With Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, the Canadian relies on two key pieces to build a very good numerical advantage. Whitewashed on six occasions against the San Jose Sharks, the CH has still not found the magic recipe to boost this important facet of the game.
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Before flying to Calgary, Alberta, the Habs were 31st in the NHL at 14.9%. Only the Philadelphia Flyers, of John Tortorella, have a worse performance at 13.9%.
Martin St-Louis invited his players for a meeting about the power play before opening the locker room doors to journalists.
“There were a lot of things to sort out,” Caufield said. We have to do good readings, find openings on the ice and take what the other team gives us. We also look at the tendencies of other shorthanded teams, but we know that they will focus on us.
There is no doubt that Caufield is part of the opposing coaches’ plans. We don’t want to see him unleash his powerful slapshot on reception.
“It’s hard to find ways to break free every time, mentioned number 22. Sometimes there are plays that we have to execute better. We also need better readings to allow me to free myself. But if they watch me well, there is another player who will be open.
No major changes
At five against five, just like in the first wave on the power play, Kirby Dach aims to complement the duo of Suzuki and Caufield.
According to Dach, the Habs have the necessary tools to bounce back on the power play.
“I don’t think we need drastic changes,” the former Blackhawks man said. We have the right players in the squad and our coaches are coming up with good plans. Even when we’re not scoring, we often spend the two minutes controlling the puck and creating chances. But the puck does not fit in the net. We will correct small elements and we will see improvements.”
The future
St-Louis always has its own way of analyzing its sport. He again offered an explanation of his own of the challenges ahead to resuscitate the numerical advantage.
“You have to be on the same wavelength. We need to understand our concepts and think in the future with the concepts, not just in the present. I found that against the Sharks we stayed too much in the present. We did not break the disadvantage. There are discussions. We have a young squad for our power play. We must continue to discuss and collaborate to find ways to improve.”
Stability and experience are also two key factors for success at five-on-four.
“We had success in the first few weeks, but we lost players,” noted St-Louis. Drouin was injured, as was Hoffman. Now we use Mike Matheson at the forefront. When you bet on new coins, it’s like starting over. The five pieces are so important. It takes time to freeze. The best teams in the NHL have relied on the same elements for a long time.
“Dach is in the middle of the enclave, he has never played this role, continued the head coach. Cole has been in the NHL for just over a year. Monahan didn’t play in net until this season, and Matheson probably never acted as the power-play quarterback in the first wave. I’m not looking for excuses, but these are facts. Yes, we want to achieve good results. But we want to build things for long-term success.”