2007–08_Montreal_Canadiens_season

2007–08 Montreal Canadiens season

2007–08 Montreal Canadiens season

NHL hockey team season


The 2007–08 Montreal Canadiens season was the Canadiens' 99th season of play and 91st in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Canadiens defeated the Boston Bruins by four games to three in the Eastern Conference Quarter-final before being eliminated four games to one by the Philadelphia Flyers in the Conference Semi-final.

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Offseason events

Key dates prior to the start of the season:

Regular season

Although some media picked the Canadiens to not make the playoffs, the team surprised the league with a large improvement in its play. The club won the Northeast Division title and placed first in the Eastern Conference. It was the team's first divisional title since the 1991–92 season. The team had not placed first in the Conference since the 1988–89 season.

The Canadiens retired two jersey numbers during the season with pre-game ceremonies at the Bell Centre. On November 19, 2007, the number 19 of defenceman Larry Robinson, a former member of the Big Three, was retired. On February 23, 2008, the number 23 of forward Bob Gainey was retired.

The Canadiens finished the regular season leading the NHL in power-play goals scored (90) and power-play percentage (24.06%). They also tied the Florida Panthers for the fewest shorthanded goals allowed, with three.[1]

Highlights

  • On October 10, 2007, goaltender Carey Price made his NHL debut, leading the Canadiens to a 3–2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.[2]
  • On January 11, 2008, defenceman Andrei Markov was named to the All-Star Game starting roster.[3]
  • On February 19, 2008, the Montreal Canadiens came back from a 0–5 deficit against the New York Rangers to win the game in a shootout 6–5. This marks the first time in the franchise's 99-year history that they have ever come back to win a game after going down 0–5. This game was compared to some of the greatest games in team history.
  • On March 1, 2008, the Montreal Canadiens took first place in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 1993 with a 2–1 win over the New Jersey Devils.
  • On March 22, 2008, the Montreal Canadiens won their 11th consecutive game against the Boston Bruins dating back to March 2007, besting their previous win streak over the Bruins of 10–0 from the 1956–57 NHL season.

Standings

Final standings

More information GP, W ...

Eastern Conference

More information R, Div ...

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, z – placed first in conference (and division)

Schedule and results

Game log

  • Green background indicates win (2 points).
  • White background indicates overtime/shootout loss (1 point).
  • Red background indicates regulation loss (0 point).

October

Record: 6–2–3; Home: 2–1–2; Road: 4–1–1.

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
1October 3Montreal3–2CarolinaOTHuet18,6801–0–02
2October 6Montreal3–4TorontoOTHuet19,4761–0–13
3October 10Montreal3–2PittsburghPrice17,0062–0–15
4October 13Carolina3–1MontrealHuet21,2732–1–15
5October 16Florida2–1MontrealSOHuet21,2732–1–26
6October 18Montreal3–4OttawaPrice20,0192–2–26
7October 20Buffalo2–4MontrealHuet21,2733–2–28
8October 22Boston1–6MontrealHuet21,2734–2–210
9October 26Montreal7–4CarolinaHuet16,7965–2–212
10October 27Montreal4–3PittsburghSOPrice17,0856–2–214
11October 30Atlanta3–2MontrealSOPrice21,2736–2–315

November

Monthly record: 7–7–0; Home: 3–3–0; Road: 4–4–0.
Season record: 13–9–3; Home: 5–4–2; Road: 8–5–1.

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
12November 1Philadelphia2–5MontrealHuet21,2737–2–317
13November 3Toronto3–2MontrealHuet21,2737–3–317
14November 5Buffalo0–2MontrealHuet21,2738–3–319
15November 8Montreal2–1BostonPrice15,1839–3–321
16November 10Montreal1–3OttawaHuet20,0659–4–321
17November 13Montreal4–3TorontoOTPrice19,59510–4–323
18November 16Montreal1–4BuffaloHuet18,69010–5–323
19November 17Boston4–7MontrealPrice21,27311–5–325
20November 19Ottawa4–2MontrealHuet21,27311–6–325
21November 21Montreal4–1NY IslandersHuet13,15312–6–327
22November 23Montreal2–4BuffaloPrice18,69012–7–327
23November 24Buffalo3–0MontrealHuet21,27312–8–327
24November 27Montreal4–3TorontoSOPrice19,60813–8–329
25November 30Montreal0–4New JerseyPrice15,08113–9–329

* Unsuccessful penalty shot for Roman Hamrlik vs Philadelphia Flyers on November 1, 2007.

