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 for the first time since the 2002–03 season 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.TSN : NHL – Canada's Sports Leader
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.
Standings
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 6 || Montreal || 4–5 || Buffalo || SO || Huet || 18,690 || 0–0–1 || 1 ||
| 2 || October 7 || Montreal || 3–2 || Toronto || SO || Aebischer || 19,353 || 1–0–1 || 3 ||
| 3 || October 11 || Montreal || 3–1 || Philadelphia || || Aebischer || 19,256 || 2–0–1 || 5 ||
| 4 || October 14 || Ottawa || 3–2 || Montreal || SO || Huet || 21,273 || 2–0–2 || 6 ||
| 5 || October 17 || Calgary || 4–5 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 3–0–2 || 8 ||
| 6 || October 18 || Montreal || 1–2 || Chicago || || Aebischer || 11,095 || 3–1–2 || 8 ||
| 7 || October 21 || Colorado || 5–8 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 4–1–2 || 10 ||
| 8 || October 23 || Buffalo || 4–1 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 4–2–2 || 10 ||
| 9 || October 26 || Montreal || 3–2 || Boston || || Huet || 13,920 || 5–2–2 || 12 ||
| 10 || October 28 || Toronto || 5–4 || Montreal || SO || Aebischer || 21,273 || 5–2–3|| 13 ||
| 11 || October 31 || Ottawa || 2–4 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 6–2–3 || 15 ||
| 12 || November 2 || Montreal || 4–0 || Carolina || || Huet || 6,486 || 7–2–3 || 17 ||
| 13 || November 4 || New Jersey || 2–1 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,271 || 7–3–3 || 17 ||
| 14 || November 7 || Edmonton || 2–3 || Montreal || SO || Aebischer || 21,273 || 8–3–3 || 19 ||
| 15 || November 11 || Montreal || 1–5 || Toronto || || Aebischer || 19,501 || 8–4–3 || 19 ||
| 16 || November 13 || Montreal || 6–3 || Ottawa || || Huet || 20,051 || 9–4–3 || 21 ||
| 17 || November 15 || Montreal || 3–1 || Tampa Bay || || Huet || 19,920 || 10–4–3 || 23 ||
| 18 || November 16 || Montreal || 1–5 || Florida || || Aebischer || 13,506 || 10–5–3 || 23 ||
| 19 || November 18 || Atlanta || 1–3 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 11–5–3 || 25 ||
| 20 || November 22 || Minnesota || 2–4 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 12–5–3 || 27 ||
| 21 || November 24 || Montreal || 2–1 || Buffalo || OT || Huet || 18,690 || 13–5–3 || 29 ||
| 22 || November 25 || Philadelphia || 4–2 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 13–6–3 || 29 ||
| 23 || November 28 || Florida || 0–1 || Montreal || SO || Huet || 21,273 || 14–6–3 || 31 ||
| 24 || November 30 || Montreal || 2–4 || Carolina || || Huet || 13,103 || 14–7–3 || 31 ||
| 25 || December 2 || Toronto || 3–4 || Montreal || SO || Huet || 21,273 || 15–7–3 || 33 ||
| 26 || December 4 || Boston || 6–5 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 15–8–3 || 33 ||
| 27 || December 6 || Montreal || 1–2 || New Jersey || OT || Aebischer || 10,986 || 15–8–4 || 34 ||
| 28 || December 7 || Montreal || 4–2 || NY Islanders || || Huet || 9,551 || 16–8–4 || 36 ||
| 29 || December 9 || Buffalo || 3–2 || Montreal || SO || Huet || 21,273 || 16–8–5 || 37 ||
| 30 || December 12 || Boston || 3–4 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 17–8–5 || 39 ||
| 31 || December 14 || Tampa Bay || 2–4 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 18–8–5 || 41 ||
