Suzuki Leads Canadiens Past Panthers, Back Into Playoff Hunt
Alright, hockey fans, let’s talk about a huge win for the Montreal Canadiens. After a rough road trip, they came into Florida needing a win, and boy, did they deliver! Nick Suzuki was the hero of the night, scoring the game-winner early in the third period and adding two assists, leading the Canadiens to a 4-2 victory over the Panthers. This win not only snapped Montreal’s five-game losing streak but also propelled them back into the wild-card race.
It was a special night for Juraj Slafkovsky, who celebrated his 21st birthday in style with a goal and an assist. Lane Hutson was also outstanding, picking up three assists and proving once again why he's one of the most promising young defensemen in the league. Goalie Sam Montembeault stood tall, making 24 saves and keeping the Panthers' offense in check.
Montreal had been struggling on this road trip, losing the first three games and getting outscored 16-6. But they flipped the script against Florida, a team they've now beaten three times this season. Suzuki himself summed it up best: “It was definitely important to get the win today. The road trip wasn’t great for us, but this win puts us in a good position going home.”
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With this victory, the Canadiens are now tied with the Rangers for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and they have a game in hand. Head coach Martin St. Louis acknowledged the team's resilience, saying, “We know we have that in us, but sometimes it slips away. We need more games like this down the stretch.”
On the other side, Florida was left frustrated. The Panthers had been dominant at home, winning seven straight before this loss. Captain Aleksander Barkov, who hit a career milestone by playing his 800th NHL game, admitted, “No excuses. They played better than us in all three games. We need to be better, plain and simple.”
The game was back and forth, starting with Patrik Laine giving Montreal a 1-0 lead on a power play. Florida quickly responded with a goal from Sam Reinhart, tying it 1-1. Slafkovsky’s power-play effort in the second period put the Habs back in front, but Seth Jones evened things up again before the intermission.
Then came the defining moment—early in the third, Suzuki took a slick cross-ice pass from Hutson and buried a one-timer from the left circle to make it 3-2. Brendan Gallagher sealed the deal with an empty-netter, and that was all she wrote.
Florida coach Paul Maurice pointed to missed opportunities, saying, “We had 23 shots blocked and missed the net another 21 times. We left a lot of offense out there.”
This win was huge for the Canadiens. Not only did they take down a top team, but they also kept their playoff hopes alive. They’ll face the Panthers again in Montreal on Tuesday, looking to sweep the season series. With just nine games left, every point counts, and this team knows it.
If Suzuki, Slafkovsky, and Hutson keep playing like this, the Canadiens just might find themselves in the postseason. Buckle up, because the playoff race is heating up!
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