| TEAM |
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
|
PTS
Points - Team points, calculated from W, L, T, OTL and SOL; used to determine standings
|
GF
Goals for - Number of goals the team has scored
|
GA
Goals against - Number of goals scored against the team
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | 70 | 36 | 21 | 13 | 85 | 209 | 167 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 70 | 36 | 22 | 12 | 84 | 218 | 169 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 70 | 33 | 25 | 12 | 78 | 192 | 172 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 70 | 30 | 29 | 11 | 71 | 191 | 204 |
| New York Rangers | 70 | 22 | 38 | 10 | 54 | 186 | 242 |
| Boston Bruins | 70 | 18 | 40 | 12 | 48 | 170 | 212 |
| # | SKATERS |
GP
Games played - Number of games the player has set foot on the ice
|
G
Goals - Number of goals the player has scored
|
A
Assists - Number of goals the player has assisted in
|
PTS
Points - Scoring points, calculated as the sum of G and A
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Jean Béliveau | 68 | 28 | 50 | 78 |
| 15 | Bobby Rousseau | 70 | 25 | 31 | 56 |
| 16 | Henri Richard | 66 | 14 | 39 | 53 |
| 22 | John Ferguson | 59 | 18 | 27 | 45 |
| 20 | Dave Balon | 70 | 24 | 18 | 42 |
| # | #1 GOALIE |
GP
Games played - Number of games the player has set foot on the ice
|
RECORD
Record - Goalie record (W-L-T)
|
SO
Shutouts - Number of games where the goaltender has not allowed a goal
|
GAA
Goals against average - Mean goals-per-game scored on the goaltender
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlie Hodge | 62 | 33-18-11 | 8 | 2.26 |
| DATE | AWAY | HOME |
|---|
THE REGULAR SEASON
On June 4, 1963, general manager Frank Selke reaches a stalemate with star goalie Jacques Plante so he deals the six-time Vézina Trophy winner to the New York Rangers in a seven-player deal that brings goalie Lorne Worsley to Montreal.
The Canadiens begin the season with a new starting goalie for the first time since 1954-55. The team gets off to a good start and collects its fair share of points in the standings.
Worsley suffers an injury at the beginning of the season and yields his position to Charlie Hodge for virtually the rest of the schedule. In six seasons in Montreal, Hodge has never appeared in more than 30 games in the same season. His exploits in the Canadiens’ goal earn him the Vezina Trophy thanks to a 33-18-11 record and a 2.26 goals-against average.
Montreal and Chicago are engaged in a tight battle for first place in the league throughout the second half of the season. The Habs enjoy their best run from January 19 to February 29, compiling a 12-4-3 record over that time.
The Canadiens manage to move ahead of the Blackhawks in the second-to-last game of the regular season and finish the schedule with a 36-21-13.
In October, Jean Beliveau records his 400th career assist. He finishes the year with 28 goals and 78 points, finishing third in league scoring. His outstanding performance is rewarded with the second Hart Trophy of his career.
The 1963-64 season marks the debut of enforcer John Ferguson, who quickly establishes himself as the most feared player in the league. He scores 18 goals and 45 points, yet teammate Jacques Laperriere beats him out to claim the Calder Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year.
THE PLAYOFFS
In the semifinals, the Canadiens take on Toronto, after posting a 7-5-2 record against the Maple Leafs in the regular season.
The Habs get off to a great start by shutting out their opponents by the score of 2-0. Toronto responds in the following game with a 2-1 victory. The two teams continue to exchange wins and losses over the next four games and reach a 3-3 series deadlock.
During the seventh and deciding game, Toronto breaks the pattern and the Canadiens fall, 3-1.
Claude Provost leads the Canadiens in scoring with four points in seven games.
After winning a league-record five straight Stanley Cups from 1955-56 to 1959-60, the Habs are eliminated in the first round of the postseason for the fourth consecutive year.
| Semi-finals - Toronto Maple Leafs | ||||
| Date | AWAY | HOME | ||
| March 26th, 1964 | TOR 0 | MTL 2 | ||
| March 28th, 1964 | TOR 2 | MTL 1 | ||
| March 31st, 1964 | MTL 3 | TOR 2 | ||
| April 2nd, 1964 | MTL 3 | TOR 5 | ||
| April 4th, 1964 | TOR 2 | MTL 4 | ||
| April 7th, 1964 | MTL 0 | TOR 3 | ||
| April 9th, 1964 | TOR 3 | MTL 1 | ||
| Toronto won best-of-seven series 4-3 | ||||
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