Suzuki's Overtime Magic Secures Thrilling 3-2 Win for Canadiens Against Panthers

MONTREAL (AP) – In a nail-biting finish, Nick Suzuki netted his second goal just 29 seconds into overtime, leading the Montreal Canadiens to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. This win marked a dramatic comeback for the Canadiens in the second game of a home-and-home series.

With only 8.4 seconds left in regulation, Suzuki managed to tie the game, showcasing his clutch performance under pressure. Josh Anderson also contributed to the scoreboard for Montreal (35-30-9), while goaltender Sam Montembeault made 25 saves to secure the win.

Lane Hutson had a standout night, racking up three assists, which brought his season total to 57. This impressive feat allowed him to surpass Chris Chelios, making him the second rookie defenseman in NHL history to achieve such a milestone.

On the other side, the Panthers (44-26-4) saw goals from Mackie Samoskevich and Niko Mikkola. Despite their efforts, Florida was unable to overcome the Canadiens, who completed a four-game sweep against them this season. The Canadiens had previously defeated the Panthers 4-3 in Sunrise, Florida, just days earlier.

Florida's Vitek Vanecek faced 21 shots, managing to save 18, but his struggles continued as he has only one win in his last 11 starts since November 30.

As the game unfolded, the Canadiens held onto the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot, while the Panthers remained just two points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the top position in the Atlantic Division.

Notably, Mikkola faced a chorus of boos from the crowd every time he touched the puck, a reaction stemming from an incident in Sunday’s game. As the final buzzer sounded, Mikkola unleashed a slapshot down the ice that nearly hit Montreal's David Savard, igniting a brief scuffle.

The Canadiens started strong, outshooting the Panthers 9-5 in a lively first period, but their momentum waned in the second. Mikkola's centering pass deflected off Jake Evans' stick and found its way into Montreal's net at 10:37 of the first period, tying the game 1-1 and dampening the Canadiens' early energy.

Hutson's achievement makes him the 10th rookie NHL defenseman to reach 60 points in a season, and he is only the third Canadiens blueliner in franchise history to record 57 assists in a single campaign.

Looking ahead, the Panthers are set to visit the Maple Leafs on Wednesday, while the Canadiens will host the Bruins on Thursday.