1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season

1985–86 Montreal Canadiens
Stanley Cup champions
Wales Conference champions
Division	2nd Adams
Conference	5th Wales
1985–86 record	40–33–7
Home record	25–11–4
Road record	15–22–3
Goals for	330
Goals against	280
Team information
General manager	Serge Savard
Coach	Jean Perron
Captain	Bob Gainey
Alternate captains	Mats Naslund (Mar-May) Larry Robinson Mario Tremblay
Arena	Montreal Forum
Team leaders
Goals	Mats Naslund (43)
Assists	Mats Naslund (67)
Points	Mats Naslund (110)
Penalty minutes	Chris Nilan (274)
Plus/minus	Larry Robinson (+29)
Wins	Patrick Roy (23)
Goals against average	Patrick Roy (3.35)
←  1984–85 1986–87  →

The 1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's 77th season. The team won the Stanley Cup for the first time in seven seasons, and their 23rd overall.

Regular season

Final standings

Adams Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Quebec Nordiques	80	43	31	6	330	289	92
Montreal Canadiens	80	40	33	7	330	280	87
Boston Bruins	80	37	31	12	311	288	86
Hartford Whalers	80	40	36	4	332	302	84
Buffalo Sabres	80	37	37	6	296	291	80

^[1] Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Adams Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Adams Division 1985–86 NHL records [2] Team BOS BUF HFD MTL QUE Total Boston — 3–3–2 4–3–1 3–4–1 1–5–2 11–15–6 Buffalo 3–3–2 — 2–6 3–5 4–4 12–18–2 Hartford 3–4–1 6–2 — 3–4–1 4–4 16–14–2 Montreal 4–3–1 5–3 4–3−1 — 2–6 15–15–2 Quebec 5–1–2 4–4 4–4 6–2 — 19–11–2 Vs. Patrick Division 1985–86 NHL records Team NJD NYI NYR PHI PIT WSH Total Boston 3–0 0–1–2 1–2 1–2 2–1 0–2–1 7–8–3 Buffalo 2–1 2–1 3–0 2–1 0–2–1 1–1–1 10–6–2 Hartford 2–1 1–2 2–1 0–3 2–1 0–2–1 7–10–1 Montreal 2–1 2–1 0–2–1 1–2 2–0–1 0–2–1 7–8–3 Quebec 1–2 2–1 2–0–1 1–1–1 1–1–1 0–3 7–8–3 Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Norris Division 1985–86 NHL records Team CHI DET MIN STL TOR Total Boston 1–2 2–1 3–0 1–2 2–0–1 9–5–1 Buffalo 1–2 1–1–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 7–7–1 Hartford 1–2 2–1 1–2 1–1–1 3–0 8–6–1 Montreal 2–0–1 3–0 1–1–1 1–2 2–1 9–4–2 Quebec 2–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 3–0 10–5–0 Vs. Smythe Division 1985–86 NHL records Team CGY EDM LAK VAN WIN Total Boston 2–1 1–2 3–0 1–0–2 3–0 10–3–2 Buffalo 1–1–1 2–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 8–6–1 Hartford 2–1 0–3 2–1 3–0 2–1 9–6–0 Montreal 2–1 0–3 2–1 3–0 2–1 9–6–0 Quebec 2–1 1–2 2–1 1–1–1 1–2 7–7–1

