The 1988-89 season was Lemieux's finest in terms of production: He had 85 goals, 114 assists, 199 points, 31 power-play goals and 13 short-handed goals, all league-best figures and career highs. Lemieux's 13 short-handed goals set an NHL record that stills stands.
Caufield's duties didn't often include protecting one-goal leads in the late going. But there he was, on the ice to help make history.
"The coach, Gene Ubriaco, always tried to get me some different minutes, to see how I handled it," Caufield recalled. "I remember the conversation when he tapped me on the shoulder. He said, 'Here's your opportunity. Go out and see what you can do.' "
Caufield's pass to Lemieux didn't come a second too soon: Lemieux's shot entered the net as the final horn sounded. Referee Dan Marouelli provided a final exclamation point by signaling that the goal counted.
"I turned and looked at the clock," Caufield said. "It was close."
Count Caufield among those who think "five goals, five ways" will never be duplicated.
"I would think not," Caufield said. "Now guys on the power play don't see penalty-kill time anymore. For the most part, everything is so specialized, even more than it was before."
Caufield is now an analyst on Penguins' telecasts, using a telestrator to highlight and diagram.
His pass to Lemieux "would be easy to draw up," Caufield said, laughing. "Like I said, I would never not pass to him."
Lemieux's feat is a finalist in the NHL "Greatest Moments" competition as determined by on-line voting. Lemieux's one-of-a-kind explosion is up against Bobby Orr's overtime goal that won the Stanley Cup for Boston in 1970.
Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).