Great Upsets In Habs History

1930 Finals vs. Boston Bruins

The defending champion Bruins were a force. They had a record of 38–5–1 which translates to an .875 winning percentage, the best in NHL history. The Canadiens had lost all four of their regular-season meetings with Boston. The Bruins didn't lose two in a row all season, until being swept by the Habs in a best of three Finals. This upset prompted a change to the Finals format for the following year to a best-of-five series. Captain Sylvio Mantha (pictured) was the leader, scoring in both games.

1971 Quarter-Finals vs. Boston Bruins

Montreal were matched against the Bruins again, and Boston was heavily favored. The Bruins bested the canadiens by 24 points at the end of the season. Game 2 featured what might be one of the greatest comebacks in NHL history. Boston lead 5–2 heading into the third period, the Canadiens, who had trailed 5–1, scored 5 goals in the final frame to win 7–5. The Habs lead the series after game 3, but scored just four goals while allowing 12 against to lose games 4 and 5. Game 6 was 8-2 rout by Montreal at the Forum.

The seventh and deciding game in Boston saw Cournoyer, Beliveau, Mahovlich, Tremblay and others skate to victory before a hostile crowd at the Garden to capture Stanley Cup number 17.

2002 Conference Quarter-Finals vs. Boston Bruins

Boston finished first overall in the Eastern Conference in 01-02. Donald Audette lead the way with 2 goals to win game 1 5-2 for Montreal. Game 2 would be a back and forth tilt that saw the Bruins prevail 6-4 despite a 4 point outing from Richard Zednik. The Canadiens won game 3 5-3 on a another 4 point performance, this time from Saku Koivu. Boston tied the series with a 5-2 win in game 4. Jose Theodore dominated Game 5 stopping 43 of 44 shots in a 2-1 win to take a 3-2 series lead. Theodore was outstanding again in Game 6 and Yanic Perreault scored the Game Winning goal to give the Canadiens a 2-1 win and series victory.

Canadiens Cup Connection

The Stanley Cup has been awarded, and the only link in uniform that Montreal has is former backup goalie Mathieu Garon. Garon was drafted in 1996 (round 2, 44 overall) by the Canadiens and remained in the organization until being traded with a 3rd round pick to the Kings for Cristobal Huet and Radek Bonk in 2004.

Garon arrived in Pittsburgh via a trade with Edmonton in January and backed up Marc-Andre Fleury to his first Stanley Cup. Seeing only 24:20 of ice time after replacing Fleury in game five of the finals, Garon preserved his 1.000 save percentage in the postseason. Garon also saved all six shots he faced after Jose Theodore was pulled in a game against the Lightning in the 2004 playoffs.

Melanson Moves On

As part of the coaching changes this week, the Canadiens say goodbye to long time goaltending coach Rollie Melanson. "Rollie The Goalie" originally came to Montreal in a trade with the New Jersey Devils in 1991. Melanson and now assistant coach Kirk Muller were received from the Devils for Stephane Richer and Tom Chorske. Melanson won five games in his only season in a Habs jersey.

1997 saw the return of Melanson as Montreal's goaltending coach. In his 11 seasons as part of the Canadiens coaching staff, his most notable achievement was probably the development of Jose Theodore into a Hart and Vezina winner.

Melanson's departure can be attributed to Carey Price's struggle during the second half of the season. With the old goalie coach gone, and a new defensive head coach in place, there is no reason Price shouldn't live up to his potential in the upcoming season.