1959–60 Montreal Canadiens season

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1959–60 Montreal Canadiens
Stanley Cup champions
League1st NHL
1959–60 record40–18–12
Goals for255
Goals against178
Team information
General managerFrank J. Selke
CoachToe Blake
CaptainMaurice Richard
Alternate captainsBernie Geoffrion
Doug Harvey
Tom Johnson
ArenaMontreal Forum
Team leaders
GoalsJean Beliveau (34)
AssistsHenri Richard (43)
PointsJean Beliveau (74)
Penalty minutesHenri Richard (66)
WinsJacques Plante (40)
Goals against averageJacques Plante (2.54)

The 1959–60 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 51st season of play. The team had another outstanding season, placing first in the league and winning the Stanley Cup for the fifth consecutive season, and the 12th time in team history.

Regular season[]

On November 1, 1959, at 3:06 of the first period, Jacques Plante was hit in the face by a shot fired by Andy Bathgate. Plante came back in the game wearing a mask (the second goaltender in NHL history to wear a mask after Clint Benedict) starting a trend where all NHL goaltenders today wear a mask.

Jacques Plante[]

The use of the goalie mask was Plante's most enduring contribution to the game, however, occurred as a result of an incident on November 1, 1959. He was hit in the face by a shot from New York Rangers player Andy Bathgate, needing to go to the dressing room for stitches. When he returned, he was wearing the crude home-made goalie mask that he'd been using in practices. His coach, Toe Blake, was livid, but he had no other goalie to call upon, and Plante refused to return to the goal unless he kept the mask. Blake agreed on the condition that Plante discard the mask when the cut healed. Only Camille Henry beat him in that game, which the Canadiens won 3–1. In the ensuing days Plante refused to discard the mask, and as the Canadiens continued to win, Blake became less obstinate. The unbeaten streak stretched to 18 games. Plante didn't wear the mask, at Blake's request, against Detroit on March 8, 1960. The Canadiens lost 3–0, and the mask returned for good the next night. Plante subsequently designed his own mask and masks for other goalies. Although Plante was not the first NHL goalie known to wear a facemask (Montreal Maroons goaltender Clint Benedict had done so thirty years before), Plante introduced the mask as everyday equipment, which continues to this day.

Final standings[]

National Hockey League[1]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Montreal Canadiens 70 40 18 12 255 178 +77 92
2 Toronto Maple Leafs 70 35 26 9 199 195 +4 79
3 Chicago Black Hawks 70 28 29 13 191 180 +11 69
4 Detroit Red Wings 70 26 29 15 186 197 −11 67
5 Boston Bruins 70 28 34 8 220 241 −21 64
6 New York Rangers 70 17 38 15 187 247 −60 49


Record vs. opponents[]

1959–60 NHL Records
Team BOS CHI DET MON NYR TOR
Boston — 5–6–3 5–8–1 4–8 8–4–2 6–6–2
Chicago 6–5–3 — 4–8–2 3–7–4 11–1–2 4–8–2
Detroit 8–5–1 8–4–2 — 2–7–5 4–6–4 4–9–1
Montreal 8–4 7–3–4 7–2–5 — 6–6–2 10–3–1
New York 4–8–2 1–11–2 6–4–4 6–6–2 — 2–9–3
Toronto 6–6–2 8–4–2 9–4–1 3–10–1 9–2–3 —

Schedule and results[]

