2023–24 Montreal Canadiens season

The 2023–24 Montreal Canadiens season was the 115th for the club that was established on December 4, 1909, and their 107th season as a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL).

On April 4, 2024, the Canadiens were eliminated from playoff contention for a third consecutive year marking the first such drought for the franchise since 1999–2001 and only the third span collectively in the team's history following a 7–4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Similarly, the Canadiens would finish last in their division for the third consecutive season, a first occurrence in team history.

Standings

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results Preseason 2023 preseason game log: 3–3–0 (home: 1–3–0; road: 2–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 25 New Jersey 4–2 Montreal Dobes 20,129 0–1–0 2 September 27 Ottawa 3–4 Montreal Primeau 20,225 1–1–0 3 September 29 Toronto 2–1 Montreal Primeau 20,571 1–2–0 4 September 30 Toronto 3–1 Montreal Montembeault 20,729 1–3–0 5 October 2 Montreal 5–4 Toronto OT Allen 18,631 2–3–0 6 October 7 Montreal 6–4 Ottawa Montembeault 17,601 3–3–0

Regular season The regular season schedule was released on June 27, 2023. 2023–24 game logOctober: 5–2–2 (home: 4–2–0; road: 1–0–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 11 Montreal 5–6 Toronto SO Allen 18,948 0–0–1 1 2 October 14 Chicago 2–3 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 1–0–1 3 3 October 17 Minnesota 5–2 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 1–1–1 3 4 October 21 Washington 2–3 Montreal OT Allen 21,105 2–1–1 5 5 October 23 Montreal 3–1 Buffalo Allen 13,507 3–1–1 7 6 October 24 New Jersey 5–2 Montreal Primeau 21,105 3–2–1 7 7 October 26 Columbus 3–4 Montreal OT Montembeault 21,105 4–2–1 9 8 October 28 Winnipeg 3–4 Montreal SO Allen 21,105 5–2–1 11 9 October 30 Montreal 2–3 Vegas SO Montembeault 17,791 5–2–2 12 November: 5–9–0 (home: 1–5–0; road: 4–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 2 Montreal 2–3 Arizona Allen 4,600 5–3–2 12 11 November 4 Montreal 3–6 St. Louis Montembeault 18,096 5–4–2 12 12 November 7 Tampa Bay 5–3 Montreal Allen 21,105 5–5–2 12 13 November 9 Montreal 3–2 Detroit OT Primeau 18,504 6–5–2 14 14 November 11 Boston 2–3 Montreal OT Montembeault 21,105 7–5–2 16 15 November 12 Vancouver 5–2 Montreal Allen 21,105 7–6–2 16 16 November 14 Calgary 2–1 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 7–7–2 16 17 November 16 Vegas 6–5 Montreal Primeau 21,105 7–8–2 16 18 November 18 Montreal 2–5 Boston Allen 17,850 7–9–2 16 19 November 22 Montreal 4–3 Anaheim Montembeault 15,168 8–9–2 18 20 November 24 Montreal 3–2 San Jose SO Primeau 16,897 9–9–2 20 21 November 25 Montreal 0–4 Los Angeles Allen 18,145 9–10–2 20 22 November 29 Montreal 4–2 Columbus Montembeault 14,316 10–10–2 22 23 November 30 Florida 5–1 Montreal Primeau 21,105 10–11–2 22 December: 5–5–3 (home: 2–2–2; road: 3–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 2 Detroit 5–4 Montreal OT Allen 21,105 10–11–3 23 25 December 4 Seattle 2–4 Montreal Montembeault 20,915 11–11–3 25 26 December 7 Los Angeles 4–0 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 11–12–3 25 27 December 9 Montreal 3–2 Buffalo SO Primeau 17,123 12–12–3 27 28 December 10 Nashville 2–1 Montreal Allen 20,864 12–13–3 27 29 December 13 Pittsburgh 4–3 Montreal SO Montembeault 21,105 12–13–4 28 30 December 16 NY Islanders 3–5 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 13–13–4 30 31 December 18 Montreal 3–2 Winnipeg OT Allen 13,363 14–13–4 32 32 December 21 Montreal 3–4 Minnesota OT Montembeault 18,387 14–13–5 33 33 December 22 Montreal 5–2 Chicago Primeau 20,340 15–13–5 35 34 December 28 Montreal 3–5 