Montreal Canadiens: Cole Caufield Has Eventful First Period
Montreal Canadiens top prospect Cole Caufield has been on fire lately in NCAA action.
Since returning from the World Juniors where he helped USA win a gold medal over Canada in the final, he can’t be kept off the score sheet.
The Wisconsin Badgers are jockeying for position in the Big Ten Conference standings, and can thank Caufield that they are in position to take over second this weekend. He is leading the team with 21 points in 16 games so far this season.
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In six games since coming back from the bubble in Edmonton, Caufield has scored four goals and five assists for nine points. He is leading his team in goals with 10 and points with 21. Wisconsin is taking on last place Michigan State this weekend, which means Caufield had a chance to pad his stats a little bit.
His first shift of the weekend was quite eventful and almost ensured he didn’t score a point for a long time.
Less than a minute into the contest, Caufield was stick handing the puck in the offensive zone, as he often does. He tried to side step a check but the Michigan State player led with his knee and clipped Caufield, sending him flying through the air.
Caufield takes a knee on knee ⬇️
— Matt Smith (@Snakebite350) January 30, 2021
Luckily he’s still in the game, and scored on the power-play moments after this play. #GoHabsGo @HabsUnfiltered pic.twitter.com/soDBo5BQCu
The Canadiens first round pick from the 2019 NHL Draft stayed down on the ice for a while before being helped off the ice. He took a minute to sit on the bench before stepping back on the ice to test it out. He must have felt pretty good because he decided to stay on the ice.
The referees were reviewing the play and chose to call a minor penalty on the play. The delay in action allowed Caufield to gather himself and start the power play.
He didn’t waste much time before he got the puck in the slot and rifled a wrist shot far side past the goaltender to open the scoring just over a minute into the contest.
📽️: Just Cole Caufield being Cole Caufield ⚡
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 30, 2021
🍎: Weissbach, Holloway pic.twitter.com/IY0aJBQXaK
The goal gives Caufield 11 on the season and 22 points in 17 games. Well, 16 games and a period, he could add to those totals yet tonight.