Nick Suzuki: 'We were lackluster as a team'

The good news, at least, is that the team managed to see its best players step up to make a difference, tying the game three times.

Ivan Demidov (on the power play), Phillip Danault, and Nick Suzuki scored. The captain, who now has 96 points this season, capitalized on a superb play by Lane Hutson to send his team into overtime.

Despite the effort falling short, the team currently has 102 points, tying them with the Lightning and the Sabres. In a league where results matter, that's what counts.

But in the playoffs, the Habs won't be able to come back three times in a single game. Not on a regular basis, anyway.

A lot happened in yesterday's game. With the changes made to Martin St-Louis's lines, there were still some things to watch out for.

For example?

1. Even though the Canadiens messed up with the Filip Mesar pick, the 2022 draft remains a highlight of the team's rebuilding process.

Picking up Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson in just a few hours is genius. And yesterday, both made a difference.

2. 60 games with at least one point for the captain… Lane Hutson's 63rd assist of the season… Ivan Demidov's 61st point of the season… a shootout goal for Cole Caufield… the best players stepped up.

But what about Jakub Dobes' 28th win (in 40 games)?

At this point, it makes sense to think that the team's #1 goaltender could reach 30 wins this season. He found yet another way to win a game.

Will he have a little more magic left in the playoffs?

3. What did you think of Kirby Dach? He wasn't the most explosive player on the ice and didn't make a big impact in the game following his return from injury.

He was also unlucky to have to get stitches.

4. It doesn't seem to have caused much of a stir, but Brendan Gallagher was notably left out last night. And just like in the first game he missed, the Canadiens didn't have a great game.

Is this just a coincidence?

5. Cole Caufield earned the first star of the game (and had Lane Hutson speak on his behalf to Marc Denis) because he scored the game-winning goal in the shootout. In a case like this, it's decided before the end of the game.

But logically, he didn't deserve the first star.

6. Ivan Demidov was the only forward on the team to play more than 20 minutes (20:19) last night. Nick Suzuki, despite overtime and power plays, saw his ice time limited to 19:27.

Apart from Oliver Kapanen (11:26), all forwards played at least 13 minutes. I like that. #RestTheGuys

overtime

The Canadiens will practice at 11:30 a.m. this morning. The goal: to prepare for tomorrow night's big game, when the Tampa Bay Lightning are in town.

Did we mention this is going to be a very important game?