Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Cole Caufield has joined some elite company, becoming the first Montreal Canadiens player to reach 50 goals in a season in 36 years.
Caufield, the 25-year-old sniper who is also in the running for the Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal scorer, hit the milestone on home ice Thursday evening.
The Habs went on to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in a game that had major playoff implications.
Caufield received a pass from captain Nick Suzuki and beat Vasilevskiy with a wrist shot at 6:29 of the second period to reach the half-century milestone Thursday, sending a frenzied Bell Centre crowd — including Prime Minister Mark Carney — to its feet.
Stéphane Richer was the last Canadiens player to reach that mark. He did it during the 1989-90 campaign.
(Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press)
Caufield became the seventh player in team history to net 50 goals.
Richer did it twice. Guy Lafleur did it six times. The other players to score that many goals in a season were Steve Shutt, Bernie Geoffrion, Pierre Larouche and Maurice Richard.
With 87 points in 78 games, this is by far Caufield’s most productive professional season and his play has helped Montreal cruise into the playoffs.
Slafkovsky clinches win with late goal
Caufield’s goal held as the only goal until Raddysh hammered home an equalizer with 1:51 remaining in the third period with the goalie pulled.
But Slafkovsky quickly replied with 64 seconds remaining, finishing off a pass from Suzuki to cap a thrilling night.
Slafkovsky’s goal was his 30th of the season and Suzuki’s second assist of the game helped him 70 assists on the season for Montreal.
Jakub Dobes made 17 saves for his seventh consecutive win.
Carney was in attendance with Liberal party members gathering for a convention Thursday through Saturday in Montreal.
Milestone aside, it was a huge win for Montreal.
The Canadiens, Lightning and Sabres are locked in a three-way race for first place in the Atlantic Division with three regular-season games remaining for Montreal and Tampa Bay, and two left for Buffalo. Two of the three will likely face off in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Montreal moved two points ahead of Tampa Bay and two behind Buffalo for the division lead.
The game featured several scrums after the whistle, a spirited fight between Montreal’s Josh Anderson and Tampa Bay’s Declan Carlile, and seven 10-minute misconducts — culminating in 126 penalty minutes. The second period alone had more than 100, with players packing in to both penalty boxes.
