1970–71 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1970–71 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 62nd season. After missing the playoffs in the previous season, the team rebounded to place third in the East Division, qualifying for the playoffs. Behind new star goalie Ken Dryden the team won their 17th Stanley Cup championship.

Regular season With the Chicago Black Hawks having moved to the West Division to make way for the expansion Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres, qualification for the four available playoff berths in the East was widely expected to be contested between the five remaining Original Six teams. Considering such factors the addition of two new teams, the expansion of the schedule to 78 games and the switch to a balanced schedule, Montreal's record of 42–23–13 (five points more than their performance over 76 games the previous season) was at best a marginal improvement. However, a return to the postseason was never in serious doubt due to the stunning regression of the Detroit Red Wings (Detroit actually finished last place in the division, behind both expansion teams).

On February 11, 1971, Jean Beliveau became the fourth player to score 500 career goals.National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 214, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, .

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Playoffs

Stanley Cup Final

Brothers Frank and Peter Mahovlich starred for the Canadiens, scoring nine goals in the seven game final series. Ken Dryden debuted for the Canadiens, while this was Jean Beliveau's final final series appearance, and he ended his career with ten championships.

Schedule and results

|1||W||October 11, 1970||2–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||1–0–0

|2||W||October 13, 1970||4–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||2–0–0

|3||W||October 15, 1970||3–0 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||3–0–0

|4||W||October 17, 1970||6–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||4–0–0

|5||L||October 18, 1970||0–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1970–71) ||4–1–0

|6||L||October 21, 1970||1–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||4–2–0

|7||W||October 24, 1970||3–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||5–2–0

|8||T||October 25, 1970||3–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||5–2–1

|9||L||October 28, 1970||2–6 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||5–3–1

|10||W||October 31, 1970||6–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||6–3–1

|11||W||November 4, 1970||4–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||7–3–1

|12||W||November 7, 1970||11–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||8–3–1

|13||L||November 8, 1970||1–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) ||8–4–1

|14||L||November 11, 1970||0–2 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) ||8–5–1

|15||T||November 14, 1970||1–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||8–5–2

|16||T||November 15, 1970||2–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||8–5–3

|17||W||November 17, 1970||5–1 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1970–71) ||9–5–3

|18||W||November 19, 1970||5–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||10–5–3

|19||L||November 21, 1970||4–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1970–71) ||10–6–3

|20||L||November 25, 1970||3–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||10–7–3

|21||W||November 28, 1970||5–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||11–7–3

|22||L||November 29, 1970||3–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||11–8–3

|23||T||December 2, 1970||3–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||11–8–4

|24||W||December 3, 1970||6–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||12–8–4

|25||L||December 5, 1970||2–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1970–71) ||12–9–4

|26||L||December 9, 1970||0–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||12–10–4

|27||W||December 10, 1970||6–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||13–10–4

|28||W||December 12, 1970||8–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||14–10–4

|29||T||December 16, 1970||1–1 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||14–10–5

|30||W||December 18, 1970||4–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||15–10–5

|31||L||December 20, 1970||2–7 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||15–11–5

|32||T||December 23, 1970||2–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||15–11–6

|33||T||December 26, 1970||4–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||15–11–7

|34||W||December 27, 1970||4–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||16–11–7

|35||T||December 30, 1970||3–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||16–11–8

|36||W||January 2, 1971||5–3 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1970–71) ||17–11–8

|37||L||January 3, 1971||5–6 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1970–71) ||17–12–8

|38||W||January 6, 1971||7–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||18–12–8

|39||W||January 9, 1971||1–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||19–12–8

|40||L||January 10, 1971||2–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||19–13–8

|41||T||January 14, 1971||3–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||19–13–9

|42||W||January 16, 1971||4–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1970–71) ||20–13–9

|43||T||January 17, 1971||4–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||20–13–10

|44||T||January 21, 1971||5–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||20–13–11

|45||W||January 23, 1971||6–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||21–13–11

|46||L||January 24, 1971||2–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) ||21–14–11

|47||W||January 27, 1971||4–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||22–14–11

|48||L||January 30, 1971||4–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||22–15–11

|49||L||January 31, 1971||1–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||22–16–11

|50||W||February 2, 1971||5–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||23–16–11

|51||W||February 5, 1971||3–2 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) ||24–16–11

|52||L||February 6, 1971||3–6 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||24–17–11

|53||W||February 9, 1971||4–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||25–17–11

|54||W||February 11, 1971||6–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||26–17–11

|55||W||February 13, 1971||5–2 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1970–71) ||27–17–11

|56||W||February 17, 1971||3–0 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1970–71) ||28–17–11

|57||W||February 20, 1971||7–1 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||29–17–11

|58||T||February 22, 1971||3–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||29–17–12

|59||W||February 24, 1971||5–2 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) ||30–17–12

|60||W||February 25, 1971||5–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||31–17–12

|61||W||February 27, 1971||3–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||32–17–12

|62||L||March 3, 1971||0–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||32–18–12

|63||W||March 6, 1971||8–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||33–18–12

