The Montreal Canadiens secured their second win in a row by dominating the Tampa Bay Lightning in a thrilling showdown at the Bell Centre on Thursday. Cole Caufield propelled the team to a 2-1 victory and achieved a personal milestone in the process.
Standing at this special moment in his career, Caufield could not help but remember Johnny Gaudreau, whose absence the NHL community has not yet fully recovered from.
Cole Caufield’s Touching Tribute to Johnny Gaudreau Following 50-Goal Milestone
The Habs narrate the story of one of the league’s most successful rebuilds ever. Fueled by a young core that includes Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, Lane Hutson, and Ivan Demidov, among others, Montreal is unrecognizable this season. Despite being heavily compromised in goal, the Canadiens have secured a playoff berth.
In their latest quest against the Lightning, Caufield scored the team’s maiden goal, which also happened to be his 50th goal this season. The 2025-26 season is the 25-year-old’s first 50-goal season. Amid such an extraordinary personal milestone, Caufield could not help but feel emotional, remembering Calgary Flames icon Johnny Gaudreau, who passed away in August 2024.
Caufield, who wears the number 13 to honor Gaudreau, stated in a post-game media interaction that every time he wears his helmet or jersey, he cannot help but remember the former Flames winger.
“I mean, it’s a reminder every time I put my jersey or my helmet.”
“He’s behind me, he’s looking down on us… I can’t obviously give him a hug right now, but I wish I could”
Cole Caufield on his friendship with Johnny Gaudreau after becoming a 50-goal scorer. pic.twitter.com/MAedMXJ7uo
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 10, 2026
Caufield further noted that every time he steps on the ice, it is an opportunity to represent Gaudreau. “Every time you get to do that, it’s an opportunity to represent him and remember him. So, I guess it’s a special thing to do that, but I guess, he’s behind me and he’s looking down on us.”
The 50th goal of the season is certainly a special occasion for Caufield, and during such a landmark moment of his career, the 25-year-old feels Gaudreau’s absence all the more. Gaudreau was an individual who positively impacted everyone he came in touch with.
“Everybody that he knew, he made a better person, so, you know, I can’t obviously give him a hug right now, but I wish I could,” Caufield concluded.
The untimely demise of the Gaudreau brothers deeply shook the NHL community. As Team USA traveled to Milan-Cortina for the 2026 Olympics, it was fueled by the memory of how passionately Gaudreau was to represent the United States at the Olympic stage once. Johnny’s wife, Meredith, received an invite to the Olympics, and Team USA hung up his No.13 jersey in the locker room at Milan-Cortina throughout the course of the tournament.
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