Cole Caufield put on a show Saturday night, then used his postgame words to pour a little more fuel on the Canadiens’ already buzzing connection to Dylan Larkin.
Caufield scored twice, including the overtime winner, in Montreal’s 4-3 victory over Buffalo, then told Sportsnet the Bell Centre was beyond words. He finished with 18:03 of ice time, registered five shots on goal and took home first-star honors. He now leads the Canadiens with five goals in eight games after entering the night with three goals in seven outings.
The performance was another reminder that Caufield is rolling early this season, but the wording around his postgame praise stood out, too. It landed in a way that could be read as a subtle nod to Larkin, whose name echoed through the same arena just a week earlier.
That’s because the Bell Centre has already become part of the conversation around the Detroit captain. Larkin, who trained alongside Caufield last summer, had described the atmosphere in Montreal after his own visit as something special, beyond anything he'd ever imagined. Caufield’s comments only add to that storyline.
According to Pierre LeBrun, Larkin still hasn’t added Montreal to his 10-team list. But if the Canadiens were hoping their building would make an impression, they got another strong endorsement from one of their own.
Montreal is back in action Tuesday against San Jose. Until then, Caufield gets to sit back and enjoy a night that was big on the scoreboard and maybe even bigger in message.
In Other News...
Dylan Larkin Just Gave Canadiens Fans A Reason To Revisit This Dream
Dylan Larkins name still has a way of lighting up the Bell Centre, and a recent visit by the Red Wings captain only fed that old Canadiens daydream a little more. Montreal fans gave him a notable reception, the kind that reminds everyone how easily a big-name center can become part of the citys ongoing wish list, especially when the organization is always looking for ways to upgrade down the middle.
Larkin didnt exactly pour cold water on the whole scene, either, praising the atmosphere in Montreal and calling it one of hockeys best arenas. Even so, the practical side of the story has not changed much, with Montreal not currently listed among the 10 teams on his reported trade request list and no deal anywhere near confirmed. For now, it is still more reminder than resolution, but it was enough to make Canadiens fans revisit a dream they know well. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Win Exposed A Sabres Problem Fans Have Seen Before
The Sabres have made a habit of flirting with disaster, and the latest example came in a 4-3 overtime loss to Montreal after Buffalo clawed its way back into the game. There are signs of progress in spots, with Jack Quinn, Josh Doan and Josh Norris all showing better form, but the bigger picture still looks familiar: too much inconsistency, too little clean defensive hockey, and not enough margin for error when the game tightens.
What has made the trend harder to ignore is how often Buffalo has had to lean on late rallies just to collect points. That approach can keep a team afloat for a night, but it is not a recipe for staying competitive over the long haul, especially when the margins are so thin in the standings. The Canadiens exposed that reality again, leaving the Sabres with another reminder that the comeback formula only works so many times before it catches up. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Came Shockingly Close To A Franchise What-If With Brett Hull
Brett Hull recently reopened one of the more fascinating what-ifs in Canadiens history, saying he was very close to signing with Montreal in 2001 before ending up in Detroit instead. The timing alone makes it intriguing for Canadiens fans, since Hull was still a proven scorer with a chance to alter the direction of the franchise, even if landing him would not have guaranteed instant contention.
On a podcast, Hull recounted the kind of recruiting pitch that makes these stories linger, including a conversation with Canadiens icon Jean Bliveau as Montreal tried to make its case. What tipped the balance away from the Canadiens was a late push from Detroit, and Hull wound up with the Red Wings, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2002 instead of becoming part of a very different Montreal chapter. [Read more 🡒]