|64||W||March 7, 1971||4–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||34–18–12

|65||T||March 9, 1971||3–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||34–18–13

|66||L||March 10, 1971||1–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||34–19–13

|67||L||March 13, 1971||1–4 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||34–20–13

|68||W||March 14, 1971||5–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||35–20–13

|69||L||March 16, 1971||2–6 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||35–21–13

|70||W||March 18, 1971||4–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||36–21–13

|71||W||March 20, 1971||5–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||37–21–13

|72||W||March 21, 1971||6–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1970–71) ||38–21–13

|73||W||March 24, 1971||5–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||39–21–13

|74||W||March 27, 1971||9–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||40–21–13

|75||W||March 28, 1971||2–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||41–21–13

|76||L||March 31, 1971||3–6 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1970–71) ||41–22–13

|77||W||April 3, 1971||7–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1970–71) ||42–22–13

|78||L||April 4, 1971||2–7 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) ||42–23–13

Legend:

Playoffs

|1||L||April 7, 1971||1–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins ||0–1

|2||W||April 8, 1971||7–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins ||1–1

|3||W||April 10, 1971||3–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins ||2–1

|4||L||April 11, 1971||2–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins ||2–2

|5||L||April 13, 1971||3–7 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins ||2–3

|6||W||April 15, 1971||8–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins ||3–3

|7||W||April 18, 1971||4–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins ||4–3

|1||W||April 20, 1971||7–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars ||1–0

|2||L||April 22, 1971||3–6 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars ||1–1

|3||W||April 24, 1971||6–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars ||2–1

|4||L||April 25, 1971||2–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars ||2–2

|5||W||April 27, 1971||6–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars ||3–2

|6||W||April 29, 1971||3–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars ||4–2

|1||L||May 4, 1971||1–2 (OT) || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks ||0–1

|2||L||May 6, 1971||3–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks ||0–2

|3||W||May 9, 1971||4–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks ||1–2

|4||W||May 11, 1971||5–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks ||2–2

|5||L||May 13, 1971||0–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks ||2–3

|6||W||May 16, 1971||4–3 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks ||3–3

|7||W||May 18, 1971||3–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks ||4–3

Legend:

Player statistics

Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG C 70 25 51 76 4024704 RW 65 37 36 73 21201805 D 76 11 52 63 2316504 C 78 35 26 61 181251235 C 78 28 28 56 180603 LW 76 19 30 49 13325402 C 75 12 37 49 4613101 D 78 15 29 44 10728501 LW 38 17 24 41 114412 LW 60 16 14 30 1622304 RW 40 14 15 29 3512201 RW 64 10 13 23 90−8002 D 78 1 21 22 11635000 RW 39 14 7 21 7610203 W 66 10 9 19 287101 D 49 0 16 16 2024000 RW 57 5 10 15 411031 D 37 5 10 15 3011010 C 29 6 5 11 24101 RW 40 6 2 8 391001 C 19 1 5 6 8−8001 C 16 1 4 5 00000 C 15 2 2 4 2−2000 C 5 1 2 3 03000 D 51 0 3 3 503000 D 1 0 2 2 20000 G 30 0 1 1 170000 G 6 0 0 0 00000 LW 1 0 0 0 0−1000 G 47 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SO 2676 47 23 12 9 118 2.65 2 1677 30 13 11 4 87 3.11 1 327 6 6 0 0 9 1.65 0 Team: 4680 78 42 23 13 214 2.74 3

Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG LW 20 14 13 27 18300 RW 20 10 12 22 6201 C 20 6 16 22 28200 C 20 9 10 19 17401 D 20 3 14 17 15103 C 20 10 6 16 43111 D 20 4 9 13 12101 C 20 5 7 12 20001 LW 18 4 6 10 36101 D 20 4 5 9 34102 W 20 2 5 7 20001 D 20 0 6 6 28000 LW 20 3 1 4 40000 RW 11 1 0 1 10000 D 13 0 1 1 10000 G 20 0 1 1 0000 RW 15 0 1 1 36000 LW 1 0 0 0 0000 D 2 0 0 0 0000 RW 10 0 0 0 6000 C 6 0 0 0 0000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LGAGAA SO 1221 20 12 8 61 3.00 0 Team: 1221 20 12 8 61 3.00 0

Transactions May 22, 1970 To Oakland Seals Dennis Hextall To Montreal Canadiens cash May 22, 1970 To Oakland Seals Ernie Hicke1st round pick in 1970 (Chris Oddleifson) To Montreal Canadiens Francois Lacombe1st round pick in 1971 (Guy Lafleur) May 22, 1970 To Los Angeles Kings Jack NorrisLarry MickeyLucien Grenier To Montreal Canadiens Wayne ThomasLeon RochefortGregg Boddy January 13, 1971 To Detroit Red Wings Mickey RedmondGuy CharronBill Collins To Montreal Canadiens Frank Mahovlich

Awards and records Ken Dryden, Conn Smythe Trophy

Draft picks Montreal's draft picks at the 1970 NHL amateur draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.