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki’s two-goal performance brought a 3-2 win against the Florida Panthers.
- Josh Anderson also scored, while goalie Montembeault had 25 saves.
- Lane Hutson became the 10th rookie defenseman to hit 60 points in a season.
Captain Nick Suzuki brought the Montreal Canadiens a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old, born in London, Ontario, found the back of the net twice, including the game-winner just 29 seconds into overtime.
It was just what the Canadiens needed in the second half of a home-and-home series after sweeping Florida in four matchups this season.
Tying Goal Before Overtime
The center, who also became the 31st captain of the team in September 2022, scored his first goal with just 8.4 seconds left in regulation.
Suzuki, who the Vegas Golden Knights selected in the first round of the 2017 NHL draft, was seen burying the tying goal and sending the Bell Centre crowd into a frenzy.
In overtime, he managed to seal the deal with a slick wraparound finish.
Josh Anderson also scored for Montreal (35-30-9), while Sam Montembeault stood tall with 25 saves.
Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson made history with a three-assist night, bringing his season total to 57. That milestone pushed him past Chris Chelios for the second-most assists by a rookie blueliner in NHL history.
The 21-year-old also became the 10th rookie defenseman in NHL history to hit 60 points in a season.
Vanecek Defenced 18 Shots
On the Panther’s side, Mackie Samoskevich and Niko Mikkola scored for Florida (44-26-4), while goalie Vitek Vanecek successfully turned away 18 shots.
Florida has struggled against Montreal this season, losing all four encounters. Vanecek, in particular, has had a rough stretch, earning just one win in his last 11 starts dating back to November 30.
The win helped the Canadiens hold onto the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot, while Florida now sits two points behind Toronto in the race for the Atlantic Division’s top seed.
Mikkola Was Booed But Tied the Game
Florida’s Mikkola became public enemy number one at the Bell Centre after an incident in Sunday’s game.
Every time he touched the puck, boos rained down. The hostility only intensified when he nearly hit Montreal’s David Savard with a slapshot at the final buzzer, sparking a brief scuffle.
Florida also took an injury hit, as Nico Sturm left in the first period following a collision with teammate A.J. Greer.
However, the same Mikkola had a game-changing moment when he centered a pass that took an unfortunate bounce off Jake Evans’ stick and straight into Montreal’s net at 10:37 of the first period.
The player tied the game at 1-1 and stalled the Canadiens’ early momentum.
Up next in the NHL, the Panthers will travel to Toronto for a showdown with the Maple Leafs on Wednesday, while the Canadiens will host the Boston Bruins on Thursday in another big Eastern Conference battle.
