Ten #NHLStats about the Montreal Canadiens, who have qualified for the postseason in consecutive campaigns for the first time since a three-year run from 2013-15 and 85th time in franchise history.

1. The Canadiens are the most decorated franchise in Stanley Cup Playoffs history – they have the most Stanley Cup championships (23), playoff seasons (85 including 2021) and series wins (93) of any team since the inception of the National Hockey League in 1917-18.

2. The Canadiens defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers to advance to the First Round where they fell to the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. Montreal will look to win a postseason series in consecutive years for the first time since advancing to the Conference Finals in 2014 and the Second Round in 2015.

3. It has been a long time since Montreal has faced either the Edmonton Oilers or Toronto Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Canadiens last faced the Oilers in the 1981 Preliminary Round, where Wayne Gretzky (3-8—11 in 3 GP) led Edmonton to a three-game sweep. It has been 42 years since they have faced their Original Six rivals from Toronto – the teams last met when the Canadiens swept the Maple Leafs in the 1979 Quarterfinals on the path to their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. Montreal has never faced the Winnipeg Jets in the postseason.

4. Six players on the Canadiens roster have won a Stanley Cup, all of whom are in their first season as a member of the team: Jake Allen (2019 STL), Joel Edmundson (2019 STL), Michael Frolik (2013 CHI), Corey Perry (2007 ANA), Eric Staal (2006 CAR) and Tyler Toffoli (2014 LAK).

5. Corey Perry (41-57—98 in 145 GP) has the most career games played, goals, assists and points of any current Canadiens player. He recorded 5-4—9 in 27 games for the Dallas Stars in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs to help the team reach the Stanley Cup Final – including a dramatic winner in double overtime of Game 5 of the Final to extend the series against the eventual champion Tampa Bay Lightning.  

6. Carey Price ranks among the top 10 goaltenders on the Canadiens’ all-time list for postseason games played (70; 4th), wins (30; 4th), save percentage (.917; 5th – min. 15 GP), goals-against average (2.43; 9th – min. 15 GP) and shutouts (7; 3rd). Jake Allen has an 11-11 record in 29 career postseason appearances. Among active goaltenders with at least 15 games of playoff experience, Allen ranks second in career goals-against average (2.06 GAA) and tied for fifth in save percentage (.924 SV%).

7. Canadiens captain Shea Weber has 17-19—36 in 75 career postseason games, including 4-4—8 in 16 appearances with Montreal. Weber has averaged 0.23 goals per game in his playoff career, the highest such average among active defensemen (min. 20 GP), just ahead of San Jose Sharks blueliner Brent Burns (0.21 G/GP)

8. Nick Suzuki (4-3—7 in 10 GP) tied for the team lead in goals and points in the 2020 postseason, becoming the first Canadiens rookie to lead or co-lead the club in points in a single playoff year since Guy Lafleur in 1972. Cole Caufield could be the rookie to leave his mark for the Canadiens this postseason, after each of his first two career regular-season goals came in overtime including against the Maple Leafs on May 3. Caufield became the third player in League history to score each of his first two career goals in overtime, alongside New York Americans forward Albert Hughes in 1930 and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook in 2005. Eight rookies in Canadiens history have scored an overtime goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but none since Claude Lemieux (x2) and Brian Skrudland in 1985-86.

9. Tyler Toffoli, who leads the Canadiens in goals this season, recorded 7-7—14 in 26 games to help the Los Angeles Kings win the Stanley Cup in 2014. He led all rookies in goals and points in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and his goal and point totals from that run stand as the most in a postseason by a rookie in Kings franchise history.   

10.The top scorers from the Scotia North Division can expect to see a lot of ice time opposite Montreal’s Phillip Danault. Entering play on May 10, in games where both Danault and Auston Matthews played, Matthews was on the ice for 42.9% of Danault’s total ice time. Under the same criteria with Danault and Connor McDavid, the Oilers captain has been on the ice for 51.8% of Danault’s playing time. 

COURTESY NHLmedia.com