The 2025–26 Montreal Canadiens season was the 117th for the club that was established on December 4, 1909, and their 109th season as a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Improving on their success of the season prior, the Canadiens finished the regular season with the sixth-best record across the NHL, and third-best in the Atlantic Division. Qualifying for the postseason for a second consecutive year, the team faced the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, ultimately prevailing in a seven-game series to earn their first postseason series victory in five years. They went on to defeat the Buffalo Sabres in the second round, again in seven games, before eventually losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in five games of the Eastern Conference final.

The regular season saw key members of the Canadiens' roster reach a number of offensive milestones, including winger Cole Caufield scoring 51 goals, becoming the first franchise player to reach the 50-goal plateau since Stephane Richer in 1989–90, and captain Nick Suzuki finishing with 101 points, marking the first individual 100-point campaign for the team since Mats Naslund in 1985–86. For their efforts, Caufield received the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the league's most gentlemanly player, while Suzuki was named winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL.

Standings

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The preseason schedule was published on June 25, 2025. 2025 preseason game log: 4–2–0 (Home: 2–2–0; Road: 2–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 22 Pittsburgh 1–2 Montreal SO Fowler 20,595 1–0–0 2 September 23 Philadelphia 2–4 Montreal Kähkönen 20,429 2–0–0 3 September 25 Toronto 7–2 Montreal Montembeault 20,962 2–1–0 4 September 27 Montreal 4–2 Toronto Kähkönen 18,216 3–1–0 5 September 30 Montreal 5–0 Ottawa Dobeš 18,259 4–1–0 6 October 4 Ottawa 3–1 Montreal Montembeault 20,962 4–2–0 Notes: Game played at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec.

