The 1912–13 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's fourth season and fourth of the National Hockey Association (NHA). The club would post a 9–11 record and tie for third place.
Regular season Newsy Lalonde returned to Montreal after being acquired from Vancouver of the Pacific Coast League (PCHA). Don Smith was acquired from Victoria of the PCHA. Didier Pitre signed with Quebec but the league intervened and he returned to the Canadiens.
An exhibition game was played with the Wanderers in Toronto at the new Arena Gardens on December 22. Newsy Lalonde would trip Odie Cleghorn and his brother Sprague Cleghorn then skated over and hit Lalonde on the face, opening a 12 stitch cut. Cleghorn would be charged in Toronto court and fined $50 and suspended by the league.Coleman(1966), pp. 236–237
The Canadiens would open the season with a three-game winning streak. At the halfway point, the club's record was 7–3 to lead the league, but Quebec came on strong with an eleven-game win streak to win the league championship and Montreal finished third behind Quebec and the Wanderers.
Final standings
Schedule and results Game Day Visitor Score Home Score Record December1 25 Canadiens 9 Toronto 5 1–02 28 Toronto 5 Canadiens 8 2–0 January3 1 Canadiens 4 Tecumsehs 3 3–04 4 Ottawa 7 Canadiens 3 3–15 8 Canadiens 4 Wanderers 3 4–16 11 Canadiens 3 Quebec 4 4–27 15 Quebec 4 Canadiens 5 5–28 18 Canadiens 6 Ottawa 0 6–29 22 Wanderers 4 Canadiens 3 6–310 25 Tecumsehs 4 Canadiens 5 (17' ot) 7–3 February11 1‡ Canadiens 1 Ottawa 2 7–412 5‡ Tecumsehs 5 Canadiens 4 7–513 8‡ Canadiens 3 Toronto 5 7–614 12 Wanderers 4 Canadiens 6 8–615 15 Ottawa 3 Canadiens 2 8–716 19 Canadiens 2 Quebec 4 8–817 22 Quebec 7 Canadiens 6 8–918 26 Canadiens 4 Wanderers 5 8–10 March19 1 Canadiens 3 Tecumsehs 1 8–1120 5 Toronto 6 Canadiens 2 9–11
‡ Played with rover (7 man hockey)
Playoffs The team did not qualify for the playoffs.
Awards and records
Milestones January 18, 1913 – Georges Vezina posted the club's first shutout.
References
Notes
See also 1912–13 NHA season