Schedule and results

1985–86 regular season [3]
October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 1 W October 10, 1985 5–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 1–0–0 2 W October 12, 1985 6–3 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0–0 3 L October 13, 1985 2–7 @ Boston Bruins 2–1–0 4 L October 16, 1985 0–6 Buffalo Sabres 2–2–0 5 L October 19, 1985 6–11 @ Hartford Whalers 2–3–0 6 L October 21, 1985 2–3 Quebec Nordiques 2–4–0 7 W October 23, 1985 5–4 @ Buffalo Sabres 3–4–0 8 W October 26, 1985 5–3 Hartford Whalers 4–4–0 9 L October 29, 1985 4–6 @ Quebec Nordiques 4–5–0 10 L October 30, 1985 4–5 Philadelphia Flyers 4–6–0
November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 11 T November 2, 1985 4–4 OT Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6–1 12 W November 5, 1985 8–3 @ Hartford Whalers 5–6–1 13 T November 6, 1985 3–3 OT @ Minnesota North Stars 5–6–2 14 W November 9, 1985 6–0 @ Los Angeles Kings 6–6–2 15 W November 12, 1985 3–2 @ New York Islanders 7–6–2 16 L November 13, 1985 2–5 @ New York Rangers 7–7–2 17 T November 16, 1985 2–2 OT New York Rangers 7–7–3 18 W November 18, 1985 6–2 Boston Bruins 8–7–3 19 L November 20, 1985 4–5 OT Edmonton Oilers 8–8–3 20 W November 23, 1985 4–3 Calgary Flames 9–8–3 21 L November 27, 1985 3–5 @ Washington Capitals 9–9–3 22 W November 29, 1985 5–2 @ Buffalo Sabres 10–9–3 23 W November 30, 1985 10–1 Detroit Red Wings 11–9–3
December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 24 W December 2, 1985 7–0 Vancouver Canucks 12–9–3 25 L December 5, 1985 6–8 @ Boston Bruins 12–10–3 26 W December 7, 1985 6–3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 13–10–3 27 W December 11, 1985 3–1 @ Hartford Whalers 14–10–3 28 L December 12, 1985 3–6 @ Philadelphia Flyers 14–11–3 29 W December 14, 1985 6–3 Chicago Black Hawks 15–11–3 30 T December 16, 1985 4–4 OT Hartford Whalers 15–11–4 31 W December 18, 1985 3–2 Quebec Nordiques 16–11–4 32 L December 19, 1985 4–5 OT @ Quebec Nordiques 16–12–4 33 W December 21, 1985 3–1 Buffalo Sabres 17–12–4 34 W December 27, 1985 7–3 @ New Jersey Devils 18–12–4 35 W December 28, 1985 8–3 New Jersey Devils 19–12–4
January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 36 L January 1, 1986 2–3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 19–13–4 37 W January 3, 1986 7–3 @ Winnipeg Jets 20–13–4 38 W January 4, 1986 6–5 @ Calgary Flames 21–13–4 39 W January 6, 1986 9–2 St. Louis Blues 22–13–4 40 W January 8, 1986 5–3 Boston Bruins 23–13–4 41 L January 10, 1986 4–6 @ New York Rangers 23–14–4 42 L January 11, 1986 3–6 Edmonton Oilers 23–15–4 43 W January 15, 1986 4–0 Winnipeg Jets 24–15–4 44 L January 17, 1986 4–5 OT @ Buffalo Sabres 24–16–4 45 W January 18, 1986 3–0 New York Islanders 25–16–4 46 L January 20, 1986 2–3 OT @ Quebec Nordiques 25–17–4 47 T January 22, 1986 3–3 OT @ Chicago Black Hawks 25–17–5 48 W January 23, 1986 5–2 @ Minnesota North Stars 26–17–5 49 W January 25, 1986 3–2 OT Toronto Maple Leafs 27–17–5 50 W January 27, 1986 4–1 Buffalo Sabres 28–17–5 51 W January 29, 1986 5–3 Quebec Nordiques 29–17–5
