What Happened
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki will return to the ice Thursday night against the Utah Mammoth. The 27-year-old centre missed his first six games of the season after a shot struck his left hand during a loss to the San Jose Sharks on October 20. Suzuki had previously played 546 consecutive regular-season games. The Canadiens won five straight games in his absence but fell 5-4 in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, suffering the largest four-goal comeback in NHL history.
Key Details
- Suzuki was ruled out for two to four weeks initially.
- He rejoins Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky on the first line.
- Montreal is 9-3-3 heading into the game.
- Utah Mammoth are 10-6-0 and visiting Montreal.
- Jakub Dobes is expected to start in goal for Montreal.
- Suzuki has five goals and seven assists in 12 games this season.
What It Means
Suzuki's return restores the Canadiens' top line, which had been performing well without him. The team faces a significant psychological hurdle after the historic collapse against Winnipeg, making the return of their captain and Selke Trophy winner a crucial factor in their attempt to stabilize the lineup and regain momentum.
What's Next
The Canadiens face the Utah Mammoth on Thursday night. Jakub Dobes is set to start in goal as Montreal looks to bounce back from the previous night's defeat.