2006–07 Montreal Canadiens season explained

Team:	Montreal Canadiens
League:	NHL
Season:	2006–07
Year:	2006
Conferencerank:	10th
Divisionrank:	4th
Record:	42–34–6
Homerecord:	26–12–3
Roadrecord:	16–22–3
Goalsfor:	245
Goalsagainst:	256
Generalmanager:	Bob Gainey Pierre Gauthier (interim, Dec. 10–Jan. 1)^[1]
Goalsleader:	Michael Ryder (30)
Assistsleader:	Saku Koivu (53)
Pointsleader:	Saku Koivu (75)
Pimleader:	Sheldon Souray (135)
Plusminusleader:	Alexander Perezhogin (+11)
Winsleader:	Cristobal Huet (19)
Gaaleader:	Cristobal Huet (2.81)

The 2006–07 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 98th season, 90th in the National Hockey League (NHL). The club finished fourth in the Northeast division and missed qualification for the playoffs by two points after losing the final game of the regular season 6–5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Pre-season

The Canadiens were only minimally active in offseason transactions, with forwards Sergei Samsonov and Mike Johnson and defenceman Janne Niinimaa representing the only additions. Forwards Jan Bulis, Richard Zednik and Mike Ribeiro moved to other teams: Bulis via free agency to Vancouver, Zednik via a trade to Washington and Ribeiro via a trade to Dallas (for Niinimaa).

Regular season

The club intended to build on a 2005–06 season in which it took the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes to six games in the first round of the playoffs. Behind the leadership of goaltender Cristobal Huet and captain Saku Koivu, the Canadiens poised themselves to join the elite of the Eastern Conference.

However, the team failed to keep its momentum for the whole season. Cristobal Huet's injury on February 15, 2007, forced the Canadiens to use backup goaltenders Jaroslav Halak and David Aebischer. Despite Halak's decent performance, the Canadiens could not clinch a playoff spot. They were eliminated on April 8 after a 6–5 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the season's last game.

On January 9, 2007, the NHL announced that Sheldon Souray had been voted by the fans to start at defence in the 2007 All-Star Game in Dallas.^[2]

The Canadiens finished the regular season with the NHL's best power-play percentage, at 22.75% (86 for 378), and tied the Ottawa Senators for most shorthanded goals scored, with 17.^[3]

