The 2015–16 Montreal Canadiens season was the 107th season of the franchise that was founded on December 4, 1909, and their 99th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2011–12 season. Off-season On September 18, 2015, it was announced that Max Pacioretty was named the 29th captain after a player vote, with Andrei Markov, P. K. Subban, Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Plekanec as alternate captains. Gallagher and Markov will serve as alternates in home games, while Subban and Plekanec serve in road games.

The introduction of rookie goaltender Mike Condon to the main roster also highlighted notable off season moves by the club. After a stellar pre-season performance, Condon was ultimately rewarded for his play, subsequently replacing Dustin Tokarski on the goalie tandem as back-up to starter Carey Price.

Regular season The team began its regular season on October 7, 2015, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, recording a 3–1 victory. This season also marked the franchise's best start to a campaign with 9 consecutive wins. The Canadiens did not suffer a loss until their 10th game of the season, falling to the Vancouver Canucks' 5–1 on October 27.

Despite this, the notoriety of the 2015–16 Montreal Canadiens season had been the extensive amount of injuries which had plagued members of the main roster. At the forefront of this misfortune was starting goaltender Carey Price, who had suffered a lower-body injury during a 4‒3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on October 29, 2015. He was sidelined with the injury until November 20 in a 5‒3 win against the New York Islanders after having missed nine games with a 5‒2‒2 record.

However, on November 25, Price re-aggravated his lower-body injury in a 5‒1 victory against the New York Rangers and did not return for the third period. At the time, Price was expected to miss an additional 6 weeks. Ultimately, Price's return did not actualize, and, on April 6, 2016, the Montreal Canadiens announced that Price would not return for the 2015–16 season. The extent of Price's injury was revealed to be a medial collateral ligament injury (MCL sprain).

On November 22, against the New York Islanders, right winger Brendan Gallagher sustained injuries to his fingers after attempting to block a shot. His injuries required surgery and was expected to miss at least six weeks. Gallagher returned for the 2016 Winter Classic in a 5‒1 win against the Boston Bruins and managed a goal and an assist, also receiving the first star of the game.

On March 10, 2016, defenseman P. K. Subban sustained a neck injury after colliding with defenseman Alexei Emelin in a 3–2 win against the Buffalo Sabres. Subban was sent to the hospital as a precautionary measure, but was released the following day with a non-serious injury. On April 6, the club announced that Subban would miss the last two games of the 2015–16 season.

Other notable injuries included those to defencemen Tom Gilbert, Jeff Petry, as well as Nathan Beaulieu. Due to the magnitude of sidelined players, many prospects had gained the opportunity to draw select time in the lineup, with Michael McCarron, Morgan Ellis, Joel Hanley, Darren Dietz, Daniel Carr, Charles Hudon, Brett Lernout, Ryan Johnston, and goaltender Charlie Lindgren all making their respective NHL debuts at some point throughout the season.

The latter half of the Canadiens' season saw them face their worst slump since the 1939-40 season. With this, Montreal missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Similarly, no Canadian team in the NHL made the playoffs that year, marking the first time since 1970 that all Canadian franchises failed to qualify for the postseason.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2015 preseason game log: 2–3–2 (Home: 1–2–2; Road: 1–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 22 Toronto 2–1 Montreal OT Fucale 21,287 0–0–1 Recap 2 September 24 Washington 4–3 Montreal SO Condon 21,287 0–0–2 Recap 3 September 25 Chicago 5–1 Montreal Price 21,287 0–1–2 Recap 4 September 26 Montreal 1–0 Toronto Condon 17,992 1–1–2 Recap 5 September 28 Pittsburgh 1–4 Montreal Price 18,259 2–1–2 Recap 6 October 1 Ottawa 5–2 Montreal Price 21,287 2–2–2 Recap 7 October 3 Montreal 4–5 Ottawa Tokarski 17,912 2–3–2 RecapNotes: Game was played at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec.

