# 1989–90 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1989–90 Montreal Canadiens season was the Canadiens' 81st season. The Canadiens were eliminated in the Adams Division final by the Boston Bruins 4 games to 1.

## Offseason

Captain Bob Gainey retired in July 1989. The Canadiens named Guy Carbonneau and Chris Chelios co-captains, in August. Meanwhile, longtime defenceman Larry Robinson signed with the Los Angeles Kings via free-agency.

### NHL Draft

Montreal's draft picks at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft held at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 13 | Lindsay Vallis | Canada | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 2 | 30 | Patrice Brisebois | Canada | Laval Titan (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 41 | Steve Larouche | Canada | Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 51 | Pierre Sevigny | Canada | Verdun Junior Canadiens (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 83 | Andre Racicot | Canada | Granby Bisons (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 104 | Marc Deschamps | Canada | Cornell University (ECAC) |
| 7 | 146 | Craig Ferguson | United States | Yale University (ECAC) |
| 8 | 167 | Patrick Lebeau | Canada | Saint-Jean Lynx (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 188 | Roy Mitchell | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 11 | 230 | Justin Duberman | United States | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
| 12 | 251 | Steve Cadieux | Canada | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) |
| S | 25 | Craig Charron | United States | University of Massachusetts Lowell (Hockey East) |

## Regular season

The Canadiens finished the regular season with only 234 goals allowed, second only to the Boston Bruins. Their power play struggled throughout the season and they finished last in power-play goals scored (54) and power-play percentage (15.88%). Although the Canadiens scored the fewest short-handed goals in the league, with 4, they only allowed 7, good enough for 4th place in the league (tied with the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers).

### Final standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 46 | 25 | 9 | 289 | 232 | 101 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 45 | 27 | 8 | 286 | 248 | 98 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 288 | 234 | 93 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 38 | 33 | 9 | 275 | 268 | 85 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 12 | 61 | 7 | 240 | 407 | 31 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
Wales Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Boston Bruins | ADM | 80 | 46 | 25 | 9 | 289 | 232 | 101 |
| 2 | Buffalo Sabres | ADM | 80 | 45 | 27 | 8 | 286 | 248 | 98 |
| 3 | Montreal Canadiens | ADM | 80 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 288 | 234 | 93 |
| 4 | Hartford Whalers | ADM | 80 | 38 | 33 | 9 | 275 | 268 | 85 |
| 5 | New York Rangers | PTK | 80 | 36 | 31 | 13 | 279 | 267 | 85 |
| 6 | New Jersey Devils | PTK | 80 | 37 | 34 | 9 | 295 | 288 | 83 |
| 7 | Washington Capitals | PTK | 80 | 36 | 38 | 6 | 284 | 275 | 78 |
| 8 | New York Islanders | PTK | 80 | 31 | 38 | 11 | 281 | 288 | 73 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh Penguins | PTK | 80 | 32 | 40 | 8 | 318 | 359 | 72 |
| 10 | Philadelphia Flyers | PTK | 80 | 30 | 39 | 11 | 290 | 297 | 71 |
| 11 | Quebec Nordiques | ADM | 80 | 12 | 61 | 7 | 240 | 407 | 31 |
Divisions: PTK – Patrick, ADM – Adams
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

