2006–07 Montreal Canadiens season

2006–07 Montreal Canadiens
Division	4th Northeast
Conference	10th Eastern
2006–07 record	42–34–6
Home record	26–12–3
Road record	16–22–3
Goals for	245
Goals against	256
Team information
General manager	Bob Gainey
Coach	Guy Carbonneau
Captain	Saku Koivu
Alternate captains	Alexei Kovalev (Feb–Apr) Craig Rivet (Oct–Feb) Sheldon Souray
Arena	Bell Centre
Team leaders
Goals	Michael Ryder (30)
Assists	Saku Koivu (53)
Points	Saku Koivu (75)
Plus/minus	Alexander Perezhogin (+11)
Wins	Cristobal Huet (19)
Goals against average	Cristobal Huet (2.81)

The 2006–07 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 98th season, 90th in the National Hockey League. 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.

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.

Season standings

Northeast Division

No.	CR		GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	1	Buffalo Sabres	82	53	22	7	308	242	113
2	4	Ottawa Senators	82	48	25	9	288	222	105
3	9	Toronto Maple Leafs	82	40	31	11	258	269	91
4	10	Montreal Canadiens	82	42	34	6	245	256	90
5	13	Boston Bruins	82	35	41	6	219	289	76

Note: No. = Division rank, CR = Conference rank, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
       Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Eastern Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	P - Buffalo Sabres	NE	82	53	22	7	308	242	113
2	Y - New Jersey Devils	AT	82	49	24	9	216	201	107
3	Y - Atlanta Thrashers	SE	82	43	28	11	246	245	97
4	X - Ottawa Senators	NE	82	48	25	9	288	222	105
5	X - Pittsburgh Penguins	AT	82	47	24	11	277	246	105
6	X - New York Rangers	AT	82	42	30	10	242	216	94
7	X - Tampa Bay Lightning	SE	82	44	33	5	253	261	93
8	X - New York Islanders	AT	82	40	30	12	248	240	92
8.5
9	Toronto Maple Leafs	NE	82	40	31	11	258	269	91
10	Montreal Canadiens	NE	82	42	34	6	245	256	90
11	Carolina Hurricanes	SE	82	40	34	8	241	253	88
12	Florida Panthers	SE	82	35	31	16	247	257	86
13	Boston Bruins	NE	82	35	41	6	219	289	76
14	Washington Capitals	SE	82	28	40	14	235	286	70
15	Philadelphia Flyers	AT	82	22	48	12	214	303	56

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

P – Clinched Presidents Trophy; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot

Schedule and results

October

Record for month: 6–2–3 (home: 3–1–2; away: 3–1–1).

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Pts
1	October 6	Montreal	4–5	Buffalo	SO	Huet	18,690	0–0–1	1
2	October 7	Montreal	3–2	Toronto	SO	Aebischer	19,353	1–0–1	3
3	October 11	Montreal	3–1	Philadelphia		Aebischer	19,256	2–0–1	5
4	October 14	Ottawa	3–2	Montreal	SO	Huet	21,273	2–0–2	6
5	October 17	Calgary	4–5	Montreal		Huet	21,273	3–0–2	8
6	October 18	Montreal	1–2	Chicago		Aebischer	11,095	3–1–2	8
7	October 21	Colorado	5–8	Montreal		Aebischer	21,273	4–1–2	10
8	October 23	Buffalo	4–1	Montreal		Huet	21,273	4–2–2	10
9	October 26	Montreal	3–2	Boston		Huet	13,920	5–2–2	12
10	October 28	Toronto	5–4	Montreal	SO	Aebischer	21,273	5–2–3	13
11	October 31	Ottawa	2–4	Montreal		Aebischer	21,273	6–2–3	15

November

Record for month: 8–5–0 (home: 4–2–0; away: 4–3–0).

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Pts
12	November 2	Montreal	4–0	Carolina		Huet	6,486	7–2–3	17
13	November 4	New Jersey	2–1	Montreal		Huet	21,271	7–3–3	17
14	November 7	Edmonton	2–3	Montreal	SO	Aebischer	21,273	8–3–3	19
15	November 11	Montreal	1–5	Toronto		Aebischer	19,501	8–4–3	19
16	November 13	Montreal	6–3	Ottawa		Huet	20,051	9–4–3	21
17	November 15	Montreal	3–1	Tampa Bay		Huet	19,920	10–4–3	23
18	November 16	Montreal	1–5	Florida		Aebischer	13,506	10–5–3	23
19	November 18	Atlanta	1–3	Montreal		Huet	21,273	11–5–3	25
20	November 22	Minnesota	2–4	Montreal		Huet	21,273	12–5–3	27
21	November 24	Montreal	2–1	Buffalo	OT	Huet	18,690	13–5–3	29
22	November 25	Philadelphia	4–2	Montreal		Aebischer	21,273	13–6–3	29
23	November 28	Florida	0–1	Montreal	SO	Huet	21,273	14–6–3	31
24	November 30	Montreal	2–4	Carolina		Huet	13,103	14–7–3	31

December

Record for month: 8–4–2 (home: 5–1–1; away: 3–3–1).

