Cole Caufield scores 50th goal of the season, first Canadien since Richer to achieve feat

Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield scored his 50th goal of the season on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, becoming the franchise’s first 50-goal scorer since Stephane Richer in the 1989-90 season.

Seven minutes into the second period, Caufield took a pass from captain Nick Suzuki and wired the puck past Andrei Vasilevskiy for his first 50-goal campaign.

The sniper tallied 29 goals in his past 31 games to reach the milestone, becoming the seventh different player in Canadiens history to score reach the 50-goal mark. Maurice Richard (1944-45), Guy LaFleur (six consecutive seasons from 1974-75 to 1979-80), Bernie Geoffrion (1960-61), Steve Shutt (1976-77), Pierre Larouche (1979-80) and Richer (1987-88, 1989-90) have also accomplished the feat.

Caufield, 25, has posted a career-best season, entering Thursday’s contest with 49 goals and 37 assists for 86 points in 77 games.

He is now one goal behind Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon (51) for the league lead.

“We’re focused on our team game and winning games and I think individual stuff comes with that,” Caufield said Thursday when asked if catching MacKinnon was on his mind. “Obviously, it helps when you’re winning games, but you’d be crazy not to know what’s going on around the league.

“He’s on a tremendous heater right now,” Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said after Caufield potted goals 48 and 49 against the New York Rangers last Thursday. “Playing the right way, doing the right things and getting rewarded for it.”

Montreal (45-22-10) booked their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive season on Saturday, and are currently two points back of the Buffalo Sabres for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.