Al
MacNeil
1970 -
| Date of birth | September 27th, 1935 |
| Place of birth | Sydney, NS, CAN |
| Seasons - MTL | 1 |
| SEASON |
GP
Games played - Number of games the team has played
|
W
Wins - Games the team has won, either in regulation or in overtime
|
L
Losses - Games the team has lost in regulation
|
T
Ties - Games that have ended in a tie
|
OTL
Overtime losses - Games lost in overtime
|
PTS
Points - Team points, calculated from W, L, T, OTL and SOL; used to determine standings
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOTALS | 55 | 31 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 71 |
| 1970-1971 | 55 | 31 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 71 |
| SEASON |
GP
Games played - Number of games the team has played
|
W
Wins - Games the team has won, either in regulation or in overtime
|
L
Losses - Games the team has lost in regulation
|
RESULT
Result
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOTALS | 20 | 12 | 8 | |
| 1970-1971 | 20 | 12 | 8 | Stanley Cup Champions |
Following an 11-year playing career in the NHL, Al MacNeil became the Canadiens’ coach in 1971 as a mid-season replacement for Claude Ruel.
When MacNeil took over behind the bench, the team appeared to be on its way to missing the playoffs for a second straight year.
MacNeil managed to turn things around, though, and with the help of players such as Jean Beliveau, Yvan Cournoyer and Jean-Claude Tremblay, he got the Canadiens back on track in the second half and the team finished the regular season with 42 wins and a playoff berth.
Going against convention and counsel, McNeil called on rookie goalie Ken Dryden to defend the team’s net at the outset of the playoffs. His gamble paid off as the Canadiens beat Boston, Minnesota and Chicago to claim the Stanley Cup for the 17th time in team history.
Unfortunately, MacNeil developed a stormy relationship with veteran star Henri Richard during his tenure in Montreal that ultimately cost him his job at the end of the season.
He won two more Stanley Cups as the team’s director of player personnel in 1977-78 and 1978-79.
