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.
COLE CAUFIELD SCORES MONTREAL'S FIRST OF THE YEAR 🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/8lGr8Vtp9d
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 9, 2024
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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