Montreal Canadiens top line combo excelled early on.
The Montreal Canadiens should be extremely happy with how well Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki have performed to kick off the 2022-23 season. The Habs have tested out some combinations but keeping Caufield and Suzuki together early has proven to be extremely beneficial.
Montreal Canadiens head coach, Martin St. Louis, is still working some different line combos and mixing up things, but it feels like that top line of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Josh Anderson gets it done. It’s a trio of forwards who all match up and play well with one another.
If there’s one thing that stood out from the early season with the line combinations, it’s those two. Caufield has jumped right into the 2022-23 season and has been able to find some real offense, being aggressive, finding the back of the net, and creating scoring chances.
With Suzuki on the line, the two are able to work give-and-go passes and help each other create open space to get the job done. Plenty to like about how these two have performed to this point. The Habs have been off to a good start in 2022-23, getting solid performances out of their forwards is only helping, or hurting.
While it’s nice to celebrate the good start and the solid performances from the younger core of this team, the “Tank for Connor Bedard” fan club has to be frustrated. But, focusing on the positive, the Habs wanted to foster a culture that is good for development and it’s looking like that has been working so far.
What have Montreal Canadiens youngsters Caufield and Suzuki done well?
After already hinting at Caufield, so let’s recap. He has benefitted from working with Martin St. Louis. He uses his speed and agility to create open space and get himself into a better position to shoot or get himself in a better position to receive a pass or whatnot.
So far, the bulked-up version of himself that he hinted at this offseason has been showing. Caufield has scored three goals and added an assist for four points through the Habs’ first four contests of the season.
He’s paired well on the wing with Suzuki up the middle. Suzuki has adjusted to his first season holding the Canadiens captaincy quite well. He keeps finding ways to get himself involved in the offense and has emerged with points to show for it.
Suzuki has scored two goals and added three assists for five points over the Habs’ first four contests. The Habs leader is coming off of the 82-game season where he scored 21 goals and added 40 assists for 61 total points.
It’s been good to see Suzuki succeed on both ends of the ice. He has helped Caufield and whoever the other winger be, whether Josh Anderson or Sean Monahan, get the job done. The Caufield-Suzuki connection has shined in the transition game being able to create open ice to set up scoring chances.
Keep an eye on this top line as the season continues to see if they can continue to perform as well as they have been.