Double Suzuki turns crime scene in Florida

The Montreal Canadiens escaped relegation on Wednesday night, securing a victory against the Florida Panthers thanks to a quickfire double.

31 December 2025

From: sn

“I thought it was one of our most complete games,” said Nick Suzuki, who became the hero of the night for the visiting team. “We stayed in the game even when we were behind. … We won in overtime, and I thought we were the better team there. This win was absolutely deserved.” Suzuki scored two goals, including the game-winner with 1:36 remaining in overtime. The Montreal Canadiens ultimately emerged victorious after a comeback against the Florida Panthers (3-2).

Cole Caufield recorded a goal and an assist, while Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson each contributed two assists for Montreal (21-12-6), who extended their winning streak to six games (4-0-2). Goalie Sam Montembeault made 28 saves.

"They're a tough team to play against. They play physical and chip a lot of pucks deep," said Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis. "You can feel the pressure they put on you, and they made the decisive plays at the crucial moments. That's nice to see." Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart scored for the Panthers (21-15-3), who had a 5-3 victory over the Washington Capitals on Monday. Tarasov made 26 saves.