This week, the NHL got a new all-time goal king (perhaps you heard something about this?); still in Washington, Aliaksei Protas (LBI) is out week-to-week; and Boston’s trash (Jim Montgomery) has become St. Louis’ treasure as the Blues have won 12 straight. Other Fantasy hockey stories we’re following include…

Cole Caufield Keeps Improving

Since losing 49 games in 2021-22 – the worst season in their long and storied history – the Montreal Canadiens have been turning the ship around. They improved from 55 to 68 points in 2022-23 before upping that total to 76 last season.

This season, the Habs already have 85 points thanks to a recent roll that has seen them win five straight — perfectly timed to tighten their grip on the East’s second wild card spot ahead of fellow Original Six squad, the Rangers. Montreal hasn’t been to the playoffs since making the Finals in the Covid-shortened 2020-21 season.

In Sunday’s 2-1 win over woeful Nashville, Cole Caufield continued to add to his career best with his 36th goal of the season, his second tally over the last three (with points in three of the last four). After a somewhat quiet February (three goals in eight games), he’s potted eight markers over the last 18 games while reaching double digits in points for the fourth month this season in March, and he’s clearly focused on the task at hand.

Caufield has shattered his personal best in goals, as he’s done in every season of his career, and while he likely won’t match his high in assists, he’s reached 30 for the second straight time while his goal Sunday gave him 66 points – another new high water mark, despite seeing significantly less PT this season (toiling on a line with a playmaker like Nick Suzuki has sure helped — see video below).

American youngster Caufield has emerged as Montreal’s biggest goal scoring threat in years; in fact, he has an outside shot of becoming the first Canadien to score 40 goals in a season since Vincent Damphousse did it in 1993-94.

Yup, this has been a missing component of Montreal’s game for a long time, and Caufield looks like he’s the guy to bring it. He was a prolific scorer with the U.S. National Team Development Program and we’re finally seeing that translate to the NHL.

Brayden Point’s Surprising Scoring Prowess

The Tampa Bay Lightning went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021-22, but the team has regressed since, getting knocked out in the first round in each of the last two seasons. However, rumours of their death seem greatly exaggerated considering how well Tampa Bay is playing this season.

Despite back-to-back losses, the Lightning is 6-3-1 over the last 10, surging past defending champion Florida into second in the Atlanta Division and clinching a spot in the postseason for the eighth straight season.

In Saturday’s shootout loss to Buffalo, Brayden Point scored, giving him points in five of the last six games (5-3-8). He’s scored at a point per game or better pace in every month this season except January, and while his overall production has regressed in the last couple of seasons, he’s still on the doorstep of a third straight 40-goal campaign, so has hardly ceased to be a must-own Fantasy asset.

For context, the list of players who have scored 40 or more goals in each of the last three seasons is very, very short: David Pastrnak, Leon Draisaitl and William Nylander. No wonder FanDuel lists Point as a +140 anytime goal scorer for Monday’s game in New York vs. the Rangers.

While much has been made of the Four Nations hangover for some players, he’s been immune. In the 21 games since, Point has been on the ice for 27 goals for and just 11 against.

Really, the only thing that can stop this criminally underrated scorer is his own body. Point missed 16 games in 2021-22 and another few earlier this season after being almost completely healthy the last two seasons.

Waiver Wire Pick of the Week

Victor Olofsson, RW, Vegas Golden Knights (ESPN: 3.4 per cent; CBS: 14 per cent): It’s been only two seasons since Olofsson broke out for the Sabres, flirting with 30 goals. And he saw time on Buffalo’s second line last season, but had a very disappointing campaign, often finding himself watching from the press box. Last summer, Olofsson signed a prove-it, one-year deal with Vegas and while he hasn’t rediscovered his 2022-23 form, he’s been much better, playing middle six minutes and seeing PP2 time (six power play goals). He’s picked up the production lately, scoring a huge one for his 14th goal on Sunday and logging an assist in the previous game, giving him a 3-2-5 line over the last six. Better yet, Olofsson has ripped 14 shots over the last two, so he’s been very involved. For leagues that still track +/-, he’s also been a real asset in this regard (+14). If you’re seeking a bit of an offensive boost over the final couple of weeks, Olofsson could prove useful.

RotoRob Tune of the Day

Besides being an accomplished singer, Bjork has also done plenty of production work. In 1995, she released her second album, Post, and the third single was “It’s Oh So Quiet,” a cover of the 1951 Betty Hutton song.