Suzuki equals his personal best in points with 12 games left to play
Captain Nick Suzuki has been consistently performing well for the Montreal Canadiens, and his productivity continues to rise due to staying healthy.
In a recent game against the Seattle Kraken, the London, Ontario native equaled his career-best points tally of 66 in the Canadiens’ 70th game of the season. Last season, he achieved 26 goals, 40 assists, and 66 total points over an 82-game schedule. Currently, he has scored 28 goals, made 38 assists, and accumulated 66 points with 12 games left in the Canadiens’ season.
Suzuki contributed to defenseman Kaiden Guhle’s opening goal, marking his 65th point of the season. Suzuki and Cole Caufield provided the assists, a result that was somewhat expected given their chemistry. Guhle’s goal was the first of three points he achieved in that game, setting a new personal record for the Edmonton, Alberta native.
Another angle of the Slafkovsky goal. Smart work in a dirty area. pic.twitter.com/toKcyCCHZR
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) March 25, 2024
Suzuki moved closer to his goal of scoring 30 goals by netting his 28th of the season, with Jordan Harris and Juraj Slafkovsky providing the assists for this achievement. Slafkovsky is on the verge of reaching his 50th career point, and if he accomplishes this before turning 20, he will equal Mario Tremblay for the highest number of points by a teenager in Canadiens history.
Nick Suzuki with a nasty snipe to make it 3-0 #Habs pic.twitter.com/fxllnFTJt7
— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) March 25, 2024
et’s discuss that remarkable shot. It was truly exquisite, and for those who believed he was just a skilled playmaker, he has provided a resounding answer. He possesses top-notch shooting abilities among the team, and his reputation as a superb passer often catches goalies off guard.
With his linemate and close friend Cole Caufield back to full health this season, many anticipated Caufield to be the primary scorer. However, he has elevated his playmaking skills to a new level, and Suzuki has capitalized on this change. The emergence of Slafkovsky has also been influential, but Suzuki’s exceptional intelligence has been the focal point.
While transitioning from junior hockey, Suzuki was recognized as a versatile top center. His performance in the NHL has been impressive, particularly within a team undergoing reconstruction. Considering he was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights at the 13th spot, it’s hard to imagine anyone foresaw his rapid ascent to such a high level in his career.
In a season where Suzuki is on track to achieve personal bests in all statistical categories, he is also positioned to surpass a prominent former player in career points. His current total of 275 points is just four short of PK Subban’s 278 during his time with the Canadiens. Additionally, he is nearing Saku Koivu’s 75-point season from 2006-07, with a possibility of equaling or even surpassing it.
Reaching Alex Kovalev’s 84-point performance from the 2007-08 season by the end of this season would require a remarkable finish. However, that could be a target for Suzuki to aim for in the upcoming season. With a solid second line established, his productivity may see a rise.
In the upcoming game against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night, Suzuki will have the opportunity to achieve a new personal best in points, and it seems highly likely that he will reach this milestone.