February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 52 W February 1, 1986 2–1 Boston Bruins 30–17–5 53 L February 5, 1986 2–3 @ Quebec Nordiques 30–18–5 54 L February 7, 1986 2–3 @ Washington Capitals 30–19–5 55 W February 8, 1986 5–3 @ Detroit Red Wings 31–19–5 56 L February 10, 1986 3–4 OT Minnesota North Stars 31–20–5 57 L February 13, 1986 3–4 @ New Jersey Devils 31–21–5 58 W February 15, 1986 5–3 Philadelphia Flyers 32–21–5 59 L February 17, 1986 2–3 OT Los Angeles Kings 32–22–5 60 T February 19, 1986 4–4 OT Washington Capitals 32–22–6 61 W February 22, 1986 6–3 Hartford Whalers 33–22–6 62 L February 24, 1986 2–3 @ Edmonton Oilers 33–23–6 63 W February 26, 1986 4–2 @ Vancouver Canucks 34–23–6
March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 64 W March 1, 1986 6–4 @ Los Angeles Kings 35–23–6 65 L March 4, 1986 3–6 @ New York Islanders 35–24–6 66 L March 6, 1986 4–7 St. Louis Blues 35–25–6 67 W March 8, 1986 8–3 Boston Bruins 36–25–6 68 L March 10, 1986 2–5 Hartford Whalers 36–26–6 69 W March 12, 1986 3–2 Vancouver Canucks 37–26–6 70 L March 13, 1986 2–3 @ Boston Bruins 37–27–6 71 L March 15, 1986 3–5 Calgary Flames 37–28–6 72 L March 17, 1986 6–8 Quebec Nordiques 37–29–6 73 L March 19, 1986 4–6 @ Winnipeg Jets 37–30–6 74 L March 22, 1986 2–3 @ St. Louis Blues 37–31–6 75 L March 26, 1986 0–3 @ Hartford Whalers 37–32–6 76 T March 27, 1986 3–3 OT @ Boston Bruins 37–32–7 77 W March 29, 1986 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 38–32–7
April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 78 W April 2, 1986 6–3 Detroit Red Wings 39–32–7 79 L April 4, 1986 2–4 @ Buffalo Sabres 39–33–7 80 W April 5, 1986 4–2 Buffalo Sabres 40–33–7
Legend:   Win (2 points)  Loss (0 points)  Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Mats Naslund	LW	80	43	67	110	16	11	19	0	7
Bobby Smith	C	79	31	55	86	55	10	5	0	7
Larry Robinson	D	78	19	63	82	39	29	10	0	1
Kjell Dahlin	RW	77	32	39	71	4	10	14	0	3
Guy Carbonneau	C	80	20	36	56	57	18	1	2	3
Ryan Walter	C/LW	69	15	34	49	45	-9	9	0	1
Bob Gainey	LW	80	20	23	43	20	10	0	2	4
Mike McPhee	LW	70	19	21	40	69	8	0	2	3
Mario Tremblay	RW	56	19	20	39	55	4	3	0	3
Stephane Richer	RW	65	21	16	37	50	1	5	0	2
Chris Nilan	RW	72	19	15	34	274	10	2	0	1
Chris Chelios	D	41	8	26	34	67	4	2	0	0
Lucien DeBlois	C	61	14	17	31	48	3	2	0	1
Tom Kurvers	D	62	7	23	30	36	9	3	0	1
Gaston Gingras	D	34	8	18	26	12	-10	7	0	0
Brian Skrudland	C	65	9	13	22	57	3	0	2	0
Petr Svoboda	D	73	1	18	19	93	24	0	0	0
Sergio Momesso	LW	24	8	7	15	46	-4	3	0	3
Mike Lalor	D	62	3	5	8	56	-4	0	0	0
Randy Bucyk	C	17	4	2	6	8	5	0	0	0
Craig Ludwig	D	69	2	4	6	63	7	0	0	0
Rick Green	D	46	3	2	5	20	-9	0	0	0
Steve Rooney	LW	38	2	3	5	114	-4	1	0	0
Serge Boisvert	RW	9	2	2	4	2	1	0	0	0
Claude Lemieux	RW	10	1	2	3	22	-6	1	0	0
Patrick Roy	G	47	0	3	3	4	0	0	0	0
John Kordic	RW	5	0	1	1	12	1	0	0	0
Dominic Campedelli	D	2	0	0	0	0	-2	0	0	0
Kent Carlson	D	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Shayne Corson	LW	3	0	0	0	2	-3	0	0	0
David Maley	LW	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Steve Penney	G	18	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Doug Soetaert	G	23	0	0	0	6	0	0	0	0
Alfie Turcotte	C	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO	SA	SV	SV%
Patrick Roy	2651	47	23	18	3	148	3.35	1	1185	1037	.875
Doug Soetaert	1215	23	11	7	2	56	2.77	3	533	477	.895
Steve Penney	990	18	6	8	2	72	4.36	0	447	375	.839
Team:	4856	80	40	33	7	276	3.41	4	2165	1889	.873

