Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield drives towards the online towards the Rangers in New York on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Picture/Frank Franklin II)
Cole Caufield had the puck on his stick in prime taking pictures place.
The Canadiens had been trailing by two early within the third interval after a robust end to the second towards the Buffalo Sabres.
Caufield noticed extra room in that second on a fast 2-on-1 rush than he did at virtually any level in Montreal’s playoff-opening massacre with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
A breakthrough there from the membership’s 51-goal man might have modified the dynamic of Wednesday’s second-round curtain-raiser. Recognized for selecting corners and discovering holes with pinpoint accuracy and elite imaginative and prescient, Caufield as a substitute rushed a shot that hit netminder Alex Lyon on the crest of his jersey.
The sequence represented each a optimistic and a damaging for Montreal. Caufield lastly had some area to manoeuvre. The end, nonetheless, was nonetheless severely missing.
Caufield registered a solitary power-play purpose in that tight-checking, seven-game slugfest with the Lightning earlier than once more being held at bay in Montreal’s 4-2 loss to Buffalo.
The primary participant from the Unique Six franchise to achieve the half-century mark for targets in 36 years, he has now didn’t register some extent throughout his group’s final 4 contests.
“As a complete, not the place I would like it to be,” Caufield stated when requested to evaluate his current performances. “I anticipate extra out of myself, and my teammates do, too. Simply attempting to get higher each sport and simply attempting to make a distinction.”
The 25-year-old took half in Thursday’s non-obligatory apply at KeyBank Middle, including his confidence stays excessive regardless of this present tough patch.
“It’s nonetheless there,” stated Caufield, a winger standing 5 foot eight and weighing 175 kilos. “I wish to be higher. I wish to produce extra, however you may’t lack confidence on this league. When you do, I believe that’s if you actually begin to battle. The arrogance is there, clearly, and the positivity on this room continues to be going sturdy.
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“There’s no worries right here … simply going to try to proceed to work more durable.”
The free-flowing Sabres allowed Montreal’s high line, one that features Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slavkovsky, more room to function in Sport 1 in comparison with the struggle of attrition confronted towards Tampa, however the trio was nonetheless unable to attach at 5-on-5.
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis stated that whereas the emphasis is on Caufield to determine issues out, the group’s collective method should stay sturdy.
“The sport, basically, was totally different than what we skilled within the final seven video games towards Tampa,” St. Louis stated of Wednesday evening. “We performed with the puck much more, with area. It’s been two weeks and extra that we haven’t had that. I’m assured that we are going to enhance with the puck in area.
“And I’m assured Cole will probably be part of our enchancment.”
Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield in motion towards the Flyers in Philadelphia on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Picture/Derik Hamilton)
The Canadiens will look to even the best-of-seven sequence Friday earlier than proceedings shift to the Bell Centre for Video games 3 and 4. Montreal defenceman Noah Dobson stated the locker room isn’t involved about Caufield and his linemates.
“They’re getting their seems to be and their probabilities,” he stated. “It’s solely a matter of time … all the boldness in these guys.”
“He’ll determine it out,” Canadiens ahead Alex Newhook added of Caufield. “He’s been a goal-scorer his complete life. He’s confirmed he can rating on large events in each totally different method this yr. He’ll come up large after we want him.”
Caufield is used to shiny lights and scrutiny — chasing 50 targets in Montreal isn’t for the faint of coronary heart — and he’ll proceed to give attention to group success till the offensive mojo returns.
“We’re simply chasing wins,” he stated. “I believe that’s the ethical of the story.”
A pair pucks hitting the again of Buffalo’s web would assist.
EARLY SLIP
Canadiens defenceman Lane Hutson had a tricky begin to the second spherical when he fell down early within the first interval, resulting in a 2-on-1 and Josh Doan’s opener off a Zach Benson setup.
“I really feel everybody sort of got here able to play besides me, actually,” Hutson stated. “S—– bounce or no matter, however you’ve bought to make a play there.”
“Not nice feeling to begin the sport,” he added. “However really feel like I responded ok.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Might 7, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press