December

Monthly record: 6–4–4; Home: 1–3–2; Road: 5–1–2.
Season record: 19–13–7; Home: 6–7–4; Road: 13–6–3.

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
26December 1Nashville5–4MontrealSOHuet21,27313–9–430
27December 4Detroit4–1MontrealPrice21,27313–10–430
28December 6Montreal4–2BostonPrice14,97714–10–432
29December 8Carolina5–1MontrealPrice21,27314–11–432
30December 11Tampa Bay3–2MontrealSOPrice21,27314–11–533
31December 13Montreal4–1PhiladelphiaPrice19,32215–11–535
32December 15Toronto1–4MontrealPrice21,27316–11–537
33December 18Florida3–2MontrealPrice21,27316–12–537
34December 20Montreal5–2WashingtonHuet12,67017–12–539
35December 22Montreal2–3AtlantaSOHuet17,15317–12–640
36December 23Montreal1–4DallasPrice18,18517–13–640
37December 27Montreal5–2Tampa BayHuet20,29418–13–642
38December 28Montreal5–1FloridaHuet19,83819–13–644
39December 30Montreal3–4NY RangersOTHuet18,20019–13–745

January

Monthly record: 8–2–2; Home: 4–1–1; Road: 4–1–1.
Season record: 27–15–9; Home: 10–8–5; Road: 17–7–4.

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
40January 3Tampa Bay Lightning3–6MontrealHuet21,27320–13–747
41January 5Washington Capitals5–4MontrealOTPrice21,27320–13–848
42January 8Chicago Blackhawks3–4MontrealOTHuet21,27321–13–850
43January 10Montreal5–2Boston BruinsHuet17,56522–13–852
44January 12Montreal1–4New York RangersHuet18,20022–14–852
45January 15Montreal3–1New York IslandersHuet11,43923–14–854
46January 17Montreal3–2Atlanta ThrashersSOHuet16,18124–14–856
47January 19Pittsburgh Penguins2–0MontrealHuet21,27324–15–856
48January 22Boston Bruins2–8MontrealHuet21,27325–15–858
49January 24Montreal4–3New Jersey DevilsHuet14,25726–15–860
50January 29Washington Capitals0–4MontrealHuet21,27327–15–862
51January 31Montreal4–5Washington CapitalsOTHuet14,93027–15–963

February

Monthly record: 8–6–0; Home: 5–4–0; Road: 3–2–0.
Season record: 35–21–9; Home: 15–12–5; Road: 20–9–4.

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
52February 2New York Islanders1–4MontrealHuet21,27328–15–965
53February 3New York Rangers5–3MontrealHuet21,27328–16–965
54February 5Ottawa Senators3–4MontrealHuet21,27329–16–967
55February 7Toronto Maple Leafs4–2MontrealPrice21,27329–17–967
56February 9Montreal1–6Ottawa SenatorsHuet20,29229–18–967
57February 12Montreal2–3Tampa Bay LightningHuet17,42029–19–967
58February 13Montreal2–1Florida PanthersOTPrice17,10030–19–969
59February 16Philadelphia Flyers0–1MontrealPrice21,27331–19–971
60February 17Montreal5–3Philadelphia FlyersPrice19,61132–19–973
61February 19New York Rangers5–6MontrealSOHuet21,27333–19–975
62February 21Pittsburgh Penguins5–4MontrealHuet21,27333–20–975
63February 23Columbus Blue Jackets3–0MontrealPrice21,27333–21–975
64February 26Atlanta Thrashers1–5MontrealPrice21,27334–21–977
65February 29Montreal6–2Buffalo SabresPrice18,69035–21–979

March

Monthly record: 9–4–1; Home: 5–1–1; Road: 4–3–0.
Season record: 44–25–10; Home: 20–13–6; Road: 24–12–4.

