(Detroit) Sometimes there are couples who have to separate, and the outcome is never easy, rarely happy.
Whether we think of Hall & Oates, Lennon and McCartney, or even Ding and Dong: each time, it is the pain that followed these breakups.
But in the case of Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, separated on this chilly Thursday evening in Detroit, the outcome was however happier, victorious too, since the Canadian took the measure of the Red Wings, by the mark of 3-2 in extension.
This is not the first time that these two have been separated, and in the past, it was Quebec as a whole that reacted badly to this news; As I recall, strikes had been called across the four corners of the province, and schools had been closed.
PHOTO RICK OSENTOSKI, USA TODAY SPORTS
But not this time. In any case, Suzuki himself believes that we should not be afraid of this.
You shouldn’t make a big deal out of it. We had to change things, we weren’t producing five against five, and we had to present something different to the opponent.
Nick Suzuki
It was different indeed. Suzuki skated with Alex Newhook and Josh Anderson on the first line, while Caufield found himself with Christian Dvorak and Juraj Slafkovsky. Suzuki scored the second goal, and Caufield scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
Sounds like a happy separation.
“I’m not surprised Cole scored,” added the captain. He couldn’t wait to score, and he’s huge in those situations… I liked our game as a team; I didn’t like the last ones…”
You had to be there, at the end of the evening, in person in this locker room, to see what is impossible to see from a distance: that despite the ups and downs (especially the downs before this Thursday evening), this club remains a long-term work, it remains to be built, and changes of this type will be part of a certain reality during this season.
“When I played in Tampa, we had [Vincent] Lecavalier and [Brad] Richards, and sometimes, [l’entraîneur John] Tortorella separated them… that’s what we did this time, to see what it could do. Also, a little time away from each other, sometimes, is good. »
The separation (temporary, we presume) of the big Canadian duo still made it possible to see that there is a life outside of this duo, precisely, and that everything does not absolutely have to go through these two, together , all the time.
“It’s a long season and there will be changes,” noted Cole Caufield late in the evening. It’s normal. It was our four lines that worked this time, and I think that says a lot about our team. »
At the end of the evening, before returning to Montreal, an old hit by the Black Eyed Peas was playing at high volume in the locker room, and isn’t this a group that survived a breakup?
The Canadian will survive too, even if we suspect that one day, this will lead to a possible reunion.
Rising
Mike Matheson
After two very difficult games, here he is having a three-point evening, with a goal and two assists.
Falling
Josh Anderson
Will we see him on the first line for much longer? The question is valid…
The number
8
Number of consecutive defeats on Cayden Primeau’s record before his victory on Thursday evening.
In details
A second start for Primeau
PHOTO PAUL SANCYA, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cayden Primeau and Cole Caufield
Cayden Primeau finally had the chance to finally play another match this season, only his second. Well, yes, because his only start dates back to October 24, a 5-2 defeat suffered at the Bell Center against the New Jersey Devils. This time, Primeau faced 29 shots in the win and generally looked good. It was his first victory in the NHL since December 16, 2021. “It’s always good to win a game,” said the young goalie at the end of the evening. And to finally win a match this season is even better! It wasn’t easy having to wait for my turn, I’m not going to lie, but you have to do what you have to do to stay ready in this league. »
A better night for Matheson
Let’s face it, the previous two games had been difficult for Mike Matheson, among others on the ice for four Lightning goals Tuesday night at the Bell Centre. It was a lot better this time, and the defender finished the match with three points. “It’s more fun when you win!” the Quebec player quickly noted at the end of the evening. Everyone played a better match this time, we started the match well and we didn’t force things. »
Finally the first goal!
It had already been six games since the Canadian had scored the first goal of the match, and when Mike Matheson scored the first goal of the match, this bad streak finally ended. “It was a good start for us, and it was a big game too,” noted forward Sean Monahan. Cayden Primeau played very well, and we had to approach this match as a match that we absolutely had to win. »