Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki makes his feelings known after 6-1 loss to Lightning

The Montreal Canadiens were outmatched early and never recovered in a 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night at the Bell Center, a result that extended the club’s uneven stretch and raised familiar questions about their defensive play and home-ice form.

Then captain of the Habs Nick Suzuki he didn’t hide his frustration at how quickly the match slipped away. Suzuki said the group liked their early push, but felt the two goals down were destabilizing.

“I liked our start, for sure. I thought we generated a lot early and then we gave up two breakaway goals, and then the third.”

“And when you give a team a 3-0 lead like that, it’s very difficult to come back, and it was definitely not the start we needed,” he added.

Montreal conceded three goals in the first period, including two breakaways and a third score shortly after. Oliver Kapanen scored the Canadiens’ lone goal on a power play in the second period, while both Jakub Dobes and Sam Montembeault were held to three goals apiece.

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Nick Suzuki reflects on the reason behind the team’s rough patch this season

Montreal’s struggles at home resurfaced in the loss, a problem highlighted by their sub-.500 road record and recent general inconsistency.

When asked to identify what separates the team’s performance from last season’s steadier second half, Suzuki said there is no explanation. He pointed to key injuries and absences and explained that several players who were expected to carry heavier minutes have not been available. This has forced others to expand roles and produced uneven results.

“Oh, I think obviously there’s been a lot of injuries and players that we were relying on to be out. So, you know, it’s tough for some guys to get bigger roles and tougher minutes,” he said.

Suzuki added that despite the score, he didn’t feel the Canadiens defended “horribly,” but stressed that Tampa Bay took advantage of almost every high-danger aspect. That final skill, he said, “changed the game.”

The loss dropped Montreal to 15-11-3 while Tampa Bay improved to 17-11-2 and snapped a four-game skid. The Canadiens have now lost four of their last six and Tuesday’s performance, especially the first period, exposed the defensive slack that has crept into their game.