Nick Suzuki scored twice, the tying goal with 8.4 seconds left in regulation and the overtime winner, as the Montreal Canadiens edged the visiting Florida Panthers 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Suzuki beat Vitek Vanecek with a wraparound 29 seconds into the extra period for his 25th of the season as the Canadiens swept the teams’ home-and-home series. Montreal won 4-1 in Sunrise, Fla., on Sunday.
In the last seconds of the third period, Suzuki, the Canadiens’ captain, tapped in a Lane Hutson feed to force overtime.
Josh Anderson also scored for the Canadiens (35-30-9, 79 points), who won all four meetings against Florida this season.
Hutson added three assists, giving him 57 on the season, passing Chris Chelios (55, 1984-85 Canadiens) for the most assists by a rookie NHL defenseman. Hutson now trails only Larry Murphy (60, 1980-81 Los Angeles Kings).
Sam Montembeault made 25 saves for Montreal, which remains in the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot.
Niko Mikkola and Mackie Samoskevich responded for the Panthers (44-26-4, 92 points), who dropped to 4-5-1 over their past 10 games.
Montreal outshot Florida 9-5 in the opening 20 minutes as the teams were tied 1-1 after one period.
The Canadiens opened the scoring at 4:43 as Anderson tipped a Kaiden Ghule point shot up and over Vanecek.
Mikkola tied it 1-1 as his shot redirected off the Canadiens’ Jake Evans and past Montembeault at 10:37.
Florida appeared to take a 2-1 lead at 12:58 of the first, but it was ruled A.J. Greer directed the puck in with a kicking motion.
The Panthers took a 2-1 lead on a power play at 18:47 of the middle frame as Samoskevich’s shot deflected off Guhle and past Montembeault.
Panthers forward Nico Sturm left the game just 3:17 into the first period after running into teammate Greer. Sturm did not return.
–Field Level Media
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