Cole Caufield's clutch scoring is changing everything for the Canadiens
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Cimon Asselin
Mar 19, 2026 (8:39 PM)
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Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Cole Caufield has Martin St. Louis leaning harder on him as the Montreal Canadiens chase points in a tight Atlantic race.
Caufield isn't just producing. He's driving outcomes.
Forty goals on the season puts him 2nd in the NHL, and the way those goals come matters even more inside that room.
He's not padding totals late. He's deciding games.
Twenty-four go-ahead goals rank 1st league-wide. That's a direct reflection of trust from the bench and usage in pressure moments.
And St. Louis keeps feeding him those minutes.
Caufield has also scored 9 game-winning goals, tied for 1st, which explains why his shifts keep coming late in tight games.
Caufield becoming Montreal's closer
This is where the shift is real. Caufield isn't just top six anymore. He's the closer.
Five overtime goals lead the NHL. When the ice opens up, St. Louis isn't looking down the bench. He's sending out No. 13.
That kind of deployment changes how opponents defend Montreal late.
At even strength, Caufield has 32 goals, ranked 2nd. That's not power play inflation. That's five-on-five damage.
And it forces teams to pick their poison against the Canadiens' top line.
Montreal sits at 37-20-10 with 84 points, right in the mix near the top of the Atlantic. Those margins are thin.
Games swing on one shift. One shot.
That's where Caufield has separated himself from being just a scorer to being the guy.
You can see it in how St. Louis manages the bench. Shorter rotations late. More offensive zone starts for Caufield.
Less hesitation.
It also trickles down the lineup. When Caufield draws top defenders, it opens space for the second unit and eases pressure on the blue line.
But it comes with weight.
Opponents are matching harder. Checking lines are glued to him. Every touch is contested.
Still, the puck keeps finding him. And more importantly, he keeps finishing.
If Montreal is going to hold its spot and push higher, this isn't changing.
St. Louis has made his call.
Caufield is the trigger.
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