Regular season results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1 W October 8, 1959 4–1 Boston Bruins (1959–60) 1–0–0
2 T October 10, 1959 1–1 Detroit Red Wings (1959–60) 1–0–1
3 L October 11, 1959 4–8 @ Boston Bruins (1959–60) 1–1–1
4 W October 15, 1959 4–2 Toronto Maple Leafs (1959–60) 2–1–1
5 L October 17, 1959 2–4 New York Rangers (1959–60) 2–2–1
6 W October 18, 1959 6–5 @ New York Rangers (1959–60) 3–2–1
7 W October 22, 1959 4–1 Chicago Black Hawks (1959–60) 4–2–1
8 W October 24, 1959 5–1 Boston Bruins (1959–60) 5–2–1
9 W October 25, 1959 2–1 @ Detroit Red Wings (1959–60) 6–2–1
10 W October 27, 1959 2–1 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1959–60) 7–2–1
11 T October 28, 1959 1–1 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1959–60) 7–2–2
12 T October 31, 1959 2–2 Detroit Red Wings (1959–60) 7–2–3
13 W November 1, 1959 3–1 @ New York Rangers (1959–60) 8–2–3
14 W November 5, 1959 8–2 New York Rangers (1959–60) 9–2–3
15 T November 7, 1959 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1959–60) 9–2–4
16 W November 12, 1959 3–0 Toronto Maple Leafs (1959–60) 10–2–4
17 W November 14, 1959 8–1 Boston Bruins (1959–60) 11–2–4
18 W November 15, 1959 4–1 @ Boston Bruins (1959–60) 12–2–4
19 W November 21, 1959 4–1 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1959–60) 13–2–4
20 W November 22, 1959 3–1 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1959–60) 14–2–4
21 W November 26, 1959 4–2 @ Detroit Red Wings (1959–60) 15–2–4
22 W November 28, 1959 1–0 Detroit Red Wings (1959–60) 16–2–4
23 W November 29, 1959 4–2 @ Boston Bruins (1959–60) 17–2–4
24 L December 2, 1959 0–1 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1959–60) 17–3–4
25 L December 3, 1959 4–7 New York Rangers (1959–60) 17–4–4
26 T December 5, 1959 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1959–60) 17–4–5
27 T December 6, 1959 4–4 @ Detroit Red Wings (1959–60) 17–4–6
28 L December 12, 1959 2–3 Detroit Red Wings (1959–60) 17–5–6
29 T December 13, 1959 4–4 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1959–60) 17–5–7
30 W December 17, 1959 8–2 Toronto Maple Leafs (1959–60) 18–5–7
31 W December 19, 1959 5–3 New York Rangers (1959–60) 19–5–7
32 L December 20, 1959 5–6 @ New York Rangers (1959–60) 19–6–7
33 W December 26, 1959 9–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1959–60) 20–6–7
34 W December 27, 1959 3–1 @ Detroit Red Wings (1959–60) 21–6–7
35 W December 30, 1959 3–2 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1959–60) 22–6–7
36 W January 2, 1960 6–5 Boston Bruins (1959–60) 23–6–7
37 L January 3, 1960 3–8 @ New York Rangers (1959–60) 23–7–7
38 W January 9, 1960 2–1 Chicago Black Hawks (1959–60) 24–7–7
39 L January 10, 1960 0–3 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1959–60) 24–8–7
40 W January 14, 1960 3–1 Toronto Maple Leafs (1959–60) 25–8–7
41 W January 16, 1960 8–2 Boston Bruins (1959–60) 26–8–7
42 W January 17, 1960 3–1 @ Boston Bruins (1959–60) 27–8–7
43 W January 21, 1960 11–2 New York Rangers (1959–60) 28–8–7
44 W January 23, 1960 4–2 Detroit Red Wings (1959–60) 29–8–7
45 W January 24, 1960 3–2 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1959–60) 30–8–7
46 T January 27, 1960 2–2 @ New York Rangers (1959–60) 30–8–8
47 W January 28, 1960 4–2 @ Detroit Red Wings (1959–60) 31–8–8
48 T January 30, 1960 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1959–60) 31–8–9
49 L January 31, 1960 5–6 @ Boston Bruins (1959–60) 31–9–9
50 W February 4, 1960 4–2 Toronto Maple Leafs (1959–60) 32–9–9
51 W February 6, 1960 5–3 Boston Bruins (1959–60) 33–9–9
52 L February 7, 1960 1–4 @ New York Rangers (1959–60) 33–10–9
53 W February 10, 1960 4–2 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1959–60) 34–10–9
54 L February 13, 1960 6–7 @ Boston Bruins (1959–60) 34–11–9
55 L February 14, 1960 0–2 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1959–60) 34–12–9
56 T February 18, 1960 3–3 Detroit Red Wings (1959–60) 34–12–10
57 T February 20, 1960 3–3 New York Rangers (1959–60) 34–12–11
58 W February 21, 1960 6–3 @ Detroit Red Wings (1959–60) 35–12–11
59 L February 24, 1960 1–3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1959–60) 35–13–11
60 W February 27, 1960 3–2 New York Rangers (1959–60) 36–13–11
61 W March 3, 1960 5–1 Toronto Maple Leafs (1959–60) 37–13–11
62 T March 5, 1960 2–2 Detroit Red Wings (1959–60) 37–13–12
63 L March 6, 1960 2–4 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1959–60) 37–14–12
64 L March 8, 1960 0–3 @ Detroit Red Wings (1959–60) 37–15–12
65 W March 9, 1960 9–4 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1959–60) 38–15–12
66 W March 12, 1960 5–0 Chicago Black Hawks (1959–60) 39–15–12
67 L March 13, 1960 2–3 @ Boston Bruins (1959–60) 39–16–12
68 L March 17, 1960 2–6 Toronto Maple Leafs (1959–60) 39–17–12
69 W March 19, 1960 5–1 Boston Bruins (1959–60) 40–17–12
70 L March 20, 1960 1–3 @ New York Rangers (1959–60) 40–18–12

[2]

Playoffs[]

The Canadiens placed first in the standings and met the Chicago Black Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. The Canadiens swept the Hawks 4–0 to move on to the finals against Toronto.

Stanley Cup finals[]

Further information: 1960 Stanley Cup Finals

Montreal swept the Maple Leafs, outscoring them 15–5, en route to being the first team since the 1952 Detroit Red Wings to go without a loss in the playoffs.

