Canadiens: Nick Suzuki’s Most Memorable Highlights Through 300 Games
There are likely many more games ahead for Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, but his 300th game held some extra weight.
As you know, Suzuki was drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights with the second of their three first-round selections in their inaugural draft (2017). However, he never played a game for the Golden Knights because he was traded to the Habs in a package including Tomas Tatar and a 2019 second-round selection, which they then dealt to the Los Angeles Kings for picks number 64 (Mattias Norlinder) and 126 (Jacob LeGuerrier). Well, the London, Ontario, native suited up for his 300th game against his former team.
The trade for Suzuki could end up being the most crucial trade made by the Canadiens in recent memory, as he has led the team in points the last two years, and he is the captain. He has also been able to stay healthy for an 82-game season in back-to-back years. Suzuki and Cole Caufield have developed great chemistry, and the young duo electrified empty arenas during the Habs Stanley Cup finals run in 2021.
To celebrate Suzuki’s 300th game against the Golden Knights. Despite the Habs coming up short in a losing effort, let’s look back at five of Suzuki’s most memorable moments in a Canadiens sweater.
Two Tallies Against Vegas
The list will kick off with two highlights in the same game. One coming in regulation to tie the game for the Canadiens. The second came after sudden death overtime when he made a nifty move to beat the goalie for a shootout tally.
This one sounds familiar, and that is because it is the most recent of his highlights. The reason is that this game was his 300th game, and he seemed to have a chip on his shoulder. The emotion that came out of Suzuki when he tied the game was noticeable even for the fans watching the game on the television.
Nick Suzuki’s goal tonight, in his 300th game, against his former team. Inject this in my veins 💉 pic.twitter.com/iGDG5J0V7L
— HFTV (@HFTVSports) October 31, 2023
Number one on the list is a two-parter, and that’s because Suzuki was feeling good and decided to show Vegas what they were losing out on. It has to sting a little extra when the big trade was orchestrated for Max Pacioretty, who is now with the Washington Capitals after signing with them in the offseason. Anyways, I digress. Suzuki put the finishing touches on a solid night with a slick shootout tally against Vegas goaltender Adin Hill.
Nick Suzuki....I mean,... pic.twitter.com/Om6F8ASJ65
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) October 31, 2023
Just a nasty move and a gentleman finish, just sliding the puck in along the ice. Along with his misdirection puck flip goal, Suzuki has taken a liking to the stickhandle move, finishing on the backhand. It’s effective, and it sure looks pretty. He is nicknamed ‘Slick Nick’ for a reason.
First NHL Goal
Suzuki’s first NHL goal came when the team was up 2-0 against the Minnesota Wild in the 2019-20 season. This goal, while slick, put the Habs up by three goals, so rubbing salt in the wound wouldn’t usually be necessary. It was his first one, and it was huge for his confidence, so a passionate celebration was expected.
This tally showcased Suzuki’s poise and solid puck skills. He slipped a rebound past Alex Stalock from an awkward angle. In my opinion, this kickstarted the offensive confidence in Suzuki. It’s also the Canadiens only win in their last 16 games against the Minnesota Wild, so everything seemed to go the Canadiens way that night.
First Tally As Canadiens Captain
Captain Suzuki has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Well, head coach Martin St. Louis, general manager Kent Hughes and vice president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton thought so, too. Suzuki’s captaincy was revealed, and Brendan Gallagher and Joel Edmundson were his two assistant captains. At just 23 years old, Suzuki became the youngest captain in the history of the Canadiens.
This was another showcase of the mind that Suzuki possesses. His knowledge of how to play around the opposition’s net is incredible. Suzuki tried to shake the defender and then slipped around the side of the net, sliding a shot five-hole past Washington Capitals goaltender Darcy Kuemper. Suzuki, 23, at the time, scored a career-high 26 goals and matched his career-high in assists with 40. His 66 points led the team, doing a large chunk of it without his trigger man, Cole Caufield.
Suzuki & Caufield Play Pass, Before Suzuki Beats Jack Campbell To Push A Game 6
When Suzuki and Caufield exploded out of their zone on a two-one zero, the pair slowed things down by playing the give-and-go. Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell overplayed Caufield, which is usually the best decision. But Suzuki took advantage of the open space and iced the Leafs in overtime with a wicked slingshot-style one-timer.
The goal came off of an awful turnover from former Canadiens second-overall selection Alex Galchenyuk. So, the significance had an added familiarity layer. This one was big, and it set forth quite a series of events. As we know, the Habs went to the Stanley Cup final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Suzuki Outmuscles JG Pageau, and Scores Slick Tally
This goal came against the Ottawa Senators during the final preseason game. Suzuki pinned Jean Gabriel Pageau to the boards behind goaltender Anders Nilsson. A clever, hard-working play all-around, Suzuki stripped the puck from Pageau before scoring a wraparound five-hole.
It seems odd to include a preseason goal, but the significance of Suzuki putting the finishing touches on the Canadiens’ preseason was a great boost to his confidence. The tally showed his poise, strength and his nifty puck skills. And it was a push in the direction ahead of the regular season.
Final Thoughts
There are many, many more highlights that could have made the top five, and there will be many more to come. These plays had me at the edge of my seat, and they couldn’t be left off my list. But rest assured, there will be many more of these articles.
Suzuki makes smart, high-hockey-intelligence plays every night. So there’s a very good chance that he has five more brilliant highlights before the end of the season. The former 15th overall pick does so many little things right, and the culmination of his work often results in high-danger scoring chances.
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