2006–07 Montreal Canadiens season
NHL hockey team season
The 2006–07 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 98th season , 90th in the National Hockey League (NHL). The club finished fourth in the Northeast division and missed qualification for the playoffs by two points after losing the final game of the regular season 6–5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs .
Pre-season
The Canadiens were only minimally active in offseason transactions, with forwards Sergei Samsonov and Mike Johnson and defenceman Janne Niinimaa representing the only additions. Forwards Jan Bulis , Richard Zednik and Mike Ribeiro moved to other teams: Bulis via free agency to Vancouver , Zednik via a trade to Washington and Ribeiro via a trade to Dallas (for Niinimaa).
Regular season
The club intended to build on a 2005–06 season in which it took the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes to six games in the first round of the playoffs . Behind the leadership of goaltender Cristobal Huet and captain Saku Koivu , the Canadiens poised themselves to join the elite of the Eastern Conference .
However, the team failed to keep its momentum for the whole season. Cristobal Huet's injury on February 15, 2007, forced the Canadiens to use backup goaltenders Jaroslav Halak and David Aebischer . Despite Halak's decent performance, the Canadiens could not clinch a playoff spot. They were eliminated on April 8 after a 6–5 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the season's last game.
On January 9, 2007, the NHL announced that Sheldon Souray had been voted by the fans to start at defence in the 2007 All-Star Game in Dallas .[ 2]
The Canadiens finished the regular season with the NHL's best power-play percentage, at 22.75% (86 for 378), and tied the Ottawa Senators for most shorthanded goals scored, with 17.[ 3]
Standings
[ 4]
Note: No. = Division rank, CR = Conference rank, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast
P – Clinched Presidents Trophy ; Y – Clinched Division ; X – Clinched Playoff spot
Schedule and results
2006–07 regular season[ 6]
October: 6–2–3 (home: 3–1–2; road: 3–1–1)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Points
Recap
1
October 6
Montreal
4–5
Buffalo
SO
Huet
18,690
0–0–1
1
Recap
2
October 7
Montreal
3–2
Toronto
SO
Aebischer
19,353
1–0–1
3
Recap
3
October 11
Montreal
3–1
Philadelphia
Aebischer
19,256
2–0–1
5
Recap
4
October 14
Ottawa
3–2
Montreal
SO
Huet
21,273
2–0–2
6
Recap
5
October 17
Calgary
4–5
Montreal
Huet
21,273
3–0–2
8
Recap
6
October 18
Montreal
1–2
Chicago
Aebischer
11,095
3–1–2
8
Recap
7
October 21
Colorado
5–8
Montreal
Aebischer
21,273
4–1–2
10
Recap
8
October 23
Buffalo
4–1
Montreal
Huet
21,273
4–2–2
10
Recap
9
October 26
Montreal
3–2
Boston
Huet
13,920
5–2–2
12
Recap
10
October 28
Toronto
5–4
Montreal
SO
Aebischer
21,273
5–2–3
13
Recap
11
October 31
Ottawa
2–4
Montreal
Aebischer
21,273
6–2–3
15
Recap
November: 8–5–0 (home: 4–2–0; road: 4–3–0)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Points
Recap
12
November 2
Montreal
4–0
Carolina
Huet
6,486
7–2–3
17
Recap
13
November 4
New Jersey
2–1
Montreal
Huet
21,271
7–3–3
17
Recap
14
November 7
Edmonton
2–3
Montreal
SO
Aebischer
21,273
8–3–3
19
Recap
15
November 11
Montreal
1–5
Toronto
Aebischer
19,501
8–4–3
19
Recap
16
November 13
Montreal
6–3
Ottawa
Huet
20,051
9–4–3
21
Recap
17
November 15
Montreal
3–1
Tampa Bay
Huet
19,920
10–4–3
23
Recap
18
November 16
Montreal
1–5
Florida
Aebischer
13,506
10–5–3
23
Recap
19
November 18
Atlanta
1–3
Montreal
Huet
21,273
11–5–3
25
Recap
20
November 22
Minnesota
