Nick Suzuki scored the game-winning goal in overtime, leading the Montreal Canadiens to victory over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. The Canadiens captain, wearing jersey number 14, celebrated with his teammates after sealing the win in front of the home crowd at the Bell Centre. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes)
Nick Suzuki proved once again why he’s the heart of the Montreal Canadiens. With just seconds left on the clock, he turned the game on its head, leading his team to a stunning 3-2 comeback win against the Florida Panthers.
The Bell Centre crowd erupted as Suzuki netted the equalizer with 8.4 seconds remaining in regulation. He wasn’t done yet—just 29 seconds into overtime, he sealed the victory with a wraparound goal that sent fans into a frenzy.
The game seemed all but lost for Montreal, trailing 2-1 with less than 30 seconds left in the third period. Florida, the reigning Stanley Cup champions, had dominated much of the play. The Canadiens found themselves stuck on their own end after an icing call, facing what looked like an impossible task.
But a well-fought battle in the corner led to a desperate breakout. Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson, showing poise beyond his years, took control at the blue line and fired a hopeful shot toward the net. The puck deflected off Florida’s Sam Reinhart and landed right in front of Suzuki, who calmly slotted it past goaltender Vitek Vanecek.
“It couldn’t have happened any better,” Hutson said after the game.
Head coach Martin St. Louis praised his team’s resilience. “Our guys were exhausted after that icing, but they found something extra,” he said. “Suzuki made a great read and put himself in the right spot. That bounce could’ve gone anywhere, but he was ready.”
Suzuki, who now has five overtime winners this season, continues to shine when it matters most. Goaltender Sam Montembeault also played a crucial role, making 25 saves, including key stops in the third period.
With this win, Montreal held on to the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card playoff spot, edging out Columbus and the New York Rangers. The Canadiens have developed a reputation for late-game heroics, having come back to earn points in 10 games since December 31—winning seven of them.
Their dominance over the Panthers was also on display, as Montreal swept the season series 4-0, including a 4-2 victory in Florida just days before.
Suzuki has been the driving force since the 4 Nations Face-Off break, tallying 27 points in 18 games. Meanwhile, Hutson, named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month earlier in the day, continues to impress. The 21-year-old now has 57 assists, surpassing Chris Chelios for the second-most by a rookie defenseman in NHL history. His recent six-assist performance over two crucial wins against Florida further cements his rising star status.
Veteran forward Brendan Gallagher had high praise for the young defenseman. “He’s an unbelievable talent. I don’t know how he fell so far in the draft, but we got a steal,” Gallagher said.
Despite a recent five-game slump, the Canadiens have been one of the league’s better teams since February, ranking ninth in overall performance. Now riding back-to-back wins, they look ahead to their next challenge—hosting the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.
