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

MONTREAL – Cole Caufield started to wonder if it would ever come. 

Stuck one goal shy of a historic milestone for three straight games, he could feel the weight building with every shift and near miss.

But after finally breaking through Thursday night, Caufield is a 50-goal scorer — the first for the Montreal Canadiens in 36 years.

“You see it everywhere. Not going to lie, I was pretty stressed out the past couple days,” Caufield said in a press conference room packed with reporters. “But that’s what makes this place so special, and that’s why it’s so cool for me and my teammates and coaches and family to take this in.”

Caufield beat Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy with a wrist shot at 6:29 of the second period to reach the half-century milestone, sending a frenzied Bell Centre crowd — including Prime Minister Mark Carney — to its feet.

Linemates Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky assisted on the goal, jumping into the glass in celebration as the playoff-bound Canadiens opened the scoring en route to a 2-1 victory. The heated game had a little bit of everything, with fights, big hits and a dramatic finish.

The building hit ear-splitting decibels when public address announcer Michel Lacroix belted Caufield’s name over the microphone. In the stands, Caufield’s father, Paul, clapped and wiped tears from his eyes.

“Probably couldn’t have drawn it up a better way with those two guys grabbing the assist. I don’t know, it’s cool to have my dad in the building and to see his reaction,” said Caufield, who trails Nathan MacKinnon by two goals for the league lead. “It was pretty special and it means a lot.”

The 25-year-old American is the seventh player in the Canadiens’ 116-year history to score 50 goals in a single season, joining Stéphane Richer, Guy Lafleur, Pierre Larouche, Steve Shutt, Bernie Geoffrion and Maurice Richard.

Richer was the last to do it, hitting 50 for the second time on March 24, 1990, against the since-relocated Hartford Whalers.

The hottest topic on sports radio across the hockey-crazed city, Caufield’s chase had become unavoidable since he scored his 48th and 49th goals last Thursday against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Travelling Canadiens diehards pressed up against the glass with signs urging him on during Saturday’s win in New Jersey. In Sunday’s home loss to the Devils, one spectator held up the No. 50 in big gold birthday balloons, and fans cheered in anticipation each time Caufield leapt over the boards.

After being held off the scoresheet again Tuesday against Florida, Caufield broke through Thursday, taking a feed from Suzuki off the rush and firing a shot past Vasilevskiy blocker side.

“It was three games, and it felt like forever,” Caufield said. “I’m sorry if it took a long time for the fans, if they paid money for the games before — I see those messages (laughs). But no, it’s a special building to play in, and these fans, their passion, it shows every night.”

Suzuki, who’s now two points from reaching 100, said he was happy to play a role in Caufield’s history-making goal.

“Not a lot of guys in history have done that,” the Canadiens captain said. “I wouldn’t say it was like a distraction. I think subconsciously, maybe forcing plays to Cole, him maybe just gripping the stick a little bit.

“It’s just special to see him and all the work that he puts in, how he gets rewarded for it.”

The milestone continues an impressive run for the undersized five-foot-eight, 175-pound winger, who has scored 29 times in his last 31 games, often beating netminders with his pinpoint shot from sharp angles.

Caufield’s 50 goals include 12 game-winners — five in overtime — 40 even-strength goals and 10 power-play markers. He hit the milestone without scoring an empty-net goal, something he’s never done in his career.

In 78 games this season, the 15th overall draft pick in 2019 has 50 goals and 87 points, both career highs.

Under head coach Martin St. Louis, Caufield has also developed into a well-rounded player at both ends after entering the league as a pure scorer.

“I don’t know if there’s a guy to thank more,” Caufield said of St. Louis. “He gave me not only an opportunity but definitely some confidence, and he taught me how to play the game the right way.

“He always says he’s not going to teach me how to score, but I think deep down he knows he did.”

St. Louis pushed back on that idea, turning the spotlight back on Caufield.

“As a coach, you can bring your players or your team to a certain level, but it’s up to them to take it even higher. I can’t make Cole Caufield score 50 goals,” he said. “I’m proud of Cole, the way he plays the game. He’s not just a 50-goal-scorer playing on the perimeter, he isn’t just that.

“And the human behind it, I’m even more proud of that. He really helps what we’ve built, what we continue to build, in terms of culture, commitment, enthusiasm. He’s contagious.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2026.