Suzuki plays the hero in ’emotional’ OT win for Canadiens…
MONTREAL – Nick Suzuki believes the Montreal Canadiens’ recent winning streak and good fortune are no accident.
The team’s captain has more reason to believe after Tuesday’s thrilling finish.
“We all believe in the ‘hockey gods,'” Suzuki said. “If you keep doing the right things, the bounces will come.”
With just 8.4 seconds remaining in regulation, Suzuki tied the game in a surprising fashion. He then scored the game-winner on a wraparound 29 seconds into overtime, sparking a massive celebration at the Bell Centre in a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers.
The Canadiens seemed on the verge of defeat, trailing 2-1 with only 30 seconds left in the third period. They were set for a defensive zone faceoff following an icing call.
A key puck battle in the corner led to a fast breakout up the ice. Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson, showing maturity beyond his years, carried the puck into the Panthers’ zone, held it at the blue line, and then fired a desperation shot at the net.
The puck hit Florida’s Sam Reinhart and bounced to the back post, where Suzuki was in perfect position to collect the puck and calmly beat a sprawling Vitek Vanecek.
“It couldn’t have happened any better,” said Hutson.
Head coach Martin St. Louis was particularly impressed by how his fatigued players fought back after the icing.
“Then Suzy goes 200 feet to the back post, trying to read the play,” St. Louis said. “He’s going towards the net but has the presence of mind to sneak off the back post and let the play come to him.”
“That was a great bounce, but there was someone on the other side of that bounce in the right spot, and I’m glad it was him.”
It was fitting that Suzuki, who scored his fifth overtime winner of the season, played the hero once again. Goaltender Sam Montembeault made 25 saves, including several key stops in the third period.
With the win, the Canadiens held onto the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 79 points, two more than the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers in the tight playoff race.
“It looked like we might not win,” St. Louis said. “Is there someone up above helping us? Maybe. I’m sure my mom is helping me. To finish it in overtime, it was an emotional ending to the game, for sure.”
It was another dramatic comeback for a Canadiens team that’s making a habit of rallying from behind.
Since December 31, the Canadiens have earned points in 10 games when trailing after two periods, winning seven of them.
The Canadiens also completed a season sweep of the Panthers, winning all four matchups, including a 4-2 victory in Sunrise, Florida, on Sunday.
Suzuki has been leading the charge since the 4 Nations Face-Off break, ranking third in the NHL with 27 points in 18 games.
Hutson, who was named the league’s Rookie of the Month earlier on Tuesday, has also been a key contributor. The 21-year-old defenseman added three assists, bringing his total to 57 for the season, surpassing Chris Chelios for the second-most assists by a rookie defenseman in NHL history.
Hutson is also just the third blueliner in franchise history to reach 57 assists, joining Chelios and Larry Robinson.
The Calder Trophy contender as rookie of the year has been on fire recently, tallying six assists in his last two games, both crucial wins against the Panthers. Not bad for a player drafted 62nd overall in 2022.
“He’s a special player, he’s having a special year,” said veteran forward Brendan Gallagher. “You can see the talent when he shows up. I don’t know how he was picked so late in the draft, but we seemed to get a steal.”
The 5-foot-9 Hutson has been making waves by continuing to practice even on off-days at the Canadiens’ facility in Brossard, Quebec.
“From the second you see him on the ice, he’s just a special player. It doesn’t come by accident,” Gallagher said. “The amount of time he puts into his craft, how dedicated he is, and how much he enjoys the game—that’s what’s going to propel him to such an unbelievable career.”
Hutson leads all rookies with 62 points this season and ranks fourth among defensemen. Since the 4 Nations break, he’s second in points behind only Colorado’s Cale Makar.
Despite a recent five-game skid, the Canadiens have ranked ninth in the league since February 20 and have now won two straight.
