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.
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
Eastern Conference
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.
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
1
October 3
Montreal
3–2
Carolina
OT
Huet
18,680
1–0–0
2
2
October 6
Montreal
3–4
Toronto
OT
Huet
19,476
1–0–1
3
3
October 10
Montreal
3–2
Pittsburgh
Price
17,006
2–0–1
5
4
October 13
Carolina
3–1
Montreal
Huet
21,273
2–1–1
5
5
October 16
Florida
2–1
Montreal
SO
Huet
21,273
2–1–2
6
6
October 18
Montreal
3–4
Ottawa
Price
20,019
2–2–2
6
7
October 20
Buffalo
2–4
Montreal
Huet
21,273
3–2–2
8
8
October 22
Boston
1–6
Montreal
Huet
21,273
4–2–2
10
9
October 26
Montreal
7–4
Carolina
Huet
16,796
5–2–2
12
10
October 27
Montreal
4–3
Pittsburgh
SO
Price
17,085
6–2–2
14
11
October 30
Atlanta
3–2
Montreal
SO
Price
21,273
6–2–3
15
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.
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
12
November 1
Philadelphia
2–5
Montreal
Huet
21,273
7–2–3
17
13
November 3
Toronto
3–2
Montreal
Huet
21,273
7–3–3
17
14
November 5
Buffalo
0–2
Montreal
Huet
21,273
8–3–3
19
15
November 8
Montreal
2–1
Boston
Price
15,183
9–3–3
21
16
November 10
Montreal
1–3
Ottawa
Huet
20,065
9–4–3
21
17
November 13
Montreal
4–3
Toronto
OT
Price
19,595
10–4–3
23
18
November 16
Montreal
1–4
Buffalo
Huet
18,690
10–5–3
23
19
November 17
Boston
4–7
Montreal
Price
21,273
11–5–3
25
20
November 19
Ottawa
4–2
Montreal
Huet
21,273
11–6–3
25
21
November 21
Montreal
4–1
NY Islanders
Huet
13,153
12–6–3
27
22
November 23
Montreal
2–4
Buffalo
Price
18,690
12–7–3
27
23
November 24
Buffalo
3–0
Montreal
Huet
21,273
12–8–3
27
24
November 27
Montreal
4–3
Toronto
SO
Price
19,608
13–8–3
29
25
November 30
Montreal
0–4
New Jersey
Price
15,081
13–9–3
29
* 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.
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
26
December 1
Nashville
5–4
Montreal
SO
Huet
21,273
13–9–4
30
27
December 4
Detroit
4–1
Montreal
Price
21,273
13–10–4
30
28
December 6
Montreal
4–2
Boston
Price
14,977
14–10–4
32
29
December 8
Carolina
5–1
Montreal
Price
21,273
14–11–4
32
30
December 11
Tampa Bay
3–2
Montreal
SO
Price
21,273
14–11–5
33
31
December 13
Montreal
4–1
Philadelphia
Price
19,322
15–11–5
35
32
December 15
Toronto
1–4
Montreal
Price
21,273
16–11–5
37
33
December 18
Florida
3–2
Montreal
Price
21,273
16–12–5
37
34
December 20
Montreal
5–2
Washington
Huet
12,670
17–12–5
39
35
December 22
Montreal
2–3
Atlanta
SO
Huet
17,153
17–12–6
40
36
December 23
Montreal
1–4
Dallas
Price
18,185
17–13–6
40
37
December 27
Montreal
5–2
Tampa Bay
Huet
20,294
18–13–6
42
38
December 28
Montreal
5–1
Florida
Huet
19,838
19–13–6
44
39
December 30
Montreal
3–4
NY Rangers
OT
Huet
18,200
19–13–7
45
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.
