# 1943–44 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1943–44 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 35th season, 27th in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team would win the Stanley Cup for the fifth time. Bill Durnan would join the club as its new goaltender and he won the Vezina Trophy in his rookie season.

## Offseason

At the Habs' training camp in 1943, Canadiens manager Tommy Gorman settled on Bill Durnan as his goalie. Durnan stated that he was happy as an amateur and happy with less money if it meant avoiding the stress of the professional game. On opening night, Durnan was not yet signed. Ten minutes before the first faceoff, he spoke with Gorman and reached a deal. Durnan signed the contract and played in the game. The result was a 2–2 draw with the Boston Bruins. The rookie netminder was a few months shy of his 27th birthday.

## Regular season

Some of Durnan's teammates included the "Punch Line" of Elmer Lach, Rocket Richard and Toe Blake. Durnan was a key element that took Montreal back to the Stanley Cup Finals after 13 years of frustration. Durnan led the league in games played, wins and goals-against average in the regular season.

### Final standings

National Hockey League vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Montreal Canadiens | 50 | 38 | 5 | 7 | 234 | 109 | +125 | 83 |
| 2 | Detroit Red Wings | 50 | 26 | 18 | 6 | 214 | 177 | +37 | 58 |
| 3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 50 | 23 | 23 | 4 | 214 | 174 | +40 | 50 |
| 4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 50 | 22 | 23 | 5 | 178 | 187 | −9 | 49 |
| 5 | Boston Bruins | 50 | 19 | 26 | 5 | 223 | 268 | −45 | 43 |
| 6 | New York Rangers | 50 | 6 | 39 | 5 | 162 | 310 | −148 | 17 |

### Record vs. opponents

1943–44 NHL Records :
| Team | BOS | CHI | DET | MTL | NYR | TOR |
| Boston | — | 5–5 | 1–7–2 | 3–5–2 | 7–2–1 | 3–7 |
| Chicago | 5–5 | — | 5–5 | 0–8–2 | 7–1–2 | 5–4–1 |
| Detroit | 7–1–2 | 5–5 | — | 0–9–1 | 8–1–1 | 6–2–2 |
| Montreal | 5–3–2 | 8–0–2 | 9–0–1 | — | 9–0–1 | 7–2–1 |
| New York | 2–7–1 | 1–7–2 | 1–8–1 | 0–9–1 | — | 2–8 |
| Toronto | 7–3 | 4–5–1 | 2–6–2 | 2–7–1 | 8–2 | — |

## Schedule and results

Regular season results :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | T | October 30, 1943 | 2–2 | Boston Bruins (1943–44) | 0–0–1 |
| 2 | W | November 2, 1943 | 2–1 | New York Rangers (1943–44) | 1–0–1 |
| 3 | W | November 4, 1943 | 5–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44) | 2–0–1 |
| 4 | W | November 7, 1943 | 5–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44) | 3–0–1 |
| 5 | W | November 13, 1943 | 4–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1943–44) | 4–0–1 |
| 6 | W | November 14, 1943 | 2–0 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1943–44) | 5–0–1 |
| 7 | T | November 16, 1943 | 2–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1943–44) | 5–0–2 |
| 8 | W | November 18, 1943 | 5–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44) | 6–0–2 |
| 9 | W | November 20, 1943 | 7–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44) | 7–0–2 |
| 10 | W | November 21, 1943 | 13–4 | Boston Bruins (1943–44) | 8–0–2 |
| 11 | W | November 27, 1943 | 6–3 | New York Rangers (1943–44) | 9–0–2 |
| 12 | T | November 28, 1943 | 2–2 | @ New York Rangers (1943–44) | 9–0–3 |
| 13 | W | December 2, 1943 | 6–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44) | 10–0–3 |
| 14 | W | December 4, 1943 | 8–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1943–44) | 11–0–3 |
| 15 | L | December 5, 1943 | 4–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1943–44) | 11–1–3 |
| 16 | L | December 11, 1943 | 2–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44) | 11–2–3 |
| 17 | W | December 12, 1943 | 5–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1943–44) | 12–2–3 |
| 18 | W | December 19, 1943 | 3–1 | Boston Bruins (1943–44) | 13–2–3 |
| 19 | W | December 25, 1943 | 5–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44) | 14–2–3 |
| 20 | W | December 30, 1943 | 8–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1943–44) | 15–2–3 |
| 21 | W | January 1, 1944 | 4–0 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44) | 16–2–3 |
| 22 | W | January 2, 1944 | 5–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1943–44) | 17–2–3 |
| 23 | W | January 4, 1944 | 6–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44) | 18–2–3 |
| 24 | W | January 8, 1944 | 8–2 | New York Rangers (1943–44) | 19–2–3 |
| 25 | W | January 9, 1944 | 6–5 | @ New York Rangers (1943–44) | 20–2–3 |
| 26 | L | January 11, 1944 | 0–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44) | 20–3–3 |
| 27 | T | January 13, 1944 | 2–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1943–44) | 20–3–4 |
| 28 | T | January 16, 1944 | 1–1 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44) | 20–3–5 |
| 29 | W | January 22, 1944 | 6–2 | Boston Bruins (1943–44) | 21–3–5 |
| 30 | W | January 23, 1944 | 4–1 | @ Boston Bruins (1943–44) | 22–3–5 |
| 31 | T | January 27, 1944 | 2–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44) | 22–3–6 |
| 32 | W | January 30, 1944 | 5–3 | @ New York Rangers (1943–44) | 23–3–6 |
| 33 | W | February 5, 1944 | 6–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44) | 24–3–6 |
| 34 | L | February 8, 1944 | 0–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1943–44) | 24–4–6 |
| 35 | W | February 12, 1944 | 3–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44) | 25–4–6 |
| 36 | T | February 13, 1944 | 2–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44) | 25–4–7 |
| 37 | W | February 17, 1944 | 3–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1943–44) | 26–4–7 |
| 38 | W | February 19, 1944 | 5–2 | New York Rangers (1943–44) | 27–4–7 |
| 39 | W | February 20, 1944 | 7–2 | @ New York Rangers (1943–44) | 28–4–7 |
| 40 | W | February 24, 1944 | 3–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44) | 29–4–7 |
| 41 | W | February 26, 1944 | 10–2 | Boston Bruins (1943–44) | 30–4–7 |
| 42 | W | February 27, 1944 | 5–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1943–44) | 31–4–7 |
| 43 | W | March 4, 1944 | 5–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44) | 32–4–7 |
| 44 | W | March 5, 1944 | 8–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1943–44) | 33–4–7 |
| 45 | W | March 9, 1944 | 3–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44) | 34–4–7 |
| 46 | W | March 11, 1944 | 4–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1943–44) | 35–4–7 |
| 47 | L | March 12, 1944 | 5–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1943–44) | 35–5–7 |
| 48 | W | March 16, 1944 | 3–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1943–44) | 36–5–7 |
| 49 | W | March 18, 1944 | 11–2 | New York Rangers (1943–44) | 37–5–7 |
| 50 | W | March 19, 1944 | 6–1 | @ New York Rangers (1943–44) | 38–5–7 |

