The 1991–92 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's 83rd season. The season saw the Canadiens won the Adams Division and make it to the second round of the playoffs, losing to the Boston Bruins in the Adams Division final. After the sweep, head coach Pat Burns resigned.
Pre-season The Canadiens changed their personnel in the off-season. Andrew Cassels, Tom Chorske, Stephane Richer and Ryan Walter were traded. The Canadiens picked up Kirk Muller and Roland Melanson.
Regular season The team started well, losing just three times in October. At New Year's, the team led the league overall standings with 54 points. In February, the Canadiens reacquired Chris Nilan three years after he left Montreal. In the last 17 games of his NHL career, the veteran enforcer adds 74 penalty minutes to raise his overall total with the Canadiens to 2,248 minutes, the most in team history. In March, the team traded Petr Svoboda to Buffalo in return for Kevin Haller.
March was dismal for the team, winning only four of 11 games. On April 1, the league's players went on a ten-day strike. The regular season resumed and the Canadiens continued to struggle, slipping to fifth-place overall, but finished first in the Adams Division. The team played well defensively, winning the William M. Jennings Trophy, Patrick Roy winning the Vezina Trophy and Guy Carbonneau winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy and finished +60 in goals.
The Canadiens finished first in the NHL in goaltending, allowing only 207 goals. Furthermore, they tied the Winnipeg Jets for most shutouts, with 7, and they tied the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals for fewest power-play goals allowed, with just 60. The Canadiens were the most disciplined team during the regular season, being short-handed only 320 times. Although the Canadiens scored the fewest short-handed goals during the regular season (4), they tied the Toronto Maple Leafs for the fewest short-handed goals allowed (5).
Final standings
Schedule and results
|1||W||October 3, 1991||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs||1–0–0
|2||L||October 5, 1991||1–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers||1–1–0
|3||T||October 8, 1991||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers||1–1–1
|4||W||October 10, 1991||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings||2–1–1
|5||W||October 12, 1991||6–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins||3–1–1
|6||L||October 14, 1991||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers||3–2–1
|7||W||October 16, 1991||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres||4–2–1
|8||L||October 18, 1991||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres||4–3–1
|9||W||October 19, 1991||1–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers||5–3–1
|10||W||October 23, 1991||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Quebec Nordiques||6–3–1
|11||W||October 24, 1991||5–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Quebec Nordiques||7–3–1
|12||W||October 26, 1991||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins||8–3–1
|13||W||October 30, 1991||6–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Winnipeg Jets||9–3–1
|14||W||November 1, 1991||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres||10–3–1
|15||W||November 2, 1991||5–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres||11–3–1
|16||W||November 4, 1991||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils||12–3–1
|17||W||November 6, 1991||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers||13–3–1
|18||L||November 8, 1991||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils||13–4–1
|19||W||November 9, 1991||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks||14–4–1
|20||L||November 11, 1991||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals||14–5–1
|21||T||November 14, 1991||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers||14–5–2
|22||L||November 16, 1991||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers||14–6–2
|23||W||November 18, 1991||1–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers||15–6–2
|24||L||November 21, 1991||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Quebec Nordiques||15–7–2
|25||W||November 23, 1991||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Quebec Nordiques||16–7–2
|26||W||November 25, 1991||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins||17–7–2
|27||L||November 27, 1991||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals||17–8–2
|28||L||November 29, 1991||4–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins||17–9–2
|29||L||November 30, 1991||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers||17–10–2
|30||L||December 4, 1991||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks||17–11–2
|31||W||December 5, 1991||5–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders||18–11–2
|32||W||December 7, 1991||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames||19–11–2
|33||W||December 9, 1991||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs||20–11–2
|34||L||December 12, 1991||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins||20–12–2
|35||W||December 14, 1991||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres||21–12–2
|36||W||December 16, 1991||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues||22–12–2
|37||L||December 19, 1991||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks||22–13–2
|38||W||December 21, 1991||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers||23–13–2
|39||W||December 22, 1991||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins||24–13–2
|40||W||December 26, 1991||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Quebec Nordiques||25–13–2
|41||W||December 29, 1991||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers||26–13–2
|42||L||December 31, 1991||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames||26–14–2
|43||W||January 4, 1992||1–0 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks||27–14–2
|44||W||January 8, 1992||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins||28–14–2
|45||W||January 11, 1992||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers||29–14–2
|46||T||January 13, 1992||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames||29–14–3
|47||L||January 15, 1992||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Minnesota North Stars||29–15–3
|48||T||January 16, 1992||6–6 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues||29–15–4
|49||W||January 23, 1992||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins||30–15–4
|50||L||January 25, 1992||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres||30–16–4
|51||W||January 26, 1992||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers||31–16–4
|52||L||January 29, 1992||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils||31–17–4
|53||L||January 31, 1992||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres||31–18–4
|54||W||February 1, 1992||4–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings||32–18–4
|55||L||February 4, 1992||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks||32–19–4
|56||L||February 5, 1992||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers||32–20–4
|57||L||February 8, 1992||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs||32–21–4
|58||W||February 10, 1992||8–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks||33–21–4
|59||W||February 12, 1992||6–1 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks||34–21–4
|60||T||February 15, 1992||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Quebec Nordiques||34–21–5
|61||W||February 17, 1992||8–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota North Stars||35–21–5
|62||T||February 19, 1992||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers||35–21–6
|63||W||February 22, 1992||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins||36–21–6
|64||T||February 23, 1992||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Quebec Nordiques||36–21–7
|65||W||February 26, 1992||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Minnesota North Stars||37–21–7
|66||T||February 28, 1992||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks||37–21–8
|67||L||February 29, 1992||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings||37–22–8
|68||W||March 3, 1992||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders||38–22–8
|69||W||March 7, 1992||8–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders||39–22–8
|70||W||March 8, 1992||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings||40–22–8
|71||L||March 11, 1992||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Quebec Nordiques||40–23–8
|72||W||March 14, 1992||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings||41–23–8
|73||L||March 16, 1992||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers||41–24–8
|74||L||March 18, 1992||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers||41–25–8
|75||T||March 21, 1992||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues||41–25–9
|76||T||March 25, 1992||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Winnipeg Jets||41–25–10
|77||L||March 27, 1992||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals||41–26–10
|78||L||March 28, 1992||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||41–27–10
|79||L||April 12, 1992||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres||41–28–10
|80||T||April 15, 1992||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins||41–28–11
Legend:
Playoffs The Canadiens placed first in the division, and played the fourth-place Whalers in the first round. The Canadiens won the series 4–3 to advance to the second round. In the second round, the Bruins defeated the Canadiens 4–0 to eliminate the Canadiens. Coach Pat Burns, who was increasingly criticized in the media, resigned after the season.
