2018–19 Montreal Canadiens season

The 2018–19 Montreal Canadiens season was the 110th season for the franchise that was founded on December 4, 1909, and their 102nd in the National Hockey League (NHL). Despite a strong effort, the Canadiens failed to qualify for the playoffs as they missed the cut by just two points, marking the first time that the team missed back-to-back postseasons since the 1999–00 season and the 2000–01 season. Finishing the season with 96 points, the Canadiens also tied the record for most points by a non-qualifying NHL team, joining the 2014–15 Boston Bruins, the 2017–18 Florida Panthers, and eventually the 2024–25 Calgary Flames.

Standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The preseason schedule was published on June 18, 2018. 2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 1–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 17 New Jersey 1–3 Montreal Lindgren 19,422 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 19 Florida 5–2 Montreal Niemi 19,691 1–1–0 Recap 3 September 20 Washington 2–5 Montreal Lindgren – 2–1–0 Recap 4 September 22 Ottawa 2–3 Montreal Price 20,405 3–1–0 Recap 5 September 24 Montreal 5–1 Toronto Niemi 18,843 4–1–0 Recap 6 September 26 Toronto 5–3 Montreal Price 20,486 4–2–0 Recap 7 September 29 Montreal 0–3 Ottawa Price 14,398 4–3–0 RecapNotes: Game was played at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec.

