The Montreal Canadiens’ comeback fell short against the Pittsburgh Penguins, losing in overtime 6-5.
After falling behind 5-1 due to a gut-punch of a second period, the fact that they were able to get back in it to begin with is nothing short of astonishing. It all started with the guy who wears the C on his chest, Nick Suzuki.
Giving someone credit is easy after a win. Sometimes, you still have to hand it to somebody in a losing effort. He was picked to lead the way for the fifth straight season, and he quickly showed why that was the case.
A Herculean Effort
As the second period wound down, Suzuki picked up his first goal of the season to stall the Penguins' momentum. He took the puck from Lane Hutson before even crossing his own blue line and carried it all the way across himself. He beat his way through traffic and got the puck past the poke check of Arturs Silovs to get it to the back of the net.
It’s a sign to the rest of the team that it’s not over yet. A three-goal game is that much closer than a four-goal game. Time to chip away.
Sure enough, the Habs responded early in the third period to make it a two-goal game. But when momentum stalled again, Suzuki was ready to make something happen.
With just over a minute left, Suzuki first dug the puck out from a scrum in the corner, then, after getting the puck back, served it to Chris Kreider in front of the net to put the Habs within one. Twenty-four seconds later, he set up Ivan Demidov perfectly to tie the game.
Why the Effort Still Matters
Nobody is going to leave fully satisfied after losing in overtime, but they’re able to walk out with a point in the standings. It’s hockey. Getting that far isn’t as good as a win, but it could pay off in the long run.
It’s also a statement. If they go down, it’ll be fighting tooth and nail.
While unsung heroes make for a good story, a team wants to see the guy they designate for these moments step up and make them happen.
There are other veterans on the staff who could easily be captain right now. Instead, Martin St. Louis put his faith in Suzuki long before he was a veteran. While he’s worn the C, his team has only continued to build toward Stanley Cup contention. These types of efforts are a testament to why that’s been the case.
The Canadiens greats of the past did what Suzuki did on Saturday night to leave their mark. It’s why he could be the next great one for the franchise.
Add us as a preferred source on Google