2022–23 Montreal Canadiens season

The 2022–23 Montreal Canadiens season was the 114th for the club that was established on December 4, 1909, and their 106th season as a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Following a 3–2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on March 28, 2023, the Canadiens were eliminated from playoff contention for a second consecutive year, marking the first such occurrence for the team since the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons.

Standings Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results Preseason 2022 preseason game log: 0–6–2 (home: 0–5–0; road: 0–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 26 New Jersey 2–1 Montreal Primeau 19,308 0–1–0 2 September 28 Montreal 0–3 Toronto Montembeault 17,519 0–2–0 3 September 29 Winnipeg 4–3 Montreal Primeau 19,544 0–3–0 4 October 1 Montreal 4–5 Ottawa OT Primeau 15,878 0–3–1 5 October 3 Toronto 5–1 Montreal Allen 19,636 0–4–1 6 October 4 Ottawa 5–4 Montreal Montembeault 19,550 0–5–1 7 October 6 Ottawa 4–3 Montreal Primeau 1,078 0–6–1 8 October 8 Montreal 2–3 Ottawa OT Allen 1,155 0–6–2 Notes: After being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, two NHL preseason games as part of Kraft Hockeyville saw the puck drop between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators on October 6, 2022, at the Steele Community Centre in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, and October 8 at the J.K. Irving Centre in Bouctouche, New Brunswick.

