Habs' Nick Suzuki ties game late, beats Panthers in OT

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