2009–10 Montreal Canadiens season facts for kids
The 2009–10 Montreal Canadiens season was a special one! It marked their 100th season playing hockey and their 92nd year in the National Hockey League (NHL). Before the season even began, the 2009 NHL Entry Draft was held right in their home city of Montreal, Quebec, on June 26–27.
Contents
The Regular Season Journey
The Montreal Canadiens worked hard during the 2009–10 regular season. They played many games to earn a spot in the playoffs. Their goal was to finish strong and get ready for the exciting playoff battles ahead.
| Northeast Division | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 235 | 207 | 100 |
| x-Ottawa Senators | 82 | 44 | 32 | 6 | 225 | 238 | 94 |
| x-Boston Bruins | 82 | 39 | 30 | 13 | 206 | 200 | 91 |
| x-Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 39 | 33 | 10 | 217 | 223 | 88 |
| e-Toronto Maple Leafs | 82 | 30 | 38 | 14 | 214 | 267 | 74 |
GP – Games Played W – Wins L – Losses OTL – OT/Shootout Losses GF – Goals For GA – Goals Against PTS – Points
* – Division Leader x – Clinched Playoff spot y – Clinched Division z – Clinched Conference p – Clinched Presidents' Trophy e – Eliminated from Playoff Contention
Playoff Excitement
The Canadiens made it to the playoffs as the eighth-seeded team in the Eastern Conference. This meant they were the last team to qualify, but they were ready to surprise everyone!
First Round: Battling the Capitals
In the first round, the Canadiens faced the top team, the Washington Capitals. Many people thought the Capitals would win easily because they were so strong. But the Canadiens had a different plan!
They played with incredible teamwork and determination. Even when they were behind in the series, they never gave up. In a thrilling Game 7, the Canadiens won, beating the Capitals 4 games to 3. It was a huge upset and showed how tough they were!
| Game # | Date | Visitor | Home | Score | OT | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 15 | Canadiens | Capitals | 3 - 2 | OT | Canadiens lead series 1 - 0 |
| 2 | April 17 | Canadiens | Capitals | 5 - 6 | OT | Series tied 1 - 1 |
| 3 | April 19 | Capitals | Canadiens | 5 - 1 | Capitals lead series 2 - 1 | |
| 4 | April 21 | Capitals | Canadiens | 6 - 3 | Capitals lead series 3 - 1 | |
| 5 | April 23 | Canadiens | Capitals | 2 - 1 | Capitals lead series 3 - 2 | |
| 6 | April 26 | Capitals | Canadiens | 1 - 4 | Series tied 3 - 3 | |
| 7 | April 28 | Canadiens | Capitals | 2 - 1 | Canadiens win series 4 - 3 |
Second Round: Facing the Penguins
After their big win, the Canadiens moved on to play the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins were the defending champions and another very strong team. Once again, the Canadiens were seen as the underdog.
This series was also a tough fight, going all the way to Game 7. The Canadiens showed their amazing spirit and skill, winning the series 4 games to 3. They had pulled off another incredible upset, proving they were a team to watch!
| Game # | Date | Visitor | Home | Score | OT | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 30 | Canadiens | Penguins | 3 - 6 | Penguins leads series 1 - 0 | |
| 2 | May 2 | Canadiens | Penguins | 3 - 1 | Series tied 1 - 1 | |
| 3 | May 4 | Penguins | Canadiens | 2 - 0 | Penguins leads series 2 - 1 | |
| 4 | May 6 | Penguins | Canadiens | 2 - 3 | Series tied 2 - 2 | |
| 5 | May 8 | Canadiens | Penguins | 1 - 2 | Penguins leads series 3 - 2 | |
| 6 | May 10 | Penguins | Canadiens | 3 - 4 | Series tied 3 - 3 | |
| 7 | May 12 | Canadiens | Penguins | 5 - 2 | Canadiens wins series 4 - 3 |
Eastern Conference Finals: The Flyers Challenge
After two amazing upset victories, the Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference Finals. They were just one step away from playing for the Stanley Cup! Their opponents were the Philadelphia Flyers.
This series was very tough for the Canadiens. The Flyers played very well and won the series 4 games to 1. Even though the Canadiens didn't make it to the Stanley Cup Finals, their journey was incredible. They showed everyone that even an underdog team can achieve great things in the playoffs!
| Game # | Date | Visitor | Home | Score | OT | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 16 | Canadiens | Flyers | 0 - 6 | Flyers lead series 1 - 0 | |
| 2 | May 18 | Canadiens | Flyers | 0 - 3 | Flyers lead series 2 - 0 | |
| 3 | May 20 | Flyers | Canadiens | 1 - 5 | Flyers lead series 2 - 1 | |
| 4 | May 22 | Flyers | Canadiens | 3 - 0 | Flyers lead series 3 - 1 | |
| 5 | May 24 | Canadiens | Flyers | 2 - 4 | Flyers win series 4 - 1 |
| Preceded by 2008–09 Montreal Canadiens season |
Montreal Canadiens 2009–10 season |
Succeeded by 2010–11 Montreal Canadiens season |
