Canadiens Show Grit in Comeback Win Over Panthers

Tuesday’s win over the Florida Panthers felt like one of those games that tells you as much about character as it does about systems. The Montreal Canadiens clawed back twice, showed real late-game composure, and got a big night from Jakub Dobes. Meanwhile, the Panthers proved they can still score without Matthew Tkachuk—but folded when the heat was on. It was a 4-3 shootout win for the Habs.

That final sequence—Lane Hutson skating into the zone, dragging the defender out of position, and finding Nick Suzuki for the tap-in with 21 seconds left—is the sort of small breakdown that costs teams in the playoffs. Florida created chances and got goals from Carter Verhaeghe, Eetu Luostarinen, and Sam Reinhart, so chance creation wasn’t the problem. It came down to one defensive lapse and a failure to close out the game.

The Panthers Show Cracks Late in the Game.

From Florida’s point of view, two things jump off the tape. First, their late-game sloppiness is worrying. You can score in bunches, but if you can’t lock down the final minute, opponents will find seams—and NHL playoff teams will make you pay.

Second, the offence without Tkachuk is encouraging. Seeing Verhaeghe hit the net and others step up shows Florida isn’t a one-man show. The issue is finishing and focusing in critical moments, not a lack of talent. Tightening those details sounds simple, but it’s exactly what separates good regular-season teams from deep playoff squads.

Canadiens Finding Depth and Belief.

For Montreal, the takeaways are more upbeat. The Canadiens showed belief and depth: Ivan Demidov’s power-play goal, Phillip Danault’s gritty slot finish, and Suzuki’s late equalizer all underline that scoring is starting to come from beyond the usual names. That kind of secondary production is crucial in a tight division race where every point matters.

Equally important was Dobes. He made 30 saves and gave Montreal a chance to win. When your goalie stands tall, and the role players chip in, suddenly you’re a much tougher matchup than the standings suggest.

It Was a Montreal Win That Could Shift Momentum.

The result—a 4-3 shootout win—pushed Montreal into a three-way tie atop the Atlantic Division with 102 points, shoulder-to-shoulder with Buffalo and Tampa Bay.

With the season winding down, that kind of gritty, come-from-behind victory can be a real momentum shifter. The Canadiens are right in the thick of it, but if they want favourable seeding, they’ll need more nights like this: dependable goaltending, timely depth scoring, and the focus to avoid the small defensive mistakes that can swing games.