Montreal Canadiens Playoff History

The Montreal Canadiens, founded in 1909, stand as the NHL's oldest continually operating team. Their illustrious history includes a staggering 24 Stanley Cup titles, making them the most successful franchise in NHL lore. Initially forming part of the National Hockey Association, the Canadiens claimed their inaugural Stanley Cup in 1915–16. The addition of Howie Morenz in 1923 heralded a period of success, with Cup victories in 1924, 1930, and 1931.

Transitioning to the Montreal Forum in 1926, the Canadiens enjoyed a 70-season tenure, clinching 22 Stanley Cups within its walls. However, in between those 22 Stanley Cups, a 12-year drought followed their 1930–31 triumph, marking the longest championship hiatus of the century.Notably, the signing of Maurice "Rocket" Richard in 1942 catalyzed a golden era. Also, the formation of the "Punch Line" in the following years proved to be lethal and propelled the Canadiens to Cup wins in 1944 and 1946. Moreover, under Blake's stewardship as both player and coach, the Canadiens secured five consecutive Cups from 1956 to 1960. His coaching tenure yielded a further three Cups by 1968. The 1970s saw six more Cups, including a historic four consecutive titles from 1976 to 1979 under Scotty Bowman. This era showcased talents like Guy Lafleur, Ken Dryden, and Larry Robinson. Despite recent playoff appearances, including a surprise run to the 2021 Stanley Cup finals, the Canadiens have faced challenges ,making only four playoff appearances and finishing last in their division in consecutive seasons over the past decade.

Montreal Canadiens NHL Playoff History and Appearances

The Montreal Canadiens boast a storied history in the NHL playoffs, beginning with their inaugural season in 1917–1918. Over the years, they have established themselves as one of the most successful franchises in NHL history. Their playoff appearances have been marked by numerous deep runs and several Stanley Cup victories. Notable periods of dominance include the late 1940s and the late 1950s to early 1960s, during which they won multiple championships. They have consistently been a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference, often finishing at or near the top of their division. However, since the turn of the century, they have largely been unsuccessful in making the Stanley Cup finals, let alone winning it.

A table showcasing Montreal Canadiens’ Playoff History and Appearances over the years has been provided below to give a glimpse into their storied history:

Montreal Canadiens Conference History

The Montreal Canadiens are one of the oldest and most storied franchises in the NHL. Notable seasons include their victorious campaigns in 1918-19, 1923-24, and 1929-30, where they clinched the Stanley Cup Finals. They continued to assert their dominance in subsequent years, securing multiple conference titles and playoff victories. From 1942 to 1967, the NHL operated with just six teams, with the Canadiens being a dominant force, winning numerous Stanley Cups. Remarkably, they competed primarily in the "Canadian Division."

With the expansion of the NHL and the introduction of divisional play, the Canadiens continued their success, primarily in the East Division and later the East Conference. The Canadiens also saw success in the Wales Conference after the league's realignment. They were often one of the top teams in the conference and claimed several division titles during this period. Following further expansion and realignment, the Canadiens became part of the Eastern Conference, competing in the Northeast Division initially and then in the Atlantic Division after subsequent realignments. In recent years, the Canadiens have remained a prominent team in the Eastern Conference, although they have faced challenges in securing playoff berths and deep postseason runs.

A table exploring Montreal Canadiens’ Conference History is provided below with their regular season records:

The Montreal Canadiens have secured the Conference Championships eight times, with victories occurring in the seasons 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1980–81, 1985–86, 1988–89, and 1992–93.

Montreal Canadiens Division History

The Montreal Canadiens have a rich history in various divisions due to the NHL's realignment over the years. From 1942 to 1967, the NHL operated with just six teams, and the Canadiens primarily competed in the NHL's "Canadian Division." With the NHL's expansion in 1967 and the introduction of divisional play, the Canadiens were placed in the East Division. They remained in this division until the league's next realignment. In 1974, the NHL realigned its divisions, placing the Canadiens in the Norris Division as part of the Wales Conference. They competed in the Norris Division until the league's next realignment. In 1981, the NHL realigned its divisions again, this time the Canadiens were placed in the Adams Division within the Prince of Wales Conference.

Notably, the NHL underwent significant realignment in 1993, placing the Canadiens in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference. They competed in the Northeast Division until the next phase of realignment which occurred in 2013 and placed them in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. They have competed in the Atlantic Division since then.

A table showcasing the Montreal Canadiens Division History alongside their Regular Season record is presented below in a table format for better understanding:

The Montreal Canadiens have clinched the Division Championships 24 times throughout their history, with victories spanning from 1927–28 to 2016–17.