| 32 || December 16 || Pittsburgh || 3–6 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 19–8–5|| 43 ||
| 33 || December 19 || Montreal || 5–2 || Buffalo || || Huet || 18,690 || 20–8–5 || 45 ||
| 34 || December 21 || Philadelphia || 2–4 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 21–8–5 || 47 ||
| 35 || December 23 || Montreal || 2–4 || Boston || || Huet || 17,565 || 21–9–5 || 47 ||
| 36 || December 27 || Montreal || 4–1 || Washington || || Huet || 15,609 || 22–9–5 || 49 ||
| 37 || December 29 || Montreal || 1–3 || Florida || || Huet || 19,772 || 22–10–5 || 49 ||
| 38 || December 30 || Montreal || 1–3 || Tampa Bay || || Huet || 21,120 || 22–11–5 || 49 ||
| 39 || January 2 || Tampa Bay || 2–5 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 23–11–5 || 51 ||
| 40 || January 4 || Montreal || 1–5 || Washington || || Huet || 11,287 || 23–12–5 || 51 ||
| 41 || January 6 || NY Rangers || 4–3 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 23–13–5 || 51 ||
| 42 || January 7 || New Jersey || 3–0 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 23–14–5 || 51 ||
| 43 || January 9 || Atlanta || 2–4 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 24–14–5 || 53 ||
| 44 || January 11 || Montreal || 4–2 || Philadelphia || || Aebischer || 19,411 || 25–14–5 || 55 ||
| 45 || January 13 || Montreal || 3–8 || Ottawa|| || Huet || 20,038 || 25–15–5 || 55 ||
| 46 || January 15 || Montreal || 0–2 || Detroit || || Aebischer || 20,066 || 25–16–5 || 55 ||
| 47 || January 16 || Vancouver || 4–0 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 25–17–5 || 55 ||
| 48 || January 18 || Montreal || 4–1 || Atlanta || || Huet || 14,025 || 26–17–5 || 57 ||
| 49 || January 20 || Buffalo || 3–4 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 27–17–5 || 59 ||
| 50 || January 27 || Montreal || 1–4 || Toronto || || Huet || 19,508 || 27–18–5 || 59 ||
| 51 || January 29 || Ottawa || 1–3 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 28–18–5 || 61 ||
| 52 || February 1 || Montreal || 4–5 || Pittsburgh || SO || Aebischer || 17,132 || 28–18–6 || 62 ||
| 53 || February 3 || NY Islanders || 4–2 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 28–19–6 || 62 ||
| 54 || February 4 || Pittsburgh || 3–4 || Montreal || OT || Aebischer || 21,273 || 29–19–6 || 64 ||
| 55 || February 6 || Carolina || 2–1 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 29–20–6 || 64 ||
| 56 || February 8 || Montreal || 1–4 || Ottawa || || Huet || 19,915 || 29–21–6 || 64 ||
| 57 || February 10 || Ottawa || 5–3 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 29–22–6 || 64 ||
| 58 || February 13 || Florida || 1–0 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 29–23–6 || 64 ||
| 59 || February 14 || Montreal || 2–5 || New Jersey || || Huet || 7,515 || 29–24–6 || 64 ||
| 60 || February 17 || Carolina || 5–3 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 29–25–6 || 64 ||
| 61 || February 18 || Montreal || 3–2 || Columbus || || Halak || 16,116 || 30–25–6 || 66 ||
| 62 || February 20 || Washington || 3–5 || Montreal || || Halak || 21,273 || 31–25–6 || 68 ||
| 63 || February 22 || Montreal || 6–5 || Nashville || SO || Halak || 15,808 || 32–25–6 || 70 ||
| 64 || February 24 || Montreal || 2–3 || NY Islanders || || Halak || 16,234 || 32–26–6 || 70 ||
