SUNRISE, Fla. — With less than four minutes remaining in a tight game against the Florida Panthers, Florida`s top players hit the ice, aiming to capitalize on momentum they had just built in the Montreal zone.
The pressure mounted, but Lane Hutson was prepared to meet it head-on.
As the puck circled the boards and reached Bennett behind Montreal`s goal, Hutson skillfully dispossessed him. He then fought through a screen to prevent Bennett from getting a clear shot on net. Later in the sequence, Hutson effectively closed down Marchand in the slot, thwarting a key opportunity for Florida to even the score.
Shortly after, Brendan Gallagher sealed the Canadiens` 4-2 victory with an empty-net goal.
For Gallagher and most of his teammates, the tension dissipated as their five-game losing streak was broken, and their position in the Eastern Conference wild-card race was strengthened.
If Hutson felt any pressure in this critical moment, he showed no indication of it.
The Canadiens had initially secured a wild-card spot after a win on March 18th, but the weight of playing with something significant at stake seemed to affect their performance.
They struggled through close losses and a challenging road trip, searching to regain their form until this game in South Florida.
Juraj Slafkovsky, celebrating his 21st birthday with a goal and an assist in the victory, spoke about the intense pressure the team had been feeling.