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
66March 1New Jersey Devils1–2MontrealPrice21,27336–21–981
67March 3Montreal4–6San Jose SharksPrice17,49636–22–981
68March 6Montreal4–2Phoenix CoyotesPrice14,84137–22–983
69March 8Montreal5–2Los Angeles KingsHalak18,11838–22–985
70March 9Montreal1–3Anaheim DucksPrice17,17438–23–985
71March 11New Jersey Devils0–4MontrealPrice21,27339–23–987
72March 13Ottawa Senators3–0MontrealPrice21,27339–24–987
73March 15New York Islanders0–3MontrealHalak21,27340–24–989
74March 18St. Louis Blues4–3MontrealSOHalak21,27340–24–1090
75March 20Montreal4–2Boston BruinsPrice17,56541–24–1092
76March 22Boston Bruins2–3MontrealSOPrice21,27342–24–1094
77March 24Ottawa Senators5–7MontrealPrice21,27343–24–1096
78March 28Montreal4–3Buffalo SabresOTPrice18,69044–24–1098
79March 29Montreal2–4Toronto Maple LeafsHalak19,58444–25–1098

* Unsuccessful penalty shot for Chris Higgins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs on March 29, 2008.

April

Monthly record: 3–0–0; Home: 2–0–0; Road: 1–0–0.
Season record: 47–25–10; Home: 22–13–6; Road: 25–12–4.

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
80April 1Montreal3–0Ottawa SenatorsPrice20,23645–25–10100
81April 3Buffalo Sabres1–3MontrealPrice21,27346–25–10102
82April 5Toronto Maple Leafs1–3MontrealPrice21,27347–25–10104

Playoffs

The Montreal Canadiens clinched a playoff spot following a 7–5 victory against the Ottawa Senators on March 24, 2008, their 77th game of the season. They were the first team in the East to clinch a spot in the playoffs, won the Northeast Division and finished first in the Eastern Conference with 104 points, their highest total since the 1988–89 season.

Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (8) Boston Bruins

This was the 31st playoff meeting between these two Original Six rivals, with Montreal winning twenty-three of the thirty previous series. They last met in the 2004 Eastern Conference quarterfinals where Montreal won in seven games. Montreal won all eight games during this year's regular season series. The Canadiens held off Boston winning the series in seven games.

2008 Stanley Cup playoffs – Eastern Conference Quarter-finals vs. (8) Boston Bruins
#DateVenueVisitorScoreHomeOTBoston goals Montreal goalsDecisionAttendanceSeries
1April 10Bell CentreBoston Bruins1–4MontrealHnidyS. Kostitsyn, A. Kostitsyn, Smolinski, KostopoulosPrice21,273Montreal leads 1–0
2April 12Bell CentreBoston Bruins2–3Montreal1OTSchaefer, KrejciHamrlik, S. Kostitsyn, KovalevPrice21,273Montreal leads 2–0
3April 13TD Banknorth GardenMontreal1–2Boston Bruins1OTLucic, SavardKostopoulosPrice17,565Montreal leads 2–1
4April 15TD Banknorth GardenMontreal1–0Boston BruinsBriseboisPrice17,565Montreal leads 3–1
5April 17Bell CentreBoston Bruins5–1MontrealKessel, Metropolit, Chara, Sturm, SobotkaKovalevPrice21,273Montreal leads 3–2
6April 19TD Banknorth GardenMontreal4–5Boston BruinsKessel, Sobotka, Lucic, Kessel, SturmHiggins, Plekanec, Bouillon, HigginsPrice17,565Series tied 3–3
7April 21Bell CentreBoston Bruins0–5MontrealKomisarek, Streit, A. Kostitsyn (2), S. KostitsynPrice21,273Montreal wins 4–3

Eastern Conference Semi-finals: vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with Montreal winning three of the four previous series. They last met in the 1989 Prince of Wales Conference Final where Montreal won in six games. Montreal swept this year's four game regular season series. Despite this, the Flyers eliminated the Canadiens in five games.

