Cole Caufield reaches insane Canadiens scoring record not seen since 1979

The Montreal Canadiens right winger has been a key factor in the team's rise up the standings.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 11:31am

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Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield has tied the franchise record for most goals in a month, matching Guy Lafleur's 13 goals in January 1979. Caufield's two goals in the final game of January helped the Canadiens defeat the Buffalo Sabres 4-2. Coach Martin St. Louis praised Caufield's evolution as a player, noting that he is no longer just a perimeter player but has developed an ability to get to the net and screen the goalie.

Why it matters

Caufield's scoring outburst has been a major factor in the Canadiens' surge up the standings, as they look to overtake the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. The Canadiens still have tough matchups against the Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets before the Olympic break, but Caufield's hot streak has them believing they can be serious contenders.

The details

Caufield delivered an assist to Juraj Slaflovsky to start the scoring against the Sabres, then scored back-to-back goals in the third period to secure the 4-2 win for Montreal. His 12th and 13th goals of January tied the franchise record set by Guy Lafleur in 1979, a mark that had stood for nearly 47 years.

  • Caufield scored his 12th and 13th goals of January on the final game day of the month.

The players

Cole Caufield

A right winger for the Montreal Canadiens who has been a key factor in the team's rise up the standings this season.

Martin St. Louis

The head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, who has praised Caufield's evolution as a player and his ability to get to the net and impact the game.

Guy Lafleur

A legendary Montreal Canadiens player who held the franchise record for most goals in a month at 13, a mark that stood for nearly 47 years until Caufield tied it.

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What they’re saying

“Cole has evolved. He's not a perimeter player anymore, he's not just a power-play guy, on the outside. If you see where we play Cole on the power play, he's goal line, he's around the net always, he finds himself sometimes screening the goalie. Cole has evolved. We know he's good on the outside in space, but sometimes the game is asking you to get inside and he's able to do that.”

— Martin St. Louis, Head Coach, Montreal Canadiens (NHL.com)

What’s next

The Canadiens still have tough matchups against the Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets before the Olympic break, but Caufield's hot streak has them believing they can be serious contenders.

The takeaway

Caufield's record-tying scoring outburst has been a major factor in the Canadiens' surge up the standings, as the team looks to overtake division rivals and establish itself as a legitimate contender in the NHL. The young winger's evolution into a more well-rounded player has been crucial to the team's success.