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
40
January 3
Tampa Bay Lightning
3–6
Montreal
Huet
21,273
20–13–7
47
41
January 5
Washington Capitals
5–4
Montreal
OT
Price
21,273
20–13–8
48
42
January 8
Chicago Blackhawks
3–4
Montreal
OT
Huet
21,273
21–13–8
50
43
January 10
Montreal
5–2
Boston Bruins
Huet
17,565
22–13–8
52
44
January 12
Montreal
1–4
New York Rangers
Huet
18,200
22–14–8
52
45
January 15
Montreal
3–1
New York Islanders
Huet
11,439
23–14–8
54
46
January 17
Montreal
3–2
Atlanta Thrashers
SO
Huet
16,181
24–14–8
56
47
January 19
Pittsburgh Penguins
2–0
Montreal
Huet
21,273
24–15–8
56
48
January 22
Boston Bruins
2–8
Montreal
Huet
21,273
25–15–8
58
49
January 24
Montreal
4–3
New Jersey Devils
Huet
14,257
26–15–8
60
50
January 29
Washington Capitals
0–4
Montreal
Huet
21,273
27–15–8
62
51
January 31
Montreal
4–5
Washington Capitals
OT
Huet
14,930
27–15–9
63
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.
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
52
February 2
New York Islanders
1–4
Montreal
Huet
21,273
28–15–9
65
53
February 3
New York Rangers
5–3
Montreal
Huet
21,273
28–16–9
65
54
February 5
Ottawa Senators
3–4
Montreal
Huet
21,273
29–16–9
67
55
February 7
Toronto Maple Leafs
4–2
Montreal
Price
21,273
29–17–9
67
56
February 9
Montreal
1–6
Ottawa Senators
Huet
20,292
29–18–9
67
57
February 12
Montreal
2–3
Tampa Bay Lightning
Huet
17,420
29–19–9
67
58
February 13
Montreal
2–1
Florida Panthers
OT
Price
17,100
30–19–9
69
59
February 16
Philadelphia Flyers
0–1
Montreal
Price
21,273
31–19–9
71
60
February 17
Montreal
5–3
Philadelphia Flyers
Price
19,611
32–19–9
73
61
February 19
New York Rangers
5–6
Montreal
SO
Huet
21,273
33–19–9
75
62
February 21
Pittsburgh Penguins
5–4
Montreal
Huet
21,273
33–20–9
75
63
February 23
Columbus Blue Jackets
3–0
Montreal
Price
21,273
33–21–9
75
64
February 26
Atlanta Thrashers
1–5
Montreal
Price
21,273
34–21–9
77
65
February 29
Montreal
6–2
Buffalo Sabres
Price
18,690
35–21–9
79
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.
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
66
March 1
New Jersey Devils
1–2
Montreal
Price
21,273
36–21–9
81
67
March 3
Montreal
4–6
San Jose Sharks
Price
17,496
36–22–9
81
68
March 6
Montreal
4–2
Phoenix Coyotes
Price
14,841
37–22–9
83
69
March 8
Montreal
5–2
Los Angeles Kings
Halak
18,118
38–22–9
85
70
March 9
Montreal
1–3
Anaheim Ducks
Price
17,174
38–23–9
85
71
March 11
New Jersey Devils
0–4
Montreal
Price
21,273
39–23–9
87
72
March 13
Ottawa Senators
3–0
Montreal
Price
21,273
39–24–9
87
73
March 15
New York Islanders
0–3
Montreal
Halak
21,273
40–24–9
89
74
March 18
St. Louis Blues
4–3
Montreal
SO
Halak
21,273
40–24–10
90
75
March 20
Montreal
4–2
Boston Bruins
Price
17,565
41–24–10
92
76
March 22
Boston Bruins
2–3
Montreal
SO
Price
21,273
42–24–10
94
77
March 24
Ottawa Senators
5–7
Montreal
Price
21,273
43–24–10
96
78
March 28
Montreal
4–3
Buffalo Sabres
OT
Price
18,690
44–24–10
98
79
March 29
Montreal
2–4
Toronto Maple Leafs
Halak
19,584
44–25–10
98
* 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.
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
80
April 1
Montreal
3–0
Ottawa Senators
Price
20,236
45–25–10
100
81
April 3
Buffalo Sabres
1–3
Montreal
Price
21,273
46–25–10
102
82
April 5
Toronto Maple Leafs
1–3
Montreal
Price
21,273
47–25–10
104
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 .
