Hidden Game: Cole Caufield still seeking 50th goal as Canadiens’ eight-game winning streak ends
With five games remaining in the schedule, we’re not crazy enough to suggest Cole Caufield won’t score again.
But after he was shut out for a second consecutive game on Sunday, and remained stuck on 49 goals, we’re reflecting on — and old enough to remember — the illustrious Frank Mahovlich.
The Big M came close to but never produced a 50-goal season. Mahovlich, a left-winger, scored 48 goals for Toronto in 1960-61. He had 47 with six games remaining, only to score once. After being traded to Detroit, Mahovlich scored 49 goals during the 1968-69 season. While he tallied seven goals over the Red Wings’ final seven games, and scored once at Chicago in Detroit’s final contest, the magical 50th goal eluded him. He ended his NHL career with the Canadiens.
Surely history won’t be repeated in Caufield’s case.
All Caufield, all the time: Caufield had three shots in the Canadiens’ 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils Sunday night at the Bell Centre, which ended the team’s eight-game winning streak. He played 20:57 and had a goal differential of minus-1. His best scoring opportunities came within seconds of each other in the third period while Montreal was on the power play. Both shots went wide. His five-game point streak came to an end, during which he scored five goals and four assists. Caufield recorded points in 11 of his last 12 games and scored 28 times over a 28-game span.
Our random thought of the night: If Caufield had scored his 50th against New Jersey and the Canadiens lost, would the effort pale in comparison? Would it matter? Please discuss among yourselves.
News you need (Part I): Goal scorers go on streaks, oscillating between hot and cold. Going two games without scoring isn’t that unusual. Indeed, Caufield went six games without a goal between Dec. 13 and 21. He had a four-game drought in January and went three games without finding the back of the net in October. Six other times, he kept the “slump” to only two games. Seven if he scores Tuesday night against Florida.
News you need (Part II): This marked the fourth time this season the Canadiens have been shut out — including three times on home ice.
Eight is enough: The Canadiens failed to win a ninth consecutive game for the ninth time in franchise history. The last occurred during the 1991-92 season.
The hidden game: We’re not sure why teams frequently struggle when they return home following an extended road trip. But after winning five straight on the road over a nine-day period, the Canadiens were held to four shots in each of the opening two periods. Montreal “exploded” for 10 shots over the final 20 minutes.
Our two cents: The Canadiens have spent far too much time over the last two games attempting to feed Caufield. Even head coach Martin St. Louis agreed too much attention was paid to getting the puck to Caufield on Sunday.
Strange, but true: The Devils, with 40 wins, will likely miss the playoffs. The Canadiens, with 45 victories, clinched a post-season berth with Detroit’s loss earlier Sunday. The margin is that thin.
News you need (Part III): New Jersey’s record is 34-9-2 when they score three or more goals.
News you need (Part IV): While the Canadiens and Buffalo are tied in the Atlantic Division standings with 100 points, the Sabres are second based on 46 wins in 77 games. Montreal has 45 wins in 77 games. This was the Canadiens’ game-in-hand on Buffalo. Tampa Bay (102 points in 76 games) leads the division.
No ordinary Joe: Joe Veleno has scored only twice in 58 games this season. He has been a healthy scratch 19 times. But he has now played in seven straight and had a strong first period. Veleno had two of Montreal’s four shots, along with three hits.
Game of inches: Simon Nemec hit the post in the first period. Phillip Danault bounced a shot off the crossbar in the same period.
News you need (Part V): Mike Matheson broke his stick on a shot early in the second period. This has now occurred … give or take … never mind. We’ve lost count. Let’s just say he has cost majority owner Geoff Molson a lot of dough.
The definition of insanity: When the Devils and Canadiens met Saturday night in New Jersey, Montreal allowed a shorthanded goal following a second two-on-one break. The visitors had a similar two-on-one attempt while shorthanded on Sunday, but stopped Dawson Mercer.
How not to play defence: Cody Glass scored the Devils’ second goal, late in the second period, while splitting the tandem of Matheson and Noah Dobson.
Hit of the night: Luke Hughes did a face-plant into the glass early in the third period, following a solid check from Zachary Bolduc.
He got the last laugh: Remember when Bolduc thought he had scored against the New York Islanders on March 21, late in a 7-3 Canadiens win — only to have head coach Patrick Roy correctly challenge the play for offside? Roy was fired on Sunday.
He gets the last laugh: Roy has two years remaining on his contract.
Next time, decline the penalty: The Canadiens went 0-for-4 on the power play.
Quick stats: Veleno had six hits and two shots. Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble both had four hits. Bolduc had three hits. Lane Hutson blocked three shots while playing 24:41. Dobson logged 23:39. Fowler’s save percentage was .895. The Canadiens won only 44.2 per cent of their faceoffs, but outhit New Jersey 27-20.
They said it: “It was one of those games where pucks were bouncing the wrong way for us,” Nick Suzuki said. “Missed execution on scoring chances. It was one of those games.
“(Caufield) is finding good spots,” Suzuki added. “We always try to look for him. He’s a great goal scorer. He had a lot of chances tonight. It just didn’t go in. I don’t think anyone’s trying to force anything to happen. We just have to continue to play and it’ll happen for him.”
“It was kind of weird clinching a (playoff) spot before the game — and then losing the game,” Kaiden Guhle said. “We still have five games to play. We’re playing for home ice (advantage). These five games are really important for us. It was just an off night. It was hard to generate some things offensively.”
“You don’t score 49 as a mistake,” Josh Anderson said. “He has been a goal scorer his whole career. I think it just takes one shot to go in. It’s bound to go in, especially when you have that many goals. By no means do we want to take our foot off the gas. We still have something to prove. Every game is important. We’re trying to win as many games as we can.
“I’m still trying to figure out why we were flat tonight,” he added.
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