2–4
Montreal
Huet
21,273
12–5–3
27
Recap
21
November 24
Montreal
2–1
Buffalo
OT
Huet
18,690
13–5–3
29
Recap
22
November 25
Philadelphia
4–2
Montreal
Aebischer
21,273
13–6–3
29
Recap
23
November 28
Florida
0–1
Montreal
SO
Huet
21,273
14–6–3
31
Recap
24
November 30
Montreal
2–4
Carolina
Huet
13,103
14–7–3
31
Recap
December: 8–4–2 (home: 5–1–1; road: 3–3–1)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Points
Recap
25
December 2
Toronto
3–4
Montreal
SO
Huet
21,273
15–7–3
33
Recap
26
December 4
Boston
6–5
Montreal
Aebischer
21,273
15–8–3
33
Recap
27
December 6
Montreal
1–2
New Jersey
OT
Aebischer
10,986
15–8–4
34
Recap
28
December 7
Montreal
4–2
NY Islanders
Huet
9,551
16–8–4
36
Recap
29
December 9
Buffalo
3–2
Montreal
SO
Huet
21,273
16–8–5
37
Recap
30
December 12
Boston
3–4
Montreal
Aebischer
21,273
17–8–5
39
Recap
31
December 14
Tampa Bay
2–4
Montreal
Huet
21,273
18–8–5
41
Recap
32
December 16
Pittsburgh
3–6
Montreal
Huet
21,273
19–8–5
43
Recap
33
December 19
Montreal
5–2
Buffalo
Huet
18,690
20–8–5
45
Recap
34
December 21
Philadelphia
2–4
Montreal
Aebischer
21,273
21–8–5
47
Recap
35
December 23
Montreal
2–4
Boston
Huet
17,565
21–9–5
47
Recap
36
December 27
Montreal
4–1
Washington
Huet
15,609
22–9–5
49
Recap
37
December 29
Montreal
1–3
Florida
Huet
19,772
22–10–5
49
Recap
38
December 30
Montreal
1–3
Tampa Bay
Huet
21,120
22–11–5
49
Recap
January: 6–7–0 (home: 4–3–0; road: 2–4–0)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Points
Recap
39
January 2
Tampa Bay
2–5
Montreal
Huet
21,273
23–11–5
51
Recap
40
January 4
Montreal
1–5
Washington
Huet
11,287
23–12–5
51
Recap
41
January 6
NY Rangers
4–3
Montreal
Aebischer
21,273
23–13–5
51
Recap
42
January 7
New Jersey
3–0
Montreal
Huet
21,273
23–14–5
51
Recap
43
January 9
Atlanta
2–4
Montreal
Huet
21,273
24–14–5
53
Recap
44
January 11
Montreal
4–2
Philadelphia
Aebischer
19,411
25–14–5
55
Recap
45
January 13
Montreal
3–8
Ottawa
Huet
20,038
25–15–5
55
Recap
46
January 15
Montreal
0–2
Detroit
Aebischer
20,066
25–16–5
55
Recap
47
January 16
Vancouver
4–0
Montreal
Huet
21,273
25–17–5
55
Recap
48
January 18
Montreal
4–1
Atlanta
Huet
14,025
26–17–5
57
Recap
49
January 20
Buffalo
3–4
Montreal
Huet
21,273
27–17–5
59
Recap
50
January 27
Montreal
1–4
Toronto
Huet
19,508
27–18–5
59
Recap
51
January 29
Ottawa
1–3
Montreal
Aebischer
21,273
28–18–5
61
Recap
February: 5–9–1 (home: 3–5–0; road: 2–4–1)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Points
Recap
52
February 1
Montreal
4–5
Pittsburgh
SO
Aebischer
17,132
28–18–6
62
Recap
53
February 3
NY Islanders
4–2
Montreal
Huet
21,273
28–19–6
62
Recap
54
February 4
Pittsburgh
3–4
Montreal
OT
Aebischer
21,273
29–19–6
64
Recap
55
February 6
Carolina
2–1
Montreal
Aebischer
21,273
29–20–6
64
Recap
56
February 8
Montreal
1–4
Ottawa
Huet
19,915
29–21–6
64
Recap
57
February 10
Ottawa
5–3
Montreal
Aebischer
21,273
29–22–6
64
Recap
58
February 13
Florida
1–0
Montreal
Huet
21,273
29–23–6
64
Recap
59
February 14
Montreal
2–5
New Jersey
Huet
7,515
29–24–6
64
Recap
60
February 17
Carolina
5–3
Montreal
Aebischer
21,273
29–25–6
64
Recap
61
February 18
Montreal
3–2
Columbus
Halak
16,116
30–25–6
66
Recap
62
February 20
Washington
3–5
Montreal
Halak
21,273
31–25–6
68
Recap
63
February 22
Montreal
6–5
Nashville
SO
Halak
15,808
32–25–6
70
Recap
64
February 24
Montreal
2–3
NY Islanders
Halak
16,234
32–26–6
70
Recap
65
February 26
Toronto
5–4
Montreal
Aebischer
21,273
33–26–6
72
Recap
66
February 27
Montreal
0–4
NY Rangers
Halak
18,200
33–27–6
72
Recap
March: 8–5–0 (home: 6–0–0; road: 2–5–0)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Points
