1917–18 Montreal Canadiens season

Team business

The club changed its name to "Club de Hockey Canadien Ltd." from "Club Athletic Canadien". The logo on the jersey was changed to reflect this, substituting the "A" within the "C" with an "H".

Regular season

Quebec did not ice a team for the season. Quebec's players were dispersed by draft and Montreal chose Joe Hall, Joe Malone and Walter Mummery. Georges Vezina led the league in goals against average of 4 per game and Joe Malone had 44 goals in 20 games to lead the league in goals.

The team was forced to return to its former arena the Jubilee Rink after the Montreal Arena burned down on January 2, 1918. The rival Montreal Wanderers folded after the fire, leaving only three teams (Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto) to continue the season. The Wanderers' players were dispersed and the Canadiens picked up Billy Bell and Jack McDonald.

On January 28, 1918, when Canadiens visited Toronto, Toronto's Alf Skinner and Montreal's Joe Hall got into a stick-swinging duel. Both players received match penalties, $15 fines and were arrested by the Toronto Police for disorderly conduct, for which they received suspended sentences.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|- | 1 || December 19 || Ottawa || 4 || Canadiens || 7 |- | 2 || December 22 || Canadiens || 11 || Wanderers || 2 |- | 3 || December 26 || Canadiens || 5 || Toronto || 7 |- | 4 || December 29 || Toronto || 2 || Canadiens || 9 |- | 5 || January 2 || Wanderers || – || Canadiens || – |- | 6 || January 5 || Ottawa || 5 || Canadiens || 6 (27' OT) |- | 7 || January 9 || Canadiens || 4 || Toronto || 6 |- | 8 || January 12 || Ottawa || 4 || Canadiens || 9 |- | 9 || January 19 || Toronto || 1 || Canadiens || 5 |- | 10 || January 21 || Canadiens || 5 || Ottawa || 3 |- | 11 || January 23 || Ottawa || 4 || Canadiens || 3 |- | 12 || January 28 || Canadiens || 1 || Toronto || 5 |- | 13 || January 30 || Canadiens || 5 || Ottawa || 2 |- | 14 || February 2 || Toronto || 2 || Canadiens || 11 |- Notes: Montreal Wanderers forfeit game on January 2.

| Legend:

Playoffs

The Canadiens played the Torontos in a playoff to decide the league championship. In a two-game, total-goals series, Toronto won the first game 7–3 and Montreal won the second game 4–3. Toronto won the series 10–7 and proceeded to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Toronto wins total goals series 10–7 for the O'Brien Cup

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Montreal. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only.

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

Transactions

• acquired Joe Hall, Joe Malone and Walter Mummery from Quebec Bulldogs in Dispersal Draft, November 26, 1917
• acquired Billy Bell, Jack Marks and Jack McDonald from Montreal Wanderers in Dispersal Draft, January 4, 1918
• loaned Jack Marks to Toronto Arenas, January 4, 1918
• signed Evariste Payer as a free agent, January 29, 1918

References

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Works cited

References

1. (1917-11-27). "Pro League to Operate". The Globe.
2. "1917-18 Montreal Canadiens Schedule".