Regular season The regular season schedule was released on July 6, 2022. 2022–23 game logOctober: 5–4–0 (home: 3–2–0; road: 2–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 12 Toronto 3–4 Montreal Allen 21,105 1–0–0 2 2 October 14 Montreal 0–3 Detroit Allen 19,515 1–1–0 2 3 October 15 Montreal 1–3 Washington Montembeault 18,573 1–2–0 2 4 October 17 Pittsburgh 2–3 Montreal OT Montembeault 21,105 2–2–0 4 5 October 20 Arizona 2–6 Montreal Allen 20,691 3–2–0 6 6 October 22 Dallas 5–2 Montreal Allen 21,105 3–3–0 6 7 October 25 Minnesota 3–1 Montreal Allen 20,867 3–4–0 6 8 October 27 Montreal 3–2 Buffalo Montembeault 12,735 4–4–0 8 9 October 29 Montreal 7–4 St. Louis Allen 18,096 5–4–0 10 November: 6–6–1 (home: 3–4–0; road: 3–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 1 Montreal 1–4 Minnesota Allen 16,385 5–5–0 10 11 November 3 Montreal 2–3 Winnipeg OT Montembeault 13,729 5–5–1 11 12 November 5 Vegas 6–4 Montreal Allen 21,105 5–6–1 11 13 November 8 Montreal 3–2 Detroit SO Allen 17,033 6–6–1 13 14 November 9 Vancouver 2–5 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 7–6–1 15 15 November 12 Pittsburgh 4–5 Montreal OT Allen 21,105 8–6–1 17 16 November 15 New Jersey 5–1 Montreal Allen 20,753 8–7–1 17 17 November 17 Montreal 4–6 Columbus Montembeault 14,914 8–8–1 17 18 November 19 Philadelphia 4–5 Montreal SO Allen 21,105 9–8–1 19 19 November 22 Buffalo 7–2 Montreal Allen 20,984 9–9–1 19 20 November 23 Montreal 3–1 Columbus Montembeault 14,197 10–9–1 21 21 November 25 Montreal 3–2 Chicago SO Montembeault 16,159 11–9–1 23 22 November 29 San Jose 4–0 Montreal Allen 21,105 11–10–1 23 December: 4–9–2 (home: 1–3–0; road: 3–6–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 23 December 1 Montreal 2–1 Calgary Allen 18,106 12–10–1 25 24 December 3 Montreal 3–5 Edmonton Allen 18,347 12–11–1 25 25 December 5 Montreal 6–7 Vancouver OT Montembeault 18,420 12–11–2 26 26 December 6 Montreal 4–2 Seattle Allen 17,151 13–11–2 28 27 December 10 Los Angeles 4–2 Montreal Allen 21,105 13–12–2 28 28 December 12 Calgary 1–2 Montreal SO Allen 21,105 14–12–2 30 29 December 14 Montreal 2–3 Ottawa Montembeault 19,567 14–13–2 30 30 December 15 Anaheim 5–2 Montreal Allen 21,105 14–14–2 30 31 December 17 Tampa Bay 5–1 Montreal Allen 21,105 14–15–2 30 32 December 19 Montreal 3–2 Arizona OT Montembeault 4,600 15–15–2 32 33 December 21 Montreal 1–2 Colorado OT Allen 18,091 15–15–3 33 34 December 23 Montreal 2–4 Dallas Allen 18,532 15–16–3 33 35 December 28 Montreal 1–4 Tampa Bay Allen 19,092 15–17–3 33 36 December 29 Montreal 2–7 Florida Montembeault 19,623 15–18–3 33 37 December 31 Montreal 2–9 Washington Allen 18,573 15–19–3 33 January: 5–8–1 (home: 4–5–1; road: 1–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 38 January 3 Montreal 3–6 Nashville Montembeault 17,581 15–20–3 33 39 January 5 NY Rangers 4–1 Montreal Allen 21,105 15–21–3 33 40 January 7 St. Louis 4–5 Montreal Allen 21,105 16–21–3 35 41 January 9 Seattle 4–0 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 16–22–3 35 42 January 12 Nashville 3–4 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 17–22–3 37 43 January 14 Montreal 1–2 NY Islanders Montembeault 17,255 17–23–3 37 44 January 15 Montreal 2–1 NY Rangers Montembeault 18,006 18–23–3 39 45 January 17 Winnipeg 1–4 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 19–23–3 41 46 January 19 Florida 6–2 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 19–24–3 41 47 January 21 Toronto 2–3 Montreal OT Montembeault 21,105 20–24–3 43 48 January 24 Boston 4–2 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 20–25–3 43 49 January 26 Detroit 4–3 Montreal OT Allen 21,105 20–25–4 44 50 January 28 Montreal 0–5 Ottawa Montembeault 20,034 20–26–4 44 51 January 31 Ottawa 5–4 Montreal Allen 21,105 20–27–4 44 February: 6–3–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 3–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 52 February 11 NY Islanders 3–4 Montreal OT Montembeault 21,105 21–27–4 46 53 February 12 Edmonton 2–6 Montreal Allen 21,105 22–27–4 48 54 February 14 Chicago 0–4 Montreal Allen 21,105 23–27–4 50 55 February 16 Montreal 2–6 Carolina Montembeault 18,680 23–28–4 50 56 February 18 Montreal 1–5 Toronto Allen 19,535 23–29–4 50 57 February 21 Montreal 5–2 New Jersey Montembeault 14,854 24–29–4 52 58 February 24 Montreal 5–2 Philadelphia Allen 19,661 25–29–4 54 59 February 25 Ottawa 5–2 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 25–30–4 54 60 February 28 Montreal 3–1 San Jose Allen 11,470 26–30–4 56 March: 4–10–2 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–7–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 61 March 2 Montreal 2–3 Los Angeles Allen 16,974 26–31–4 56 62 March 3 Montreal 2–3 Anaheim Montembeault 14,391 26–32–4 56 63 March 5 Montreal 3–4 Vegas Allen 18,049 26–33–4 56 64 March 7 Carolina 4–3 Montreal SO Allen 21,105 26–33–5 57 65 March 9 NY Rangers 4–3 Montreal SO Montembeault 21,105 26–33–6 58 66 March 11 New Jersey 3–1 Montreal Allen 21,105 26–34–6 58 67 March 13 Colorado 8–4 Montreal Allen 21,105 26–35–6 58 68 March 14 Montreal 6–4 Pittsburgh Montembeault 17,185 27–35–6 60 69 March 16 Montreal 5–9 Florida Allen 17,372 27–36–6 60 70 March 18 Montreal 3–5 Tampa Bay Montembeault 19,092 27–37–6 60 71 March 21 Tampa Bay 2–3 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 28–37–6 62 72 March 23 Montreal 2–4 Boston Allen 17,850 28–38–6 62 73 March 25 Columbus 2–8 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 29–38–6 64 74 March 27 Montreal 4–3 Buffalo SO Allen 16,435 30–38–6 66 75 March 28 Montreal 2–3 Philadelphia Primeau 18,916 30–39–6 66 76 March 30 Florida 5–2 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 30–40–6 66 April: 1–5–0 (home: 1–3–0; road: 0–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 77 April 1 Carolina 3–0 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 30–41–6 66 78 April 4 Detroit 5–0 Montreal Primeau 21,105 30–42–6 66 79 April 6 Washington 2–6 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 31–42–6 68 80 April 8 Montreal 1–7 Toronto Montembeault 19,033 31–43–6 68 81 April 12 Montreal 2–4 NY Islanders Montembeault 17,255 31–44–6 68 82 April 13 Boston 5–4 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 31–45–6 68 Legend:

Player statistics

Final stats Skaters Regular season Player 82 26 40 66 −13 33 58 14 24 38 −2 43 46 26 10 36 −10 2 67 14 20 34 −10 28 48 8 26 34 +7 33 69 21 11 32 −8 72 58 2 27 29 −18 18 64 10 18 28 −12 6 34 14 6 20 +7 10 62 3 17 20 −14 40 54 2 17 19 −5 28 44 4 14 18 −19 27 ‡ 50 4 14 18 −10 16 25 6 11 17 −5 16 65 4 13 17 −3 26 37 6 10 16 −11 0 63 7 8 15 −4 77 46 6 9 15 −15 22 39 4 11 15 −2 20 77 3 12 15 +3 39 37 8 6 14 −5 45 43 7 7 14 −7 22 31 6 8 14 0 13 51 5 8 13 −9 101 61 2 11 13 −29 58 39 4 6 10 −13 33 † 23 5 3 8 −7 6 † 23 1 6 7 −7 4 46 0 6 6 −6 81 13 3 2 5 +2 6 1 1 0 1 0 0 6 1 0 1 −2 0 2 0 1 1 −2 0 7 0 1 1 +1 0 3 0 0 0 +2 0 1 0 0 0 −1 0 Goaltenders Regular season Player 42 41 2,450:25 15 24 3 145 3.55 1335 .891 1 0 1 2 40 39 2,333:51 16 19 3 133 3.42 1345 .901 0 0 0 0 3 2 138:35 0 2 0 8 3.46 54 .852 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 Josh Anderson Boarding Golden Knights defenceman Alex Pietrangelo 2 games $59,459.46 November 6, 2022 Juraj Slafkovsky Boarding Red Wings forward Matt Luff 2 games $10,270.28 November 9, 2022 Mike Matheson Interference against Panthers forward Eric Staal N/A $5,000.00 January 20, 2023 Nick Suzuki Cross-checking Panthers forward Anton Lundell N/A $2,500.00 March 17, 2023

Awards and honours

Awards Regular season Player Award Awarded Ref NHL All-Star Game selection January 5, 2023 Nick Suzuki NHL Second Star of the Week March 27, 2023

Milestones

Regular season Player Milestone Reached Ref Kaiden Guhle 1st career NHL game October 12, 2022 Jordan Harris 1st career NHL assist October 12, 2022 Juraj Slafkovsky 1st career NHL game October 12, 2022 Arber Xhekaj 1st career NHL game October 12, 2022 Arber Xhekaj 1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point October 15, 2022 Kaiden Guhle 1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point October 17, 2022 Juraj Slafkovsky 1st career NHL goal1st career NHL point October 20, 2022 Arber Xhekaj 1st career NHL goal October 22, 2022 Kaiden Guhle 1st career NHL goal October 27, 2022 Christian Dvorak 1st career NHL hat-trick October 29, 2022 Nick Suzuki 100th career NHL assist October 29, 2022 Josh Anderson 400th career NHL game November 5, 2022 Joel Armia 400th career NHL game November 5, 2022 Johnathan Kovacevic 1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point November 9, 2022 Juraj Slafkovsky 1st career NHL assist November 17, 2022 Cole Caufield 100th career NHL game December 1, 2022 Johnathan Kovacevic 1st career NHL goal December 6, 2022 Anthony Richard 1st career NHL goal1st career NHL point December 21, 2022 Anthony Richard 1st career NHL assist January 3, 2023 David Savard 700th career NHL game January 7, 2023 Christian Dvorak 400th career NHL game January 12, 2023 Kirby Dach 200th career NHL game January 24, 2023 Rafael Harvey-Pinard 1st career NHL assist January 26, 2023 Owen Beck 1st career NHL game January 28, 2023 Alex Belzile 1st career NHL goal February 12, 2023 Christian Dvorak 200th career NHL point February 12, 2023 Rem Pitlick 100th career NHL game February 16, 2023 Mike Matheson 100th career NHL assist February 21, 2023 Josh Anderson 200th career NHL point March 13, 2023 David Savard 200th career NHL point March 13, 2023 Jonathan Drouin 200th career NHL assist March 14, 2023 Joel Edmundson 100th career NHL point March 14, 2023 Michael Pezzetta 100th career NHL game March 14, 2023 Nick Suzuki 200th career NHL point March 23, 2023 Rafael Harvey-Pinard 1st career NHL hat-trick March 25, 2023 Brendan Gallagher 200th career NHL goal March 27, 2023 Sean Farrell 1st career NHL game March 28, 2023 Sean Farrell 1st career NHL goal1st career NHL point March 30, 2023 Sam Montembeault 100th career NHL game April 6, 2023 Joel Teasdale 1st career NHL game April 12, 2023 Lucas Condotta 1st career NHL game1st career NHL goal1st career NHL point April 13, 2023 Joel Teasdale 1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point April 13, 2023

Transactions The Canadiens have been involved in the following transactions during the 2022–23 season.

Key Contract is entry-level. Contract initially takes effect in the 2023-24 season. Trades