| 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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 46 | 25 | 9 | 101 | 289 | 232 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 45 | 27 | 8 | 98 | 286 | 248 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 93 | 288 | 234 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 38 | 33 | 9 | 85 | 275 | 268 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 12 | 61 | 7 | 31 | 240 | 407 |
| # | 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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | Stéphane Richer | 75 | 51 | 40 | 91 |
| 27 | Shayne Corson | 76 | 31 | 44 | 75 |
| 6 | Russ Courtnall | 80 | 27 | 32 | 59 |
| 21 | Guy Carbonneau | 68 | 19 | 36 | 55 |
| 39 | Brian Skrudland | 59 | 11 | 31 | 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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Patrick Roy | 54 | 31-16-5 | 3 | 2.53 |
| DATE | AWAY | HOME |
|---|
THE REGULAR SEASON
Prior to the regular season, Guy Carbonneau and Chris Chelios take over from Bob Gainey and become the first co-captains in team history.
After 16 seasons in a Canadiens jersey, Gainey ends his NHL career following the team’s loss to Calgary in the previous spring’s Stanley Cup Final.
In addition to Gainey’s departure, the team also has to adjust to the losses of Rick Green, who also retires, and Larry Robinson, who becomes a member of the Los Angeles Kings.
Patrick Roy is still on hand and he helps the team get off to a good start, given the circumstances. Stephane Richer, whose goal production tailed off the previous season, begins to regain his scoring touch.
The team has a share of the division lead at the end of November, tied for first place with the Buffalo Sabres.
The Canadiens’ lack of experience on defense begins to show in December and the team starts to struggle. The team loses four in a row between Christmas and New Year’s and drops to third place.
Roy takes matters in hand to right the team. On February 2 and 3, he posts back-to-back shutouts against Buffalo and Hartford. At the end of the season, Roy will win his second straight Vézina Trophy.
On Valentine’s Day, in a game against the Vancouver Canucks, the Canadiens post a 10-1 win. The line of Richer, Shayne Corson and Brian Skrudland leads the way with a combined total of 17 points. Richer accounts for seven points single-handedly, including two goals. He will end the season with 51 goals to become the only Canadiens player other than Guy Lafleur to record two or more 50-goal seasons.
Despite a strong finish to the regular season, Montreal has to settle for third place in the Adams Division with 93 points.
THE PLAYOFFS
In the opening round of the playoffs, coach Pat Burns’ team faces the Buffalo Sabres for the first time in seven years. After the Sabres win the opener, the Habs come back with two straight wins to capture a 2-1 series lead.
After dropping the fourth game at the Forum, the Canadiens take the series with a pair of wins, 4-2 and 5-2.
For the third year in a row, Montreal faces the Boston Bruins, who finished first overall in the league, in the Adams Division Final.
The Canadiens quickly put themselves behind the eight ball with three straight losses to open the series. The Habs ultimately fall in five games to the Bruins, who will go on to reach the Stanley Cup Final.
| Adams Division semi-finals - Buffalo Sabres | ||||
| Date | AWAY | HOME | ||
| April 5th, 1990 | MTL 1 | BUF 4 | ||
| April 7th, 1990 | MTL 3 | BUF 0 | ||
| April 9th, 1990 | BUF 1 | MTL 2 | ||
| April 11th, 1990 | BUF 4 | MTL 2 | ||
| April 13th, 1990 | MTL 4 | BUF 2 | ||
| April 15th, 1990 | BUF 2 | MTL 5 | ||
| Canadiens won best-of-seven series 4-2 | ||||
| Adams Division finals - Boston Bruins | ||||
| Date | AWAY | HOME | ||
| April 19th, 1990 | MTL 0 | BOS 1 | ||
| April 21st, 1990 | MTL 4 | BOS 5 | ||
| April 23rd, 1990 | BOS 6 | MTL 3 | ||
| April 25th, 1990 | BOS 1 | MTL 4 | ||
| April 27th, 1990 | MTL 1 | BOS 3 | ||
| Boston won best-of-seven series 4-1 | ||||
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