Schedule and results

|- style="text-align:center;"| 1 || October 6 || Montreal || 4–5 || Buffalo || SO || Huet || 18,690 || 0–0–1 || 1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 2 || October 7 || Montreal || 3–2 || Toronto || SO || Aebischer || 19,353 || 1–0–1 || 3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 3 || October 11 || Montreal || 3–1 || Philadelphia || || Aebischer || 19,256 || 2–0–1 || 5 || |- style="text-align:center;"| 4 || October 14 || Ottawa || 3–2 || Montreal || SO || Huet || 21,273 || 2–0–2 || 6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 5 || October 17 || Calgary || 4–5 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 3–0–2 || 8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 6 || October 18 || Montreal || 1–2 || Chicago || || Aebischer || 11,095 || 3–1–2 || 8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 7 || October 21 || Colorado || 5–8 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 4–1–2 || 10 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 8 || October 23 || Buffalo || 4–1 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 4–2–2 || 10 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 9 || October 26 || Montreal || 3–2 || Boston || || Huet || 13,920 || 5–2–2 || 12 || |- style="text-align:center;"| 10 || October 28 || Toronto || 5–4 || Montreal || SO || Aebischer || 21,273 || 5–2–3|| 13 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 11 || October 31 || Ottawa || 2–4 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 6–2–3 || 15 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 12 || November 2 || Montreal || 4–0 || Carolina || || Huet || 6,486 || 7–2–3 || 17 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 13 || November 4 || New Jersey || 2–1 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,271 || 7–3–3 || 17 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 14 || November 7 || Edmonton || 2–3 || Montreal || SO || Aebischer || 21,273 || 8–3–3 || 19 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 15 || November 11 || Montreal || 1–5 || Toronto || || Aebischer || 19,501 || 8–4–3 || 19 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 16 || November 13 || Montreal || 6–3 || Ottawa || || Huet || 20,051 || 9–4–3 || 21 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 17 || November 15 || Montreal || 3–1 || Tampa Bay || || Huet || 19,920 || 10–4–3 || 23 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 18 || November 16 || Montreal || 1–5 || Florida || || Aebischer || 13,506 || 10–5–3 || 23 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 19 || November 18 || Atlanta || 1–3 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 11–5–3 || 25 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 20 || November 22 || Minnesota || 2–4 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 12–5–3 || 27 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 21 || November 24 || Montreal || 2–1 || Buffalo || OT || Huet || 18,690 || 13–5–3 || 29 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 22 || November 25 || Philadelphia || 4–2 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 13–6–3 || 29 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 23 || November 28 || Florida || 0–1 || Montreal || SO || Huet || 21,273 || 14–6–3 || 31 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 24 || November 30 || Montreal || 2–4 || Carolina || || Huet || 13,103 || 14–7–3 || 31 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 25 || December 2 || Toronto || 3–4 || Montreal || SO || Huet || 21,273 || 15–7–3 || 33 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 26 || December 4 || Boston || 6–5 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 15–8–3 || 33 || |- style="text-align:center;"| 27 || December 6 || Montreal || 1–2 || New Jersey || OT || Aebischer || 10,986 || 15–8–4 || 34 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 28 || December 7 || Montreal || 4–2 || NY Islanders || || Huet || 9,551 || 16–8–4 || 36 || |- style="text-align:center;"| 29 || December 9 || Buffalo || 3–2 || Montreal || SO || Huet || 21,273 || 16–8–5 || 37 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 30 || December 12 || Boston || 3–4 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 17–8–5 || 39 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 31 || December 14 || Tampa Bay || 2–4 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 18–8–5 || 41 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 32 || December 16 || Pittsburgh || 3–6 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 19–8–5|| 43 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 33 || December 19 || Montreal || 5–2 || Buffalo || || Huet || 18,690 || 20–8–5 || 45 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 34 || December 21 || Philadelphia || 2–4 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 21–8–5 || 47 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 35 || December 23 || Montreal || 2–4 || Boston || || Huet || 17,565 || 21–9–5 || 47 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 36 || December 27 || Montreal || 4–1 || Washington || || Huet || 15,609 || 22–9–5 || 49 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 37 || December 29 || Montreal || 1–3 || Florida || || Huet || 19,772 || 22–10–5 || 49 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 38 || December 30 || Montreal || 1–3 || Tampa Bay || || Huet || 21,120 || 22–11–5 || 49 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 39 || January 2 || Tampa Bay || 2–5 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 23–11–5 || 51 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 40 || January 4 || Montreal || 1–5 || Washington || || Huet || 11,287 || 23–12–5 || 51 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 41 || January 6 || NY Rangers || 4–3 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 23–13–5 || 51 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 