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
#
Date
Venue
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Boston goals
Montreal goals
Decision
Attendance
Series
1
April 10
Bell Centre
Boston Bruins
1–4
Montreal
Hnidy
S. Kostitsyn , A. Kostitsyn , Smolinski , Kostopoulos
Price
21,273
Montreal leads 1–0
2
April 12
Bell Centre
Boston Bruins
2–3
Montreal
1OT
Schaefer , Krejci
Hamrlik , S. Kostitsyn , Kovalev
Price
21,273
Montreal leads 2–0
3
April 13
TD Banknorth Garden
Montreal
1–2
Boston Bruins
1OT
Lucic , Savard
Kostopoulos
Price
17,565
Montreal leads 2–1
4
April 15
TD Banknorth Garden
Montreal
1–0
Boston Bruins
Brisebois
Price
17,565
Montreal leads 3–1
5
April 17
Bell Centre
Boston Bruins
5–1
Montreal
Kessel , Metropolit , Chara , Sturm , Sobotka
Kovalev
Price
21,273
Montreal leads 3–2
6
April 19
TD Banknorth Garden
Montreal
4–5
Boston Bruins
Kessel, Sobotka, Lucic, Kessel, Sturm
Higgins , Plekanec , Bouillon , Higgins
Price
17,565
Series tied 3–3
7
April 21
Bell Centre
Boston Bruins
0–5
Montreal
Komisarek , Streit , A. Kostitsyn (2), S. Kostitsyn
Price
21,273
Montreal wins 4–3
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
#
Date
Venue
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Philadelphia goals
Montreal goals
Decision
Attendance
Series
1
April 24
Bell Centre
Philadelphia Flyers
3–4
Montreal
1OT
Umberger , Dowd , Lupul
A. Kostitsyn, Kovalev (2), Kostopoulos
Price
21,273
Montreal leads 1–0
2
April 26
Bell Centre
Philadelphia Flyers
4–2
Montreal
Umberger (2), Carter , Briere
Koivu, Markov
Price
21,273
Series tied 1–1
3
April 28
Wachovia Center
Montreal
2–3
Philadelphia Flyers
Upshall, Richards, Umberger
Plekanec, Koivu
Price
19,849
Philadelphia leads 2–1
4
April 30
Wachovia Center
Montreal
2–4
Philadelphia Flyers
Umberger, Hartnell , Briere, Umberger
Plekanec, Koivu
Halak
19,872
Philadelphia leads 3–1
5
May 3
Bell Centre
Philadelphia Flyers
6–4
Montreal
Umberger, Richards, Umberger, Hartnell, Upshall , Knuble
Plekanec, Kovalev, Higgins, A. Kostitsyn
Price
21,273
Philadelphia wins 4–1
* Player scoring winning goal is shown in italics.
Player statistics
Regular season
Skaters
One winning goal in SO for Andrei Markov on October 27, 2007, vs Pittsburgh Penguins .
Tom Kostopoulos was suspended for one game on November 19, 2007, vs Ottawa Senators for a fight in the last 5 minutes of the previous game vs Boston Bruins .
Two winning goals in SO for Andrei Kostitsyn on November 27, 2007, vs Toronto Maple Leafs and on January 17, 2008, vs Atlanta Thrashers . On January 31, 2008, vs Washington Capitals , his brother Sergei and him became the first brothers to score a goal each in the same game with the Montreal Canadiens uniform since Peter and Frank Mahovlich in March 1974.
Corey Locke was on the official lineup on December 30, 2007, vs New York Rangers but did not play.
One penalty shot goal for Sergei Kostitsyn on February 3, 2008, vs New York Rangers .
One winning goal in SO for Saku Koivu on February 19, 2008, vs New York Rangers .
One winning goal in SO for Saku Koivu on March 22, 2008, vs Boston Bruins .
Goaltenders
Player
GP
TOI
W
L
OT
GA
SO
Sv%
SA
GAA
Carey Price
41
2414
24
12
3
103
3
.920
1282
2.56
Jaroslav Halak
6
285
2
1
1
10
1
.934
151
2.11
Cristobal Huet
39
2277
21
12
6
97
2
.916
1150
2.55
Combined
82
4976
47
25
10
210*
6
.919
2583
2.53
*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
Goaltenders
Player
GP
TOI
W
L
GA
SO
Sv%
SA
GAA
Carey Price
11
648
5
6
30
2
.901
305
2.78
Jaroslav Halak
2
76
0
0
3
0
.889
28
2.34
COMBINED
12
724
5
7
33
2
.900
333
2.70
*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.
