Nick Suzuki misses practice, becomes a father before Game 1
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Nick Suzuki skipped Montreal Canadiens practice Thursday, and for once it had nothing to do with hockey.
The Canadiens captain is now a father. His daughter Maya was born Thursday, reporter Marc-Antoine Godin confirmed on X Friday afternoon.
Suzuki will miss nothing on the ice. He's expected to be in the lineup when Montreal opens its playoff series Sunday in Tampa.
That's two days from now. Game 1. And the man who drove this team all season just had arguably the best day of his life.
He finished the regular season with 101 points in 82 games, 29 goals and 72 assists, with a +37 rating.
His 32 power play assists made him the engine of Montreal's man advantage all year long.
Suzuki enters the playoffs on a 13-point run with something to prove
He also posted 13 points in his last 10 games heading into this series, 5 goals and 8 assists.
Think about what that looks like from a Tampa bench. Their most dangerous opponent just became a dad and is walking into Amalie Arena with the kind of fire you cannot manufacture.
Some players get distracted by life events. Elite players convert them.
Montreal went 2-2 against Tampa this season, losing badly in December before winning back-to-back in late March and early April, including a 4-1 road win and a 2-1 home win.
The Canadiens finished 48-24-10, 106 points, sixth overall. Martin St-Louis has this group ready.
And the captain? He's got 101 points, a +37, and now a daughter watching from home.
Maya Suzuki, born the week of Game 1. There are worse origin stories.
The tension now is simple: Montreal hasn't been here in years, and Suzuki has never carried a team through a full playoff run as its captain. Sunday night in Tampa will tell us something fast.
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