1943–44 Montreal Canadiens season


The 1943–44 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 35th season, 27th in the National Hockey League. The team would win the Stanley Cup for the fifth time. Bill Durnan would join the club as its new goaltender and he won the Vezina Trophy in his rookie season.

Offseason

At the Habs' training camp in 1943, Canadiens manager Tommy Gorman settled on Durnan as his goalie. Durnan stated that he was happy as an amateur and happy with less money if it meant avoiding the stress of the professional game. On opening night, Durnan was not yet signed. Ten minutes before the first faceoff, he spoke with Gorman and reached a deal. Durnan signed the contract and played in the game. The result was a 2–2 draw with the Boston Bruins. The rookie netminder was a few months shy of his 27th birthday.

Regular season

Some of Durnan's teammates included the Punch Line of Elmer Lach, Rocket Richard and Toe Blake. Durnan was a key element that took Montreal back to the Stanley Cup after 13 years of frustration. Durnan led the league in games played, wins and goals-against average in the regular season.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Playoffs

In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Durnan allowed only 1.53 goals per game as the Canadiens skated to the title. At season's end, Durnan was awarded the Vezina Trophy, the first rookie to win the award, and was selected to the league's First All-Star Team.

Semi-final: Montreal vs. Toronto

Rocket Richard scored seven goals in the series, including all five for Montreal in game two. After giving up the first game at home to Toronto, Montreal took over, winning the next four, finishing the series with an 11–0 shellacking in game five.
DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
March 21Toronto3Montreal 1
March 23Toronto1Montreal5
March 25Montreal 2Toronto1
March 28Montreal4Toronto1
March 30Toronto0Montreal 11

Stanley Cup Final: Montreal vs. Chicago

Maurice 'Rocket' Richard made his Stanley Cup debut with a five-goal performance in the series, including a hat-trick in game two. The Punch Line of Richard, Elmer Lach and Toe Blake scored 10 of the Canadiens 16 goals. Blake scored the Cup winner in overtime. In the same overtime, Bill Durnan stopped the first penalty shot awarded in the finals, awarded to Virgil Johnson.
DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 4Chicago1Montreal 5
April 6Montreal 3Chicago1
April 9Montreal 3Chicago2
April 13Chicago4Montreal 5OT

Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4–0.

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM
C4824487223
LW4126335910
RW4632225445
C441242546
C/LW4428255344
RW/C4417324961
RW4328204812
LW4715324785
C/LW4420183839
C/D448233132
LW417233014
D427172498
D435162136
D395141952
C20000
G500000
C/RW40000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLTGAGAASO
30005038571092.182
Team:30005038571092.182

Playoffs

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM
LW9711182
RW91251710
C9211134
C/LW954916
LW953812
RW/C935816
D91344
D91234
RW71238
D812316
C81232
C/D90338
G90000
LW30000
C/LW10000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLGAGAASO
549981141.531
Team:549981141.531

Awards and records