# 1991–92 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1991–92 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's 83rd season. The season saw the Canadiens won the Adams Division and make it to the second round of the playoffs, losing to the Boston Bruins in the Adams Division final. After the sweep, head coach Pat Burns resigned.

## Pre-season

The Canadiens changed their personnel in the off-season. Andrew Cassels, Tom Chorske, Stephane Richer and Ryan Walter were traded. The Canadiens picked up Kirk Muller and Roland Melanson.

## Regular season

The team started well, losing just three times in October. At New Year's, the team led the league overall standings with 54 points. In February, the Canadiens reacquired Chris Nilan three years after he left Montreal. In the last 17 games of his NHL career, the veteran enforcer adds 74 penalty minutes to raise his overall total with the Canadiens to 2,248 minutes, the most in team history. In March, the team traded Petr Svoboda to Buffalo in return for Kevin Haller.
March was dismal for the team, winning only four of 11 games. On April 1, the league's players went on a ten-day strike. The regular season resumed and the Canadiens continued to struggle, slipping to fifth-place overall, but finished first in the Adams Division. The team played well defensively, winning the William M. Jennings Trophy, Patrick Roy winning the Vezina Trophy and Guy Carbonneau winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy and finished +60 in goals.
The Canadiens finished first in the NHL in goaltending, allowing only 207 goals. Furthermore, they tied the Winnipeg Jets for most shutouts, with 7, and they tied the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals for fewest power-play goals allowed, with just 60. The Canadiens were the most disciplined team during the regular season, being short-handed only 320 times. Although the Canadiens scored the fewest short-handed goals during the regular season (4), they tied the Toronto Maple Leafs for the fewest short-handed goals allowed (5).

### Final standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 267 | 207 | 93 |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 36 | 32 | 12 | 270 | 275 | 84 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 31 | 37 | 12 | 289 | 299 | 74 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 26 | 41 | 13 | 247 | 283 | 65 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 20 | 48 | 12 | 255 | 318 | 52 |
Wales Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – New York Rangers | PAT | 80 | 50 | 25 | 5 | 321 | 246 | 105 |
| 2 | Washington Capitals | PAT | 80 | 45 | 27 | 8 | 330 | 257 | 98 |
| 3 | Montreal Canadiens | ADM | 80 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 267 | 207 | 93 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Penguins | PAT | 80 | 39 | 32 | 9 | 343 | 308 | 87 |
| 5 | New Jersey Devils | PAT | 80 | 38 | 31 | 11 | 289 | 259 | 87 |
| 6 | Boston Bruins | ADM | 80 | 36 | 32 | 12 | 270 | 275 | 84 |
| 7 | New York Islanders | PAT | 80 | 34 | 35 | 11 | 291 | 299 | 79 |
| 8 | Philadelphia Flyers | PAT | 80 | 32 | 37 | 11 | 252 | 273 | 75 |
| 9 | Buffalo Sabres | ADM | 80 | 31 | 37 | 12 | 289 | 299 | 74 |
| 10 | Hartford Whalers | ADM | 80 | 26 | 41 | 13 | 247 | 283 | 65 |
| 11 | Quebec Nordiques | ADM | 80 | 20 | 48 | 12 | 255 | 318 | 52 |
Divisions: ADM – Adams, PAT – Patrick
p – Clinched Presidents' Trophy bold – Qualified for playoffs

