The Canadian’s numerical advantage found itself under the microscope after a poor performance against the Minnesota Wild nine days ago. Since then, the Montreal club’s unit has scored four goals in 18 occasions.
She played a particularly key role on Thursday, generating two goals that allowed the Habs to erase a 3-1 deficit.
“Confidence is very important on the power play,” admitted Nick Suzuki after his team’s 4-3 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets. You want to have the confidence to attempt difficult plays to take advantage of your opportunities.
“There were some difficult moments, but we scored two big goals at opportune times and that kept us in the game,” he added.
The Canadian’s execution on the power play was not always elegant against the Blue Jackets and the crowd sometimes started to get impatient when the team was unable to settle into the opposing zone.
Suzuki recalled that the first unit was still relatively inexperienced together. Mike Matheson missed a good portion of the first half of the season last winter, then Cole Caufield’s campaign ended in mid-January.
“I think “Mat” and I are not always on the same wavelength,” Suzuki admitted. We miss running a lot of plays. When we gain confidence and better anticipate each other’s ideas, we will be better. But tonight was a step in the right direction. »
Matheson also admitted that cohesion between players was important for execution on the power play. He also reiterated that things may have taken on a disproportionate importance last week, after the game against the Wild.
“We were frustrated because we wanted to improve,” said the Montreal defender. You can always do a little more, but yeah, it’s good to have scored a few goals tonight. »
Head coach Martin St-Louis especially praised the importance of the moments in which the Habs’ special teams shined against the Blue Jackets. In addition to the two key power play goals, the Canadian spent 65 seconds on the penalty kill to start overtime.
“Sometimes the important thing is to kill the right penalty or score at the right time,” St-Louis said. Tonight was like that.
“We put a lot of emphasis on that. Tonight, the results in the important moments won us the match. »
So there is a little light at the end of the tunnel for the Canadian on special teams.