Nick Suzuki delivered a stunning performance, scoring his second goal of the night just 29 seconds into overtime to lift the Montreal Canadiens to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. The Canadiens, who are fighting for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot, secured their fourth win over the Panthers this season, completing a season sweep of their Atlantic Division rivals.
With time winding down in regulation, Suzuki kept Montreal’s playoff hopes alive by netting the game-tying goal with just 8.4 seconds remaining. His heroics sent the Bell Centre crowd into a frenzy, setting the stage for his overtime winner. Josh Anderson also found the back of the net for Montreal (35-30-9), while goaltender Sam Montembeault stood tall, stopping 25 of 27 shots.
Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson played a key role in the Canadiens victory, assisting on all three goals. His 57th assist of the season moved him past Chris Chelios for the second-most assists by a rookie defenseman in NHL history. He also became just the 10th rookie blueliner to reach 60 points in a season, solidifying his place in Canadiens lore.
The Panthers (44-26-4) received goals from Mackie Samoskevich and Niko Mikkola, but they couldn’t hold off Montreal’s late charge. Goaltender Vitek Vanecek made 18 saves but continued his struggles, securing just one win in his last 11 starts dating back to Nov. 30. With the loss, Florida remains two points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.
Mikkola was showered with boos every time he touched the puck, a response to an incident in Sunday’s game when he nearly struck Montreal’s David Savard with a slapshot after the final buzzer. Despite leading late, Florida couldn’t close out the game, allowing two goals in the final minute of regulation and overtime.
Montreal started strong, outshooting Florida 9-5 in the first period, but lost momentum in the second. Suzuki’s leadership and Hutson’s historic playmaking helped the Canadiens overcome adversity and earn a crucial two points.
Mikkola’s centering pass deflected off Jake Evans’ stick and into the Montreal net at 10:37 of the first period, tying the game 1-1. The goal momentarily swung momentum in Florida’s favor, but Suzuki and the Canadiens ultimately had the last word.
Hutson’s 57th assist made him just the third Canadiens defenseman to hit that mark in a season, further cementing his incredible rookie campaign.
The Panthers travel to Toronto for a crucial matchup against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday. The Canadiens return to the Bell Centre to host the rival Boston Bruins on Thursday.
With the playoffs fast approaching, Montreal’s resilience and late-game magic could be the difference in securing a postseason berth.
