Alain
Vigneault
1997 -
| Date of birth | May 14th, 1961 |
| Place of birth | Quebec City, QC, CAN |
| Seasons - MTL | 4 |
| 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 | 266 | 109 | 118 | 35 | 4 | 257 |
| 1997-1998 | 82 | 37 | 32 | 13 | 0 | 87 |
| 1998-1999 | 82 | 32 | 39 | 11 | - | 75 |
| 1999-2000 | 82 | 35 | 34 | 9 | 4 | 83 |
| 2000-2001 | 20 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| 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 | 10 | 4 | 6 | |
| 1997-1998 | 10 | 4 | 6 | Conference semifinals |
After coaching in the QMJHL, in addition to a three-year tenure as an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators, Alain Vigneault took over from Mario Tremblay as the Canadiens’ head coach prior to the 1997-98 season.
Vigneault enjoyed a good first season, finishing with a 37-32-13 record.
He led his squad to the playoffs and, to the surprise of most onlookers, the Canadiens defeated the Northeast Division champion, Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in the first round.
Buoyed by their early success, the Canadiens moved on to face Buffalo in the second round. The team battled hard, even pushing two games to overtime, but the effort came up short and Vigneault’s men were swept in four straight.
The following season, the Canadiens finished last in their division for the first time in 59 years, struggling to a 32-39-11 mark and missing the playoffs.
In 1999-00, Vigneault almost pulled off a minor miracle when the team fell just two points short of making the playoffs despite numerous injuries to its key players. At the end of the season, Vigneault was nominated for the Jack Adams Award.
During his fourth season behind the bench, Vigneault struggled early in the season and, with a record of 5-13-2 after 20 games, he was relieved of his duties and replaced by Michel Therrien.
