”Like the remainder of our group, he is bought to get on the within. That is it,” St. Louis mentioned of his struggling winger. ”With or with out the puck.”
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Once you’re a scorer like Cole Caufield and also you’re mired in a hunch, the facility of optimistic considering is paramount.
“Simply suppose the subsequent one’s going to go in,” the Canadiens ahead mentioned after Tuesday’s observe on the CN Sports activities Complicated in Brossard. “That’s form of the one means you may take a look at it. The extra possibilities I get, hopefully it goes in.”
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Caufield can solely hope his scoring drought ends Wednesday evening, when the Canadiens host the Pittsburgh Penguins within the second of a three-game pre-Christmas homestand.
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The 5-foot-8, 175-pounder began the season nicely, scoring objectives in Montreal’s opening two video games. After seven matches, he had bumped his whole to 4 objectives. However there have been lots of zeros on his stats sheets since then.
Caufield has gone six video games with out beating a goaltender. Since scoring in opposition to Columbus on Oct. 26, he has three objectives in 21 video games.
With seven objectives and 20 factors by means of 28 video games, Caufield is barely on tempo to surpass 20 objectives this season. On a staff that’s offensively challenged, mixed with the eight-year, US$62.8-million contract he signed in early June — making him the staff’s second-highest energetic participant, behind captain Nick Suzuki — extra is anticipated.
With 105 pictures, together with 9 in opposition to Buffalo final Saturday, Caufield by far is the staff chief. Ultimately, one in all them ought to go in. Very like Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, Caufield is a right-handed shot and likes to place himself on the left aspect of the ice. He has a fast launch and lots of of his pictures are fired excessive and to the quick aspect. Maybe goalies have began figuring that out?
Highway to the Cup
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Head coach Martin St. Louis got here to Caufield’s defence final week, saying the 22-year-old hasn’t forgotten learn how to rating and his whole may simply be doubled with some good luck. St. Louis added that he’s extra involved with Caufield’s progress as a participant.
However after Tuesday’s observe, St. Louis modified his message barely, suggesting Caufield should work to get inside extra typically to the powerful areas the place objectives are scored. He’s not alone in that regard. A lot of Tuesday’s observe was dedicated to that idea.
“Like the remainder of our group, he’s bought to get on the within. That’s it,” St. Louis mentioned. “To me, you’ve bought to seek out methods to get on the within, with or with out the puck.”
Caufield blossomed within the NHL after St. Louis changed Dominique Ducharme as Montreal’s head coach. Heading into this season, the Wisconsin native had 48 objectives in 83 video games for the reason that change. That included 26 in 46 video games in 2022-23 earlier than struggling a season-ending shoulder damage that required surgical procedure.
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“You’re going to have ups and downs all through the season,” Caufield mentioned. “You’ve bought to seek out methods to get out of it, discover methods to create extra (offence). By means of struggles you’ll find solutions. We’re simply looking for these proper now.”
Caufield has spent a lot of the season with Suzuki at centre. Recently, the duo has been joined by former first general draft alternative Juraj Slafkovsky.
“Personally, I may get on the within extra, stunning the opposite staff while you are available,” Caufield acknowledged. “You’ll be able to at all times be across the internet extra. You’re flying by, getting rebounds and free pucks that means, too. It’s all about timing and getting extra on the within. I’m simply looking for other ways to make myself be open and get extra possibilities.”
Caufield clearly isn’t taking issues frivolously. He hung out on the ice after observe engaged on his taking pictures, one thing he does recurrently.
“It’s one thing I do all through the season, simply to remain sharp,” he defined. “Get extra touches and reps in.”
The Canadiens (12-13-3) ought to be nicely rested and might be going through a Penguins staff that hosted Arizona Tuesday evening. Pittsburgh (11-12-3) was on a four-game shedding streak heading into the sport, with solely three wins in 11 contests. Sidney Crosby, at age 36, continues to supply, with 15 objectives and 27 factors by means of 26 video games.
In different information, the Canadiens introduced injured defenceman Jordan Harris continues his rehabilitation course of and skated on Tuesday, following observe. He’s anticipated to return in 10-14 days.
Whereas St. Louis didn’t determine which goaltender would face the Penguins, it figures to be Samuel Montembeault, who hasn’t performed since final Thursday in opposition to Los Angeles.
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