Habs Daily: Caufield’s Sweet Moves, Top Line Dominance, Hutson

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Thursday.

Montreal Canadiens News

It’s worth watching at least one more time. Cole Caufield’s overtime goal versus the San Jose Sharks was a thing of beauty.

WHAT A GOAL!

Cole Caufield burns Celebrini before scoring an amazing overtime goal. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/YVu1Xb6p2h

— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) February 28, 2025

Full marks to Caufield for the goal, but Thursday’s game also featured a great effort from his linemates on the top trio. Nick Suzuki scored two crucial game-tying goals, while Juraj Slafkovsky continued to play with confidence. When Suzuki and Caufield are playing well, the Habs have a decent chance of winning. But when all three are playing well, the top line becomes dominant, which goes to show how important Slafkovsky is to the current lineup.  [Habs Highlights: Top Line Dominance Secures Big Win]

We also saw Owen Beck’s first career point in the NHL. As per tradition, he worked hard, drove the puck down low, and then did everything it took to get the puck into a high-danger scoring area.

It was a quintessential Beck play. With the NHL trade deadline quickly approaching, it’s starting to become evident that Beck’s solid play in the NHL opens up options on the trade market for Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes.

Owen Beck’s first NHL point!

He drives the net, takes the hit, outworks his opponent.

Classic Beck.

Newhook with the goal, Laine with the other assist. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/okw8iOp4hb

— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) February 28, 2025

Is this a good sign?

I’ll be perfectly honest, I tend to roll my eyes when Hutson breaks 100-year-old records, because it’s a completely different game nowadays, but any time a player matches Nicklas Lidstrom, you know good things are coming. I’d go as far as suggesting Lidstrom is the best defenceman in the history of the NHL, but I don’t want to upset all the Robert Orr fans out there.

Lane Hutson is the first rookie defenceman to collect 40 assists in fewer than 60 games since Nicklas Lidstrom in 1991-92 #GoHabsGo

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) February 28, 2025

National Hockey Now Network

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was the unwilling recipient of lethargic team defence during the first half of Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

Check out the view from the other side of the rink from Thursday’s game between the Habs and the Sharks. [San Jose Sharks]

The Edmonton Oilers were back at Amerant Bank Arena Thursday for the first time since they lost to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final back on June 24. [Florida Panthers]