It was a career season for the Montreal Canadiens top line of Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, and Nick Suzuki. All three set career highs in points, with Slafkovsky and Caufield also hitting new personal bests in goals for a season. However, so far in these playoffs, the trio has struggled to produce offence at 5-on-5. They have nine points collectively so far through two games, but zero of those points have come on 5-on-5. While being productive on the power play is not a bad thing, hitting at 44.4 %, you cannot rely on penalty calls to win in the playoffs, especially when the referees become stricter with their calls as the series goes along.
Caufield and Suzuki were elite 5-on-5 in the regular season
The Canadiens have two goals this series while 5-on-5, both scored by Josh Anderson, who seems to be built for the playoffs. The top line has yet to generate much outside of the power play so far in the playoffs, which is shocking considering how well they were producing during the regular season on 5-on-5.
It starts with the 50-goal scorer, Cole Caufield. Caufield led the NHL this season with 33 goals while 5-on-5, but so far this series, he has yet to find the back of the net. Caufield’s 49 points while 5-on-5 this season led the Canadiens, just showing how effective he can be in all situations of the game that do not involve an empty net. The Canadiens are going to need Caufield to rediscover his regular-season scoring touch if they are going to have any chance of moving on past round one.
Suzuki was also one of the better even-strength players in the NHL this season. The 101 point man finished 6th in NHL scoring this season, and while he was able to produce in all sorts of situations, his 45 5-on-5 points were third on the team behind Caufield and Lane Hutson (46). 24 of Suzuki’s 45 points were primary assists, which was 7th best in the NHL, showcasing that he is still an elite creator even when he is not on the man advantage. Suzuki and Caufield are the Canadiens' dynamic duo, and their track record shows that they are two of the best 5-on-5 players in the NHL, and the team will need them to be when the puck drops in game three.
St. Louis believes they will figure it out
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis understands that his first line needs to be better 5-on-5, but does not seem concerned about their lack of production. “I think that line understands they have to create more space for one another and that it is not just on one player; it is collective. It is a group that has usually repaired itself pretty quickly throughout the season, so I expect them to be better five-on-five,” said St. Louis in his pre-game interview.
Despite the lack of offence 5-on-5, the Canadiens were able to split the games in Tampa Bay, and are now heading home to the Bell Centre for games three and four. The home crowd at the Bell Centre will be as electric as ever, and the hope is that it is exactly the motivation the first line needs to get back on track. If not, the Canadiens could be in real trouble moving forward.