What Happened
The Montreal Canadiens announced Thursday that captain Nick Suzuki will miss two-to-four weeks with an upper-body injury. The news came before the team left for a four-game road trip that opens Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Suzuki's absence ends a 546-game ironman streak that had been the second-longest active run in the NHL behind Colorado's Brent Burns at 1017 games.
Key Details
- Suzuki is out two-to-four weeks with an upper-body injury, per the team.
- His 546-game ironman streak, second-longest active in the NHL, is over.
- Suzuki leads the Canadiens in scoring and is their captain.
- Montreal sits at 4-3-2, sixth in the Atlantic Division and 20th overall.
- The Canadiens start a four-game road trip Friday in Chicago.
What It Means
Suzuki has been Montreal's most complete forward and its leading scorer, so his absence tests a roster that has leaned on his availability since 2019. The Canadiens are 4-3-2 and 20th in the league, and the next two-to-four weeks will show whether they can hold their position without their captain.
What's Next
Montreal opens a four-game road trip Friday against Chicago and will need to redistribute Suzuki's minutes and scoring role while he recovers. The team has not announced a more specific return date beyond the two-to-four week window.