Canadiens' Cole Caufield joins elite 50-goal club with smooth finish vs. Lightning

Montreal star becomes first Habs player to reach 50 goals in a season since 1989-90.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:54am

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An abstract, energetic painting in bright neon colors and rapid brushstrokes, capturing the raw power and athleticism of a hockey player scoring a goal. The player's form is dissolved into expressive, unrecognizable shapes, with the puck and net blending into a dynamic, kinetic composition.Caufield's historic 50-goal season for the Canadiens is celebrated in a vibrant, expressionist painting capturing the pure energy and excitement of his elite scoring prowess.Columbus Today

Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield scored his 50th goal of the season in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, becoming the first Canadiens player to reach the 50-goal milestone since Stephane Richer in 1989-90. Caufield's goal came off a slick passing play with his teammates and put him in elite company with Habs legends like Guy Lafleur and Maurice Richard.

Why it matters

Caufield's 50-goal season is a significant individual accomplishment that highlights his emergence as one of the NHL's most dangerous scorers. It also marks an important milestone for the storied Canadiens franchise, which has not had a 50-goal scorer in over 30 years.

The details

Caufield's 50th goal came in the second period against the Lightning, capping off a pretty passing sequence with linemates Juraj Slafkovsky and Nick Suzuki. The goal was Caufield's 50th of the season, making him just the 13th player in Canadiens history to reach that mark in a single campaign.

  • Caufield scored his 50th goal of the season on April 10, 2026.
  • The last time a Canadiens player scored 50 goals in a season was in 1989-90 when Stephane Richer accomplished the feat.

The players

Cole Caufield

A 23-year-old forward for the Montreal Canadiens who was drafted in the first round by the team in 2019. Caufield has emerged as one of the NHL's elite goal scorers, becoming the first Canadiens player to net 50 goals in a season since 1989-90.

Stephane Richer

A former Canadiens forward who scored 50 goals for the team during the 1989-90 NHL season, the last time a Montreal player reached that milestone prior to Caufield.

Guy Lafleur

A legendary Canadiens forward who is one of only a handful of players in franchise history to score 50 goals in a single season.

Maurice Richard

One of the most iconic players in Canadiens history, Richard is another member of the elite 50-goal club for the franchise.

Steve Shutt

A former Canadiens winger who also scored 50 goals in a season for the team, joining the exclusive club that Caufield has now entered.

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What’s next

The Canadiens are currently tied with the Lightning for second place in the Atlantic Division. A win over Tampa Bay would move them into a tie for first place with the Buffalo Sabres, who are currently beating the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The takeaway

Caufield's 50-goal season is a landmark achievement for the young Canadiens star and a significant moment in the storied history of the franchise. His emergence as an elite goal scorer is an exciting development for Montreal fans as the team looks to build momentum heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.