Cole Caufield is doing something we haven’t seen in Montreal in a long, long time - he’s scoring goals at a pace that demands attention. And on Saturday night in Boston, he reminded everyone just how dangerous he can be, even in a losing effort.
Caufield netted all three of the Canadiens’ goals in a 4-3 loss to the Bruins, including two on the power play. It was a classic Caufield performance - quick release, elite positioning, and a nose for the net that just doesn’t quit.
With 29 goals in 52 games this season, he’s on track to finish with 46. That’s not just good - that’s historic in Montreal terms.
To put it in perspective, the Canadiens haven’t had a 40-goal scorer since Vincent Damphousse hit the mark back in the 1993-94 season. Caufield was three years old then.
The Habs have had plenty of talented players since, but none have consistently filled the net the way Caufield is doing right now. He’s not just scoring - he’s doing it with flair, confidence, and a sense of timing that makes him a threat every time he’s on the ice.
Now, while the Canadiens are finding ways to score - they came into Saturday night ranked fourth in the league in offense, averaging 3.37 goals per game - the problem lies at the other end of the ice. Defensively, they’ve struggled, sitting 24th in goals allowed at 3.27 per game. That gap between offensive production and defensive reliability has been a recurring theme, and goaltending has played a big role in that imbalance.
Samuel Montembeault got the nod again on Saturday after a rough outing Thursday against the Sabres. It didn’t go much better this time.
He gave up four goals on 21 shots - three of them coming on the Bruins’ power play. That drops his career record against Boston to 3-8-1 and leaves his save percentage over the last two games at just .811.
For the season, he’s sitting at 9-8-2 with a 3.46 goals-against average and a .869 save percentage.
Those numbers paint a clear picture. The Canadiens are giving up too much, and they’re not getting the kind of goaltending that can cover up defensive lapses. When you’ve got a sniper like Caufield doing everything he can to keep you in games, that kind of imbalance becomes even more frustrating.
Still, Caufield’s performance can’t be overlooked. Hat tricks don’t come easy in the NHL - especially not against a team like Boston, and especially not when you’re carrying the offensive load almost single-handedly. He’s proving that he’s not just a young talent; he’s becoming the kind of elite scorer who can change the trajectory of a franchise.
The Canadiens have some work to do if they want to turn Caufield’s brilliance into wins. But make no mistake - they’ve got a special one in No. 22.