Canadiens centres hold steady without Suzuki in 4-1 win at Chicago

Engels: steady centre play is the template

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 56m1 min read

All four of Montreal's centres played reliable and predictable on Friday, which is exactly what the Canadiens will need Via @Sportsnet on X

What happened: Montreal beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on Friday with captain Nick Suzuki out of the lineup. Sportsnet's Eric Engels wrote that all four Canadiens centres played reliable, predictable games.

Why it matters: With Suzuki sidelined, more minutes and tougher matchups go to the rest of the centres. Engels said steady, low-risk play down the middle is what the Canadiens need to get through his absence.

By the numbers: Final: Montreal Canadiens 4, Chicago Blackhawks 1.

What to watch: The test is whether the centre group can keep that steadiness against stronger opponents until Suzuki returns.

Sources

@Sportsnet 2026-10-24T05:31:52.703996+00:00

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