Nick Suzuki scores to lead Canadiens over Panthers 4-2
Nick Suzuki scores to lead Canadiens over Panthers 4-2
Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal late in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends a shot by Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) defends a shot b Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice gestures during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) passes the puck as Florida Panthers center Nico Sturm (8) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) deflects a shot by Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovský (20) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) and Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) go after the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens fans cheer after the team defeated the Florida Panthers at an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) protects the net as Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) attempts a shot during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (92) and Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) ago after the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (92) celebrates his goal against the Florida Panthers during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) and Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (92) go after the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) stops a shot on goal by Florida Panthers center Nico Sturm (8) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovský (20) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers players fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal late in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal late in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends a shot by Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends a shot by Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) defends a shot b Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) defends a shot b Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice gestures during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice gestures during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) passes the puck as Florida Panthers center Nico Sturm (8) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) passes the puck as Florida Panthers center Nico Sturm (8) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) deflects a shot by Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) deflects a shot by Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovský (20) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovský (20) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) and Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) go after the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) and Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) go after the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens fans cheer after the team defeated the Florida Panthers at an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens fans cheer after the team defeated the Florida Panthers at an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) protects the net as Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) attempts a shot during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) protects the net as Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) attempts a shot during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (92) and Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) ago after the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (92) and Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) ago after the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (92) celebrates his goal against the Florida Panthers during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (92) celebrates his goal against the Florida Panthers during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) and Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (92) go after the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) and Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (92) go after the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) stops a shot on goal by Florida Panthers center Nico Sturm (8) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) stops a shot on goal by Florida Panthers center Nico Sturm (8) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovský (20) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovský (20) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers players fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers players fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Nick Suzuki scored to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Sunday.
Suzuki scored on a snap shot with 17:58 left in the third period to put the Canadiens ahead 3-2. Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson each got an assist on the goal.
Patrik Laine, Brendan Gallagher and Slafkovsky also scored for the Canadiens.
Seth Jones and Sam Reinhart each scored for the Panthers.
Samuel Montembeault stopped 24 shots in the win for the Canadiens. Sergei Bobrovsky had 18 saves for the Panthers.
Takeaways
Canadiens: Montreal is now 4-3-3 over its last 10 games.
Panthers: Florida is 5-5-0 in its last 10.
Key moment
Gallagher helped close it out with an empty-netter with 1:44 left. Gallagher has three goals and five assists in his last seven games.
Key stat
Hutson had three assists for Montreal. It was Hutson’s 14th multi-assist game of 2024-25, tying Larry Murphy (1980-81) for second-most in a season by a rookie defenseman in NHL history — trailing Chris Chelios with 16 in 1984-85.
Up next
Next up for both clubs is a rematch on Tuesday.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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