Cole Caufield continues to fill the opposing net in a frantic fashion. During this trip, he added three goals to his record. He is now down to 15, only eight less than his total of last year. And there are only 26 games played.
• Read also: A formative journey
According to NHL statisticians, among players aged 21 and under, in the history of the Canadiens, only Stéphane Richer has reached this plateau in fewer games. It was in 1987-1988. He had kept up the pace throughout the schedule, hitting the 50-goal mark for the first time in his career.
Like Henry Richard
Just like Caufield, Henri Richard had marked his 15e goal to his 26e match, in 1957-1958. Among the other players aged 21 and under in Habs history to have scored 15 goals in less than 30 games, we note Dickie Moore, Gilbert Dionne and Doug Wickenheiser.
Moreover, besides Richer, none of the others has reached the mark of 30 goals. They had either slowed down or started the American League season.
So let’s hope this isn’t a bad omen for the Canadian’s top scorer so far. We have already written about it in these pages. At this rate, he will become the Canadiens’ first 40-goal scorer since Vincent Damphousse in 1993-1994.
Once again, therefore, the first round choice of the Canadian (15e in total) in 2019 finds himself in excellent company. In Calgary, as part of its 100e game in the NHL, Caufield had recorded the 40e goal of his career.
He had become the fourth player in Habs history, in 80 years, to achieve this feat. Maurice Richard (100 goals in 67 games), Jean Béliveau (90) and Bernard Geoffrion (90) were the only ones to achieve this faster than him.
Canadian players 21 and under who have scored 15 goals in less than 30 games in a single season
1987-1988 | Stephan Richer in 25 games
1957-1958 | Henri Richard in 26 games
2022-2023 | Cole Caufield in 26 matches
1951-1952 | Dickie Moore in 27 matches
1991-1992 | Gilbert Dionne in 28 matches
1982-1983 | Doug Wickenheiser in 28 games