Carolina Primeau 18,969 15–14–5 35 35 December 30 Montreal 1–4 Florida Allen 19,663 15–15–5 35 36 December 31 Montreal 3–4 Tampa Bay Montembeault 19,092 15–16–5 35 January: 5–5–3 (home: 3–3–1; road: 2–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 37 January 2 Montreal 4–3 Dallas Montembeault 18,532 16–16–5 37 38 January 4 Buffalo 6–1 Montreal Allen 21,105 16–17–5 37 39 January 6 NY Rangers 3–4 Montreal SO Montembeault 21,105 17–17–5 39 40 January 10 Montreal 2–3 Philadelphia SO Primeau 18,238 17–17–6 40 41 January 11 San Jose 3–2 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 17–18–6 40 42 January 13 Edmonton 2–1 Montreal OT Montembeault 21,105 17–18–7 41 43 January 15 Colorado 3–4 Montreal Allen 21,105 18–18–7 43 44 January 17 Montreal 3–2 New Jersey Montembeault 16,022 19–18–7 45 45 January 18 Montreal 2–6 Ottawa Primeau 19,286 19–19–7 45 46 January 20 Montreal 4–9 Boston Montembeault 17,850 19–20–7 45 47 January 23 Ottawa 4–1 Montreal Allen 21,105 19–21–7 45 48 January 25 NY Islanders 3–4 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 20–21–7 47 49 January 27 Montreal 2–3 Pittsburgh OT Allen 18,377 20–21–8 48 February: 3–7–1 (home: 2–4–0; road: 1–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 50 February 6 Montreal 5–2 Washington Montembeault 16,959 21–21–8 50 51 February 10 Dallas 3–2 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 21–22–8 50 52 February 11 St. Louis 7–2 Montreal Allen 21,105 21–23–8 50 53 February 13 Anaheim 0–5 Montreal Primeau 21,105 22–23–8 52 54 February 15 Montreal 4–7 NY Rangers Montembeault 18,006 22–24–8 52 55 February 17 Washington 4–3 Montreal Allen 21,105 22–25–8 52 56 February 21 Buffalo 3–2 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 22–26–8 52 57 February 22 Montreal 1–4 Pittsburgh Primeau 17,160 22–27–8 52 58 February 24 Montreal 3–4 New Jersey Allen 16,514 22–28–8 52 59 February 27 Arizona 2–4 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 23–28–8 54 60 February 29 Montreal 3–4 Florida SO Montembeault 18,918 23–28–9 55 March: 5–5–3 (home: 2–2–1; road: 3–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 61 March 2 Montreal 3–4 Tampa Bay SO Primeau 19,092 23–28–10 56 62 March 5 Montreal 4–3 Nashville OT Allen 17,159 24–28–10 58 63 March 7 Montreal 1–4 Carolina Montembeault 18,859 24–29–10 58 64 March 9 Toronto 3–2 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 24–30–10 58 65 March 12 Columbus 0–3 Montreal Primeau 21,105 25–30–10 60 66 March 14 Boston 2–1 Montreal OT Montembeault 21,105 25–30–11 61 67 March 16 Montreal 2–5 Calgary Primeau 19,183 25–31–11 61 68 March 19 Montreal 2–3 Edmonton OT Montembeault 18,347 25–31–12 62 69 March 21 Montreal 1–4 Vancouver Montembeault 18,804 25–32–12 62 70 March 24 Montreal 5–1 Seattle Primeau 17,151 26–32–12 64 71 March 26 Montreal 2–1 Colorado Montembeault 18,119 27–32–12 66 72 March 28 Philadelphia 1–4 Montreal Primeau 21,105 28–32–12 68 73 March 30 Carolina 3–0 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 28–33–12 68 April: 2–3–4 (home: 2–2–1; road: 0–1–3) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 74 April 2 Florida 3–5 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 29–33–12 70 75 April 4 Tampa Bay 7–4 Montreal Primeau 21,105 29–34–12 70 76 April 6 Toronto 4–2 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 29–35–12 70 77 April 7 Montreal 2–5 NY Rangers Primeau 17,854 29–36–12 70 78 April 9 Philadelphia 3–9 Montreal Montembeault 21,105 30–36–12 72 79 April 11 Montreal 2–3 NY Islanders OT Montembeault 17,255 30–36–13 73 80 April 13 Montreal 4–5 Ottawa SO Primeau 19,337 30–36–14 74 81 April 15 Montreal 4–5 Detroit OT Montembeault 19,515 30–36–15 75 82 April 16 Detroit 5–4 Montreal SO Primeau 21,105 30–36–16 76 Legend:

