The defending Stanley Cup champions rolled into Montreal for the last time of the 2024-25 regular season on Tuesday night. The Montreal Canadiens have played the Florida Panthers extremely well this season, coming into the contest with three regulation wins over an ostensibly superior roster. It sure looked like the Panthers were going to avoid being swept in the season series, but the Habs had other plans, putting together a very late comeback before icing the game in overtime. It was a crucial two points for the Tricolore, and their captain was the one who stepped up when they needed him the most.
After tying the game with a mere eight seconds left on the clock in regulation, Nick Suzuki went right back out in overtime, and closed the show.
Nick Suzuki calls game in OT#Habs sweep the season series with the Panthers. pic.twitter.com/ckloRXhQSD
— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) April 2, 2025
Yes, he got a bit of a lucky bounce on the game-tying goal. That was a theme in this game, as both of the Panthers’ markers came on deflections off sticks of defending Habs players. There was no luck to that game-winner, however, as he decided to forego an opportunity to drive the net, recognizing that he had an excellent chance to simply wrap it around and secure a crucial two points for his team.
His two goals gave him a new career-high of 79 points on the season, with eight games left to see what kind of personal record he can set. For all the talking heads in Toronto that have, and will likely continue to diminish his play, he sits firmly inside the top-10 for scoring among NHL centres. He has never let any of the noise get to him, and has done nothing but post career year after career year since joining the Canadiens. He is in his prime at this point of his career, but he may still be reaching to figure out just where his ceiling actually is.
He asked Kent Hughes for the chance to keep this group together at the trade deadline. The ask in return was to go out there and perform, which he did, forcing the GM’s hand. But Suzuki hasn’t taken his foot off the gas for a second since, clearly motivated to continue proving that it was the right decision to give this group a chance to go out and take a playoff spot. For the first time since 2021, they just might be in the playoffs, and they wouldn’t be able to say that without the play of their captain.
Nick Suzuki is the hero this team needs. Frankly, he’s the one they deserve as well, as this team is following his lead en route to potentially shocking the hockey world with a playoff berth.
Click the play button below to listen to your full Bottom Six Minutes, also available wherever you get your podcasts. We’ll be back on Thursday night, when the Habs will host the Boston Bruins for the final time this season.
