Cole Caufield becomes first Canadien to score 50 since 1990 with goal vs. Lightning - BERITAJA

Cole Caufield is simply a 50-goal scorer — the first for the Montreal Canadiens successful 36 years.

Caufield hit Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy pinch a wrist changeable astatine 6:29 of the 2nd play to scope the half-century milestone Thursday, sending a frenzied Bell Centre crowd — including Prime Minister Mark Carney — to its feet.

Linemates Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky, who assisted connected the goal, jumped into the solid successful ceremony arsenic the Canadiens took a 1-0 lead successful the intense, fight-filled game.

The crowd erupted again erstwhile nationalist reside announcer Michel Lacroix announced the goal, while Caufield’s father, Paul Caufield, clapped and wiped tears from his eyes.

Caufield is the seventh subordinate successful the Canadiens’ 116-year history to people 50 goals successful a azygous season, joining Stéphane Richer, Guy Lafleur, Pierre Larouche, Steve Shutt, Bernie Geoffrion and Maurice Richard.

Richer was the past to do it, hitting 50 for the 2nd clip connected March 24, 1990, against the since-relocated Hartford Whalers.

Caufield moved 1 extremity down Colorado Avalanche prima Nathan MacKinnon for the convention lead. The Avalanche faced the Calgary Flames connected Thursday.

The unit had been building since the 25-year-old American’s 48th and 49th goals past Thursday against the New York Rangers astatine Madison Square Garden, pinch Caufield going scoreless successful 3 consecutive games.

Travelling Canadiens diehards lined the boards pinch signs urging him connected during Montreal’s 4-3 shootout triumph Saturday successful New Jersey. In Sunday’s 3-0 location nonaccomplishment to the Devils, 1 spectator held up the No. 50 successful large golden day balloons, and fans shouted each clip Caufield stepped onto the ice.

He was unopen retired again Tuesday against the Florida Panthers, but yet collapsed done Thursday erstwhile he received a walk from Suzuki disconnected the unreserved and fired a changeable past Vasilevskiy blocker side.

It continues an awesome tally for the five-foot-eight, 175-pound winger, who has scored 29 times successful his past 31 games, often beating netminders pinch his pinpoint changeable from crisp angles.

Caufield’s 50 goals see 12 game-winners — 5 successful overtime — 40 even-strength goals and 10 power-play markers. He deed the milestone without scoring an empty-net goal, thing he’s ne'er done successful his career.

Under caput coach Martin St. Louis, Caufield has besides developed into a well-rounded subordinate astatine some ends aft entering the convention arsenic a axenic scorer.

In 78 games this season, he has 50 goals and 87 points, some profession highs. Drafted 15th wide by the Canadiens successful 2019, he has tallied 168 goals and 138 assists successful 364 profession games.

The playoff-bound Canadiens (45-22-10) sat 3rd successful the Atlantic Division, 2 points backmost of the Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning, heading into Thursday’s games.

This study by BERITAJA was first published April 9, 2026.