Cole Caufield 50-Goal Pace
Cole Caufield is on pace for 50 goals after a strong Habs win, with Nick Suzuki explosive post-Olympics and Dylan Guhle shining — the post has 330 likes and counting. Key weekend results include Sharks' late goal sinking the Oilers and Holmstrom's OT winner for the Isles.
A 50-goal season for a Montreal Canadien has not happened since the 1993-94 season when Vincent Damphousse scored 40, with the last to hit the 50-goal mark being Stephane Richer in 1989-90. With 35 goals in 59 games, Cole Caufield is currently on pace to score approximately 48 goals over an 82-game season. In January, Caufield's 13 goals tied a franchise record for a single calendar month, matching the legendary Guy Lafleur. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki has been instrumental in Caufield's success. In the team's recent 6-2 victory over the Washington Capitals, Suzuki recorded three points, including an empty-net goal and two assists. This performance marked his first points since the Olympic break, where he was held scoreless in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders on February 26. Suzuki now has 68 points in 59 games this season. Young defenseman Kaiden Guhle has been logging significant ice time, playing nearly 25 minutes in the win against Washington and over 21 minutes against the Islanders. His return to the lineup in January after missing 39 games with a torn abductor muscle has provided a steady presence on the blue line. The weekend's other notable results saw the San Jose Sharks snap a five-game losing streak with a surprising 5-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin scored the game-winning goal midway through the third period. Despite the loss, Oilers captain Connor McDavid tallied three assists. Meanwhile, the New York Islanders continued their remarkable success in extra time. Simon Holmstrom scored at 1:47 of overtime to secure a 4-3 comeback win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. This victory improved the Islanders' record in overtime games this season to a perfect 8-0.
