Rafaël Harvey-Pinard Joins Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield on CH’s First Line: Preseason Test for Chemistry

2023-10-07 15:23:24

Since the start of training camp, Martin St-Louis has been experimenting to try to find the player who will complete his first line. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield will be there, but the question is who will be the third wheel.

Sean Monahan, Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach, Josh Anderson and so on, there are options.

And this evening, as part of CH’s last preparatory match, another player will have the right to his hearing on the first trio: Rafaël Harvey-Pinard will be paired with the team’s two young attackers.

The Quebecer will therefore have the chance to demonstrate that he deserves to be paired with the club’s best attackers.

Rafaël Harvey-Pinard confirms that he will play alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield this evening, for the last preparatory game, against the Senators@RDSca

— Patrick Friolet (@PFrioletRDS) October 7, 2023

We will remember that last year, RHP had some very good moments alongside Nick Suzuki at the end of the season. Caufield, injured, was not there, but the duo between Harvey-Pinard and Suzuki really showed good things.

With one last preseason game to go, therefore, Martin St-Louis probably wants to see if he can recreate that same chemistry with Caufield alongside them.

The problem, however, is that RHP don’t bring a huge frame alongside two guys who aren’t exactly colossi. I would like to believe that the guys are able to play despite everything, but they could be brew a strand.

On the other hand, I like to see that Martin St-Louis uses preparatory matches to carry out tests. I still think it’s Sean Monahan who will be on the first line on Wednesday for the first game of the season, but we’re giving Harvey-Pinard a great opportunity in the meantime.

He doesn’t know the biggest side, but this is his opportunity to earn points tonight. And since he does not have to go through waivers, a disappointing performance could force the CH to send him back to Laval.

In short, we will see what the young Quebecer will be able to accomplish this evening, but he gets a great opportunity to show off. It’s up to him to seize it now.

Prolongation

In front of the net, Samuel Montembeault will be CH’s starting goaltender, and this evening, he will be entitled to a full game rather than a half-game.

If I had an old $2 to bet, I’d say it’s a good sign that he’ll be the starting goaltender for the first game of the season.

Here is the complete lineup for tonight’s match (as well as the list of players who will skip their turn):

Tonight on OTT:

Caufield-Suzuki-RHP
Newhook-Dach-Slaf
Heineman-Monahan-Armia
Pezzetta-Evans-Ylönen

Matheson-Lindström
Norlinder-Barron
Xhekaj-Harris

Montembeault should play the entire match

— Marc Antoine Godin (@MAGodin) October 7, 2023

Josh Anderson, Brendan Gallagher, Tanner Pearson, David Savard, Kaiden Guhle, Jonathan Kovacevic OUT vs @Senators @CanadiensMTL @TVASports

— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) October 7, 2023

As for the Senators, we notice that it is not exactly an alignment worthy of the All-Star Game that will face CH this evening.

A bit special considering the last preseason game is often the “last test” time for the first game roster (with a few exceptions), but oh well.

Projected lines for tonight’s pre-season finale!#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/rUTMXSTpCL

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 7, 2023

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