The Montreal Canadiens are concluding their five-game road trip tonight with a match against the New Jersey Devils. All eyes are on Cole Caufield, who needs just one more goal to reach the 50-goal milestone. If he succeeds, he will be the first Canadiens player to score 50 goals since Stéphane Richer accomplished this feat during the 1989-1990 season.
Can Monsieur Saturday Night Make History in New Jersey?
Caufield’s potential achievement places him in the company of legendary players such as Guy Lafleur, Steve Shutt, Maurice Richard, Bernard Geoffrion, Pierre Larouche, and Richer as a member of the prestigious 50-goal club. Brendan Gallagher praised Caufield, noting his contribution as an excellent teammate and a key player who consistently finds ways to score. “He’s among the best scorers in the league, and we’re fortunate to have him,” said Gallagher.
Caufield’s Recent Performance
In his last 26 games, Caufield has scored 27 goals and leads the NHL this season with 12 game-winning goals. The record for the Canadiens is held by the “Blond Demon” with 13 game-winning goals from the 1978-1979 season. Caufield expressed that his focus is on team play, emphasizing that individual accomplishments stem from a collective effort.
Canadiens’ Current Standings
The Canadiens currently rank third in the Atlantic Division, accumulating 98 points—just two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres. They aim for their eighth consecutive victory in regulation time. Recent wins include victories over the New York Islanders, twice against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Nashville Predators, the Lightning, and the New York Rangers.
Goalkeeping Situation
The starting goalie for tonight’s match against the Devils has not been officially announced. Jacob Fowler performed well in the last game against the Rangers, making 22 saves for his eighth win of the season. Meanwhile, Jakub Dobes has had a remarkable performance in his last four starts, accumulating 43, 26, 35, and 37 saves, while allowing five goals. Dobes stands at 26-8-4 this season.
Previous Encounter with the Devils
Earlier this season, the Canadiens faced the Devils in a tightly contested match that ended in a 4-3 overtime loss on November 6. Notably, Dobes was in goal during that match and expressed deep emotion after suffering his first defeat of the season following six consecutive wins.
The New Jersey Devils find themselves in a tough position this season with a record of 39-34-2 and are set to miss the playoffs. Last year, they secured a playoff spot, finishing second in the Metropolitan Division with 99 points. Jack Hughes, who scored the gold medal-winning goal for the U.S. at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, is on a hot streak, having recorded 23 points over his last 11 games, including a five-point performance against the Washington Capitals.