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Pts
25	December 2	Toronto	3–4	Montreal	SO	Huet	21,273	15–7–3	33
26	December 4	Boston	6–5	Montreal		Aebischer	21,273	15–8–3	33
27	December 6	Montreal	1–2	New Jersey	OT	Aebischer	10,986	15–8–4	34
28	December 7	Montreal	4–2	NY Islanders		Huet	9,551	16–8–4	36
29	December 9	Buffalo	3–2	Montreal	SO	Huet	21,273	16–8–5	37
30	December 12	Boston	3–4	Montreal		Aebischer	21,273	17–8–5	39
31	December 14	Tampa Bay	2–4	Montreal		Huet	21,273	18–8–5	41
32	December 16	Pittsburgh	3–6	Montreal		Huet	21,273	19–8–5	43
33	December 19	Montreal	5–2	Buffalo		Huet	18,690	20–8–5	45
34	December 21	Philadelphia	2–4	Montreal		Aebischer	21,273	21–8–5	47
35	December 23	Montreal	2–4	Boston		Huet	17,565	21–9–5	47
36	December 27	Montreal	4–1	Washington		Huet	15,609	22–9–5	49
37	December 29	Montreal	1–3	Florida		Huet	19,772	22–10–5	49
38	December 30	Montreal	1–3	Tampa Bay		Huet	21,120	22–11–5	49

January

Record for month: 6–7–0 (home: 4–3–0; away 2–4–0).

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Pts
39	January 2	Tampa Bay	2–5	Montreal		Huet	21,273	23–11–5	51
40	January 4	Montreal	1–5	Washington		Huet	11,287	23–12–5	51
41	January 6	NY Rangers	4–3	Montreal		Aebischer	21,273	23–13–5	51
42	January 7	New Jersey	3–0	Montreal		Huet	21,273	23–14–5	51
43	January 9	Atlanta	2–4	Montreal		Huet	21,273	24–14–5	53
44	January 10	Montreal	4–2	Philadelphia		Aebischer	19,411	25–14–5	55
45	January 13	Montreal	3–8	Ottawa		Huet	20,038	25–15–5	55
46	January 15	Montreal	0–2	Detroit		Aebischer	20,066	25–16–5	55
47	January 16	Vancouver	4–0	Montreal		Huet	21,273	25–17–5	55
48	January 18	Montreal	4–1	Atlanta		Huet	14,025	26–17–5	57
49	January 20	Buffalo	3–4	Montreal		Huet	21,273	27–17–5	59
50	January 27	Montreal	1–4	Toronto		Huet	19,508	27–18–5	59
51	January 29	Ottawa	1–3	Montreal		Aebischer	21,273	28–18–5	61

February

Record for month: 5–9–1 (home: 3–5–0; away 2–4–1).

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Pts
52	February 1	Montreal	4–5	Pittsburgh	SO	Aebischer	17,132	28–18–6	62
53	February 3	NY Islanders	4–2	Montreal		Huet	21,273	28–19–6	62
54	February 4	Pittsburgh	3–4	Montreal	OT	Aebischer	21,273	29–19–6	64
55	February 6	Carolina	2–1	Montreal		Aebischer	21,273	29–20–6	64
56	February 8	Montreal	1–4	Ottawa		Huet	19,915	29–21–6	64
57	February 10	Ottawa	5–3	Montreal		Aebischer	21,273	29–22–6	64
58	February 13	Florida	1–0	Montreal		Huet	21,273	29–23–6	64
59	February 14	Montreal	2–5	New Jersey		Huet	7,515	29–24–6	64
60	February 17	Carolina	5–3	Montreal		Aebischer	21,273	29–25–6	64
61	February 18	Montreal	3–2	Columbus		Halak	16,116	30–25–6	66
62	February 20	Washington	3–5	Montreal		Halak	21,273	31–25–6	68
63	February 22	Montreal	6–5	Nashville	SO	Halak	15,808	32–25–6	70
64	February 24	Montreal	2–3	NY Islanders		Halak	16,234	32–26–6	70
65	February 26	Toronto	5–4	Montreal		Aebischer	21,273	33–26–6	72
66	February 27	Montreal	0–4	NY Rangers		Halak	18,200	33–27–6	72

March

Record for month: 8–5–0 (home: 6–0–0; away: 2–5–0).