Regular season The regular season schedule was released on June 21, 2018. 2018–19 game logOctober: 6–3–2 (Home: 4–2–0; Road: 2–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 3 Montreal 2–3 Toronto OT Price 19,589 0–0–1 1 Recap 2 October 6 Montreal 5–1 Pittsburgh Price 18,622 1–0–1 3 Recap 3 October 11 Los Angeles 3–0 Montreal Price 21,302 1–1–1 3 Recap 4 October 13 Pittsburgh 3–4 Montreal SO Niemi 21,302 2–1–1 5 Recap 5 October 15 Detroit 3–7 Montreal Niemi 20,323 3–1–1 7 Recap 6 October 17 St. Louis 2–3 Montreal Price 20,137 4–1–1 9 Recap 7 October 20 Montreal 3–4 Ottawa OT Price 18,442 4–1–2 10 Recap 8 October 23 Calgary 2–3 Montreal Price 21,028 5–1–2 12 Recap 9 October 25 Montreal 3–4 Buffalo Niemi 16,112 5–2–2 12 Recap 10 October 27 Montreal 3–0 Boston Price 17,565 6–2–2 14 Recap 11 October 30 Dallas 4–1 Montreal Price 20,506 6–3–2 14 RecapNovember: 5–6–3 (Home: 2–3–2; Road: 3–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 1 Washington 4–6 Montreal Price 20,279 7–3–2 16 Recap 13 November 3 Tampa Bay 4–1 Montreal Price 21,302 7–4–2 16 Recap 14 November 5 Montreal 4–3 NY Islanders SO Niemi 9,402 8–4–2 18 Recap 15 November 6 Montreal 3–5 NY Rangers Price 17,428 8–5–2 18 Recap 16 November 8 Buffalo 6–5 Montreal OT Price 20,488 8–5–3 19 Recap 17 November 10 Vegas 4–5 Montreal Niemi 21,302 9–5–3 21 Recap 18 November 13 Montreal 2–6 Edmonton Niemi 18,347 9–6–3 21 Recap 19 November 15 Montreal 3–2 Calgary Price 18,443 10–6–3 23 Recap 20 November 17 Montreal 3–2 Vancouver Price 17,880 11–6–3 25 Recap 21 November 19 Washington 5–4 Montreal OT Price 21,911 11–6–4 26 Recap 22 November 21 Montreal 2–5 New Jersey Price 16,514 11–7–4 26 Recap 23 November 23 Montreal 2–3 Buffalo OT Niemi 19,070 11–7–5 27 Recap 24 November 24 Boston 3–2 Montreal Price 21,302 11–8–5 27 Recap 25 November 27 Carolina 2–1 Montreal Price 20,835 11–9–5 27 RecapDecember: 10–5–0 (Home: 4–2–0; Road: 6–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 26 December 1 NY Rangers 2–5 Montreal Price 21,302 12–9–5 29 Recap 27 December 2 San Jose 3–1 Montreal Price 20,301 12–10–5 29 Recap 28 December 4 Ottawa 2–5 Montreal Price 20,705 13–10–5 31 Recap 29 December 6 Montreal 5–2 Ottawa Price 15,820 14–10–5 33 Recap 30 December 9 Montreal 3–2 Chicago Price 21,057 15–10–5 35 Recap 31 December 11 Montreal 1–7 Minnesota Niemi 18,681 15–11–5 35 Recap 32 December 13 Carolina 4–6 Montreal Price 20,407 16–11–5 37 Recap 33 December 15 Ottawa 2–5 Montreal Price 21,302 17–11–5 39 Recap 34 December 17 Boston 4–0 Montreal Price 21,302 17–12–5 39 Recap 35 December 19 Montreal 1–2 Colorado Price 15,469 17–13–5 39 Recap 36 December 20 Montreal 2–1 Arizona Price 11,149 18–13–5 41 Recap 37 December 22 Montreal 4–3 Vegas OT Price 18,173 19–13–5 43 Recap 38 December 28 Montreal 5–3 Florida Niemi 19,512 20–13–5 45 Recap 39 December 29 Montreal 5–6 Tampa Bay Niemi 19,092 20–14–5 45 Recap 40 December 31 Montreal 3–2 Dallas OT Niemi 18,532 21–14–5 47 Recap January: 7–4–0 (Home: 4–3–0; Road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 41 January 3 Vancouver 0–2 Montreal Price 21,302 22–14–5 49 Recap 42 January 5 Nashville 4–1 Montreal Price 21,302 22–15–5 49 Recap 43 January 7 Minnesota 1–0 Montreal Price 20,601 22–16–5 49 Recap 44 January 8 Montreal 3–2 Detroit Niemi 18,098 23–16–5 51 Recap 45 January 10 Montreal 1–4 St. Louis Price 17,839 23–17–5 51 Recap 46 January 12 Colorado 0–3 Montreal Price 21,302 24–17–5 53 Recap 47 January 14 Montreal 3–2 Boston OT Price 17,565 25–17–5 55 Recap 48 January 15 Florida 1–5 Montreal Niemi 20,576 26–17–5 57 Recap 49 January 18 Montreal 4–1 Columbus Price 18,892 27–17–5 59 Recap 50 January 19 Philadelphia 5–2 Montreal Niemi 21,302 27–18–5 59 Recap 51 January 23 Arizona 1–2 Montreal Price 21,002 28–18–5 61 RecapFebruary: 6–5–2 (Home: 5–0–2; Road: 1–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 52 February 2 New Jersey 3–2 Montreal OT Niemi 21,302 28–18–6 62 Recap 53 February 3 Edmonton 3–4 Montreal OT Price 21,302 29–18–6 64 Recap 54 February 5 Anaheim 1–4 Montreal Price 20,680 30–18–6 66 Recap 55 February 7 Winnipeg 2–5 Montreal Price 21,302 31–18–6 68 Recap 56 February 9 Toronto 4–3 Montreal OT Price 21,302 31–18–7 69 Recap 57 February 14 Montreal 1–3 Nashville Price 17,417 31–19–7 69 Recap 58 February 16 Montreal 0–3 Tampa Bay Price 19,092 31–20–7 69 Recap 59 February 17 Montreal 3–6 Florida Price 16,212 31–21–7 69 Recap 60 February 19 Columbus 2–3 Montreal Price 20,858 32–21–7 71 Recap 61 February 21 Philadelphia 1–5 Montreal Price 21,302 33–21–7 73 Recap 62 February 23 Montreal 3–6 Toronto Price 19,506 33–22–7 73 Recap 63 February 25 Montreal 1–2 New Jersey Price 12,791 33–23–7 73 Recap 64 February 26 Montreal 8–1 Detroit Price 18,845 34–23–7 75 RecapMarch: 8–6–1 (Home: 4–2–0; Road: 4–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 65 March 1 Montreal 4–2 NY Rangers Price 17,334 35–23–7 77 Recap 66 March 2 Pittsburgh 5–1 Montreal Price 21,302 35–24–7 77 Recap 67 March 5 Montreal 3–1 Los Angeles Price 17,764 36–24–7 79 Recap 68 March 7 Montreal 2–5 San Jose Niemi 17,471 36–25–7 79 Recap 69 March 8 Montreal 2–8 Anaheim Price 16,580 36–26–7 79 Recap 70 March 12 Detroit 1–3 Montreal Price 21,302 37–26–7 81 Recap 71 March 14 Montreal 1–2 NY Islanders Price 13,274 37–27–7 81 Recap 72 March 16 Chicago 2–0 Montreal Price 21,302 37–28–7 81 Recap 73 March 19 Montreal 3–1 Philadelphia Price 19,045 38–28–7 83 Recap 74 March 21 NY Islanders 0–4 Montreal Price 21,302 39–28–7 85 Recap 75 March 23 Buffalo 4–7 Montreal Price 21,302 40–28–7 87 Recap 76 March 24 Montreal 1–2 Carolina OT Price 14,437 40–28–8 88 Recap 77 March 26 Florida 1–6 Montreal Price 21,029 41–28–8 90 Recap 78 March 28 Montreal 2–6 Columbus Price 18,641 41–29–8 90 Recap 79 March 30 Montreal 3–1 Winnipeg Price 15,321 42–29–8 92 Recap April: 2–1–0 (Home: 2–0–0; Road: 0–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 80 April 2 Tampa Bay 2–4 Montreal Price 21,302 43–29–8 94 Recap 81 April 4 Montreal 1–2 Washington Price 18,506 43–30–8 94 Recap 82 April 6 Toronto 5–6 Montreal SO Lindgren 21,302 44–30–8 96 RecapLegend:

Player statistics As of April 6, 2019

Skaters Regular season Player 82 28 44 72 20 80 80 25 33 58 21 34 81 18 35 53 −8 26 81 12 41 53 17 39 82 33 19 52 10 49 63 19 28 47 17 71 82 13 33 46 −5 28 79 11 23 34 1 26 58 14 19 33 15 28 56 15 16 31 16 17 82 11 20 31 10 32 57 13 10 23 0 14 81 5 17 22 15 39 57 6 11 17 12 31 71 0 13 13 17 6 57 3 8 11 0 16 ‡ 36 2 9 11 −1 26 † 16 4 6 10 0 2 39 3 7 10 −14 4 † 25 1 6 7 −4 0 32 3 2 5 −9 16 48 2 3 5 −12 22 21 1 4 5 5 6 ‡ 32 0 5 5 −4 14 † 19 0 4 4 1 11 1 3 0 3 3 0 19 0 3 3 −3 13 ‡ 18 0 2 2 −1 4 3 1 0 1 0 0 9 0 1 1 1 2 † 9 0 0 0 −2 4

Goaltenders Regular season Player 66 64 3,880:15 35 24 6 161 2.49 1,952 .918 4 0 1 2 17 17 968:48 8 6 2 61 3.78 539 .887 0 0 1 0 1 1 65:00 1 0 0 5 4.62 49 .898 0 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Canadiens. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Suspensions/fines Player Explanation Length Salary Date issued Ref Max Domi Roughing Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad 5 games (all pre-season) N/A September 20, 2018 Phillip Danault Dangerous trip against Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad N/A $5,000.00 December 29, 2018 Carey Price Automatic suspension for missing NHL All-Star Game 1 game N/A January 7, 2019 Paul Byron Charging Panthers defenceman MacKenzie Weegar 3 games $18,817.20 January 16, 2019

Awards and honours

Awards Regular season Player Award Awarded Ref NHL All-Star Game selection January 2, 2019

Milestones Regular season Player Milestone Reached Ref Jesperi Kotkaniemi 1st career NHL game1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point October 3, 2018 Max Domi 100th career NHL assist October 3, 2018 Jonathan Drouin 100th career NHL assist October 13, 2018 Tomas Plekanec 1,000th career NHL game October 17, 2018 Jordie Benn 400th career NHL game October 23, 2018 Jesperi Kotkaniemi 1st career NHL goal November 1, 2018 Phillip Danault 200th career NHL game November 3, 2018 David Schlemko 400th career NHL game November 16, 2018 Andrew Shaw 100th career NHL assist November 24, 2018 Andrew Shaw 200th career NHL point December 2, 2018 Andrew Shaw 100th career NHL goal December 6, 2018 Charles Hudon 100th career NHL game December 19, 2018 Carey Price 300th career NHL win December 20, 2018 Phillip Danault 1st career NHL hat-trick December 22, 2018 Nicolas Deslauriers 300th career NHL game January 10, 2019 Joel Armia 200th career NHL game January 10, 2019 Jeff Petry 200th career NHL point January 14, 2019 Jordie Benn 100th career NHL point January 15, 2019 Carey Price 600th career NHL game February 9, 2019 Shea Weber 900th career NHL game February 14, 2019 Jonathan Drouin 300th career NHL game February 17, 2019 Paul Byron 400th career NHL game February 19, 2019 Artturi Lehkonen 200th career NHL game February 21, 2019 Brendan Gallagher 1st career NHL hat-trick February 21, 2019 Victor Mete 100th career NHL game February 23, 2019 Andrew Shaw 1st career NHL hat-trick February 26, 2019 Joel Armia 1st career NHL hat-trick March 1, 2019 Shea Weber 200th career NHL goal March 8, 2019 Jeff Petry 600th career NHL game March 19, 2019 Max Domi 200th career NHL point March 23, 2019 Tomas Tatar 500th career NHL game March 23, 2019 Max Domi 300th career NHL game March 28, 2019 Andrew Shaw 500th career NHL game March 28, 2019 Ryan Poehling 1st career NHL game1st career NHL goal1st career NHL point1st career NHL hat-trick April 6, 2019

Transactions The Canadiens have been involved in the following transactions during the 2018–19 season.

Trades