2008 Stanley Cup playoffs – Eastern Conference Semi-finals vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers
#DateVenueVisitorScoreHomeOTPhiladelphia goals Montreal goalsDecisionAttendanceSeries
1April 24Bell CentrePhiladelphia Flyers3–4Montreal1OTUmberger, Dowd, LupulA. Kostitsyn, Kovalev (2), KostopoulosPrice21,273Montreal leads 1–0
2April 26Bell CentrePhiladelphia Flyers4–2MontrealUmberger (2), Carter, BriereKoivu, MarkovPrice21,273Series tied 1–1
3April 28Wachovia CenterMontreal2–3Philadelphia FlyersUpshall, Richards, UmbergerPlekanec, KoivuPrice19,849Philadelphia leads 2–1
4April 30Wachovia CenterMontreal2–4Philadelphia FlyersUmberger, Hartnell, Briere, UmbergerPlekanec, KoivuHalak19,872Philadelphia leads 3–1
5May 3Bell CentrePhiladelphia Flyers6–4MontrealUmberger, Richards, Umberger, Hartnell, Upshall, KnublePlekanec, Kovalev, Higgins, A. KostitsynPrice21,273Philadelphia wins 4–1

* Player scoring winning goal is shown in italics.

Player statistics

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Regular season

Skaters

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Goaltenders

PlayerGPTOIWLOTGASOSv%SAGAA
Carey Price412414241231033.92012822.56
Jaroslav Halak6285211101.9341512.11
Cristobal Huet39227721126972.91611502.55
Combined824976472510210*6.91925832.53

*The team has also allowed 6 game losing shootout goals and 6 empty net goals. These goals do not count towards a goalie's personal statistics.

Playoffs

Skaters

More information Player, GP ...

Goaltenders

PlayerGPTOIWLGASOSv%SAGAA
Carey Price1164856302.9013052.78
Jaroslav Halak2760030.889282.34
COMBINED1272457332.9003332.70

*The team has also allowed 2 empty net goals. These goals do not count towards a goalie's personal statistics.

Awards and records

Awards

Team awards

On April 5, following the final home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team announced its award winners for the season.

More information Player, Award ...

National Hockey League awards

Records

  • February 19 win against the New York Rangers was the largest comeback in franchise history after being down 0–5.[4]