Player statistics
Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG LW 78 36 41 77 86151517 C 77 28 42 70 7361215 C 77 27 31 58 14181305 LW 64 17 36 53 11815302 LW 79 23 27 50 5729203 RW 67 11 30 41 6416202 C 72 18 21 39 392114 D 77 6 32 38 5017402 LW 39 21 13 34 107702 D 78 8 24 32 7210201 LW 78 16 15 31 636001 RW 27 7 14 21 66011 D 58 5 16 21 949103 LW 56 9 11 20 39-4601 LW 59 8 11 19 145300 D 79 4 14 18 3616200 D 69 3 14 17 919000 LW 18 4 6 10 144000 C 33 4 6 10 255000 D 26 2 8 10 209001 D 71 1 7 8 21215000 C 42 3 3 6 36-4001 G 67 0 5 5 40000 D 8 2 2 4 174100 RW 17 1 3 4 74-1000 LW 20 2 1 3 623000 RW 46 1 2 3 1303000 D 13 0 3 3 227000 C 4 0 0 0 0-1000 D 3 0 0 0 22000 G 9 0 0 0 00000 G 9 0 0 0 00000 RW 3 0 0 0 00000 LW 2 0 0 0 0-1000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SOSASVSV% 3935 67 36 22 8 155 2.36 518061651.914 492 9 5 3 0 22 2.68 2195173.887 436 9 0 3 3 23 3.17 0219196.895 Team: 4863 80 41 28 11 200 2.47 722202020.910
Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG C 11 3 9 12 8100 LW 11 4 3 7 31211 LW 11 3 4 7 10101 LW 10 2 5 7 15000 D 11 3 3 6 4100 D 11 2 4 6 6101 LW 11 2 4 6 6100 D 10 1 4 5 6100 C 8 1 3 4 4100 D 11 0 3 3 4000 C 11 1 1 2 6000 RW 10 1 1 2 4001 RW 8 1 1 2 16000 LW 8 1 1 2 4000 LW 8 1 1 2 4000 C 11 1 1 2 20000 D 4 1 0 1 2000 LW 5 1 0 1 4000 RW 7 0 1 1 15000 RW 3 0 0 0 18000 D 9 0 0 0 6000 D 2 0 0 0 2000 D 7 0 0 0 11000 G 1 0 0 0 0000 G 11 0 0 0 2000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LGAGAA SOSASVSV% 686 11 4 7 30 2.62 1312282.904 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 0111.000 Team: 687 11 4 7 30 2.62 1313283.904
Awards and records Patrick Roy, Vezina Trophy, William M. Jennings Trophy Guy Carbonneau, Frank J. Selke Trophy
Draft picks Round # Player Position Nationality College/junior/club team (league) 1 17 Brent Bilodeau D Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) 2 28 Jim Campbell RW N.Y. Northwood Prep (USHS-NY) 2 43 Craig Darby C The Albany Academy (USHS-NY) 3 61 Yves Sarault LW Saint-Jean Lynx (QMJHL) 4 73 Vladimir Vujtek LW Tri-City Americans (WHL) 4 81 Sylvain Lapointe D Clarkson University (ECAC) 5 100 Brad Layzell D Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC) 5 105 Tony Prpic F Culver Military Academy (USHS-IN) 6 127 Oleg Petrov RW CSKA Moscow (Soviet Union) 7 149 Brady Kramer C Haverford High School (USHS-PN) 8 171 Brian Savage LW Miami University (CCHA) 9 193 Scott Fraser RW Dartmouth College (ECAC) 10 215 Greg MacEachern D Laval Titan (QMJHL) 11 237 Paul Lepler D Rochester Mustangs (USHL) 12 259 Dale Hooper D Springfield Olympics (NEJHL)S23Jeff TorreyRW Clarkson University (ECAC)
See also 1991–92 NHL season 1991 NHL entry draft 1992 Stanley Cup playoffs 1992 NHL All-Star Game
Citations
References