Cole Caufield Takes the Lead in NHL Goals, Setting the Stage for a Promising Season
“I’ve always had confidence in my ability to score, but this start feels different. It's about being in the right place at the right time and making the most of every opportunity. To be at the top of the league early on is exciting, but I know there's more work to be done. I’m focused on staying consistent and helping my team win, especially in those critical moments when it matters most.”
While some clouds hover over the Montreal Canadiens, with ongoing discussions surrounding referee calls and the Samuel Montembeault situation, there’s a shining beacon of hope in Cole Caufield. With two crucial goals in yesterday's 4-2 victory, Caufield now leads the NHL in goals, tied with Seth Jarvis, Mark Scheifele, Shane Pinto, and Pavel Dorofeyev, all sitting at seven.
Caufield's timely scoring, especially his two goals late in the second period, has been a major asset to the Canadiens. These goals, which came in a high-pressure moment, showcased Caufield's knack for stepping up when his team needs it most. His performance early in the season has been nothing short of promising, with the winger proving that he can not only score but do so at the most crucial moments.
“I’ve always known I could score, but this start feels different,” Caufield shared. “It’s about being in the right place at the right time and making the most of every opportunity. To be at the top of the league early on is exciting, but I know there’s more work to be done. I’m focused on staying consistent and helping my team win, especially in those critical moments when it matters most.”
But Caufield isn't the only one contributing to the Canadiens' success this season. In goal, Jakub Dobes is leading the NHL in save percentage for goaltenders who have played more than one game, showcasing his strong presence between the pipes. Meanwhile, defenseman Lane Hutson continues to impress, ranking second among all defensemen in points, only behind the elite Cale Makar. Hutson’s standout performance has garnered recognition, particularly after his recent contract extension.
On the rookie front, Ivan Demidov, Oliver Kapanen, and Zeev Buium have all tallied six points, showing that Montreal’s future looks bright. Only Matthew Schaefer and Emmith Finnie have outpaced them with seven points each.
While the Canadiens have faced their fair share of challenges, especially in the wake of a tough loss yesterday, the team’s performance overall has been filled with positives. The combination of Caufield’s goal-scoring leadership, Hutson’s stellar defense, and the rise of young talent has Montreal fans believing that this season could bring something special. Caufield’s ability to perform in clutch situations only adds to the growing sense of optimism surrounding the team.
Rangers recall intriguing prospect after Matt Rempe injury
The New York Rangers have recalled youngster Brennan Othmann from the team’s minor league affiliate in Hartford to take the place of forward Matt Rempe on the roster. The 6-foot-7 Rempe was injured in a fight with Ryan Reaves of the San Jose Sharks Thursday night.
Rempe has an absolute fire hydrant chin. A couple Reavobombs landed here and he ate them as appetizers. Let’s see if the rangers respond or just sit back and do nothing
pic.twitter.com/K9losZcDIt — Rob Gucci (@heatdaddy69420) October 23, 2025
Othmann skated with the Rangers during training camp, but he was sent back to Hartford rather early in the preseason. Othmann is considered a top prospect in the Rangers system and he was selected in the first round of the 2021 draft. Since it has been four years since he was selected and was once again sent back to the minors, there has been quite a bit of talk that Othmann could be traded by the Rangers.
Calling him up at this time may give him an opportunity to show off his skills and it could lead to productive trade offers for Othmann. However, if he was to deliver a couple of impressive performances, the Rangers might be convinced to keep him in the lineup.
Rempe and Reaves engaged in a spirited bout. While Rempe had the advantage in size, Reaves is one of the most experienced tough guys in the NHL. Reaves landed several good right hands to Rempe’s head in the early part of the fight, Rempe gave a good accounting of himself and connected several time times with Reaves.
Rangers have been off to a slow start
After failing to make the playoffs last season, the Rangers parted company with head coach Peter Laviolette and hired Mike Sullivan to light a fire under his players and deliver a better performance.
The Rangers have had a tough time scoring this season and they were shut out in their first three games at Madison Square Garden. They are in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference with a 3-4-2 record. They are 0-4-1 at home but 3-0-1 on the road in the early season.
