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One point from the series: Kent Hughes had several messages conveyed by his players
Charles-Alexis Brisebois
One point from the series: Kent Hughes had several messages conveyed by his players
Credit: Getty Images
Last night, the Canadian team managed to find a way to win against the Sabres with a score of 4-3. It wasn’t easy (those who turned off their TV after 20 minutes are probably surprised to read this), but it got done.

And for the first time since Martin St-Louis’ first month at the helm of the Canadian team, the group found a way to string together five straight wins. And this, despite the Sabres’ 16 extra shots (36 against 20) last night.

Clearly, given the playoff race, the moment is all the more important. After all, this morning, the CH players woke up knowing they are one point away from the playoffs.

(Credit: Sportsnet)
Yes, the club will be inactive tonight and tomorrow night, which means that talking about being “one point away from the playoffs” may no longer be true in 24 or 48 hours. Yes, there are several teams to overtake in the standings. Yes, the club has holes in its lineup.

But clearly, the way they’ve been playing hockey for the past five games is a message in itself to Kent Hughes: we don’t want the club to sell players like Jake Evans and Joel Armia. The club hasn’t lost since the Super Bowl, in fact.

And the other messages to the GM were even… clearer.

After the game, in the locker room, many players didn’t hesitate to speak up and say publicly that they didn’t want to see Kent Hughes liquidate elements before March 7th.

Brendan Gallagher said he wants to make his GM’s job difficult ahead of the deadline. Cole Caufield said the group has put themselves in a position to play meaningful hockey.

Nick Suzuki said his group wants to be in the playoffs and wants to give the fans some good hockey. In short, these comments are coming from all over.

The question we need to ask ourselves at this point is what Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton think of all this. Does the group think it’s better not to sell rental players – and even add a guy right now? Is Jake Evans gone if he doesn’t sign a contract?

The answer in… three days.

But anyway. We still have to talk a bit about yesterday’s game, in which the Canadian team found a way to beat (again) the Sabres in a game that was a real brawl.

It looked like it was a divisional duel.

But no, Gary: keep the calendar the same instead of adding more divisional games. I’m so looking forward to games against the Wild and the Salt Lake City team, you know…

What do I take away from the game, then?

1. Nick Suzuki had four points, bringing his total to 65 in 61 games. That’s no less than 13 points in the last five games, since the break. He’s motivated by the playoff race, he’s well-rested after the time off, or he wants to show that he deserves to be with Team Canada?

Or all three?

Yesterday, his points were earned on the power play (two assists), shorthanded (one goal), and in overtime (one assist), so at 3-on-3. Long live special teams, last night.

He’s on track to hit the 1-point-per-game mark in a season, which would be a first since Alex Kovalev in Montreal. And for the first time in the NHL, he could finish a season with a positive differential.

He’s currently at +6.

Also, Suzuki is tied with Sidney Crosby for 17th place in the NHL for top scorers. Both players have 19 goals and 65 points in 61 games this season.

2. Martin St-Louis was probably not the most satisfied with the way the team played from the second period on, but he liked the fact that his team is fighting in the playoff race.

He must be eager for his group to make the playoffs one day.

3. Arber Xhekaj has a presence on the ice. Jordan Greenway looked like a scaredy-cat (to put it politely) on the ice in the first period, hiding from the Sheriff.

WiFi didn’t get any points last night, but he contributed to the 3-0 lead that the CH took early in the game.

4. Yesterday, the best players were the best. In addition to Nick Suzuki’s four points, Cole Caufield (one goal), Juraj Slafkovsky (one goal and one assist), Mike Matheson (one goal and one assist), and Lane Hutson (two assists) got on the scoresheet.

No one else got any points. This was a win signed by the team’s best players.

Cole Caufield reached a career high with his 30th goal of the season, a first for him. Mike Matheson played for over 28 minutes. Lane Hutson reached the 50-point mark in his career – in his 63rd NHL game.

He became the fastest defenseman in Habs history to reach that mark. Just that.

5. At even strength, Patrik Laine was the player least used by the Canadian team. He got 13:03 in total, but 5:31 of those minutes came from the power play.

When he’s not scoring, he’s not the most useful player, is he?

6. Owen Beck didn’t always have it easy last night. But under the circumstances, he’s not doing a bad job for a rookie who’s being put on the team’s top 6 in the playoffs.

Along with Alex Newhook (eight points in ten games since the start of February), he’s making a name for himself.

7. I don’t know how much the last five games have changed things in Kent Hughes’ head, but it’s possible that Jake Evans played his last game at the Bell Centre in a Canadiens uniform. Same thing for Joel Armia.

If it ends like that, Evans will have had a great moment on the ice for the winning goal.


overtime

Today, the Canadian team will hold an optional practice. Prediction: Josh Anderson, who is injured and still playing, will not be on the ice.

Tomorrow, the team will head to Alberta for their Western road trip. First stop? Edmonton for Thursday’s game (at 9 PM ET for Quebecers).

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