Slafkovsky Makes Canadiens History in Win Over Kings

Montreal Canadiens’ forward Juraj Slafkovsky was instrumental in his team’s 4-3 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night, scoring three points, including two critical points late. He first tied up the score 3-3 with a power-play goal with just over five minutes remaining. Less than a minute later, he set up Nick Suzuki for the eventual game-winning goal.

However, Slafkovsky’s first point of the game, a goal in the second period that temporarily gave the Canadiens a 2-1 lead, was the one that made history. It represented his 50th point of the season, which gives him three straight seasons in which he’s hit the mark, all before Age 22 (which he turns on March 30, at the end of this month).

Slafkovsky All Alone at the Top

That makes Slafkovsky the only Canadiens player in history to tally that many 50-point seasons before turning 22, with Guy Lafleur, Henri Richard and current-teammate Lane Hutson being the only others with more than one. Hutson turned 22 last month. Of note, Lafleur got drafted at Age 19, going on 20 a few months later. The younger Richard brother similarly started his NHL career at Age 19. Slafkovsky, who was selected first overall at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft at Age 18, admittedly had a one year headstart on both Hockey Hall of Famers.

The goal in question also gave Slafkovsky 22 (now 23 goals) on the year. Per NHL Public Relations, only Cole Caufield, who scored 23 goals in 2021-22, and Valeri Bure, who scored 22 goals in 1995-96, have scored as many at 21 years of age or younger in a single season for the Canadiens (in the last 35 years).