## Schedule and results

| # | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 3, 1991 | 4–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 5, 1991 | 1–2 OT | New York Rangers | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | T | October 8, 1991 | 2–2 OT | @ Hartford Whalers | 1–1–1 |
| 4 | W | October 10, 1991 | 4–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings | 2–1–1 |
| 5 | W | October 12, 1991 | 6–0 | @ Boston Bruins | 3–1–1 |
| 6 | L | October 14, 1991 | 3–4 | Hartford Whalers | 3–2–1 |
| 7 | W | October 16, 1991 | 5–1 | Buffalo Sabres | 4–2–1 |
| 8 | L | October 18, 1991 | 1–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres | 4–3–1 |
| 9 | W | October 19, 1991 | 1–0 | @ Philadelphia Flyers | 5–3–1 |
| 10 | W | October 23, 1991 | 3–2 OT | Quebec Nordiques | 6–3–1 |
| 11 | W | October 24, 1991 | 5–0 | @ Quebec Nordiques | 7–3–1 |
| 12 | W | October 26, 1991 | 4–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 8–3–1 |
| 13 | W | October 30, 1991 | 6–1 | Winnipeg Jets | 9–3–1 |
| 14 | W | November 1, 1991 | 5–1 | @ Buffalo Sabres | 10–3–1 |
| 15 | W | November 2, 1991 | 5–0 | Buffalo Sabres | 11–3–1 |
| 16 | W | November 4, 1991 | 3–2 OT | New Jersey Devils | 12–3–1 |
| 17 | W | November 6, 1991 | 4–1 | @ New York Rangers | 13–3–1 |
| 18 | L | November 8, 1991 | 2–3 | @ New Jersey Devils | 13–4–1 |
| 19 | W | November 9, 1991 | 4–2 | Chicago Blackhawks | 14–4–1 |
| 20 | L | November 11, 1991 | 2–4 | Washington Capitals | 14–5–1 |
| 21 | T | November 14, 1991 | 2–2 OT | @ Hartford Whalers | 14–5–2 |
| 22 | L | November 16, 1991 | 1–3 | Philadelphia Flyers | 14–6–2 |
| 23 | W | November 18, 1991 | 1–0 | Edmonton Oilers | 15–6–2 |
| 24 | L | November 21, 1991 | 2–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques | 15–7–2 |
| 25 | W | November 23, 1991 | 5–3 | Quebec Nordiques | 16–7–2 |
| 26 | W | November 25, 1991 | 4–3 | Boston Bruins | 17–7–2 |
| 27 | L | November 27, 1991 | 1–3 | @ Washington Capitals | 17–8–2 |
| 28 | L | November 29, 1991 | 4–5 OT | @ Boston Bruins | 17–9–2 |
| 29 | L | November 30, 1991 | 2–3 | @ Hartford Whalers | 17–10–2 |
| 30 | L | December 4, 1991 | 0–3 | Vancouver Canucks | 17–11–2 |
| 31 | W | December 5, 1991 | 5–4 OT | @ New York Islanders | 18–11–2 |
| 32 | W | December 7, 1991 | 5–1 | Calgary Flames | 19–11–2 |
| 33 | W | December 9, 1991 | 4–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs | 20–11–2 |
| 34 | L | December 12, 1991 | 2–5 | @ Boston Bruins | 20–12–2 |
| 35 | W | December 14, 1991 | 4–2 | Buffalo Sabres | 21–12–2 |
| 36 | W | December 16, 1991 | 4–2 | St. Louis Blues | 22–12–2 |
| 37 | L | December 19, 1991 | 4–6 | @ Chicago Blackhawks | 22–13–2 |
| 38 | W | December 21, 1991 | 3–2 OT | Hartford Whalers | 23–13–2 |
| 39 | W | December 22, 1991 | 3–2 | Boston Bruins | 24–13–2 |
| 40 | W | December 26, 1991 | 4–1 | @ Quebec Nordiques | 25–13–2 |
| 41 | W | December 29, 1991 | 3–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers | 26–13–2 |
