Montreal Canadiens: Reviewing Habs Prospects Performance at World Juniors

Cole Caufield – USA

While Mysak and Guhle started off their tournaments scoring their team’s first goal, the Habs best goal scoring prospect was held to just an assist on his team’s opening marker. USA took on Russia in their first contest and Caufield was credited with an assist after getting the puck back to Cam York on the point who fired a wrister through the Russian goaltender and into the net.

In a coaching oddity, Caufield played just 2:58 in the first period which was 18th on the team, but he then played more than any other forward for the rest of the game. Strange. He finished the game with one assist, and USA would lose the contest 5-3.

Their second game was a laugher against Austria, as USA won 11-0. Somehow, the Habs prospect didn’t find the scoresheet though he was creating chances on nearly every shift. He played more than any other forward with 17:38, had six shots on goal and set up half a dozen great chances as well. However, he came away empty handed, not that it mattered in a dominating victory.

Caufield wouldn’t be held scoreless for long as he scored a goal and added an assist against Czech Republic in USA’s third game. Within a minute in the third period, Caufield broke loose down the wing and wired a snap shot through the goaltender’s five hole, then added an assist on a beautiful goal by linemate Matt Boldy.

The Americans finished with a strong 4-0 victory over Sweden last night to take first place in their Group. Caufield was a little quieter in this one, being held to just two shots on goal in a little less than 17 minutes of ice time. USA will now take on Slovakia in tomorrow’s quarterfinals.