Regular season 2015–16 game log October: 10–2–0 (Home: 4–0–0; Road: 6–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 7 Montreal 3–1 Toronto Price 19,241 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 10 Montreal 4–2 Boston Price 17,565 2–0–0 4 Recap 3 October 11 Montreal 3–1 Ottawa Condon 19,177 3–0–0 6 Recap 4 October 13 Montreal 3–2 Pittsburgh Price 18,626 4–0–0 8 Recap 5 October 15 NY Rangers 0–3 Montreal Price 21,288 5–0–0 10 Recap 6 October 17 Detroit 1–4 Montreal Price 21,288 6–0–0 12 Recap 7 October 20 St. Louis 0–3 Montreal Price 21,288 7–0–0 14 Recap 8 October 23 Montreal 7–2 Buffalo Condon 18,214 8–0–0 16 Recap 9 October 24 Toronto 3–5 Montreal Price 21,288 9–0–0 18 Recap 10 October 27 Montreal 1–5 Vancouver Price 18,570 9–1–0 18 Recap 11 October 29 Montreal 3–4 Edmonton Price 16,839 9–2–0 18 Recap 12 October 30 Montreal 6–2 Calgary Condon 19,289 10–2–0 20 Recap November: 8–2–3 (Home: 5–2–2; Road: 3–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 13 November 1 Winnipeg 1–5 Montreal Condon 21,288 11–2–0 22 Recap 14 November 3 Ottawa 2–1 Montreal OT Condon 21,288 11–2–1 23 Recap 15 November 5 NY Islanders 1–4 Montreal Condon 21,288 12–2–1 25 Recap 16 November 7 Boston 2–4 Montreal Condon 21,288 13–2–1 27 Recap 17 November 11 Montreal 3–4 Pittsburgh SO Condon 18,455 13–2–2 28 Recap 18 November 14 Colorado 6–1 Montreal Condon 21,288 13–3–2 28 Recap 19 November 16 Vancouver 3–4 Montreal OT Condon 21,288 14–3–2 30 Recap 20 November 19 Arizona 3–2 Montreal Condon 21,288 14–4–2 30 Recap 21 November 20 Montreal 5–3 NY Islanders Price 15,171 15–4–2 32 Recap 22 November 22 NY Islanders 2–4 Montreal Price 21,288 16–4–2 34 Recap 23 November 25 Montreal 5–1 NY Rangers Price 18,006 17–4–2 36 Recap 24 November 27 Montreal 3–2 New Jersey SO Condon 16,514 18–4–2 38 Recap 25 November 28 New Jersey 3–2 Montreal OT Condon 21,288 18–4–3 39 Recap December: 3–11–0 (Home: 2–4–0; Road: 1–7–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 26 December 1 Columbus 1–2 Montreal Condon 21,288 19–4–3 41 Recap 27 December 3 Washington 3–2 Montreal Condon 21,288 19–5–3 41 Recap 28 December 5 Montreal 2–3 Carolina Condon 10,687 19–6–3 41 Recap 29 December 9 Boston 3–1 Montreal Condon 21,288 19–7–3 41 Recap 30 December 10 Montreal 2–3 Detroit Tokarski 20,027 19–8–3 41 Recap 31 December 12 Ottawa 1–3 Montreal Tokarski 21,288 20–8–3 43 Recap 32 December 15 San Jose 3–1 Montreal Tokarski 21,288 20–9–3 43 Recap 33 December 17 Los Angeles 3–0 Montreal Condon 21,288 20–10–3 43 Recap 34 December 19 Montreal 2–6 Dallas Condon 18,532 20–11–3 43 Recap 35 December 21 Montreal 1–5 Nashville Tokarski 17,113 20–12–3 43 Recap 36 December 22 Montreal 1–2 Minnesota Condon 19,105 20–13–3 43 Recap 37 December 26 Montreal 1–3 Washington Condon 18,506 20–14–3 43 Recap 38 December 28 Montreal 4–3 Tampa Bay SO Condon 19,092 21–14–3 45 Recap 39 December 29 Montreal 1–3 Florida Scrivens 19,822 21–15–3 45 Recap January: 3–7–1 (Home: 1–4–0; Road: 2–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 40 January 1 Montreal 5–1 Boston Condon 67,246 22–15–3 47 Recap 41 January 5 Montreal 3–4 Philadelphia Scrivens 19,163 22–16–3 47 Recap 42 January 6 New Jersey 1–2 Montreal Condon 21,288 23–16–3 49 Recap 43 January 9 Pittsburgh 3–1 Montreal Condon 21,288 23–17–3 49 Recap 44 January 14 Chicago 2–1 Montreal Condon 21,288 23–18–3 49 Recap 45 January 16 Montreal 3–4 St. Louis OT Condon 19,501 23–18–4 50 Recap 46 January 17 Montreal 2–5 Chicago Scrivens 22,030 23–19–4 50 Recap 47 January 19 Boston 4–1 Montreal Condon 21,288 23–20–4 50 Recap 48 January 23 Montreal 3–2 Toronto SO Condon 19,807 24–20–4 52 Recap 49 January 25 Montreal 2–5 Columbus Condon 11,927 24–21–4 52 Recap 50 January 26 Columbus 5–2 Montreal Scrivens 21,288 24–22–4 52 Recap February: 6–6–1 (Home: 5–1–1; Road: 1–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 2 Montreal 2–4 Philadelphia Condon 19,031 24–23–4 52 Recap 52 February 3 Buffalo 4–2 Montreal Condon 21,288 24–24–4 52 Recap 53 February 6 Edmonton 1–5 Montreal Scrivens 21,288 25–24–4 54 Recap 54 February 7 Carolina 1–2 Montreal SO Scrivens 21,288 26–24–4 56 Recap 55 February 9 Tampa Bay 2–4 Montreal Scrivens 21,288 27–24–4 58 Recap 56 February 12 Montreal 4–6 Buffalo Condon 18,505 27–25–4 58 Recap 57 February 15 Montreal 2–6 Arizona Condon 14,338 27–26–4 58 Recap 58 February 17 Montreal 2–3 Colorado Scrivens 16,271 27–27–4 58 Recap 59 February 19 Philadelphia 2–3 Montreal SO Condon 21,288 28–27–4 60 Recap 60 February 22 Nashville 2–1 Montreal SO Condon 21,288 28–27–5 61 Recap 61 February 24 Montreal 4–3 Washington Condon 18,506 29–27–5 63 Recap 62 February 27 Toronto 1–4 Montreal Condon 21,288 30–27–5 65 Recap 63 February 29 Montreal 2–6 San Jose Condon 16,205 30–28–5 65 Recap March: 6–8–1 (Home: 4–4–0; Road: 2–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 2 Montreal 2–3 Anaheim SO Condon 15,273 30–28–6 66 Recap 65 March 3 Montreal 2–3 Los Angeles Scrivens 18,230 30–29–6 66 Recap 66 March 5 Montreal 2–4 Winnipeg Condon 15,294 30–30–6 66 Recap 67 March 8 Dallas 3–4 Montreal OT Scrivens 21,288 31–30–6 68 Recap 68 March 10 Buffalo 2–3 Montreal Condon 21,288 32–30–6 70 Recap 69 March 12 Minnesota 4–1 Montreal Condon 21,288 32–31–6 70 Recap 70 March 15 Florida 4–1 Montreal Condon 21,288 32–32–6 70 Recap 71 March 16 Montreal 3–2 Buffalo OT Scrivens 18,815 33–32–6 72 Recap 72 March 19 Montreal 0–5 Ottawa Scrivens 19,722 33–33–6 72 Recap 73 March 20 Calgary 4–1 Montreal Condon 21,288 33–34–6 72 Recap 74 March 22 Anaheim 3–4 Montreal Condon 21,288 34–34–6 74 Recap 75 March 24 Montreal 3–4 Detroit Scrivens 20,027 34–35–6 74 Recap 76 March 26 NY Rangers 5–2 Montreal Condon 21,288 34–36–6 74 Recap 77 March 29 Detroit 3–4 Montreal Condon 21,288 35–36–6 76 Recap 78 March 31 Montreal 3–0 Tampa Bay Condon 19,092 36–36–6 78 Recap April: 2–2–0 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 1–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 79 April 2 Montreal 3–4 Florida Condon 17,427 36–37–6 78 Recap 80 April 5 Florida 4–1 Montreal Condon 21,288 36–38–6 78 Recap 81 April 7 Montreal 4–2 Carolina Lindgren 15,120 37–38–6 80 Recap 82 April 9 Tampa Bay 2–5 Montreal Condon 21,288 38–38–6 82 RecapLegend:

Player statistics Final stats

Skaters

Regular season Player 82 30 34 64 −10 34 82 30 26 56 −8 20 82 14 40 54 4 36 68 6 45 51 4 75 82 5 39 44 −6 38 53 19 21 40 13 24 65 11 18 29 −6 20 ‡ 56 14 12 26 0 22 79 13 13 26 −13 28 ‡ 57 10 10 20 −1 28 71 11 8 19 2 51 64 2 17 19 −6 55 62 11 7 18 −9 11 44 7 10 17 1 6 51 5 11 16 −6 16 ‡ 46 6 6 12 −2 22 72 0 12 12 −7 71 56 4 6 10 −3 6 30 2 8 10 0 6 23 6 3 9 0 8 38 1 6 7 −8 49 10 0 6 6 0 0 † 21 3 2 5 −2 8 13 1 4 5 −1 13 ‡ 15 1 3 4 1 12 20 1 1 2 −10 37 45 1 1 2 3 12 † 14 1 1 2 −2 27 12 1 1 2 1 2 3 0 2 2 2 0 ‡ 5 0 2 2 1 2 † 12 0 1 1 −4 4 22 0 1 1 −6 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 † 9 0 0 0 3 6 † 1 0 0 0 −1 2 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 ‡ 3 0 0 0 −3 5

Goaltenders Regular season Player 55 51 3,122:44 21 25 6 141 2.71 1458 .903 1 0 0 0 12 12 698:20 10 2 0 24 2.06 365 .934 2 0 0 0 15 14 821:58 5 8 0 42 3.07 447 .906 0 0 0 0 1 1 60:00 1 0 0 2 2.00 28 .929 0 0 0 0 ‡ 6 4 226:10 1 3 0 12 3.18 98 .878 0 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Canadiens. Stats reflect time with Canadiens only. ‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Canadiens only.

Suspensions/fines