Former Wisconsin Badger Cole Caufield scored the Montreal Canadiens’ first goal of the 2024-25 NHL season on Wednesday.

His tally came from a power play with twelve minutes left in the first period. He took a cross pass from a teammate behind the net and then pushed the puck through a narrow window as the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender tried to recover.

The former Badger scored that one point on seven total shots in 17:43 of ice time in the Canadiens’ 1-0 win over the Maple Leafs. His goal was technically the deciding goal as it was the only goal in the competition.

The opening night performance is a strong start to Caufield’s fifth NHL season. The former Badger hasn’t quite regained the form with which he lit up the hockey world during the 2021 NHL playoffs – four goals and eight assists in just 12 games as the Canadiens reached the Stanley Cup Final.

Caufield most recently played in all 82 games of the Canadiens’ 2023-24 season, scoring a total of 28 goals and 37 assists for 65 total points in an average of 19:25 minutes of ice time. His start to 2024-25 could be a sign that those numbers will rise.

COLE CAUFIELD SCORES MONTREAL’S FIRST OF THE YEAR 🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/8lGr8Vtp9d

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 9, 2024

Caufield played for the Badgers from 2019 to 2021. He led the Badgers Big Ten-winning team in 2019 with 19 goals and 17 assists in 36 games. Those results earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten team for that season.

The talented winger improved dramatically entering his final collegiate season in 2021. He scored 30 goals and 52 total points in 31 games, once again leading the Big Ten in scoring and earning a spot on the All-Big Ten team. This fantastic performance in 2021 also earned him AHCA First-Team All-American honors and the Hobey Baker Award for the best NCAA men’s hockey player.

After the 2021 season, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Canadiens, which led to the current state of affairs.

Caufield and the Canadiens are looking to break a three-year playoff drought that dates back to the team’s Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2021. Caufield’s potential promotion would be big news for this endeavor.

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