### Record vs. opponents
#### Vs. Campbell Conference
## Schedule and results

| # | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 2 | W | October 7, 1989 | 5–1 | Buffalo Sabres | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | L | October 9, 1989 | 0–2 | @ Boston Bruins | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | W | October 11, 1989 | 4–2 | Boston Bruins | 3–1–0 |
| 5 | W | October 13, 1989 | 4–3 OT | @ New Jersey Devils | 4–1–0 |
| 6 | L | October 14, 1989 | 1–2 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins | 4–2–0 |
| 7 | L | October 16, 1989 | 3–4 OT | Washington Capitals | 4–3–0 |
| 8 | W | October 18, 1989 | 2–1 | Calgary Flames | 5–3–0 |
| 9 | L | October 20, 1989 | 2–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres | 5–4–0 |
| 10 | L | October 21, 1989 | 4–5 | New Jersey Devils | 5–5–0 |
| 11 | W | October 23, 1989 | 3–2 | Hartford Whalers | 6–5–0 |
| 12 | L | October 26, 1989 | 3–5 | @ Chicago Blackhawks | 6–6–0 |
| 13 | W | October 28, 1989 | 5–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 7–6–0 |
| 14 | W | October 29, 1989 | 5–4 | Edmonton Oilers | 8–6–0 |
| 15 | W | October 31, 1989 | 3–0 | @ New York Islanders | 9–6–0 |
| 16 | L | November 2, 1989 | 3–4 | Buffalo Sabres | 9–7–0 |
| 17 | W | November 4, 1989 | 3–2 | New York Rangers | 10–7–0 |
| 18 | T | November 6, 1989 | 3–3 OT | St. Louis Blues | 10–7–1 |
| 19 | W | November 8, 1989 | 3–2 | @ New York Rangers | 11–7–1 |
| 20 | T | November 9, 1989 | 1–1 OT | @ St. Louis Blues | 11–7–2 |
| 21 | L | November 11, 1989 | 4–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings | 11–8–2 |
| 22 | W | November 15, 1989 | 5–1 | Winnipeg Jets | 12–8–2 |
| 23 | L | November 16, 1989 | 2–3 | @ Boston Bruins | 12–9–2 |
| 24 | W | November 18, 1989 | 4–3 OT | Toronto Maple Leafs | 13–9–2 |
| 25 | W | November 20, 1989 | 3–2 | Calgary Flames | 14–9–2 |
| 26 | L | November 22, 1989 | 1–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers | 14–10–2 |
| 27 | W | November 25, 1989 | 5–3 | Boston Bruins | 15–10–2 |
| 28 | W | November 29, 1989 | 5–2 | Quebec Nordiques | 16–10–2 |
| 29 | W | November 30, 1989 | 6–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques | 17–10–2 |
| 30 | L | December 2, 1989 | 3–4 | Hartford Whalers | 17–11–2 |
| 31 | W | December 6, 1989 | 4–1 | @ Minnesota North Stars | 18–11–2 |
| 32 | T | December 8, 1989 | 6–6 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets | 18–11–3 |
| 33 | L | December 9, 1989 | 4–7 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs | 18–12–3 |
| 34 | T | December 11, 1989 | 2–2 OT | Los Angeles Kings | 18–12–4 |
| 35 | L | December 13, 1989 | 1–3 | Chicago Blackhawks | 18–13–4 |
| 36 | W | December 16, 1989 | 3–1 | Detroit Red Wings | 19–13–4 |
| 37 | W | December 17, 1989 | 2–0 | @ New York Rangers | 20–13–4 |
| 38 | T | December 22, 1989 | 2–2 OT | @ Buffalo Sabres | 20–13–5 |
| 39 | L | December 23, 1989 | 3–5 | Philadelphia Flyers | 20–14–5 |
| 40 | L | December 27, 1989 | 1–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks | 20–15–5 |
| 41 | L | December 29, 1989 | 2–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers | 20–16–5 |
| 42 | L | December 30, 1989 | 3–5 | @ Calgary Flames | 20–17–5 |
| 43 | W | January 6, 1990 | 6–3 | Buffalo Sabres | 21–17–5 |
| 44 | W | January 7, 1990 | 5–3 | Vancouver Canucks | 22–17–5 |
| 45 | L | January 9, 1990 | 2–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques | 22–18–5 |
| 46 | W | January 12, 1990 | 5–2 | @ New Jersey Devils | 23–18–5 |
| 47 | T | January 13, 1990 | 2–2 OT | Philadelphia Flyers | 23–18–6 |
| 48 | W | January 15, 1990 | 4–3 | Minnesota North Stars | 24–18–6 |
| 49 | L | January 17, 1990 | 3–6 | New York Islanders | 24–19–6 |
| 50 | W | January 24, 1990 | 7–3 | Quebec Nordiques | 25–19–6 |
| 51 | L | January 26, 1990 | 3–6 | @ Washington Capitals | 25–20–6 |
| 52 | W | January 27, 1990 | 5–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs | 26–20–6 |
| 53 | L | January 29, 1990 | 1–2 | Boston Bruins | 26–21–6 |
| 54 | W | February 1, 1990 | 4–2 | @ Boston Bruins | 27–21–6 |
| 55 | W | February 3, 1990 | 1–0 | Buffalo Sabres | 28–21–6 |
| 56 | W | February 4, 1990 | 2–0 | Hartford Whalers | 29–21–6 |
| 57 | L | February 7, 1990 | 1–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres | 29–22–6 |
| 58 | W | February 10, 1990 | 7–2 | Quebec Nordiques | 30–22–6 |
| 59 | W | February 14, 1990 | 10–1 | Vancouver Canucks | 31–22–6 |
| 60 | L | February 16, 1990 | 3–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres | 31–23–6 |
| 61 | W | February 17, 1990 | 7–3 | Hartford Whalers | 32–23–6 |
| 62 | T | February 19, 1990 | 5–5 OT | @ Detroit Red Wings | 32–23–7 |
| 63 | W | February 22, 1990 | 6–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques | 33–23–7 |
| 64 | W | February 24, 1990 | 11–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 34–23–7 |
| 65 | W | February 25, 1990 | 6–5 OT | St. Louis Blues | 35–23–7 |
| 66 | L | February 28, 1990 | 1–3 | @ Hartford Whalers | 35–24–7 |
| 67 | L | March 1, 1990 | 3–5 | @ Boston Bruins | 35–25–7 |
| 68 | L | March 3, 1990 | 2–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars | 35–26–7 |
| 69 | W | March 7, 1990 | 5–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings | 36–26–7 |
| 70 | T | March 10, 1990 | 3–3 OT | Detroit Red Wings | 36–26–8 |
| 71 | W | March 13, 1990 | 4–2 | @ New York Islanders | 37–26–8 |
| 72 | T | March 14, 1990 | 3–3 OT | Edmonton Oilers | 37–26–9 |
| 73 | W | March 17, 1990 | 3–2 OT | Chicago Blackhawks | 38–26–9 |
| 74 | W | March 18, 1990 | 8–3 | Quebec Nordiques | 39–26–9 |
| 75 | L | March 21, 1990 | 2–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets | 39–27–9 |
| 76 | W | March 23, 1990 | 4–2 | @ Washington Capitals | 40–27–9 |
| 77 | L | March 24, 1990 | 4–7 | @ Hartford Whalers | 40–28–9 |
| 78 | W | March 29, 1990 | 5–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques | 41–28–9 |
| 79 | T | March 31, 1990 | 2–2 OT | Boston Bruins | 41–28–10 |
| 80 | T | April 1, 1990 | 1–1 OT | @ Hartford Whalers | 41–28–11 |

