{"id":330642,"date":"2026-05-07T10:39:53","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T05:09:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=330642"},"modified":"2026-05-07T10:39:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T05:09:53","slug":"keep-playing-canadiens-have-easy-message-to-goal-hungry-caufield-ahead-of-game-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/07\/keep-playing-canadiens-have-easy-message-to-goal-hungry-caufield-ahead-of-game-1\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Keep playing\u2019: Canadiens have easy message to goal-hungry Caufield ahead of Game 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Cole Caufield filled the web throughout the regular season.<\/p>\n

The Montreal\u00a0Canadiens sniper bagged 51 goals \u2014 the primary time the Original Six franchise has had a player reach the half-century mark in 36 years \u2014 as a part of a campaign marked with memorable moments.<\/p>\n

Caufield found it much tougher sledding in the primary round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for\u00a0Montreal\u00a0against the Tampa Bay Lightning in a seven-game series that featured razor-thin margins and 4 time beyond regulation contests.<\/p>\n

The five-foot-eight, 175-pound winger scored once and added three assists on the facility play, but was held off the scoresheet at 5-on-5.<\/p>\n

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Caufield did his best to affect proceedings other ways throughout a grinding, defensive matchup with the Lightning, including a roster-topping five hits \u2014 \u201cThat\u2019s an actual stat,\u201d said captain and linemate Nick Suzuki \u2014 within the Canadiens\u2019 smash-and-grab 2-1 victory over the Lightning in Game 7.<\/p>\n

Montreal\u00a0also knows that with a purpose to make the NHL\u2019s Eastern Conference final, its offensive catalyst up front will likely need to search out his range.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been playing some good hockey,\u201d Suzuki said Wednesday before the Canadiens opened their second-round series on the road against the Buffalo Sabres. \u201cEveryone wants him to attain, and so does he, but he\u2019s been defending hard.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s bought in.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Canadiens\u2019 top line of Caufield, Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky, who were split up at times by head coach Martin St. Louis, combined for only one even-strength breakthrough versus the Lightning in a series that saw each game decided by one goal.<\/p>\n

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Caufield\u2019s power-play effort got here in Game 4 before being held completely at bay through the ultimate three contests.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s pretty obvious that he doesn\u2019t need a complete lot of time and space,\u201d\u00a0Montreal\u00a0defenceman Mike Matheson said. \u201cIt\u2019s only a matter of time for him. We\u2019re not nervous in any respect about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

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St. Louis was succinct when asked what the message is to Caufield because the Canadiens pivot to a matchup that might feature more open ice with the league\u2019s fifth- and seventh-best offensive teams during 2025-26 going head-to-head in an Atlantic Division showdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep playing,\u201d said St. Louis, a 2018 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee with the same frame to Caufield.<\/p>\n

Suzuki said he\u2019s seen numerous growth in his linemate\u2019s craft since first entering the league in 2020-21.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis play away from the puck, the way in which he gets into good ice,\u201d said the centre named amongst three finalists for the Selke Trophy because the NHL\u2019s top defensive forward Wednesday. \u201cHe\u2019s turned himself right into a guy that may read the forecheck very well and switch over pucks. He\u2019s develop into lots higher player.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing to see him put all of the work in.\u201d<\/p>\n

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