MONTREAL — In a thrilling overtime match on Monday night, Nick Suzuki propelled the Montreal Canadiens to a 5-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks by scoring a power-play goal just 48 seconds into overtime. Along with his decisive goal, he contributed two assists to the team’s win.
Lane Hutson also shone for Montreal, netting a goal and adding two assists, while teammates Cole Caufield, Kaiden Guhle, and Kirby Dach each scored to support the effort. Goaltender Sam Montembeault made 16 crucial saves, helping the Canadiens secure their fifth victory in six games and extending their impressive record to eight wins in their last 10 outings.
The Canucks had standout performances from J.T. Miller, who scored two goals and provided two assists, as well as contributions from Jake DeBrusk and Jonathan Lekkerimaki, both of whom found the back of the net. Goalie Kevin Lankinen kept Vancouver in the game with 19 saves, despite the team’s ongoing struggles, as they have lost seven of their last nine matches.
In an exciting development, Captain Quinn Hughes, the previous year’s Norris Trophy recipient for the NHL’s top defenseman, made his return from a four-game absence due to injury. He recorded two assists in his 400th career game, bolstering the Canucks’ efforts.
Canadiens Takeaways: Miller and Lekkerimaki provided a brief two-goal advantage for Vancouver early in the second period, but Montreal quickly bounced back, scoring three consecutive goals to shift momentum and regain control.
Canucks Takeaways: Lekkerimaki had a significant impact in his first-ever multi-point game following his recall from the AHL, where he stepped in to replace the injured Dakota Joshua. The 20-year-old Swede has accumulated two goals and one assist in six NHL games this season.
Key Moment: Montreal took a 4-3 lead with goals from Dach and Hutson in the early minutes of the third period. However, just 12 seconds after Caufield was penalized, Miller assisted DeBrusk for a power-play goal that tied the game at 8:51.
Key Stat: Hutson, a contender for the Calder Trophy for NHL rookie of the year, made history as the fastest defenseman in Canadiens history to reach 30 points, accomplishing the feat in just 42 games. He surpassed the previous record held by Chris Chelios, who reached the mark in 45 games.
Looking Ahead: The Canucks will head to Washington for their next game on Wednesday, while the Canadiens will also face the Capitals this upcoming Friday.
