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THE REGULAR SEASON

At the beginning of the season, the team’s frustration over missing the playoffs the previous spring is palpable.

The Canadiens welcome two young players to the dressing room, Saku Koivu and Marko Kiprusoff, both of whom were members of the Finnish national team that won the world championship a few months earlier.

The Habs get off to a slow start with four straight losses by scores of 7-1, 6-1, 3-1 and 4-1. Team president Ronald Corey has seen enough and immediately cleans house. He fires general manager Serge Savard, who has held the position since 1983, as well as head coach Jacques Demers and his assistants.

A few days later, Corey introduces Rejean Houle as the team’s GM and Mario Tremblay as head coach. Yvan Cournoyer and Steve Shutt are also brought in as assistant coaches.

The huge changes rejuvenate the team and spark immediate results. The Habs win six in a row under Tremblay and accomplish the same feat in November.

While it appears the recovery is complete, with the team sitting in fifth place overall in the Eastern Conference at the end of November, things boil over on December 2.

In a game against the Detroit Red Wings, the team quickly falls behind 5-1 in the first period. Tremblay decides to leave Roy in goal while the Red Wings continue to score at will. Backup goalie Pat Jablonski finally relieves Roy with the Canadiens trailing 9-1. Roy, furious about the coach’s decision to leave him in goal during the blowout, demands to be traded.

On December 6, Roy is dealt to the Colorado Avalanche along with team captain Mike Keane in exchange for goalie Jocelyn Thibault and forwards Martin Rucinsky and Andrei Kovalenko. Pierre Turgeon becomes the team’s new captain. He will proudly carry the torch by leading the team in scoring at the end of the season.

On March 11, the Canadiens play their final game at the legendary Forum before moving into the brand-new Molson Centre. The Canadiens claim victory in the great arena’s swan song, posting a 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars. Kovalenko scores the historic final goal at the Forum. A classy and emotional ceremony follows the game where Maurice Richard is accorded a standing ovation that lasts nearly 10 minutes.

Five days later, at the Molson Centre, the Canadiens beat the New York Rangers, 4-2 and Vincent Damphousse scores the first goal in the team’s new home.

The team finishes the season sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 40-32-10 mark and earns the right to play spring hockey after missing the playoffs the previous season.