Nicolas Cloutier just posted Canadiens lines with Nick Suzuki back between Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky.
Montreal's captain has played only 9 of the team's 14 games this season, but he's made them count with 12 points. His absence was the story all of last week, and Nick Suzuki's injury update from Eric Angels had already hinted at an encouraging turn.
| 1st line | Caufield | Suzuki | Slafkovsky | |||
| 2nd line | Kreider | Evans | Anderson | |||
| 3rd line | Texier | Danault | Bolduc | |||
| 4th line | F. Xhekaj | Kapanen | Newhook | |||
Caufield leads the group with 8 goals in 14 games, so putting a playmaking center back next to him is the obvious move. Jake Evans centers Chris Kreider and Josh Anderson, and Phillip Danault anchors a third line with Alexandre Texier and Zachary Bolduc.
Cloutier's post lists the Canadiens' lines with Suzuki in the middle of the top trio.
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Here's where it gets murky. Suzuki is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury, and according to the latest injury report he's expected to be out until at least Nov 18. That date is an estimate, and it doesn't match what Cloutier just posted.
| Date | Opp. | Result | G | A | P |
| Oct 31 | vs PIT | W 5-4 | Out | - | - |
| Oct 29 | at DAL | W 5-2 | Out | - | - |
| Oct 27 | at STL | W 2-0 | Out | - | - |
| Oct 25 | at WPG | W 2-1 | Out | - | - |
| Oct 23 | at CHI | W 4-1 | Out | - | - |
| Oct 20 | vs SJ | L 3-4 OT | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Oct 17 | vs BUF | W 4-3 OT | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Oct 14 | at WAS | L 4-5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Oct 13 | vs BUF | W 4-3 SO | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Oct 10 | vs DET | W 1-0 SO | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 8 | vs NSH | L 2-5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Oct 6 | vs CAR | L 4-6 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Oct 3 | at PIT | L 5-6 OT | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Sep 29 | at TOR | W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The Canadiens aren't scrambling, and that matters. They sit at 9-3-2 and have won 5 straight, which has them second in the Atlantic Division.
Suzuki's early production also came in every situation. He has 1 power-play goal and 1 power-play assist, and he's a +6 on the season, so the Canadiens are a better team with him in the lineup.
Canadiens can afford patience with Suzuki
A five-game winning streak is the best argument for not forcing anything. If the report still says Nov 18 and the medical staff hasn't cleared him, putting the captain back on the ice early would be a bad bet for a team that's winning without needing a hero.
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | DIFF | |
| 1. Boston Bruins | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 21 | +19 |
| 2. Montreal Canadiens | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 20 | +6 |
| 3. Ottawa Senators | 16 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 19 | +1 |
| 4. Tampa Bay Lightning | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 18 | +5 |
| 5. Florida Panthers | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 18 | +5 |
| 6. Toronto Maple Leafs | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 18 | +7 |
| 7. Buffalo Sabres | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 17 | -6 |
| 8. Detroit Red Wings | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 15 | -2 |
Martin St-Louis has depth up front and a team that's 8-1-1 over its last 10. Nothing about the standings demands a rush.
The Canadiens host the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, Nov 3, and the lineup that shows up for puck drop will say whether Suzuki's name on that list was a plan or just a possibility.
Should the Canadiens keep Nick Suzuki out until the Nov 18 estimate even while they're winning?
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