Cole Caufield stuffed the online throughout the common season.
The Montreal Canadiens sniper bagged 51 objectives — the primary time the Unique Six franchise has had a participant attain the half-century mark in 36 years — as a part of a marketing campaign marked with memorable moments.
Caufield discovered it a lot more durable sledding within the first spherical of the Stanley Cup playoffs for Montreal in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a seven-game collection that featured razor-thin margins and 4 additional time contests.
The five-foot-eight, 175-pound winger scored as soon as and added three assists on the ability play, however was held off the scoresheet at 5-on-5.
Caufield did his finest to affect proceedings different methods all through a grinding, defensive matchup with the Lightning, together with a roster-topping 5 hits — “That’s an actual stat,” stated captain and linemate Nick Suzuki — within the Canadiens’ smash-and-grab 2-1 victory over the Lightning in Recreation 7.
Montreal additionally is aware of that with a view to make the NHL’s Japanese Convention last, its offensive catalyst up entrance will probably want to seek out his vary.
“He’s been enjoying some good hockey,” Suzuki stated Wednesday earlier than the Canadiens opened their second-round collection on the street in opposition to the Buffalo Sabres. “Everybody needs him to attain, and so does he, however he’s been defending onerous.
“He’s purchased in.”
The Canadiens’ prime line of Caufield, Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky, who had been break up up at occasions by head coach Martin St. Louis, mixed for only one even-strength breakthrough versus the Lightning in a collection that noticed every recreation determined by one objective.
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Caufield’s power-play effort got here in Recreation 4 earlier than being held fully at bay via the ultimate three contests.
“It’s fairly apparent that he doesn’t want an entire lot of time and area,” Montreal defenceman Mike Matheson stated. “It’s only a matter of time for him. We’re not anxious in any respect about him.”
St. Louis was succinct when requested what the message is to Caufield because the Canadiens pivot to a matchup that might characteristic extra open ice with the league’s fifth- and seventh-best offensive groups throughout 2025-26 going head-to-head in an Atlantic Division showdown.
“Preserve enjoying,” stated St. Louis, a 2018 Hockey Corridor of Fame inductee with an identical body to Caufield.
Suzuki stated he’s seen quite a lot of progress in his linemate’s craft since first getting into the league in 2020-21.
“His play away from the puck, the way in which he will get into good ice,” stated the centre named amongst three finalists for the Selke Trophy because the NHL’s prime defensive ahead Wednesday. “He’s turned himself into a man that may learn the forecheck rather well and switch over pucks. He’s grow to be loads higher participant.
“It’s wonderful to see him put all of the work in.”
The Canadiens simply hope that blood and sweat additionally leads to a couple extra objectives this spring.
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“He’s doing each no matter it takes,” Suzuki stated. “However we’re nonetheless going to search for him to attain and put him in good positions.”
FAMILY FEUD?
Matheson is married to former U.S. nationwide staff defender and Western New York product Emily Pfalzer Matheson.
The Canadiens blueliner, who spends his summers within the Buffalo space and infrequently trains alongside Sabres forwards Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, needed to double-check together with his in-laws on their rooting pursuits.
“They’re all fairly dedicated to our staff,” Matheson stated with a smile. “I had to verify.”
DOWN TIME
The Canadiens stayed in Tampa after topping the Lightning in Sunday’s Recreation 7 as an alternative of instantly heading north. The membership took a day without work earlier than hitting the follow ice and boarding a flight to Buffalo.
“It was nice simply hang around, get well relaxation, get some solar,” Suzuki stated. “You undergo a seven-game collection like that, it’s good to simply have a full reset after which get proper again to it. Everybody’s in good headspace and prepared to return into the warfare.”
BORDER BATTLE
In the meantime, Prime Minister Mark Carney inserted a little bit cross-border politics into the Canadiens’ playoff run Wednesday.
“How essential is the Habs run? There’s not a lot (that’s) extra essential, and I stay up for calling the president of the US and sending him his Habs jersey,” Carney stated at an occasion within the Montreal area.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Could 6, 2026.
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