Cole Caufield set a career-high in goals last season with 37 and looks to be on pace to surpass that total this season with 32, which currently is the team-lead, through 57 games. It has been an impressive run and one that raises several questions about how he could have been left off Team USA's roster for the Olympics.
While Caufield probably was disappointed, the extra rest could help him finish the season strong and help the Canadiens earn a top seed in the playoffs. One of the things that he has done really well is score late when the Canadiens need it most, as 18 of his 32 goals have been in the third period or overtime.
What is notable about this is that he already has eight game-winning goals, with three in the last 10 games. This has put him position to challenge a franchise record that was set back during the 1978-79 season by Guy Lafleur.
To claim the record, Cole Caufield must surpass a benchmark Guy Lafleur finally cemented after years of near misses
Lafleur played 14 seasons in Montreal but had his best stretch from 1974-75 season through the 1979-80 season where he had 50 or more goals in each of the six seasons. It wasn't just the number of goals but when he scored them because in four of those six seasons he had 10 or more game-winning goals.
He came close to setting the record in 1975-76 and then again in 1977-78 when he tied the then record of 12. In 1978-79 was when he finally set it with 13 that season.
For Caufield, if his season average of game-winning goals per game remains consistent, he will finish the season with 12, which is one short. However, the increase in this stat leading into the Olympic break gives him a real chance to break the record.
Chasing Guy Lafleur is no small feat, but if Caufield maintains these late-game heroics, he won't just be leading this Montreal Canadiens team; he’ll be rewriting the history books.