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: The 2007 NHL entry draft took place in Columbus, Ohio, on June 22–23. The free agency period began on July 1.
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.
Highlights On October 10, 2007, goaltender Carey Price made his NHL debut, leading the Canadiens to a 3–2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. On January 11, 2008, defenceman Andrei Markov was named to the All-Star Game starting roster. 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
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 Quarterfinals: 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.
Eastern Conference Semifinals: 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.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 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 ||
| 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 ||
| 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 ||
| 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 ||
| 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 ||
| 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 ||
| 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 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 10 || Bell Centre ||Boston Bruins || 1–4 || Montreal || || Hnidy || S. Kostitsyn, A. Kostitsyn, Smolinski, Kostopoulos || Price || 21,273 || Montreal leads 1–0 ||