Cole Caufield has gone three video games with out scoring.
At some other time of the season, it wouldn’t be thought of an enormous deal. But as a result of the Canadiens’ prime sniper stays perched on 49 targets, Caufield has turn into one of many central tales of the day.
And he’ll stay there till he scores the magical fiftieth and turns into the primary Canadiens participant since Stéphane Richer in 1990 to succeed in that determine.
Caufield has 4 video games remaining, starting with Thursday’s Bell Centre contest towards the (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM).
“It hasn’t crossed the line yet. He’s had about 50 chances,” veteran ahead Josh Anderson mentioned on Wednesday after follow in Brossard. “I don’t suppose anyone’s anxious that he’s by no means going to attain once more. It’s most likely going to return the following sport, truthfully. To have 10 shot makes an attempt a sport, you’re sure to get one. He has form of been robbed recently.
“I’m sure it’s not going to take too long. It’s probably going to happen next game.”
Caufield actually hasn’t misplaced his scoring contact. That was on show within the , when he beat Florida goaltender Daniil Tarasov with a forehand between his legs. Caufield had two pictures towards the Panthers, three different makes an attempt that had been blocked and one missed shot.
Caufield wasn’t made out there to the media on Wednesday and certain received’t be till he scores his subsequent objective — assuming it comes.
“I’ve told him this and he knows this — he’s the best goal-scorer in this locker room,” mentioned Brendan Gallagher, who was a wholesome scratch towards Florida for the second time this season. “He’s going to attain targets. He has all the time scored targets. There’s no level forcing it.
“I thought he did a great job last game. He makes a play to (Ivan Demidov) on a big goal. He’s not forcing shots. He lets it come to him. He scores goals better than anyone in this room. We have total confidence it’s going to happen. There’s obviously a little bit of anticipation for it. He obviously wants it (too). He’s just got to keep doing the same thing.”
Caufield scored 5 targets in 4 video games to succeed in 49 heading into final Saturday’s contest at New Jersey. And whereas Caufield produced two assists in Montreal’s 4-3 shootout victory that night time — scoring once more within the opening-round of the shootout — he didn’t rating in regulation regardless of his team-leading 5 pictures. When the Canadiens had been shut out by the Devils within the rematch 24 hours later, Caufield had one other three pictures and 4 misses.
Caufield’s quest apart, the Canadiens have struggled of their final two video games to rediscover the depth they displayed throughout their season-long eight-game successful streak — 5 of which got here on the street.
While Montreal clinched a playoff berth Sunday afternoon by advantage of Detroit’s loss to Minnesota, the group nonetheless has loads to play for because it makes an attempt to safe home-ice benefit within the opening spherical.
Tampa Bay, Buffalo and the Canadiens — in that order, based mostly on regulation wins — are tied atop the Atlantic Division standings with 102 factors heading into Wednesday’s video games. Playing the Lightning, which is a possible first-round opponent, ought to function inspiration for the Canadiens.
“I don’t know what it is, and I don’t have an answer for you,” Anderson mentioned. “When you come again dwelling, you’d suppose you’d have a whole lot of power — particularly the place that we’re in, attempting to combat for dwelling ice. (Thursday) must be totally different towards Tampa, a possible group we could possibly be enjoying within the first spherical. We’ve obtained to get into it early and never wait till the third interval and be down one or two.
“I think it’s going to be good for us to play a team like Tampa that has a lot of firepower and plays physical, too. To get into it early, at the beginning, is going to be key for us.”
While Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis mentioned Tuesday night time his group has been “flat” for 2 video games, he doesn’t consider clinching a playoff berth had any impact.
“Of course, I would have liked to win (Sunday), but I think we’ve earned it any which way,” St. Louis mentioned on Wednesday. “In five years, nobody’s going to remember when we clinched. We put ourselves in a really good spot.”
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