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Stephane Richer | RW | 75 | 51 | 40 | 91 | 46 | 35 | 9 | 0 | 8 |
| Shayne Corson | LW | 76 | 31 | 44 | 75 | 144 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| Russ Courtnall | RW | 80 | 27 | 32 | 59 | 27 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Guy Carbonneau | C | 68 | 19 | 36 | 55 | 37 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Brian Skrudland | C | 59 | 11 | 31 | 42 | 56 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Mike McPhee | LW | 56 | 23 | 18 | 41 | 47 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mats Naslund | LW | 72 | 21 | 20 | 41 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Petr Svoboda | D | 60 | 5 | 31 | 36 | 98 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Stephan Lebeau | C | 57 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 11 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Chris Chelios | D | 53 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 136 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Bobby Smith | C | 53 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 35 | -4 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Brent Gilchrist | LW | 57 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Keane | RW | 74 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 78 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ryan Walter | C/LW | 70 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 59 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Mathieu Schneider | D | 44 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 25 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Jyrki Lumme | D | 54 | 1 | 19 | 20 | 41 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Claude Lemieux | RW | 39 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 106 | -8 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Eric Desjardins | D | 55 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 51 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Ludwig | D | 73 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 108 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sylvain Lefebvre | D | 68 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 61 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J.J. Daigneault | D | 36 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Todd Ewen | RW | 41 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 158 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jocelyn Lemieux | RW | 34 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 61 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Patrick Roy | G | 54 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Chorske | LW | 14 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Donald Dufresne | D | 18 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andrew Cassels | C | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Martin Desjardins | C | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lyle Odelein | D | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 33 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Pederson | LW | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Cristofoli | RW | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Hayward | G | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Martinson | LW | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Racicot | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Patrick Roy | 3173 | 54 | 31 | 16 | 5 | 134 | 2.53 | 3 | 1524 | 1390 | .912 |
| Brian Hayward | 1674 | 29 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 94 | 3.37 | 1 | 770 | 676 | .878 |
| Andre Racicot | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13.85 | 0 | 6 | 3 | .500 |
| Team: | 4860 | 80 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 231 | 2.85 | 4 | 2300 | 2069 | .900 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Stephane Richer | RW | 9 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Shayne Corson | LW | 11 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Skrudland | C | 11 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Russ Courtnall | RW | 11 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Guy Carbonneau | C | 11 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Smith | C | 11 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Petr Svoboda | D | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Claude Lemieux | RW | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mathieu Schneider | D | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Stephan Lebeau | C | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Brent Gilchrist | LW | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike McPhee | LW | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mats Naslund | LW | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ryan Walter | C/LW | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Chelios | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Donald Dufresne | D | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Keane | RW | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Ludwig | D | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Patrick Roy | G | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J.J. Daigneault | D | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eric Desjardins | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Todd Ewen | RW | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Hayward | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sylvain Lefebvre | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Pederson | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Patrick Roy | 641 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 2.43 | 1 | 292 | 266 | .911 |
| Brian Hayward | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3.64 | 0 | 18 | 16 | .889 |
| Team: | 674 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 28 | 2.49 | 1 | 310 | 282 | .910 |
    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;