Regular season The regular season schedule was released on July 16, 2025. 2025–26 game logOctober: 8–3–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 5–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 8 Montreal 2–5 Toronto Montembeault 19,037 0–1–0 0 2 October 9 Montreal 5–1 Detroit Dobeš 19,515 1–1–0 2 3 October 11 Montreal 3–2 Chicago Montembeault 19,344 2–1–0 4 4 October 14 Seattle 4–5 Montreal OT Montembeault 20,962 3–1–0 6 5 October 16 Nashville 2–3 Montreal OT Dobeš 20,962 4–1–0 8 6 October 18 NY Rangers 4–3 Montreal Montembeault 20,962 4–2–0 8 7 October 20 Buffalo 2–4 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 5–2–0 10 8 October 22 Montreal 2–1 Calgary OT Dobeš 17,826 6–2–0 12 9 October 23 Montreal 5–6 Edmonton Montembeault 18,347 6–3–0 12 10 October 25 Montreal 4–3 Vancouver Dobeš 18,846 7–3–0 14 11 October 28 Montreal 4–3 Seattle OT Dobeš 17,151 8–3–0 16 November: 5–5–3 (home: 3–4–1; road: 2–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 1 Ottawa 3–4 Montreal OT Montembeault 20,962 9–3–0 18 13 November 4 Philadelphia 5–4 Montreal SO Montembeault 20,962 9–3–1 19 14 November 6 Montreal 3–4 New Jersey OT Dobeš 16,514 9–3–2 20 15 November 8 Utah 2–6 Montreal Montembeault 20,962 10–3–2 22 16 November 11 Los Angeles 5–1 Montreal Montembeault 20,962 10–4–2 22 17 November 13 Dallas 7–0 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 10–5–2 22 18 November 15 Boston 3–2 Montreal Montembeault 20,962 10–6–2 22 19 November 17 Montreal 3–4 Columbus SO Dobeš 14,811 10–6–3 23 20 November 20 Washington 8–4 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 10–7–3 23 21 November 22 Toronto 2–5 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 11–7–3 25 22 November 26 Montreal 4–3 Utah Dobeš 12,478 12–7–3 27 23 November 28 Montreal 4–1 Vegas Montembeault 17,739 13–7–3 29 24 November 29 Montreal 2–7 Colorado Dobeš 18,112 13–8–3 29 December: 8–4–3 (home: 4–4–0; road: 4–0–3) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 2 Ottawa 5–2 Montreal Montembeault 20,962 13–9–3 29 26 December 3 Winnipeg 2–3 Montreal SO Dobeš 20,962 14–9–3 31 27 December 6 Montreal 2–1 Toronto SO Dobeš 19,081 15–10–3 33 28 December 7 St. Louis 4–3 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 15–10–3 33 29 December 9 Tampa Bay 6–1 Montreal Montembeault 20,962 15–11–3 33 30 December 11 Montreal 4–2 Pittsburgh Fowler 14,845 16–11–3 35 31 December 13 Montreal 4–5 NY Rangers OT Fowler 18,006 16–11–4 36 32 December 14 Edmonton 1–4 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 17–11–4 38 33 December 16 Philadelphia 4–1 Montreal Fowler 20,962 17–12–4 38 34 December 18 Chicago 1–4 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 18–12–4 40 35 December 20 Pittsburgh 0–4 Montreal Fowler 20,962 19–12–4 42 36 December 21 Montreal 3–4 Pittsburgh SO Dobeš 17,695 19–12–5 43 37 December 23 Montreal 6–2 Boston Fowler 17,850 20–12–5 45 38 December 28 Montreal 4–5 Tampa Bay SO Fowler 19,092 20–12–6 46 39 December 30 Montreal 3–2 Florida OT Montembeault 19,646 21–12–6 48 January: 10–5–1 (home: 6–2–0; road: 4–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 40 January 1 Montreal 7–5 Carolina Dobeš 18,299 22–12–6 50 41 January 3 Montreal 0–2 St. Louis Fowler 18,096 22–13–6 50 42 January 4 Montreal 4–3 Dallas OT Montembeault 18,532 23–13–6 52 43 January 7 Calgary 1–4 Montreal Fowler 20,962 24–13–6 54 44 January 8 Florida 2–6 Montreal Montembeault 20,962 25–13–6 56 45 January 10 Detroit 4–0 Montreal Fowler 20,962 25–14–6 56 46 January 12 Vancouver 3–6 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 26–14–6 58 47 January 13 Montreal 2–3 Washington OT Montembeault 18,347 26–14–7 59 48 January 15 Montreal 3–5 Buffalo Fowler 19,070 26–15–7 59 49 January 17 Montreal 6–5 Ottawa OT Montembeault 18,020 27–15–7 61 50 January 20 Minnesota 3–4 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 28–15–7 63 51 January 22 Buffalo 4–2 Montreal Montembeault 20,962 28–16–7 63 52 January 24 Montreal 3–4 Boston Montembeault 17,850 28–17–7 63 53 January 27 Vegas 2–3 Montreal OT Dobeš 20,962 29–17–7 65 54 January 29 Colorado 3–7 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 30–17–7 67 55 January 31 Montreal 4–2 Buffalo Dobeš 19,070 31–17–7 69 February: 2–0–2 (home: 1–0–1; road: 1–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 56 February 2 Montreal 3–4 Minnesota OT Dobeš 18,228 31–17–8 70 57 February 4 Montreal 5–1 Winnipeg Montembeault 15,225 32–17–8 72 58 February 26 NY Islanders 4–3 Montreal OT Montembeault 20,962 32–17–9 73 59 February 28 Washington 2–6 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 33–17–9 75 March: 10–4–1 (home: 5–2–0; road: 5–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 60 March 3 Montreal 5–7 San Jose Dobeš 17,435 33–18–9 75 61 March 6 Montreal 5–6 Anaheim SO Montembeault 14,470 33–18–10 76 62 March 7 Montreal 4–3 Los Angeles Dobeš 18,145 34–18–10 78 63 March 10 Toronto 1–3 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 35–18–10 80 64 March 11 Montreal 3–2 Ottawa Fowler 17,229 36–18–10 82 65 March 14 San Jose 4–2 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 36–19–10 82 66 March 15 Anaheim 4–3 Montreal Fowler 20,962 36–20–10 82 67 March 17 Boston 2–3 Montreal OT Dobeš 20,962 37–20–10 84 68 March 19 Montreal 1–3 Detroit Dobeš 19,515 37–21–10 84 69 March 21 NY Islanders 3–7 Montreal Fowler 20,962 38–21–10 86 70 March 24 Carolina 2–5 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 39–21–10 88 71 March 26 Columbus 1–2 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 40–21–10 90 72 March 28 Montreal 4–1 Nashville Fowler 17,720 41–21–10 92 73 March 29 Montreal 3–1 Carolina Dobeš 18,551 42–21–10 94 74 March 31 Montreal 4–1 Tampa Bay Dobeš 19,092 43–21–10 96 April: 5–3–0 (home: 2–2–0; road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 75 April 2 Montreal 3–2 NY Rangers Fowler 17,424 44–21–10 98 76 April 4 Montreal 4–3 New Jersey SO Dobeš 16,514 45–21–10 100 77 April 5 New Jersey 3–0 Montreal Fowler 20,962 45–22–10 100 78 April 7 Florida 3–4 Montreal SO Dobeš 20,962 46–22–10 102 79 April 9 Tampa Bay 1–2 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 47–22–10 104 80 April 11 Columbus 5–2 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 47–23–10 104 81 April 12 Montreal 4–1 NY Islanders Fowler 16,918 48–23–10 106 82 April 14 Montreal 2–4 Philadelphia Dobeš 20,041 48–24–10 106 Legend:

Playoffs

2026 Stanley Cup playoffsEastern Conference first round vs. (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning: Montreal won 4–3 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 19 Montreal 4–3 Tampa Bay OT Dobeš 19,092 1–0 2 April 21 Montreal 2–3 Tampa Bay OT Dobes 19,092 1–1 3 April 24 Tampa Bay 2–3 Montreal OT Dobeš 20,962 2–1 4 April 26 Tampa Bay 3–2 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 2–2 5 April 29 Montreal 3–2 Tampa Bay Dobeš 19,092 3–2 6 May 1 Tampa Bay 1–0 Montreal OT Dobeš 20,962 3–3 7 May 3 Montreal 2–1 Tampa Bay Dobeš 19,092 4–3 Eastern Conference second round vs. (A1) Buffalo Sabres: Montreal won 4–3 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 May 6 Montreal 2–4 Buffalo Dobeš 19,070 0–1 2 May 8 Montreal 5–1 Buffalo Dobeš 19,070 1–1 3 May 10 Buffalo 2–6 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 2–1 4 May 12 Buffalo 3–2 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 2–2 5 May 14 Montreal 6–3 Buffalo Dobeš 19,070 3–2 6 May 16 Buffalo 8–3 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 3–3 7 May 18 Montreal 3–2 Buffalo OT Dobeš 19,070 4–3 Eastern Conference final vs. (M1) Carolina Hurricanes: Carolina won 4–1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 May 21 Montreal 6–2 Carolina Dobeš 18,723 1–0 2 May 23 Montreal 2–3 Carolina OT Dobeš 18,819 1–1 3 May 25 Carolina 3–2 Montreal OT Dobeš 20,962 1–2 4 May 27 Carolina 4–0 Montreal Dobeš 20,962 1–3 5 May 29 Montreal 1–6 Carolina Dobeš 18,931 1–4 Legend:

Player statistics Final stats

Skaters

Regular season Player 82 29 72 101 28 81 51 37 88 14 82 12 66 78 34 82 30 43 73 52 82 19 43 62 34 80 12 35 47 34 82 22 15 37 22 78 7 30 37 34 78 12 18 30 28 42 13 12 25 10 68 12 12 24 28 72 14 9 23 90 77 7 16 23 39 73 7 15 22 34 † 43 8 12 20 24 37 8 7 15 31 † 45 6 6 12 20 59 2 10 12 58 39 2 9 11 41 † 13 2 3 5 6 61 2 3 5 19 65 1 3 4 116 15 1 0 1 6 5 0 1 1 2 15 0 1 1 8 10 0 1 1 10 2 0 1 1 0 5 0 1 1 7 3 0 0 0 2

Playoffs Player 19 4 12 16 6 19 3 13 16 12 19 6 7 13 0 19 6 6 12 9 19 7 3 10 16 19 2 8 10 8 19 2 8 10 22 19 3 6 9 6 19 4 4 8 4 19 0 8 8 46 19 5 2 7 30 19 3 4 7 22 19 1 6 7 26 19 4 1 5 20 19 2 2 4 20 13 1 1 2 28 3 1 0 1 0 9 0 1 1 0 13 0 1 1 2 12 0 0 0 14 7 0 0 0 2

Goaltenders Regular season Player 43 42 2525:35 29 10 4 117 2.78 1,187 .901 0 0 0 2 25 23 1418:12 10 8 4 81 3.43 635 .872 0 0 0 0 17 17 1010:42 9 6 2 41 2.43 448 .908 1 0 0 0 Playoffs Player 19 19 1173:11 9 10 52 2.66 564 .908 0 0 1 8 1 0 8:23 0 0 1 7.16 2 .500 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 denotes franchise record.

Suspensions/fines Player Explanation Length Salary Date issued Ref Arber Xhekaj Roughing against Sabres forward Sam Carrick N/A $3,385.42 May 11, 2026

Awards and honours

Awards Regular season Player Award Awarded Ref Jakub Dobeš NHL Third Star of the Month November 1, 2025 Juraj Slafkovský NHL Third Star of the Week December 29, 2025 Ivan Demidov NHL Rookie of the Month January 1, 2026 Cole Caufield NHL Third Star of the Week March 23, 2026 Jakub Dobeš NHL First Star of the Week March 30, 2026 Cole Caufield Lady Byng Memorial Trophy June 5, 2026 Nick Suzuki Frank J. Selke Trophy Ivan Demidov NHL All-Rookie Team June 12, 2026 Jakub Dobeš Cole Caufield NHL Second All-Star Team

Milestones