The 1919–20 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's 11th season and third as a member of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Canadiens opened their new Mount Royal Arena built to replace burnt-down Jubilee Rink.

The Toronto NHL franchise was now operated by a new group and known as the Toronto St. Patricks. A Quebec team was active this season, meaning a four-team league operated, and players from the Quebec NHA team were 'returned' to the new Quebec Bulldogs NHL team. The Canadiens lost Joe Malone and Jack McDonald to the Bulldogs.

Harry Cameron joined the Canadiens from Ottawa and Howard McNamara re-joined the Canadiens after not playing since 1917 with the Toronto 228th Battalion, and serving in the Canadian army. Don Smith, who had last played for the Canadiens in 1914–15, returned after serving in the army, last playing for the Montreal Wanderers in 1915–16. The team and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the 1914–15 season and the first since joining the NHL.

Regular season The Mount Royal Arena was not ready for the start of the season, and the Canadiens started their season on the road. The home opener was held January 10, and Newsy Lalonde used the occasion to celebrate with six goals in a 14–7 drubbing of the Toronto St. Patricks.

On March 3, the Montreal Canadiens pummeled the Quebec Bulldogs 16–3, setting an all-time record for goals by one team.

Georges Vezina came third in the league in goals against average of 4.66 per game. Newsy Lalonde led the Canadiens in offence, scoring 37 goals and 9 assists to place second in league scoring to Joe Malone.

The Canadiens picked up their scoring from the previous season, but gave up more goals on defence.

There was no playoffs as the Ottawa Senators won both halves of the season.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|1||December 25 ||at Quebec Bulldogs ||12–5 || 1–0

|2||December 27 ||Ottawa Senators ||0–2 || 1–1

|3||December 31 ||at Toronto St. Pats ||1–5 || 1–2

|4||January 7 ||at Ottawa Senators ||3–4 || 1–3

|5||January 10 ||Toronto St. Pats ||14–7 || 2–3

|6||January 12 ||Quebec Bulldogs ||7–3 || 3–3

|7||January 14 ||at Toronto St. Pats ||4–3 || 4–3

|8||January 17 ||Ottawa Senators ||3–2 || 5–3

|9||January 21 ||Toronto St. Pats ||3–2 || 6–3

|10||January 24 ||at Quebec Bulldogs ||8–4 || 7–3

|11||January 28 ||Quebec Bulldogs ||4–3 || 8–3

|12||January 31 ||at Ottawa Senators ||3–11 || 8–4

|13||February 4 ||at Toronto St. Pats ||6–5 || 1–0

|14||February 7 ||Quebec Bulldogs ||6–2 || 2–0

|15||February 11 ||at Ottawa Senators ||3–4 || 2–1

|16||February 14 ||Ottawa Senators ||2–3 || 2–2

|17||February 18 ||Toronto St. Pats ||2–8 || 2–3

|18||February 21 ||at Quebec Bulldogs ||7–8 || 2–4

|19||February 25 ||at Ottawa Senators ||3–6 || 2–5

|20||February 28 ||Quebec Bulldogs ||8–6 || 3–5

|21||March 3 ||at Quebec Bulldogs ||16–3 || 4–5

|22||March 6 ||Ottawa Senators ||3–4 || 4–6

|23||March 10 ||Toronto St. Pats ||7–2 || 5–6

|24||March 13 ||at Toronto St. Pats ||4–11|| 5–7

Legend:

Player statistics

Skaters Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes     Regular season   Playoffs Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM Newsy Lalonde4 233794634----- Amos Arbour10 222152613----- Didier Pitre5 231412266----- Odie Cleghorn6212042430----- Harry Cameron†11 161251736----- Bert Corbeau2 241161765----- Louis Berlinguette8 24891736----- Billy Coutu9 2040467----- Don Smith7 121016----- Howard McNamara3 121016----- Jack Coughlin†12 30000-----

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Montreal. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only.

Goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average     Regular season   Playoffs Player # GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA Georges Vezina1 2414561311011304.66---------------.--

Transactions transferred Joe Malone and Jack McDonald to Quebec Bulldogs when the club returned to the NHL, November 25, 1919 signed Don Smith as a free agent, November, 1919 signed Howard McNamara as a free agent, December 5, 1919 signed Eddie Carpenter as a free agent, December 15, 1919 traded Eddie Carpenter to Quebec Bulldogs for Goldie Prodgers, December 21, 1919 traded Goldie Prodgers to Toronto St. Pats for Harry Cameron, January 14, 1920 signed Jack Coughlin as a free agent, February 18, 1920,

Source: Mouton, p. 153

References

See also 1919–20 NHL season