Tag: goal

WATCH: Former Wisconsin Badger scores Montreal Canadiens’ first goal of 2024-25 NHL season

WATCH: Former Wisconsin Badger scores Montreal Canadiens’ first goal of 2024-25 NHL season

Former Wisconsin Badger Cole Caufield scored the Montreal Canadiens’ first goal of the 2024-25 NHL season on Wednesday.

His tally came on a power play with 12 minutes remaining in the first period. He took a cross pass from a teammate behind the net, then fit the puck through a narrow window as the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender attempted to recover.

The former Badger tallied that one point on seven total shots in 17:43 of ice time in the Canadiens’ 1-0 win over the Maple Leafs. His goal was technically the game-winner as it was the only scored in the contest.

The opening night performance is a strong start to Caufield’s fifth NHL season. The former Badger has not quite recaptured the form that saw him light up the hockey world during the 2021 NHL playoffs — four goals and eight assists in only 12 games as the Canadiens’ made a run to the Stanley Cup Final.

Caufield most recently played all 82 games in the Canadiens’ 2023-24 campaign, totaling 28 goals and 37 assists for 65 total points in an average of 19:25 minutes of ice time. His start to 2024-25 may signal that those numbers are set to rise.

Caufield played for the Badgers from 2019-2021. He led the Badgers Big Ten-winning 2019 team with 19 goals and 17 assists in 36 games. Those tallies earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten team for that season.

The talented wing improved dramatically entering his final collegiate season in 2021. He tallied 30 goals and 52 total points in 31 games, again leading the Big Ten in goals and earning a spot on the All-Big Ten team. That fantastic output in 2021 also earned him AHCA First-Team All-American honors and the Hobey Baker Award for the top NCAA men’s ice hockey player.

He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens after the 2021 season, leading to where things stand today.

Caufield and the Canadiens are looking to snap a three-year playoff drought that dates back to the team’s Stanley Cup Final run in 2021. Caufield’s potential emergence would be big news for that quest.

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Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco aiming to have 1,000-yard season in 2023

Isiah Pacheco is aiming to be the #Chiefs’ first 1,000-yard rusher of the Patrick Mahomes era.

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Back in June, we asked Kansas City Chiefs fans if they believed the team would have a 1,000-yard rusher in 2023. With over 650 votes, 70.32% of fans voted, “Yes.”

It’s a bit surprising to see that, given that the last time the Chiefs had a 1,000-yard rusher was the 2017 NFL season. Kareem Hunt led all running backs with over 1,300 rushing yards that season in an offense quarterbacked by then-starter Alex Smith.

Fans have overwhelming confidence in the backfield featuring Isiah Pacheco after his rookie campaign saw 830 rushing yards on 170 attempts. He had over 1,000 rushing yards if you add his postseason numbers, but he’s yet to record that amount in the regular season alone.

Asked about his goals from his rookie season to his sophomore campaign, Pacheco told reporters after practice on Thursday that he’s working on the little things while striving to reach that rushing mark.

“It’s the details,” Pacheco explained. “Detailing my notes more, just finding little things to get better at. You know, for me, I want to run for a thousand yards. That’s the goal, obviously, but it starts here today, practice day by day.”

This is an enormous feat for a running back that plays on a pass-heavy team. The Chiefs attempted over 200 more passing attempts than rushing attempts just a season ago. Pacheco, however, didn’t emerge as the team’s start until Week 7 and only saw double-digit carries twice in the first six weeks of the season. He had double-digit carries in seven of his 11 starts to finish the 2022 NFL season.

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Chiefs DT Chris Jones sets lofty goal for 2023 NFL season

#Chiefs DT Chris Jones is aiming to win the NFL’s highest honor for a defensive player in 2023.

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Kansas City Chiefs DT Chris Jones has a lofty personal goal for the 2023 NFL season.

Jones announced on Twitter on Wednesday that he intends to with the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023. The eight-year NFL veteran has managed some dominant seasons, including last year’s 15.5-sack campaign. It was the second time he’d reached 15 or more sacks in his career. The truth is that Jones has rarely been considered a contender for the Defensive Player of the Year Award.

The last interior defensive lineman to win the award was Rams DT Aaron Donald in 2020. It was Donald’s third career DPOY award and he won it with just 13.5 sacks on the year.

Despite having some dominant defenders throughout franchise history, the Chiefs have never had a Defensive Player of the Year winner. That dates back to the inception of the award back in 1971.

Jones has a penchant for making accurate predictions, successfully calling his shot for the team’s win in Super Bowl LVII and many times beforehand. Should he win Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023, it might be safe to call him a clairvoyant.

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WATCH: Wisconsin’s Brock Caufield nets an OT game-winner vs. Minnesota

WATCH: Wisconsin’s Brock Caufield nets an OT game-winner vs. Minnesota

Yea, there’s another Caufield brother.

After Cole Caufield left to the NHL after last season and went on to dominate in the Montreal Canadiens’ trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, his younger brother Brock now continues the namesake at Wisconsin for another season.

Brock has played in eight games for the 4-5 Badgers this season, recording 2 goals, 1 assist and 29 shots.

Related: Wisconsin vs. Rutgers: Staff predictions

Wisconsin’s latest bout was a 4-3 overtime triumph over rival Minnesota. Caufield netted two goals in the contest, the second being an overtime game-winner for the Badgers.

The call on Bally Sports might be as good as the goal was:

Next up for the Wisconsin men’s hockey team is a rematch with Minnesota tonight.

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