The Montreal Canadiens spent their last six games dealing with something they'd never experienced during Nick Suzuki's NHL career: playing without him.

The 27-year-old hadn't missed a single regular-season game since debuting in 2019, appearing in 546 consecutive contests.

Suzuki was injured blocking a shot against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 20 and was given a 2-4 week recovery timeline.

On Thursday night, that absence will end; Suzuki will return to the lineup against the Utah Mammoth at the Bell Centre, the team announced.

Suzuki's streak of 546 consecutive NHL games was the league's second-longest active streak and the 20th-longest all-time.

The Habs excelled despite his absence, going 5-0-1 in six games without their captain. They came close to a perfect six-game stretch but squandered a four-goal lead late in regulation against a Winnipeg Jets team that had lost nine straight.

Still, the Canadiens are 9-3-3 and in second place in the Atlantic Division, and will now get their most important player back in the lineup.

The London, Ontario native managed five goals and 12 points in nine games before suffering the ailment, along with a plus-six rating and an average of 21:47 of ice time. His points total led the team at the time of his injury, and he remains third in scoring behind Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson, who each have 14 points in 15 games.

Originally selected 13th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Draft, Suzuki was traded to Quebec as part of the deal that sent Max Pacioretty to the Strip.

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He had his best NHL campaign in 2025-26, amassing 101 points over a full 82-game slate and winning the Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward, the first Canadiens player to receive it since Guy Carbonneau in 1992.

Suzuki's return will provide a welcome boost, as will that of forward Kirby Dach, who will play after missing the last two games.

Jakub Dobes will be between the pipes after rising rookie Jacob Fowler allowed five goals against the Jets on Tuesday.

Puck drops from downtown Montreal just past 7 p.m. ET for the cross-conference tilt.