| 42 | L | December 31, 1991 | 2–3 OT | @ Calgary Flames | 26–14–2 |
| 43 | W | January 4, 1992 | 1–0 OT | @ San Jose Sharks | 27–14–2 |
| 44 | W | January 8, 1992 | 3–2 | Boston Bruins | 28–14–2 |
| 45 | W | January 11, 1992 | 3–2 | Hartford Whalers | 29–14–2 |
| 46 | T | January 13, 1992 | 2–2 OT | Calgary Flames | 29–14–3 |
| 47 | L | January 15, 1992 | 2–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars | 29–15–3 |
| 48 | T | January 16, 1992 | 6–6 OT | @ St. Louis Blues | 29–15–4 |
| 49 | W | January 23, 1992 | 3–1 | @ Boston Bruins | 30–15–4 |
| 50 | L | January 25, 1992 | 3–4 | Buffalo Sabres | 30–16–4 |
| 51 | W | January 26, 1992 | 3–1 | Hartford Whalers | 31–16–4 |
| 52 | L | January 29, 1992 | 3–4 | New Jersey Devils | 31–17–4 |
| 53 | L | January 31, 1992 | 3–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres | 31–18–4 |
| 54 | W | February 1, 1992 | 4–3 OT | Detroit Red Wings | 32–18–4 |
| 55 | L | February 4, 1992 | 3–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks | 32–19–4 |
| 56 | L | February 5, 1992 | 1–2 | @ Edmonton Oilers | 32–20–4 |
| 57 | L | February 8, 1992 | 4–6 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs | 32–21–4 |
| 58 | W | February 10, 1992 | 8–3 | Vancouver Canucks | 33–21–4 |
| 59 | W | February 12, 1992 | 6–1 | San Jose Sharks | 34–21–4 |
| 60 | T | February 15, 1992 | 4–4 OT | Quebec Nordiques | 34–21–5 |
| 61 | W | February 17, 1992 | 8–0 | Minnesota North Stars | 35–21–5 |
| 62 | T | February 19, 1992 | 2–2 OT | @ Hartford Whalers | 35–21–6 |
| 63 | W | February 22, 1992 | 2–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 36–21–6 |
| 64 | T | February 23, 1992 | 3–3 OT | Quebec Nordiques | 36–21–7 |
| 65 | W | February 26, 1992 | 4–1 | @ Minnesota North Stars | 37–21–7 |
| 66 | T | February 28, 1992 | 3–3 OT | @ San Jose Sharks | 37–21–8 |
| 67 | L | February 29, 1992 | 3–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings | 37–22–8 |
| 68 | W | March 3, 1992 | 4–3 | @ New York Islanders | 38–22–8 |
| 69 | W | March 7, 1992 | 8–2 | New York Islanders | 39–22–8 |
| 70 | W | March 8, 1992 | 4–1 | Detroit Red Wings | 40–22–8 |
| 71 | L | March 11, 1992 | 4–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques | 40–23–8 |
| 72 | W | March 14, 1992 | 5–2 | Los Angeles Kings | 41–23–8 |
| 73 | L | March 16, 1992 | 1–4 | @ New York Rangers | 41–24–8 |
| 74 | L | March 18, 1992 | 3–4 | Philadelphia Flyers | 41–25–8 |
| 75 | T | March 21, 1992 | 3–3 OT | St. Louis Blues | 41–25–9 |
| 76 | T | March 25, 1992 | 2–2 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets | 41–25–10 |
| 77 | L | March 27, 1992 | 3–4 | @ Washington Capitals | 41–26–10 |
| 78 | L | March 28, 1992 | 3–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins | 41–27–10 |
| 79 | L | April 12, 1992 | 1–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres | 41–28–10 |
| 80 | T | April 15, 1992 | 4–4 OT | Boston Bruins | 41–28–11 |