42 || January 7 || New Jersey || 3–0 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 23–14–5 || 51 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 43 || January 9 || Atlanta || 2–4 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 24–14–5 || 53 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 44 || January 11 || Montreal || 4–2 || Philadelphia || || Aebischer || 19,411 || 25–14–5 || 55 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 45 || January 13 || Montreal || 3–8 || Ottawa|| || Huet || 20,038 || 25–15–5 || 55 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 46 || January 15 || Montreal || 0–2 || Detroit || || Aebischer || 20,066 || 25–16–5 || 55 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 47 || January 16 || Vancouver || 4–0 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 25–17–5 || 55 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 48 || January 18 || Montreal || 4–1 || Atlanta || || Huet || 14,025 || 26–17–5 || 57 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 49 || January 20 || Buffalo || 3–4 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 27–17–5 || 59 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 50 || January 27 || Montreal || 1–4 || Toronto || || Huet || 19,508 || 27–18–5 || 59 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 51 || January 29 || Ottawa || 1–3 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 28–18–5 || 61 || |-|- style="text-align:center;"| 52 || February 1 || Montreal || 4–5 || Pittsburgh || SO || Aebischer || 17,132 || 28–18–6 || 62 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 53 || February 3 || NY Islanders || 4–2 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 28–19–6 || 62 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 54 || February 4 || Pittsburgh || 3–4 || Montreal || OT || Aebischer || 21,273 || 29–19–6 || 64 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 55 || February 6 || Carolina || 2–1 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 29–20–6 || 64 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 56 || February 8 || Montreal || 1–4 || Ottawa || || Huet || 19,915 || 29–21–6 || 64 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 57 || February 10 || Ottawa || 5–3 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 29–22–6 || 64 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 58 || February 13 || Florida || 1–0 || Montreal || || Huet || 21,273 || 29–23–6 || 64 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 59 || February 14 || Montreal || 2–5 || New Jersey || || Huet || 7,515 || 29–24–6 || 64 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 60 || February 17 || Carolina || 5–3 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 29–25–6 || 64 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 61 || February 18 || Montreal || 3–2 || Columbus || || Halak || 16,116 || 30–25–6 || 66 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 62 || February 20 || Washington || 3–5 || Montreal || || Halak || 21,273 || 31–25–6 || 68 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 63 || February 22 || Montreal || 6–5 || Nashville || SO || Halak || 15,808 || 32–25–6 || 70 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 64 || February 24 || Montreal || 2–3 || NY Islanders || || Halak || 16,234 || 32–26–6 || 70 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 65 || February 26 || Toronto || 5–4 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 33–26–6 || 72 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 66 || February 27 || Montreal || 0–4 || NY Rangers || || Halak || 18,200 || 33–27–6 || 72 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 67 || March 2 || Montreal || 5–8 || Buffalo || || Aebischer || 18,690 || 33–28–6 || 72 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 68 || March 3 || Montreal || 1–3 || Boston || || Halak || 17,565 || 33–29–6 || 72 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 69 || March 8 || Montreal || 2–6 || Atlanta || || Halak || 14,528 || 33–30–6 || 72 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 70 || March 10 || Montreal || 4–3 || St. Louis || || Aebischer || 19,421 || 34–30–6 || 74 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 71 || March 13 || NY Islanders || 3–5 || Montreal || || Aebischer || 21,273 || 35–30–6 || 76 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 72 || March 16 || Montreal || 3–6 || Pittsburgh || || Aebischer || 17,132 || 35–31–6 || 76 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 73 || March 17 || Toronto || 2–3 || Montreal || SO || Halak || 21,273 || 36–31–6 || 78 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 74 || March 20 || Boston || 0–1 || Montreal || || Halak || 21,273 || 37–31–6 || 80 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 75 || March 22 || Montreal || 6–3 || Boston || || Halak || 17,026 || 38–31–6 || 82 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 76 || March 24 || Washington || 1–4 || Montreal || || Halak || 21,273 || 39–31–6 || 84 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 77 || March 27 || Rangers || 4–6 || Montreal || || Halak || 21,273 || 40–31–6 || 86 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 78 || March 30 || Montreal || 2–5 || Ottawa || || Halak || 20,185 || 40–32–6 || 86 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 79 || March 31 || Buffalo || 3–4 || Montreal || || Halak || 21,273 || 41–32–6 || 88 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 80 || April 3 || Boston || 0–2 || Montreal || || Halak || 21,273 || 42–32–6 || 90 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 81 || April 5 || Montreal || 1–3 || NY Rangers || || Halak || 18,200 || 42–33–6 || 90 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 82 || April 7 || Montreal || 5–6 || Toronto || || Huet || 19,723 || 42–34–6 || 90 || |-|-| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only.

