Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the Montreal Canadiens dressing room after the crew’s 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in an exhilarating sport Thursday evening.
Carney was in Montreal for a Liberal celebration conference operating by way of Saturday, attending the sport following a day of media appearances and speeches throughout the town.
He met with Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, forwards Alex Newhook and Jake Evans, and defenceman Mike Matheson after an eventful sport that featured fights, a dramatic end and Cole Caufield scoring his fiftieth objective of the season.
“I will be trustworthy, I have never had that a lot enjoyable in over a yr,” Carney stated, drawing laughs from the gamers. “Incredible sport.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, laughs as he meets Montreal Canadiens’ Jake Evans, centre, and Nick Suzuki of their dressing room following their NHL sport towards the Tampa Bay Lightning in Montreal on Thursday, April 9, 2026.Christinne Muschi | The Canadian Press
Carney arrived in the beginning of the second interval with the rating 0-0 and sat three rows behind the Canadiens’ bench, shaking palms and chatting with close by followers.
When Caufield scored his milestone objective six minutes into the interval, Carney jumped up and hugged those self same spectators.
He joined the energetic crowd in doing the wave, took photographs on his telephone and high-fived followers as soon as Juraj Slafkovsky’s late objective sealed the win for Montreal, the one Canadian crew to clinch a Stanley Cup playoff spot to date.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, centre, reacts as he watches the Montreal Canadiens play Tampa Bay Lightning throughout second interval NHL motion in Montreal on Thursday, April 9, 2026.Christinne Muschi | The Canadian Press
Carney positioned a hand on his chest and applauded as he entered the locker room, telling gamers they wanted no introduction.
“It is an actual, actual honour,” he stated whereas shaking Suzuki’s hand. “It was a key second within the sport, the way in which you stood up, it was unbelievable.”
Suzuki answered that it was an actual pleasure to satisfy him.
“Is that each one you bought?” Carney joked.
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis, in the meantime, stated he mentioned “management” with Carney once they briefly met after the sport.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, centre, poses from left to proper, with Montreal Canadiens’ Jake Evans, Nick Suzuki and his canine Ruby, Alex Newhook and Mike Matheson following their NHL sport towards the Tampa Bay Lightning in Montreal on Thursday, April 9, 2026.Christinne Muschi | The Canadian Press
Carney wore two completely different Canadiens hats, regardless of being a lifelong Edmonton Oilers fan. He grew up in Edmonton throughout the Wayne Gretzky period and was a third-string goaltender at Harvard College.
Final March, he joined Connor McDavid and the Oilers at follow and beforehand posted a photograph of himself sporting a “McJesus” T-shirt.
The Liberal conference in Montreal — and Carney’s go to to the sport — comes forward of three byelections on Monday, and a day after a fifth opposition MP crossed the ground to affix the Liberal caucus.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed April 9, 2026.