Player statistics Final stats

Skaters Regular season Player 82 33 44 77 −14 36 82 28 37 65 −4 16 82 11 51 62 −24 58 82 20 30 50 −19 55 ‡ 49 13 22 35 −10 10 55 15 19 34 −11 18 77 16 15 31 −24 74 82 7 21 28 −1 24 66 17 8 25 +4 34 60 6 18 24 −1 24 70 6 16 22 −8 56 78 9 11 20 −18 74 56 3 11 14 −5 22 48 7 6 13 −3 16 62 6 7 13 +11 42 54 5 8 13 −12 21 61 3 9 12 +4 59 44 3 7 10 +6 81 56 3 7 10 −3 57 45 2 8 10 −2 6 30 5 4 9 −5 4 23 4 5 9 −2 0 59 4 4 8 +2 12 ‡ 14 3 1 4 0 6 23 2 1 3 +2 4 2 0 2 2 +2 0 2 0 2 2 –2 0 7 1 0 1 −3 0 1 0 1 1 +1 0 3 0 0 0 +1 0 4 0 0 0 +2 0 † 17 0 0 0 −3 2

Goaltenders Regular season Player 41 40 2428:16 16 15 9 127 3.14 1307 .903 0 0 2 0 23 21 1324:50 8 9 4 66 2.99 731 .910 2 0 2 2 ‡ 21 21 1216:20 6 12 3 74 3.65 686 .892 0 0 1 2

†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 Brendan Gallagher Illegal check to the head of Islanders defenceman Adam Pelech 5 games $169,270.85 January 26, 2024 Kaiden Guhle Slashing Flyers forward Travis Konecny 1 game $4,496.53 March 29, 2024

Awards and honours

Awards Regular season Player Award Awarded Ref NHL All-Star Game selection January 4, 2024 Nick Suzuki NHL Third Star of the Week February 12, 2024

Milestones

Regular season Player Milestone Reached Ref Nick Suzuki 300th career NHL game October 30, 2023 Jake Allen 400th career NHL game November 2, 2023 Brendan Gallagher 400th career NHL point November 2, 2023 Tanner Pearson 600th career NHL game November 2, 2023 Jake Evans 200th career NHL game November 11, 2023 Johnathan Kovacevic 100th career NHL game November 22, 2023 Sean Monahan 700th career NHL game November 22, 2023 Jayden Struble 1st career NHL game November 22, 2023 Cole Caufield 100th career NHL point November 24, 2023 Cayden Primeau 1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point November 24, 2023 Jayden Struble 1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point November 24, 2023 Brendan Gallagher 700th career NHL game December 4, 2023 Jayden Struble 1st career NHL goal December 9, 2023 Brendan Gallagher 200th career NHL assist December 18, 2023 Emil Heineman 1st career NHL game December 21, 2023 Sean Monahan 500th career NHL point December 28, 2023 Mike Matheson 500th career NHL game December 30, 2023 Mike Matheson 200th career NHL point January 11, 2024 Jordan Harris 100th career NHL game January 13, 2024 Joshua Roy 1st career NHL game January 13, 2024 Joshua Roy 1st career NHL goal1st career NHL point January 17, 2024 Joshua Roy 1st career NHL assist January 20, 2024 Josh Anderson 500th career NHL game January 23, 2024 Brandon Gignac 1st career NHL goal1st career NHL point February 13, 2024 Cayden Primeau 1st career NHL shutout February 13, 2024 Kaiden Guhle 100th career NHL game February 29, 2024 Jesse Ylonen 100th career NHL game February 29, 2024 Juraj Slafkovsky 100th career NHL game March 2, 2024 Nick Suzuki 100th career NHL goal March 5, 2024 Alex Newhook 200th career NHL game March 19, 2024 Joel Armia 500th career NHL game April 7, 2024 Cole Caufield 200th career NHL game April 7, 2024 Juraj Slafkovsky 1st career NHL hat-trick April 9, 2024 Lane Hutson 1st career NHL game1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point April 15, 2024 Logan Mailloux 1st career NHL game1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point April 16, 2024 Alex Newhook 100th career NHL point April 16, 2024

Transactions The Canadiens have been involved in the following transactions during the 2023–24 season.

Key Contract is entry-level.

Contract initially takes effect in the 2024–25 season.

Trades