Recap
67
March 2
Montreal
5–8
Buffalo
Aebischer
18,690
33–28–6
72
Recap
68
March 3
Montreal
1–3
Boston
Halak
17,565
33–29–6
72
Recap
69
March 8
Montreal
2–6
Atlanta
Halak
14,528
33–30–6
72
Recap
70
March 10
Montreal
4–3
St. Louis
Aebischer
19,421
34–30–6
74
Recap
71
March 13
NY Islanders
3–5
Montreal
Aebischer
21,273
35–30–6
76
Recap
72
March 16
Montreal
3–6
Pittsburgh
Aebischer
17,132
35–31–6
76
Recap
73
March 17
Toronto
2–3
Montreal
SO
Halak
21,273
36–31–6
78
Recap
74
March 20
Boston
0–1
Montreal
Halak
21,273
37–31–6
80
Recap
75
March 22
Montreal
6–3
Boston
Halak
17,026
38–31–6
82
Recap
76
March 24
Washington
1–4
Montreal
Halak
21,273
39–31–6
84
Recap
77
March 27
Rangers
4–6
Montreal
Halak
21,273
40–31–6
86
Recap
78
March 30
Montreal
2–5
Ottawa
Halak
20,185
40–32–6
86
Recap
79
March 31
Buffalo
3–4
Montreal
Halak
21,273
41–32–6
88
Recap
April: 1–2–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 0–2–0)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Points
Recap
80
April 3
Boston
0–2
Montreal
Halak
21,273
42–32–6
90
Recap
81
April 5
Montreal
1–3
NY Rangers
Halak
18,200
42–33–6
90
Recap
82
April 7
Montreal
5–6
Toronto
Huet
19,723
42–34–6
90
Recap
Legend :
Win (2 points)
Loss (0 points)
Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)
Player statistics
Scoring
Position abbreviations: C = Centre ; D = Defence ; G = Goaltender ; LW = Left wing ; RW = Right wing
† = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only.
‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only.
Goaltending
Awards and records
Awards
Milestones
Transactions
The Canadiens were involved in the following transactions from June 20, 2006, the day after the deciding game of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals , through June 6, 2007, the day of the deciding game of the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals .[ 15]
Trades
Players acquired
Players lost
Signings
Draft picks
Montreal's picks at the 2006 NHL entry draft in Vancouver , British Columbia .[ 47] The Canadiens had the 16th overall draft pick, which they traded to the San Jose Sharks for the 20th and 53rd overall picks.
See also
Notes
^ Gauthier served as interim general manager from December 10 to January 1 while Gainey took a leave of absence following the death of his daughter.[ 1]
^ Souray was voted to the starting lineup.[ 9]
^ In parentheses is the player's free agency group on July 1 if applicable.[ 26]
References
^ "Canadiens GM returns to work after daughter's death" . ESPN . January 2, 2006. Retrieved March 20, 2024 .
^ TSN : NHL – Canada's Sports Leader
^ "2006-07 NHL Summary" .
^ Standings: NHL Public Relations Department (2008). Dave McCarthy; et al. (eds.). THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Official Guide & Record Book/2009 . National Hockey League. p. 157. ISBN 978-1-894801-14-0 .
^ "NHL Hockey Standings" . NHL.com . Retrieved July 22, 2024 .
^ "2006-07 Montreal Canadiens Schedule" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved July 12, 2024 .
^ "King Clancy Memorial Trophy" . records.nhl.com . Retrieved August 4, 2024 .
^ "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 2007" . NHL.com . Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2024 .
^ "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)" . NHL.com . Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2024 .
^ "NHL Three Stars of the Month" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved August 4, 2024 .
^ "NHL Three Stars of the Week" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved August 4, 2024 .
^ Montreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.553
^ Montreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.552
^ "2006-07 NHL Debuts" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ "Hockey Transactions Search Results" . Pro Sports Transactions . Retrieved September 5, 2024 .
^ McKeon, Ross (June 25, 2006). "Sharks pick defenseman / San Jose trades up to grab 'ecstatic' youngster Wishart" . SFGATE . Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ "2006 NHL Entry Draft Recap" . Philadelphia Flyers . June 26, 2006. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2024 .
^ a b c d "Canadiens change look with busy day of deals" . Victoria News Daily. July 13, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Canadiens acquire defenseman Janne Niinimaa" . Canadiens de Montreal . September 30, 2006. Archived from the original on October 24, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "Montreal Mathieu Biron from San Jose for Patrick Traverse" . OurSports Central . December 15, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "Canadiens acquire Josh Gorges from Sharks" . Canadiens de Montreal . February 25, 2007. Archived from the original on February 28, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ a b c "Canadiens acquire forward Ryan Russell, sign free agent Janne Lahti" . Canadiens de Montreal . May 31, 2007. Archived from the original on June 3, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ a b c d "Danis, Milroy, Archer and Jancevski sign with Canadiens" . OurSports Central . July 13, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "Patrick Traverse est de retour" . RDS.ca (in French). September 28, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "Habs claim goalie Leighton off waivers from Flyers" . Canadiens de Montreal . February 27, 2007. Archived from the original on March 3, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "NHL RELEASES FREE AGENT LIST" . NHL.com . July 1, 2006. Archived from the original on July 5, 2006. Retrieved September 5, 2024 .
^ "ACTIVITY" . The Globe and Mail . July 14, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 . Los Angeles Kings--Signed F Raitis Ivanans to a one-year contract.
^ "Vandermeer lands with Capitals" . theahl.com . July 21, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "Bulis bolts Habs for Canucks" . CBC.ca . July 24, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "Olivier Michaud avec Saint-Jean" . RDS.ca (in French). September 7, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "Hannover Scorpions: Scorpions verpflichten Todd Simpson - Robuster Stay-at-home-Verteidiger" . EISHOCKEY INFO (in German). September 19, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "Pierre Dagenais jokerimiehistöön" . Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta (in Finnish). October 17, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "Jeff Paul" . TSN.ca . Archived from the original on May 10, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2024 . 18-Oct-06: Signed with the Tilburg Trappers (Netherlands).
^ "Johnathan Aitken" . TSN.ca . Archived from the original on May 7, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2024 . 26-Oct-06: Signed with the EC KAC Klagenfurt (Austria).
^ "Habs hold on to Huet" . Canadiens de Montreal . June 25, 2006. Archived from the original on June 29, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "TRANSACTIONS" . The New York Times . June 30, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 . MONTREAL CANADIENS--Signed F Jonathan Ferland to a one-year contract.
^ "TRANSACTIONS" . Hartford Courant . July 2, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 . MONTREAL CANADIENS–Signed D Francis Bouillon to a three-year contract.
^ a b "ACTIVITY" . The Globe and Mail . July 7, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 . Montreal Canadiens--Signed C Mike Ribeiro and D Jean-Philippe Cote to one-year contracts.
^ a b c d e "TRANSACTIONS" . The New York Times . July 11, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 . MONTREAL CANADIENS - Signed F Chris Higgins and D Mike Komisarek to one-year contracts; C Mikhail Grabovski to a two-year contract and C Mathieu Aubin and RW Matt D'Agostini to three-year contracts.
^ "TRANSACTIONS" . The New York Times . July 18, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 . MONTREAL CANADIENS--Signed F Alexander Perezhogin to a one-year contract.
^ "Habs, Ryder avoid arbitration" . Canadiens de Montreal . July 23, 2006. Archived from the original on August 8, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "Canadiens sign O'Byrne to two-year deal" . Canadiens de Montreal . August 9, 2006. Archived from the original on August 25, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "Latendresse reste" . RDS.ca (in French). September 29, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "Habs Assign Defenceman Mathieu Carle To Dogs" . OurSports Central . May 8, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "Canadiens sign CHL's top assist man" . CBC.ca . May 26, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "Canadiens lock up Markov" . Canadiens de Montreal . May 28, 2007. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2024 .
^ "2006 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com" . www.hockeydb.com . Retrieved July 22, 2024 .
External links
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