## Playoffs

The Canadiens placed first in the division, and played the fourth-place Whalers in the first round. The Canadiens won the series 4–3 to advance to the second round. In the second round, the Bruins defeated the Canadiens 4–0 to eliminate the Canadiens. Coach Pat Burns, who was increasingly criticized in the media, resigned after the season.

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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Kirk Muller | LW | 78 | 36 | 41 | 77 | 86 | 15 | 15 | 1 | 7 |
| Denis Savard | C | 77 | 28 | 42 | 70 | 73 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 5 |
| Stephan Lebeau | C | 77 | 27 | 31 | 58 | 14 | 18 | 13 | 0 | 5 |
| Shayne Corson | LW | 64 | 17 | 36 | 53 | 118 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Brent Gilchrist | LW | 79 | 23 | 27 | 50 | 57 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Mike Keane | RW | 67 | 11 | 30 | 41 | 64 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Guy Carbonneau | C | 72 | 18 | 21 | 39 | 39 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Eric Desjardins | D | 77 | 6 | 32 | 38 | 50 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Gilbert Dionne | LW | 39 | 21 | 13 | 34 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| Mathieu Schneider | D | 78 | 8 | 24 | 32 | 72 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Mike McPhee | LW | 78 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 63 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Russ Courtnall | RW | 27 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Petr Svoboda | D | 58 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 94 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Sylvain Turgeon | LW | 56 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 39 | -4 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| John LeClair | LW | 59 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| J. J. Daigneault | D | 79 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 36 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sylvain Lefebvre | D | 69 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 91 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Benoit Brunet | LW | 18 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul DiPietro | C | 33 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Patrice Brisebois | D | 26 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Lyle Odelein | D | 71 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 212 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Skrudland | C | 42 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 36 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Patrick Roy | G | 67 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Haller | D | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Nilan | RW | 17 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 74 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mario Roberge | LW | 20 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 62 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Todd Ewen | RW | 46 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 130 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alain Cote | D | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jesse Belanger | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Donald Dufresne | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roland Melanson | G | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Racicot | G | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Ronan | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vladimir Vujtek | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Patrick Roy | 3935 | 67 | 36 | 22 | 8 | 155 | 2.36 | 5 | 1806 | 1651 | .914 |
| Roland Melanson | 492 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 2.68 | 2 | 195 | 173 | .887 |
| Andre Racicot | 436 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 3.17 | 0 | 219 | 196 | .895 |
| Team: | 4863 | 80 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 200 | 2.47 | 7 | 2220 | 2020 | .910 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Denis Savard | C | 11 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kirk Muller | LW | 11 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Gilbert Dionne | LW | 11 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Shayne Corson | LW | 10 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eric Desjardins | D | 11 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Patrice Brisebois | D | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Brent Gilchrist | LW | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mathieu Schneider | D | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Stephan Lebeau | C | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| J. J. Daigneault | D | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Guy Carbonneau | C | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Russ Courtnall | RW | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mike Keane | RW | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John LeClair | LW | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike McPhee | LW | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Skrudland | C | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sean Hill | D | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sylvain Turgeon | LW | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Nilan | RW | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Todd Ewen | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Haller | D | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sylvain Lefebvre | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lyle Odelein | D | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Racicot | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Patrick Roy | G | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Patrick Roy | 686 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 30 | 2.62 | 1 | 312 | 282 | .904 |
| Andre Racicot | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 |
| Team: | 687 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 30 | 2.62 | 1 | 313 | 283 | .904 |
    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

* Patrick Roy, Vezina Trophy, William M. Jennings Trophy
* Guy Carbonneau, Frank J. Selke Trophy

## Draft picks

| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/junior/club team (league) |
| 1 | 17 | Brent Bilodeau | D | United States | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 2 | 28 | Jim Campbell | RW | United States | N.Y. Northwood Prep (USHS-NY) |
| 2 | 43 | Craig Darby | C | United States | The Albany Academy (USHS-NY) |
| 3 | 61 | Yves Sarault | LW | Canada | Saint-Jean Lynx (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 73 | Vladimir Vujtek | LW | Czechoslovakia | Tri-City Americans (WHL) |
| 4 | 81 | Sylvain Lapointe | D | Canada | Clarkson University (ECAC) |
| 5 | 100 | Brad Layzell | D | Canada | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC) |
| 5 | 105 | Tony Prpic | F | United States | Culver Military Academy (USHS-IN) |
| 6 | 127 | Oleg Petrov | RW | Soviet Union | CSKA Moscow (Soviet Union) |
| 7 | 149 | Brady Kramer | C | United States | Haverford High School (USHS-PN) |
| 8 | 171 | Brian Savage | LW | Canada | Miami University (CCHA) |
| 9 | 193 | Scott Fraser | RW | Canada | Dartmouth College (ECAC) |
| 10 | 215 | Greg MacEachern | D | Canada | Laval Titan (QMJHL) |
| 11 | 237 | Paul Lepler | D | United States | Rochester Mustangs (USHL) |
| 12 | 259 | Dale Hooper | D | United States | Springfield Olympics (NEJHL) |
| S | 23 | Jeff Torrey | RW | United States | Clarkson University (ECAC) |