## Playoffs

In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Durnan allowed only 1.53 goals per game as the Canadiens skated to the title. At season's end, Durnan was awarded the Vezina Trophy, the first rookie to win the award, and was selected to the league's First All-Star Team.

### Semi-final: Montreal vs. Toronto

Rocket Richard scored seven goals in the series, including all five for Montreal in game two. After giving up the first game at home to Toronto, Montreal took over, winning the next four, finishing the series with an 11–0 shellacking in game five.
| Date | Away | Score | Home | Score |
| March 21 | Toronto | 3 | Montreal | 1 |
| March 23 | Toronto | 1 | Montreal | 5 |
| March 25 | Montreal | 2 | Toronto | 1 |
| March 28 | Montreal | 4 | Toronto | 1 |
| March 30 | Toronto | 0 | Montreal | 11 |

### Stanley Cup Finals: Montreal vs. Chicago

Maurice 'Rocket' Richard made his Stanley Cup debut with a five-goal performance in the series, including a hat-trick in game two. The Punch Line of Richard, Elmer Lach and Toe Blake scored 10 of the Canadiens 16 goals. Blake scored the Cup winner in overtime. In the same overtime, Bill Durnan stopped the first penalty shot awarded in the finals, awarded to Virgil Johnson.
| Date | Away | Score | Home | Score | Notes |
| April 4 | Chicago | 1 | Montreal | 5 | |
| April 6 | Montreal | 3 | Chicago | 1 | |
| April 9 | Montreal | 3 | Chicago | 2 | |
| April 13 | Chicago | 4 | Montreal | 5 | OT |
Montreal won the best-of-seven series 4–0.

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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Elmer Lach | C | 48 | 24 | 48 | 72 | 23 |
| Toe Blake | LW | 41 | 26 | 33 | 59 | 10 |
| Maurice Richard | RW | 46 | 32 | 22 | 54 | 45 |
| Buddy O'Connor | C | 44 | 12 | 42 | 54 | 6 |
| Ray Getliffe | C/LW | 44 | 28 | 25 | 53 | 44 |
| Phil Watson | RW/C | 44 | 17 | 32 | 49 | 61 |
| Gerry Heffernan | RW | 43 | 28 | 20 | 48 | 12 |
| Murph Chamberlain | LW | 47 | 15 | 32 | 47 | 85 |
| Fern Majeau | C/LW | 44 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 39 |
| Leo Lamoureux | C/D | 44 | 8 | 23 | 31 | 32 |
| Bob Fillion | LW | 41 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 14 |
| Mike McMahon | D | 42 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 98 |
| Glen Harmon | D | 43 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 36 |
| Emile Bouchard | D | 39 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 52 |
| Tod Campeau | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Durnan | G | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Walton | C/RW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Bill Durnan | 3000 | 50 | 38 | 5 | 7 | 109 | 2.18 | 2 |
| Team: | 3000 | 50 | 38 | 5 | 7 | 109 | 2.18 | 2 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Toe Blake | LW | 9 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 2 |
| Maurice Richard | RW | 9 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 10 |
| Elmer Lach | C | 9 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 4 |
| Ray Getliffe | C/LW | 9 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 16 |
| Murph Chamberlain | LW | 9 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 12 |
| Phil Watson | RW/C | 9 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 16 |
| Emile Bouchard | D | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Glen Harmon | D | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Gerry Heffernan | RW | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| Mike McMahon | D | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 16 |
| Buddy O'Connor | C | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Leo Lamoureux | C/D | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| Bill Durnan | G | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Fillion | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fern Majeau | C/LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Bill Durnan | 549 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 1.53 | 1 |
| Team: | 549 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 1.53 | 1 |
    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

* Bill Durnan, Vezina Trophy
* Bill Durnan, NHL First Team All-Star
* Emile "Butch" Bouchard, Defence, NHL Second Team All-Star
* Elmer Lach, Centre, NHL Second Team All-Star
* Maurice Richard, Right wing, NHL Second Team All-Star
* Dick Irvin, Coach, NHL First Team All-Star