	Regular season
	Player
11		C	81	22	53	75	−21	74
44		D	81	26	38	64	−28	135
73		RW	82	30	28	58	−25	60
79		D	77	6	43	49	2	56
35		LW	81	20	27	47	10	36
27		RW	73	18	29	47	−19	78
21		C	61	22	16	38	−11	26
32		D	76	10	26	36	−5	14
20		RW	80	11	20	31	6	40
84		RW	80	16	13	29	−20	47
15		LW	63	9	17	26	−4	10
14		C	74	13	10	23	0	54
8		D	82	4	15	19	7	96
52		D	54	6	10	16	−7	57
42		LW	61	6	9	15	11	48
51		D	62	3	11	14	−10	52
40		C	46	6	6	12	−7	24
46		W	22	1	10	11	3	6
22		C	52	5	5	10	−6	46
25		D	68	2	6	8	−8	40
57		C	43	2	1	3	−10	32
6		D	41	0	3	3	−13	36
47		RW	21	1	0	1	−6	48
41		G	16	0	1	1		2
39		G	42	0	1	1		0
62		RW	5	0	1	1	−2	0
30		G	32	0	0	0		2
26		D	7	0	0	0	−1	0
59		C	3	0	0	0	−2	0

Goaltending

	Regular season
	Player
39		42	19	16	3	1280	107	2.81	.916	2	2286
30		32	13	12	3	929	93	3.17	.900	0	1760
41		16	10	6	0	469	44	2.89	.906	2	912

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honour	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	King Clancy Memorial Trophy	Saku Koivu	^[4]
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Cristobal Huet	^[5]
	NHL All-Star Game selection	Sheldon Souray	^[5]
	NHL Third Star of the Month	Cristobal Huet (November)	^[6]
	NHL Third Star of the Week	Sheldon Souray (October 22)	^[7]
	NHL Third Star of the Week	Jaroslav Halak (March 25)	^[7]
Team	Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy	Mark Streit	^[8]
Team	Molson Cup	Cristobal Huet	^[9]

Transactions

Trades

July 12, 2006	To Washington Capitals----Richard Zednik	To Montreal Canadiens----3rd round pick in 2007
July 12, 2006	To Phoenix Coyotes----4th round pick in 2007	To Montreal Canadiens----Mike Johnson
September 30, 2006	To Dallas Stars----Mike Ribeiro 6th round pick in 2008	To Montreal Canadiens----Janne Niinimaa 5th round pick in 2007
December 15, 2006	To San Jose Sharks----Patrick Traverse	To Montreal Canadiens----Mathieu Biron
February 25, 2007	To San Jose Sharks----Craig Rivet 5th round pick in 2008	To Montreal Canadiens----Josh Gorges 1st round pick in 2007

Free agents acquired

Player	Former team
	Edmonton Oilers

Free agents lost

Player	Current team
	Vancouver Canucks

Claimed off waivers

Player	Former team	Date
		February 27

Draft picks

Montreal's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia.^[10] The Canadiens had the 16th overall draft pick, which they traded to the San Jose Sharks for the 20th and 53rd overall picks.

Round		Player	NHL team	College/junior/club team (league)
1	20	David Fischer (D)	Montreal Canadiens (from San Jose)	Apple Valley High School (MSHSL)
2	49	Ben Maxwell (C)	Montreal Canadiens	Kootenay Ice (WHL)
2	53	Mathieu Carle (D)	Montreal Canadiens (from San Jose)	Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)
3	66	Ryan White (C)	Montreal Canadiens (from Chicago)	Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
5	139	Pavel Valentenko (D)	Montreal Canadiens	Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Russian Superleague)
7	199	Cameron Cepek (D)	Montreal Canadiens	Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

References

Web site: Montreal Canadiens 2006-07 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 28, 2024.
Web site: 2006-07 Montreal Canadiens Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . July 28, 2024.

Notes and References

Web site: Canadiens GM returns to work after daughter's death. ESPN. January 2, 2006. March 20, 2024.
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=9182 TSN : NHL – Canada's Sports Leader
Web site: 2006-07 NHL Summary.
Web site: King Clancy Memorial Trophy . records.nhl.com . August 4, 2024.
Web site: NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 2007 . NHL.com . August 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230417032251/http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=28972 . April 17, 2023.
Web site: NHL Three Stars of the Month . Hockey-Reference.com . August 4, 2024.
Web site: NHL Three Stars of the Week . Hockey-Reference.com . August 4, 2024.
Montreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.553
Montreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.552
Web site: 2006 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 22, 2024.