In a thrilling showdown on December 30, 2025, the Montreal Canadiens pulled off a remarkable comeback, defeating the Florida Panthers with a score of 3-2 in overtime. The game, held in Sunrise, Florida, saw Nick Suzuki netting a critical power-play goal just 3:24 into overtime after the Canadiens had been trailing by two goals.
Suzuki's late-game heroics didn't stop there; he also found the back of the net earlier to level the score for Montreal, showcasing his pivotal role in this nail-biting contest. This victory marked an impressive stretch for the Canadiens, who have posted a record of 6 wins, 1 loss, and 3 overtime losses in their last 10 games. Cole Caufield also contributed to the scoreboard for Montreal, adding to the excitement of the match.
On the other side, the Panthers had their own moments of glory with Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart each scoring a goal. However, Marchand found himself penalized for roughing just 1 minute and 27 seconds into overtime, which granted Montreal a significant 4-on-3 advantage that they capitalized on.
Before the game, Florida honored Marchand for reaching the impressive milestone of 1,000 career points. Although he achieved this landmark in mid-November, Marchand chose this match against the Canadiens—one of his historical rivals from his time in Boston and a team led by one of his idols, Martin St. Louis—for the official celebration.
Interestingly, the first two periods concluded without any goals, marking only the 11th scoreless game in the NHL this season and the first for both teams. It was also notable as the first scoreless opening 40 minutes in a matchup between the Panthers and Canadiens since February 14, 2013, when Montreal won 1-0.
However, the final ten minutes of the game were anything but dull. Marchand broke the deadlock at 10:18 into the third period, and Reinhart extended the lead to 2-0 with under five minutes remaining. Just when it seemed like the Panthers would secure the win, Montreal struck back, with Caufield scoring a mere 32 seconds after Reinhart's goal, followed by Suzuki tying the game with just 1:22 left on the clock.
This match served as the finale for both teams as they wrapped up their 2025 season. The Canadiens' 21 victories at this point are their highest since the 2018-19 season, while the Panthers continued their streak of exceeding 100 games played for the third consecutive year, having participated in the last three Stanley Cup Finals and clinching the championship titles in the last two.
Looking ahead, the Canadiens will face off against the Carolina Hurricanes this Thursday, while the Panthers are set to host the New York Rangers during the Winter Classic in Miami on Friday.