Milestones

Regular season
PlayerMilestoneReached
Roman Hamrlik1,000th NHL career gameOctober 3, 2007
Carey Price1st NHL career game
1st NHL career win
October 10, 2007
Kyle Chipchura1st NHL career gameOctober 10, 2007
Kyle Chipchura1st NHL career goal
1st NHL career point
October 20, 2007
Mikhail Grabovski1st NHL career pointOctober 20, 2007
Bryan Smolinski1,000th NHL career gameOctober 22, 2007
Mikhail Grabovski1st NHL career goalOctober 22, 2007
Alexei Kovalev1,000th NHL career game
800th NHL career point
October 26, 2007
Alexei Kovalev100th NHL power play career goalNovember 17, 2007
Ryan O'Byrne1st NHL career game
1st NHL career point
December 6, 2007
Sergei Kostitsyn1st NHL career gameDecember 13, 2007
Sergei Kostitsyn1st NHL career pointDecember 15, 2007
Mathieu Dandenault800th NHL career gameDecember 20, 2007
Sergei Kostitsyn1st NHL career goalDecember 20, 2007
Saku Koivu400th NHL career assistJanuary 3, 2008
Corey Locke1st career NHL gameJanuary 3, 2008
Francis Bouillon400th NHL career gameJanuary 22, 2008
Saku Koivu700th NHL career gameJanuary 31, 2008
Carey Price1st NHL career assist
1st NHL career point
February 9, 2008
Carey Price1st NHL career shutoutFebruary 16, 2008
Ryan O'Byrne1st NHL goalMarch 3, 2008
Alexei Kovalev500th NHL career assistMarch 6, 2008
Patrice Brisebois400th NHL career pointMarch 8, 2008
Matt D'Agostini1st NHL career gameApril 3, 2008
Gregory Stewart1st NHL career gameApril 5, 2008
Maxime Lapierre100th NHL career gameApril 5, 2008
Playoffs
PlayerMilestoneReached
Mike Komisarek1st NHL career playoff assist
1st NHL career playoff point
April 10, 2008
Andrei Kostitsyn1st NHL career playoff game
1st NHL career playoff goal
1st NHL career playoff point
April 10, 2008
Sergei Kostitsyn1st NHL career playoff game
1st NHL career playoff goal
1st NHL career playoff point
April 10, 2008
Tom Kostopoulos1st NHL career playoff game
1st NHL career playoff goal
1st NHL career playoff assist
1st NHL career playoff point
April 10, 2008
Maxim Lapierre1st NHL career playoff game
1st NHL career playoff assist
1st NHL career playoff point
April 10, 2008
Guillaume Latendresse1st NHL career playoff gameApril 10, 2008
Carey Price1st NHL career playoff game
1st NHL career playoff win
April 10, 2008
Mark Streit1st NHL career playoff assist
1st NHL career playoff point
April 10, 2008
Andrei Kostitsyn1st NHL career playoff assistApril 15, 2008
Ryan O'Byrne1st NHL career playoff gameApril 15, 2008
Carey Price1st NHL career playoff shutoutApril 15, 2008
Sergei Kostitsyn1st NHL career playoff assistApril 19, 2008
Tomas Plekanec1st NHL career playoff goalApril 19, 2008
Mike Komisarek1st NHL career playoff goalApril 21, 2008
Mark Streit1st NHL career playoff goalApril 21, 2008
Jaroslav Halak1st NHL career playoff gameApril 28, 2008
Guillaume Latendresse1st NHL career playoff assist
1st NHL career playoff point
April 28, 2008

Transactions

The Canadiens have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007–08 season.

Trades

June 16, 2007 To Chicago Blackhawks
Sergei Samsonov
To Montreal Canadiens
Jassen Cullimore
Tony Salmelainen
June 23, 2007 To Carolina Hurricanes
Michael Leighton
To Montreal Canadiens
192nd overall pick in 2007
November 15, 2007 To Florida Panthers
Garth Murray
To Montreal Canadiens
Claimed off waivers
February 8, 2008 To Detroit Red Wings
Francis Lemieux
To Montreal Canadiens
Brett Engelhardt
February 18, 2008 To Phoenix Coyotes
Cory Urquhart
To Montreal Canadiens
Olivier Latendresse
February 26, 2008 To Washington Capitals
Cristobal Huet
To Montreal Canadiens
2nd-round pick in 2009

Free agents

Free agent acquisitions

PlayerFormer teamContract terms
Roman HamrlikCalgary Flames4 years, $22 million
Bryan SmolinskiVancouver Canucks1 year, $2 million
Tom KostopoulosLos Angeles Kings2 years, $1.8 million
Jamie RiversSt. Louis Blues1 year, $525,000
Patrice BriseboisColorado Avalanche1 year, $700,000
Brock TrotterUniversity of Denver3 years, minor league contract

Players lost to free agency

PlayerNew team
Radek BonkNashville Predators
Dan JancevskiTampa Bay Lightning
Sheldon SourayEdmonton Oilers
David AebischerPhoenix Coyotes
Mike JohnsonSt. Louis Blues
Janne NiinimaaHC Davos

Draft picks

Montreal's picks at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio.[5]

More information Round, # ...

Farm teams

Hamilton Bulldogs

The Hamilton Bulldogs remain Montreal's top affiliate in the American Hockey League in 2007–08.

Cincinnati Cyclones

Montreal has a joint affiliation with the Nashville Predators for the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL in 2007–08.

See also


References

  1. "2007-08 NHL Summary".
  2. "2008 Eastern Conference All-Stars". NHL.com. January 11, 2008. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved January 11, 2008.
  3. "Habs' confidence soaring after historic win". CBC News. February 21, 2008. Retrieved February 21, 2008.
  4. 2007 NHL Entry Draft Results nhl.com [dead link]

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