| 65 || February 26 || Toronto || 5–4 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 33–26–6 || 72 ||
| 66 || February 27 || Montreal || 0–4 || NY Rangers || || Halak || 18,200 || 33–27–6 || 72 ||
| 67 || March 2 || Montreal || 5–8 || Buffalo || || Aebischer || 18,690 || 33–28–6 || 72 ||
| 68 || March 3 || Montreal || 1–3 || Boston || || Halak || 17,565 || 33–29–6 || 72 ||
| 69 || March 8 || Montreal || 2–6 || Atlanta || || Halak || 14,528 || 33–30–6 || 72 ||
| 70 || March 10 || Montreal || 4–3 || St. Louis || || Aebischer || 19,421 || 34–30–6 || 74 ||
| 71 || March 13 || NY Islanders || 3–5 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 35–30–6 || 76 ||
| 72 || March 16 || Montreal || 3–6 || Pittsburgh || || Aebischer || 17,132 || 35–31–6 || 76 ||
| 73 || March 17 || Toronto || 2–3 || Montreal || SO || Halak || 21,273 || 36–31–6 || 78 ||
| 74 || March 20 || Boston || 0–1 || Montreal || || Halak || 21,273 || 37–31–6 || 80 ||
| 75 || March 22 || Montreal || 6–3 || Boston || || Halak || 17,026 || 38–31–6 || 82 ||
| 76 || March 24 || Washington || 1–4 || Montreal || || Halak || 21,273 || 39–31–6 || 84 ||
| 77 || March 27 || Rangers || 4–6 || Montreal || || Halak || 21,273 || 40–31–6 || 86 ||
| 78 || March 30 || Montreal || 2–5 || Ottawa || || Halak || 20,185 || 40–32–6 || 86 ||
| 79 || March 31 || Buffalo || 3–4 || Montreal || || Halak || 21,273 || 41–32–6 || 88 ||
| 80 || April 3 || Boston || 0–2 || Montreal || || Halak || 21,273 || 42–32–6 || 90 ||
| 81 || April 5 || Montreal || 1–3 || NY Rangers || || Halak || 18,200 || 42–33–6 || 90 ||
| 82 || April 7 || Montreal || 5–6 || Toronto || || Huet || 19,723 || 42–34–6 || 90 ||
Legend:
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. Player Regular season 11 C 81 22 53 75 −21 74 44 D 81 26 38 64 −28 135 73 RW 82 30 28 58 −25 60 79 D 77 6 43 49 2 56 35 LW 81 20 27 47 10 36 27 RW 73 18 29 47 −19 78 21 C 61 22 16 38 −11 26 32 D 76 10 26 36 −5 14 20 RW 80 11 20 31 6 40 84 RW 80 16 13 29 −20 47 15 LW 63 9 17 26 −4 10 14 C 74 13 10 23 0 54 8 D 82 4 15 19 7 96 52 D 54 6 10 16 −7 57 42 LW 61 6 9 15 11 48 51 D 62 3 11 14 −10 52 40 C 46 6 6 12 −7 24 46 W 22 1 10 11 3 6 22 C 52 5 5 10 −6 46 25 D 68 2 6 8 −8 40 57 C 43 2 1 3 −10 32 6 D 41 0 3 3 −13 36 47 RW 21 1 0 1 −6 48 41 G 16 0 1 1 2 39 G 42 0 1 1 0 62 RW 5 0 1 1 −2 0 30 G 32 0 0 0 2 26 D 7 0 0 0 −1 0 59 C 3 0 0 0 −2 0
Goaltending Player Regular season 39 Cristobal Huet 42 19 16 3 1280 107 2.81 .916 2 2286 30 David Aebischer 32 13 12 3 929 93 3.17 .900 0 1760 41 Jaroslav Halak 16 10 6 0 469 44 2.89 .906 2 912
Awards and records
Awards TypeAward/honourRecipientRef League(annual) King Clancy Memorial Trophy Saku Koivu League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Cristobal Huet Sheldon Souray NHL Third Star of the Month Cristobal Huet (November) NHL Third Star of the Week Sheldon Souray (October 22) Jaroslav Halak (March 25) Team Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy Mark StreitMontreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.553 Molson Cup Cristobal HuetMontreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.552
Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Guillaume Latendresse October 6, 2006 Mikhail Grabovski January 6, 2007 Duncan Milroy February 17, 2007 Jaroslav Halak February 18, 2007
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.
Trades