Canadiens’ Cole Caufield talks about how the power play can help 5-on-5 play

The Montreal Canadiens have gotten solid production from star winger Cole Caufield this season, as the American has racked up 29 points in 26 games as the Canadiens have had a mercurial start to the season.

Caufield’s presence is felt heavily on the power play, where he’s produced one of his goals and 10 of his points this year with the man advantage, where the Canadiens rank fourth in the NHL with a conversion rate of 26.4 percent.

For Caufield, that success is integral to playing well on the whole, and he shared his reasoning for why in a recent interview with Cabbie on Off The Roster, a show from The Nation Network.

Cabbie: “There was a moment on The Rebuild, season two, episode six, and you have this quote. I’m gonna show it to you. So for context, you’re playing Washington. First round. You guys go on the power play. It’s the quote that I wanted you to focus on.”

(Pre-recorded) Cole Caufield: “I think anytime you can get the power play going, it helps the 5-on-5 game.”

Cabbie: “So you say, anytime you get the power play going, it helps the 5-on-5 game. Unpack that for me.”

Cole Caufield: “I think I kind of started to figure that when Marty (St. Louis) (came to Montreal). Skilled players want the puck, they want their touches, they feel good with the puck. Usually you’re feeling a little bit more in the power play and that kind of opens things up for the 5-on-5. It gets your confidence going and it’s all about just feeling good and getting those things out of the way. It’s a good way to get in the game. Also, when you can get your touches, get a good feel, get everybody involved, I think it makes for a better 5-on-5 game.”

Listen to the full episode from The Nation Network’s Off The Roster: