Winger has 12 goals in Montreal’s first 16 games and is tied for the league lead. But, he admits, “It’s November. There’s not much to it.”
No Canadiens player has ever won the Rocket Richard trophy, awarded annually since 1998 to the NHL’s top goal-scorer.
“It’s November. There’s not much to it,” Caufield said after Wednesday morning’s practice at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. “I want to be better away from pucks still and find that side of my game a little bit more. But it feels pretty good right now for sure.”
Having taken only 41 shots, Caufield is scoring on an incredible 29.3 of his chances. Now in his fourth full season with Montreal, Caufield seems certain — provided he remains healthy — to obliterate his career-high of 28 goals achieved last season.
“I don’t think I’m shooting enough, to be honest with you,” he said. “I feel like puck luck can be one thing, but those are things we go through. You could have a lot of shots and no goals. I’m not going to complain about anything. I just want to be better away from the puck and hopefully create more chances to find more goals.”
“I don’t know if (Caufield’s) capable of playing with anybody, but for me, it was more about splitting (Suzuki) and Cole,” St. Louis said on Wednesday. “I just felt they needed time away from each other. I lived it as a player. I had centres that I had great chemistry with and produced with. Now and then you get a little stale and (need) a little time apart. When you get back together it takes off again.”
Caufield quipped he’s simply seeking his 13th goal this season against the Wild and nothing else matters.
“At the end of the day I just want my game to feel good,” he said. “I want to create chances. I’m not unhappy about where I’m at. I just want to create more because I’m never really satisfied. Every game you learn more from experience. Sometimes when you’re playing too much offence you forget about the defensive side. I’m just trying to balance that out a little bit more.
“I feel pretty good, but always want to be better. Jake’s pretty easy to play with and (Newhook) has a lot of speed. That creates a lot of offence. I like playing with those two. I thought we created a lot of chances.”
Suzuki said he’s not surprised by anything he witnesses from Caufield any longer.
“He always finds the right areas,” Suzuki said. “We’re looking for him in dangerous positions, and he always seems to be there. He’s doing a great job of putting the puck in the net. He’s having fun doing it and working hard. He’s setting a good example.”
Suzuki had two goals and four points against the Sabres and undoubtedly is feeling better about his game, having gone the previous four matches without a point while admitting he could provide more to the team. He nonetheless leads the team with six goals and 17 points. Only Caufield and Brendan Gallagher (seven goals) have scored more.
“Sometimes you play well and don’t get away with anything,” Suzuki said on Wednesday. “It was a productive night. We were happy with the win. Overall the win makes everyone feel a lot better going into the next game.”
Samuel Montembeault will start in net against Minnesota. Although the Wild is coming off a 2-1 overtime loss at Chicago on Sunday, the team sits second in the Central Division (10-2-3) and has allowed only 39 goals in 15 games.