1915–16_Montreal_Canadiens_season
1915–16 Montreal Canadiens season
NHA hockey team season
The 1915–1916 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's seventh season and seventh of the National Hockey Association (NHA). After finishing last in 1914–15, the club rebounded to win the league championship and win the Stanley Cup for the first time.
| 1915–16 Montreal Canadiens | |
|---|---|
Stanley Cup champions | |
O'Brien Trophy winners | |
| League | 1st NHA |
| 1915–16 record | 16–7–1 |
| Goals for | 104 |
| Goals against | 76 |
| Team information | |
| General manager | George Kennedy |
| Coach | Newsy Lalonde |
| Captain | Howard McNamara |
| Arena | Montreal Arena |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Newsy Lalonde (31) |
| Goals against average | Georges Vezina (3.2) |
The Canadiens revised their lineup after finishing last. Ernie Dubeau, Jimmy Gardner and Harry Scott retired. The Canadiens added Howard McNamara and Goldie Prodgers on defence. Jack Laviolette moved to forward from defence. Lalonde would have an outstanding season, leading the league in scoring with 31 goals and Georges Vezina would improve his GAA to 3.2, second in the league to Clint Benedict. The team would win all of its last seven games (and eleven of the last twelve) of the season to take the league championship.
Final standings
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | 24 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 104 | 76 |
| Ottawa Senators | 24 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 78 | 72 |
| Quebec Bulldogs | 24 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 91 | 98 |
| Montreal Wanderers | 24 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 90 | 116 |
| Toronto Hockey Club | 24 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 97 | 98 |
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against
| Month | Day | Visitor | Score | Home | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. | 18 | Canadiens | 2 | Toronto | 1 |
| 22 | Wanderers | 3 | Canadiens | 2 | |
| 29 | Canadiens | 2 | Quebec | 5 | |
| Jan. | 1 | Canadiens | 4 | Ottawa | 2 |
| 5 | Toronto | 1 | Canadiens | 6 | |
| 8 | Canadiens | 3 | Wanderers | 5 | |
| 12 | Quebec | 3 | Canadiens | 5 | |
| 15 | Ottawa | 5 | Canadiens | 2 | |
| 20 | Canadiens | 2 | Quebec | 2 (20' OT) | |
| 23 | Canadiens | 1 | Toronto | 3 | |
| 26 | Wanderers | 4 | Canadiens | 5 | |
| Feb. | 2 | Wanderers | 9 | Canadiens | 5 |
| 6 | Toronto | 5 | Canadiens | 10 | |
| 9 | Ottawa | 2 | Canadiens | 3 (7'20" OT) | |
| 12 | Canadiens | 3 | Ottawa | 1 | |
| 16 | Quebec | 3 | Canadiens | 4 | |
| 19 | Wanderers | 3 | Canadiens | 1 | |
| 23 | Canadiens | 3 | Quebec | 2 | |
| 26 | Quebec | 3 | Canadiens | 4 (15" OT) | |
| Mar. | 1 | Toronto | 3 | Canadiens | 7 |
| 4 | Canadiens | 15 | Wanderers | 5 | |
| 11 | Ottawa | 1 | Canadiens | 4 | |
| 12 | Canadiens | 5 | Ottawa | 1 | |
| 16 | Canadiens | 6 | Toronto | 4 | |
The club won the league outright to proceed to the Stanley Cup championship.
Stanley Cup Finals
The series was held in Montreal, it being the turn of the NHA champion to host the series. The games were held at the Montreal Arena.
| Champions | Runners up | Format | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | Portland Rosebuds | best of 5 | 3–2 |
- Coleman, Charles L. (1966). The Trail of the Stanley Cup, vol. 1 1893–1926 inc. National Hockey League. pp. 286–304.
- McFarlane, Brian (1996). The Habs. Toronto: Stoddart Publishing. ISBN 0-7737-2981-X.
- O'Brien, Andy (1971). Les Canadiens: the story of the Montreal Canadiens. Toronto, New York: McGraw Hill Ryerson. ISBN 0-07-092950-5.
- Standings: Coleman, Charles (1966). Trail of the Stanley Cup, vol. 1, 1893-1926 inc. National Hockey League. p. 293.