A genuine moment of class stood out during tonight's preseason game, when an Ottawa Senators player held back a shot because Nick Suzuki's head was directly in its path.
That kind of restraint deserves real recognition, especially in the heat of a game between two division rivals.
It's the exact type of moment that's been noticeably missing from recent matchups, especially preseason ones, between Montreal and Ottawa.
The Senators player clearly prioritized Suzuki's safety over a scoring chance, a small gesture that says a lot in the middle of a competitive game.
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Suzuki remains known around the league for his remarkable reliability, never having missed games due to injury throughout his career so far.
That physical durability matters enormously for a Montreal Canadiens team that leans heavily on him as both captain and top-line center.
Moments like this are a reminder that some baseline respect between opponents still exists, even in a physical, professional league.
Why protecting Suzuki matters so much to Montreal right now
Suzuki just posted a career-high 101 points in 82 games last season, exactly the kind of production that makes his health a real priority for this organization.
His captaincy carries extra weight too, requiring him to lead by example as much as by scoring, a responsibility that only grows heavier if his availability were ever in question.
Alex Newhook's recent look on the top line alongside Suzuki and Cole Caufield shows the level of trust already built around that trio heading into the season.
An injury to the captain would ripple through the entire Montreal lineup, given how central his role is to everything this team wants to do.
That's exactly why a moment of restraint like this one, coming from an opponent with nothing to gain from it, directly protects one of the organization's most valuable assets.
Tonight's preseason game was part of the Kraft Hockeyville program, played in Trois-Rivières.
Should moments of restraint like this be recognized more often in preseason hockey?
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