Player
Award
Notes
Alexei Kovalev
Molson Cup
Awarded to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and with the most "three stars" recognitions.
Mark Streit (2)
Jacques Beauchamp Trophy
Awarded by the Sports Writers Association of Montreal to a player for recognition of his outstanding achievement in the game of hockey.
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
Player
Milestone
Reached
Roman Hamrlik
1,000th NHL career game
October 3, 2007
Carey Price
1st NHL career game 1st NHL career win
October 10, 2007
Kyle Chipchura
1st NHL career game
October 10, 2007
Kyle Chipchura
1st NHL career goal 1st NHL career point
October 20, 2007
Mikhail Grabovski
1st NHL career point
October 20, 2007
Bryan Smolinski
1,000th NHL career game
October 22, 2007
Mikhail Grabovski
1st NHL career goal
October 22, 2007
Alexei Kovalev
1,000th NHL career game 800th NHL career point
October 26, 2007
Alexei Kovalev
100th NHL power play career goal
November 17, 2007
Ryan O'Byrne
1st NHL career game 1st NHL career point
December 6, 2007
Sergei Kostitsyn
1st NHL career game
December 13, 2007
Sergei Kostitsyn
1st NHL career point
December 15, 2007
Mathieu Dandenault
800th NHL career game
December 20, 2007
Sergei Kostitsyn
1st NHL career goal
December 20, 2007
Saku Koivu
400th NHL career assist
January 3, 2008
Corey Locke
1st career NHL game
January 3, 2008
Francis Bouillon
400th NHL career game
January 22, 2008
Saku Koivu
700th NHL career game
January 31, 2008
Carey Price
1st NHL career assist 1st NHL career point
February 9, 2008
Carey Price
1st NHL career shutout
February 16, 2008
Ryan O'Byrne
1st NHL goal
March 3, 2008
Alexei Kovalev
500th NHL career assist
March 6, 2008
Patrice Brisebois
400th NHL career point
March 8, 2008
Matt D'Agostini
1st NHL career game
April 3, 2008
Gregory Stewart
1st NHL career game
April 5, 2008
Maxime Lapierre
100th NHL career game
April 5, 2008
Playoffs
Player
Milestone
Reached
Mike Komisarek
1st NHL career playoff assist 1st NHL career playoff point
April 10, 2008
Andrei Kostitsyn
1st NHL career playoff game 1st NHL career playoff goal 1st NHL career playoff point
April 10, 2008
Sergei Kostitsyn
1st NHL career playoff game 1st NHL career playoff goal 1st NHL career playoff point
April 10, 2008
Tom Kostopoulos
1st NHL career playoff game 1st NHL career playoff goal 1st NHL career playoff assist 1st NHL career playoff point
April 10, 2008
Maxim Lapierre
1st NHL career playoff game 1st NHL career playoff assist 1st NHL career playoff point
April 10, 2008
Guillaume Latendresse
1st NHL career playoff game
April 10, 2008
Carey Price
1st NHL career playoff game 1st NHL career playoff win
April 10, 2008
Mark Streit
1st NHL career playoff assist 1st NHL career playoff point
April 10, 2008
Andrei Kostitsyn
1st NHL career playoff assist
April 15, 2008
Ryan O'Byrne
1st NHL career playoff game
April 15, 2008
Carey Price
1st NHL career playoff shutout
April 15, 2008
Sergei Kostitsyn
1st NHL career playoff assist
April 19, 2008
Tomas Plekanec
1st NHL career playoff goal
April 19, 2008
Mike Komisarek
1st NHL career playoff goal
April 21, 2008
Mark Streit
1st NHL career playoff goal
April 21, 2008
Jaroslav Halak
1st NHL career playoff game
April 28, 2008
Guillaume Latendresse
1st 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
Free agents
Free agent acquisitions
Players lost to free agency
Draft picks
Montreal's picks at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio .[ 5]
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
Franchise History Personnel Arenas Rivalries Affiliates Media Culture and lore
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