After the series Rocket Richard retired. He went out with style, finishing with his 34th finals goal in game three.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 7 Toronto Maple Leafs 2 Montreal Canadiens 4
April 9 Toronto Maple Leafs 1 Montreal Canadiens 2
April 12 Montreal Canadiens 5 Toronto Maple Leafs 2
April 14 Montreal Canadiens 4 Toronto Maple Leafs 0

Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 0.

Player statistics[]

Regular season[]

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM
Jean Beliveau C 60 34 40 74 57
Henri Richard C 70 30 43 73 66
Bernie Geoffrion RW 59 30 41 71 36
Dickie Moore LW 62 22 42 64 54
Marcel Bonin W 59 17 34 51 59
Claude Provost RW 70 17 29 46 42
Phil Goyette C 65 21 22 43 4
Don Marshall LW 70 16 22 38 4
Maurice Richard RW 51 19 16 35 50
Andre Pronovost LW 69 12 19 31 61
Tom Johnson D 64 4 25 29 59
Ralph Backstrom C 64 13 15 28 24
Doug Harvey D 66 6 21 27 45
Ab McDonald LW 68 9 13 22 26
Albert Langlois D 67 1 14 15 48
Jean-Guy Talbot D 69 1 14 15 60
Bill Hicke RW 43 3 10 13 17
Bob Turner D 54 0 9 9 40
J.C. Tremblay D 11 0 1 1 0
Reggie Fleming D/LW 3 0 0 0 2
Charlie Hodge G 1 0 0 0 0
Cec Hoekstra C 4 0 0 0 0
Jacques Plante G 69 0 0 0 2
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Jacques Plante 4140 69 40 17 12 175 2.54 3
Charlie Hodge 60 1 0 1 0 3 3.00 0
Team: 4200 70 40 18 12 178 2.54 3

Playoffs[]

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM
Henri Richard C 8 3 9 12 9
Bernie Geoffrion RW 8 2 10 12 4
Dickie Moore LW 8 6 4 10 4
Jean Beliveau C 8 5 2 7 6
Marcel Bonin W 8 1 4 5 12
Don Marshall LW 8 2 2 4 0
Maurice Richard RW 8 1 3 4 2
Doug Harvey D 8 3 0 3 6
Phil Goyette C 8 2 1 3 4
Bill Hicke RW 7 1 2 3 0
Andre Pronovost LW 8 1 2 3 0
Ralph Backstrom C 7 0 3 3 2
Albert Langlois D 8 0 3 3 18
Claude Provost RW 8 1 1 2 0
Jean-Guy Talbot D 8 1 1 2 8
Tom Johnson D 8 0 1 1 4
Jacques Plante G 8 0 0 0 0
Bob Turner D 8 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Jacques Plante 489 8 8 0 11 1.35 3
Team: 489 8 8 0 11 1.35 3

[3]

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records[]

Transactions[]

Roster[]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
6 Canada Ralph Backstrom C L 22 1956 Kirkland Lake, Ontario
4 Canada Jean Béliveau C L 28 1950 Trois-Rivieres, Quebec
18 Canada Marcel Bonin LW L 27 1957 Montreal, Quebec
21 Canada Reggie Fleming LW L 23 1959 Montreal, Quebec
5 Canada Bernie Geoffrion RW R 29 1950 Montreal, Quebec
20 Canada Phil Goyette C L 26 1956 Lachine, Quebec
2 Canada Doug Harvey D L 35 1947 Montreal, Quebec
8 Canada Bill Hicke RW L 22 1959 Regina, Saskatchewan
29 Canada Charlie Hodge G L 26 1954 Lachine, Quebec
24 Canada Cec Hoekstra C L 25 1959 Winnipeg, Manitoba
10 Canada Tom Johnson D L 32 1947 Baldur, Manitoba
19 Canada Albert Langlois D L 25 1957 Magog, Quebec
22 Canada Don Marshall LW L 28 1951 Montreal, Quebec
15 Canada Ab McDonald LW L 24 1958 Winnipeg, Manitoba
12 Canada Dickie Moore LW L 29 1951 Montreal, Quebec
1 Canada Jacques Plante G L 31 1952 Shawinigan Falls, Quebec
23 Canada André Pronovost LW L 23 1956 Shawinigan Falls, Quebec
14 Canada Claude Provost RW R 26 1955 Montreal, Quebec
16 Canada Henri Richard C R 24 1955 Montreal, Quebec
9 Canada Maurice Richard (C) RW R 38 1942 Montreal, Quebec
17 Canada Jean-Guy Talbot D L 27 1954 Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec
3 Canada J.C. Tremblay D L 21 1959 Bagotville, Quebec
11 Canada Bob Turner D L 26 1955 Regina, Saskatchewan

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "1959–1960 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  2. ^ "1959–60 Montreal Canadiens Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
  3. ^ "1959-60 Montreal Canadiens Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
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