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Pts
67	March 2	Montreal	5–8	Buffalo		Aebischer	18,690	33–28–6	72
68	March 3	Montreal	1–3	Boston		Halak	17,565	33–29–6	72
69	March 8	Montreal	2–6	Atlanta		Halak	14,528	33–30–6	72
70	March 10	Montreal	4–3	St. Louis		Aebischer	19,421	34–30–6	74
71	March 13	NY Islanders	3–5	Montreal		Aebischer	21,273	35–30–6	76
72	March 16	Montreal	3–6	Pittsburgh		Aebischer	17,132	35–31–6	76
73	March 17	Toronto	2–3	Montreal	SO	Halak	21,273	36–31–6	78
74	March 20	Boston Bruins	0–1	Montreal		Halak	21,273	37–31–6	80
75	March 22	Montreal	6–3	Boston		Halak	17,026	38–31–6	82
76	March 24	Washington	1–4	Montreal		Halak	21,273	39–31–6	84
77	March 27	Rangers	4–6	Montreal		Halak	21,273	40–31–6	86
78	March 30	Montreal	2–5	Ottawa		Halak	20,185	40–32–6	86
79	March 31	Buffalo	3–4	Montreal		Halak	21,273	41–32–6	88

April

Record for month: 1–2–0 (home: 1–0–0; away 0–2–0).

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Pts
80	April 3	Boston Bruins	0–2	Montreal		Halak	21,273	42–32–6	90
81	April 5	Montreal	1–3	New York Rangers		Halak	18,200	42–33–6	90
82	April 7	Montreal	5–6	Toronto Maple Leafs		Huet	19,723	42–34–6	90

• Green background indicates win.
• Red background indicates regulation loss.
• White background indicates overtime/shootout loss.

Player stats

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Saku Koivu C 81 22 53 75 74 −21 11 1 4 Sheldon Souray D 81 26 38 64 135 −28 19 1 6 Michael Ryder RW 82 30 28 58 60 −25 17 2 3 Andrei Markov D 77 6 43 49 56 2 5 0 2 Tomas Plekanec LW 81 20 27 47 36 10 5 2 1 Alexei Kovalev RW 73 18 29 47 78 −19 8 0 5 Chris Higgins C 61 22 16 38 26 −11 8 3 3 Mark Streit D 76 10 26 36 14 −5 2 1 1 Mike Johnson RW 80 11 20 31 40 6 1 2 1 Guillaume Latendresse RW 80 16 13 29 47 −20 5 0 3 Sergei Samsonov LW 63 9 17 26 10 −4 0 0 0 Radek Bonk C 74 13 10 23 54 0 1 2 1 Mike Komisarek D 82 4 15 19 96 7 0 2 1 Craig Rivet D 54 6 10 16 57 −7 2 0 0 Alexander Perezhogin LW 61 6 9 15 48 11 1 0 1 Francis Bouillon D 62 3 11 14 52 −10 1 0 1 Maxim Lapierre C 46 6 6 12 24 −7 0 1 2 Andrei Kostitsyn W 22 1 10 11 6 3 0 0 0 Steve Begin C 52 5 5 10 46 −6 0 0 0 Mathieu Dandenault D 68 2 6 8 40 −8 0 0 0 Garth Murray C 43 2 1 3 32 −10 0 0 0 Janne Niinimaa D 41 0 3 3 36 −13 0 0 0 Aaron Downey RW 21 1 0 1 48 −6 0 0 1 Jaroslav Halak G 16 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 Cristobal Huet G 42 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Duncan Milroy RW 5 0 1 1 0 −2 0 0 0 David Aebischer G 32 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 Josh Gorges D 7 0 0 0 0 −1 0 0 0 Mikhail Grabovski C 3 0 0 0 0 −2 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T/OT GA GAA SO SA SV SV% Cristobal Huet 2286 42 19 16 3 107 2.81 2 1280 1173 .916 David Aebischer 1760 32 13 12 3 93 3.17 0 929 836 .900 Jaroslav Halak 912 16 10 6 0 44 2.89 2 469 425 .906 Team: 4958 82 42 34 6 244 2.95 4 2678 2434 .909

Note:

Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

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
F Sergei Samsonov	Edmonton Oilers

Free agents lost

Player	Current team
F Jan Bulis	Vancouver Canucks

Claimed off waivers

Player	Former team	Date
G Michael Leighton	Philadelphia Flyers	February 27

Draft picks

Montreal's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia. 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	Nationality	NHL team	College/junior/club team (league)
1	20	David Fischer (D)	United States	Montreal Canadiens (from San Jose)	Apple Valley High School (MSHSL)
2	49	Ben Maxwell (C)	Canada	Montreal Canadiens	Kootenay Ice (WHL)
2	53	Mathieu Carle (D)	Canada	Montreal Canadiens (from San Jose)	Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)
3	66	Ryan White (C)	Canada	Montreal Canadiens (from Chicago)	Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
5	139	Pavel Valentenko (D)	Russia	Montreal Canadiens	Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Russian Superleague)
7	199	Cameron Cepek (D)	United States	Montreal Canadiens	Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Awards and records

• King Clancy Memorial Trophy: Saku Koivu

See also

• 2006–07 NHL season

References

• Team standings: NHL standings on espn.com
• Game log: Montreal Canadiens game log on espn.com
• Season Stats: [2] on espn.com

External links

• Official site of the Montreal Canadiens