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Expected goals per 60 minutes: CH’s 1st trio is the best in the NHL since the start of the playoffs
Marc-Olivier Cook
Expected goals per 60 minutes: CH’s 1st trio is the best in the NHL since the start of the playoffs
Credit: Getty Images

We’ve been saying it all season long, and last night was another fine example.

When the Habs’ first trio is in form, it really shows in the team’s results.

And in Game 3 of the series against the Capitals… the first trio wasn’t good: it was excellent.

Cole Caufield threaded the needle and added an assist, Nick Suzuki hit the target (and celebrated again with great emotion) and Slaf was able to score too.

But what’s impressive is that the three of them ended their night’s work with a total of 19 shots on goal (!!)… 11 of which belonged to Caufield.

CH #13 was everywhere on the ice last night. Perhaps the presence of Johnny Gaudreau’s father helped!

The first unit has been doing its job since the start of the playoffs, and it shows in the advanced statistics.

Because in terms of expected goals per 60 minutes… the trio of Caufield, Suzuki and Slaf ranks 1st in the entire NHL since the start of the playoffs.

The three musketeers have been really effective offensively since the start of the season:

All three players in the first trio are performing well, but some of that success belongs to Juraj Slafkovsky.

Without making too much noise, Slaf is really starting to understand his role within the unit.

He gets the puck out of the back and is able to create space for Caufield and Suzuki.

I agree: I’d like to see the Slovak be a little more physical. I’d like to see him be mean and hungry every night, which isn’t always necessarily the case.

But right now, he deserves credit.

We knew he had what it takes to be a good playoff player… and we saw it in Game 3 against the Caps.

It’s a cliché, you may say, but good teams are able to get good results when they can count on the performance of their best players.

That’s the case with the CH right now after three games: Suzuki (two points), Slaf (one point), Caufield (three points) and Lane Hutson (three points) have been really good since the start of the playoffs.

But to beat the Capitals, it’s going to take contributions from the other trios as well – like last night – because the first unit can’t do everything on its own every night.


In bursts

– It’s crazy too.

– Love the mentality.

– Boom.

– Enjoy the game!

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