A Winning Habit
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Canadiens Two Losses From Breaking Franchise Loss Streak Record

By Patrick Lortie

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 13: The Buffalo Sabres celebrate a goal by Jeff Skinner #53 during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on February 13, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-3. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 13: The Buffalo Sabres celebrate a goal by Jeff Skinner #53 during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on February 13, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-3. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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The Montreal Canadiens have now lost 10 games in a row.

Well technically 8 if you really want to give them a chance and that’s if you take away the two overtime losses against Vegas and Colorado. But a loss is a loss so the Habs lost 10 in a row in my books. Since the turn of the new year, the Canadiens have won only 1 single game in 15. A 5 to 3 win over the Dallas Stars.

Ouch.

MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 13: Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens and goaltender Sam Montembeault #35 watch as the puck enters the net during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at Centre Bell on February 13, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 13: Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens and goaltender Sam Montembeault #35 watch as the puck enters the net during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at Centre Bell on February 13, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Of course the goal at this point of the season is to lose. The lower in the standings we finish, the more chances we have to win the 1st overall pick with the prize most likely being Shane Wright. The only thing really standing in the way of the 1st overall pick is a sudden resurgence of the team or Gary Bettman. Why Bettman? Because it’s hard to believe the Arizona Coyotes would legitimately win the 1st overall pick. Especially after the announcement that they will be playing in a 5,000 seat arena and that the NHL simply refuses to let them move.

In the department of futility, the longest losing streak by a Canadiens club is 12 set during the 1925-26 season. In a league composed of 7 teams including the Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, Toronto St-Patricks, New York Americans, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Montreal Maroons, who would win the Stanley Cup that year.

The Canadiens played at the Mount Royal Arena at the corner of Mont Royal and St-Urbain for the final season of their history before moving to the brand new Montreal Forum. The arena they called their home for 6 seasons held 6,000 seats as well as space for nearly 10,000 extra standing room. For the nostalgic, the arena actually stood until 2000 when it succumbed to a fire and was ultimately replaced by a supermarket. Ironically, before moving to the Mount Royal Arena, the Canadiens played at Jubilee Arena during the 1918-19 season but ultimately had to leave because the arena burnt down. So Mount Royal Arena was rushed so the Habs could have a place to stay.

MONTREAL- JANUARY 21: View of the street sign on the corner of Mont-Royal Avenue and St-Urbain Street where the Mount-Royal Arena was once located, on January 21, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)
MONTREAL- JANUARY 21: View of the street sign on the corner of Mont-Royal Avenue and St-Urbain Street where the Mount-Royal Arena was once located, on January 21, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) /

The 1925-26 Montreal Canadiens were captained by Billy Coutu and coached by Leo Dandurand who would abandon coaching after that season only to come back for one final season with the Canadiens in 1934. Future Hall of Famer and 39 year old George Vezina played one period that season before ultimately retiring. Also featured were future Hall of Famers Howie Morenz, who at 23 years old scored 23 goals in 31 games. A 24 year old Aurele Joliat would play left wing on the Morenz line and another future Hall of Famer, 23 year old Sylvio Mantha was seen on defence.

How does the 1925-26 team compare to the one in 2021-22? Both teams went to the finals the year before and both finished dead last in the league the year after. As stated before, unless a resurgence, the Canadiens are pretty much guaranteed to finish last this year. The other difference is that the 24-25 Canadiens were declared the winners after the Hamilton Tigers declared forfeit due to a player’s strike. The 23-24 team had won the Cup so just like today, no one expected the Canadiens to finish last. Let alone lose 12 games in a row.

The 2003-04 Pittsburgh Penguins and the 2020-2021 Buffalo Sabres co-own the record for the longest losing streak with 18. So we’re still a long road ahead before we can think about that record.

Fun Fact: Speaking of 2003-04, that year saw our minty fresh and new Head Coach Martin St. Louis win the Hart, Art Ross and Ted Lindsay trophies as well as co-lead the league in assists with another future Hab who at the time was playing for the New Jersey Devils – Scott Gomez. St. Louis also crowned his season with a Stanley Cup.

TAMPA, FL – JUNE 7: Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff #34 of the Calgary Flames and his teammate defenseman Robyn Regehr #28 attempt to stop right wing Martin St. Louis #26 of the Tampa Bay Lightning from scoring in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at the St. Pete Times Forum on June 7, 2004 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – JUNE 7: Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff #34 of the Calgary Flames and his teammate defenseman Robyn Regehr #28 attempt to stop right wing Martin St. Louis #26 of the Tampa Bay Lightning from scoring in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at the St. Pete Times Forum on June 7, 2004 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

With 34 games left to the season, rest assured the Canadiens won’t beat the 1992-93 San Jose Sharks with 71 losses in 84 games. The most losses the Canadiens ever registered in a season happened twice. In 1983-84 when the team went 35-40-5 and in 2000-01 with a 28-40-8-6 record.

That leaves the Canadiens with 3 losses in a row to beat the all-time franchise streak, and only 7 losses left to reach 41 and beat the season record of 40 losses.

All that’s left this year is to get rid of the players who don’t want to be here and keep working hard. The Super Bowl weekend gave us 2 losses but showed us probably the most inspiring hockey the Canadiens have played all year.

At least they can potentially put on a good show until this miserable season finally comes to an end.

What do you think? Will the 12 game losing streak be broken? Comment below! 

Hot. Are The Canadiens Eyeing Alexis Lafrenière?. light

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