2015–16 Montreal Canadiens season

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2015–16 Montreal Canadiens
Division6th Atlantic
Conference13th Eastern
2015–16 record38–38–6
Home record22–16–3
Road record16–22–3
Goals for221
Goals against236
Team information
General managerMarc Bergevin
CoachMichel Therrien
CaptainMax Pacioretty
Alternate captainsBrendan Gallagher
Andrei Markov
Tomas Plekanec
P. K. Subban
ArenaBell Centre
Average attendance21,288[1]
Minor league affiliate(s)
Team leaders
GoalsAlex Galchenyuk
Max Pacioretty (30)
AssistsP. K. Subban (45)
PointsMax Pacioretty (64)
Penalty minutesP. K. Subban (75)
Plus/minusBrendan Gallagher (+13)
WinsMike Condon (21)
Goals against averageCharlie Lindgren (2.00)

The 2015–16 Montreal Canadiens season was the 107th season of the franchise that was founded on December 4, 1909, and their 99th season in the National Hockey League.[2]

Off-season[]

On September 18, 2015, it was announced that Max Pacioretty was named the 29th captain after a player vote, with Andrei Markov, P. K. Subban, Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Plekanec as alternate captains.[3][4] Gallagher and Markov will be paired and Subban and Plekanec would be their own pair, with a rotating routine with one pair playing their part at home and the other on the road.[5]

The introduction of rookie goaltender Mike Condon to the main roster also highlighted notable off season moves by the club. After a stellar pre-season performance, Condon was ultimately rewarded for his play, subsequently replacing Dustin Tokarski on the goalie tandem as back-up to starter Carey Price.[6]

Regular season[]

The team began its regular season on October 7, 2015 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, recording a 3–1 victory.[7] This season also marked the franchise's best start to a campaign with 9 consecutive wins, achieving a record of 9–0–0 over that span.[8] The Canadiens did not suffer a loss until their 10th game of the season, falling to the Vancouver Canucks' 5–1 on October 27.[8]

Despite this, the notoriety of the 2015–16 Montreal Canadiens season had been the extensive amount of injuries which had plagued members of the main roster. At the forefront of this misfortune was starting goaltender Carey Price, who had suffered a lower-body injury during a 4‒3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on October 29, 2015.[9] He was sidelined with the injury until November 20 in a 5‒3 win against the New York Islanders after having missed nine games with a 5‒2‒2 record.[10]

However, on November 25, Price re-aggravated his lower-body injury in a 5‒1 victory against the New York Rangers and did not return for the third period.[11] At the time, Price was expected to miss an additional 6 weeks.[11] Ultimately, Price's return did not actualize, and, on April 6, 2016, the Montreal Canadiens announced that Price would not return for the 2015–16 season. The extent of Price's injury was revealed to be a medial collateral ligament injury (MCL sprain).[12]

On November 22, against the New York Islanders, right winger Brendan Gallagher sustained injuries to his fingers after attempting to block a shot.[13] His injuries required surgery and was expected to miss at least six weeks.[14] Gallagher returned for the 2016 Winter Classic in a 5‒1 win against the Boston Bruins and managed a goal and an assist, also receiving the first star of the game.[15][16]

On March 10, 2016, defenseman P. K. Subban sustained a neck injury after colliding with defenseman Alexei Emelin in a 3–2 win against the Buffalo Sabres.[17] Subban was sent to the hospital as a precautionary measure, but was released the following day with a non-serious injury.[17] On April 6, the club announced that Subban would miss the last two games of the 2015–16 season.[12]

Other notable injuries included those to defencemen Tom Gilbert, Jeff Petry, as well as Nathan Beaulieu. Due to the magnitude of sidelined players, many prospects had gained the opportunity to draw select time in the lineup, with Michael McCarron, Morgan Ellis, Joel Hanley, Darren Dietz, Daniel Carr, Charles Hudon, Brett Lernout, Ryan Johnston, and goaltender Charlie Lindgren all making their respective NHL debuts at some point throughout the season.

The latter half of the Canadiens' season saw them face their worst slump since the 1939-40 season. With this, Montreal missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012. No Canadian team in the NHL made the playoffs that year, marking the first time since 1970 that all Canadian teams in the NHL did not qualify for the postseason.

Standings[]

Atlantic Division
Pos Team GP W L OTL ROW GF GA GD Pts
1 y – Florida Panthers 82 47 26 9 40 239 203 +36 103
2 x – Tampa Bay Lightning 82 46 31 5 43 227 201 +26 97
3 x – Detroit Red Wings 82 41 30 11 39 211 224 −13 93
4 Boston Bruins 82 42 31 9 38 240 230 +10 93
5 Ottawa Senators 82 38 35 9 32 236 247 −11 85
6 Montreal Canadiens 82 38 38 6 33 221 236 −15 82
7 Buffalo Sabres 82 35 36 11 33 201 222 −21 81
8 Toronto Maple Leafs 82 29 42 11 23 198 246 −48 69
Source: National Hockey League[18]
x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division
Eastern Conference Wild Card
Pos Div Team GP W L OTL ROW GF GA GD Pts
1 ME x – New York Islanders 82 45 27 10 40 232 216 +16 100
2 ME x – Philadelphia Flyers 82 41 27 14 38 214 218 −4 96
3 AT Boston Bruins 82 42 31 9 38 240 230 +10 93
4 ME Carolina Hurricanes 82 35 31 16 33 198 226 −28 86
5 AT Ottawa Senators 82 38 35 9 32 236 247 −11 85
6 ME New Jersey Devils 82 38 36 8 36 184 208 −24 84
7 AT Montreal Canadiens 82 38 38 6 33 221 236 −15 82
8 AT Buffalo Sabres 82 35 36 11 33 201 222 −21 81
9 ME Columbus Blue Jackets 82 34 40 8 28 219 252 −33 76
10 AT Toronto Maple Leafs 82 29 42 11 23 198 246 −48 69
Source: National Hockey League[19]
x – Clinched playoff spot

Schedule and results[]

Pre-season[]

Regular season[]

2015–16 Game Log[21]

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Player statistics[]

Final stats

Skaters[]

Goaltenders[]

Regular Season[23]
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Mike Condon 55 51 3,122:44 21 25 6 141 2.71 1458 .903 1 0 0 0
Carey Price 12 12 698:20 10 2 0 24 2.06 365 .934 2 0 0 0
Ben Scrivens 15 14 821:58 5 8 0 42 3.07 447 .906 0 0 0 0
Charlie Lindgren 1 1 60:00 1 0 0 2 2.00 28 .929 0 0 0 0
Dustin Tokarski 6 4 226:10 1 3 0 12 3.18 98 .878 0 0 0 0

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Canadiens. Stats reflect time with Canadiens only.
Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Canadiens only.

Roster[]

Suspensions/fines

Player Explanation Length Salary Date issued Ref
Zack Kassian Suspended indefinitely for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program. 2 months N/A October 5, 2015 [24]

Awards and honours[]

Awards[]

Milestones[]

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