Playoffs

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
Mats Naslund	LW	20	8	11	19	4	4	0	0
Claude Lemieux	RW	20	10	6	16	68	4	0	4
Bobby Smith	C	20	7	8	15	22	3	0	3
Larry Robinson	D	20	0	13	13	22	0	0	0
Guy Carbonneau	C	20	7	5	12	35	0	2	1
Chris Chelios	D	20	2	9	11	49	1	0	0
Bob Gainey	LW	20	5	5	10	12	0	1	3
Mike McPhee	LW	20	3	4	7	45	0	1	1
Brian Skrudland	C	20	2	4	6	76	0	0	1
Stephane Richer	RW	16	4	1	5	23	3	0	1
Kjell Dahlin	RW	16	2	3	5	4	0	0	0
Gaston Gingras	D	11	2	3	5	4	1	0	0
Rick Green	D	18	1	4	5	8	0	0	0
David Maley	LW	7	1	3	4	2	0	0	0
Mike Lalor	D	17	1	2	3	29	0	0	1
Chris Nilan	RW	18	1	2	3	141	1	0	0
Serge Boisvert	RW	8	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
Craig Ludwig	D	20	0	1	1	48	0	0	0
Ryan Walter	C/LW	5	0	1	1	2	0	0	0
Randy Bucyk	C	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lucien DeBlois	C	11	0	0	0	7	0	0	0
John Kordic	RW	18	0	0	0	53	0	0	0
Patrick Roy	G	20	0	0	0	10	0	0	0
Petr Svoboda	D	8	0	0	0	21	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA	SO	SA	SV	SV%
Patrick Roy	1218	20	15	5	39	1.92	1	506	467	.923
Team:	1218	20	15	5	39	1.92	1	506	467	.923

^[4]

Note:

Pos = Position;GP = Games played; G =  Goals; A =  Assists; Pts =  Points; PIM =  Penalty minutes; +/- =  Plus/minus; PPG =  Power-play goals; SHG =  Short-handed goals; GWG =  Game-winning goals

Pos = Position;GP = Games played; Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA =  Goals-against average; SO =  Shutouts; SA =  Shots  against; SV = Shots  saved;SV% =  Save percentage;

Playoffs

Stanley Cup

Further information: 1986 Stanley Cup Finals

Calgary Flames vs. Montreal Canadiens

Date	Visitors	Score	Home	Score	Notes
May 16	Montreal	2	Calgary	5
May 18	Montreal	3	Calgary	2	OT
May 20	Calgary	3	Montreal	5
May 22	Calgary	0	Montreal	1
May 24	Montreal	4	Calgary	3

Montreal wins the series 4–1.

Awards and records

• Kjell Dahlin, rookie scoring leader, 71 points
• Kjell Dahlin, NHL All-Rookie Team
• Mats Naslund, NHL Second Team All-Star ^[5]
• Patrick Roy, Conn Smythe Trophy
• Patrick Roy, NHL All-Rookie Team

Transactions

1986 Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup Champions

Bob Gainey, Doug Soetaert, Patrick Roy, Rick Green, David Maley, Ryan Walter, Serge Boisvert, Mario Tremblay, Bobby Smith, Craig Ludwig, Tom Kurvers, Kjell Dahlin, Larry Robinson, Guy Carbonneau, Chris Chelios, Petr Svoboda, Mats Naslund, Lucien DeBlois, Steve Rooney, Gaston Gingras, Mike Lalor, Chris Nilan, John Kordic, Claude Lemieux, Mike McPhee, Brian Skrudland, Stephane Richer, Serge Savard (general manager), Jean Perron (coach), Jacques Laperriere (assistant coach), Eddy Palchak (trainer).

Draft picks

Montreal's draft picks at the 1985 NHL entry draft held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/junior/club team
1	12	Jose Charbonneau (RW)	Canada	Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
1	16	Tom Chorske (LW)	United States	Minneapolis Southwest H.S.
2	33	Todd Richards (D)	United States	Plymouth Armstrong High School (USHS-MN)
3	47	Rocky Dundas (RW)	Canada	Kelowna Wings (WHL)
4	75	Martin Desjardins (C)	Canada	Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
4	79	Brent Gilchrist (C)	Canada	Kelowna Wings (WHL)
5	96	Tom Sagissor (C)	United States	Hastings High School (USHS-MN)
6	117	Donald Dufresne (D)	Canada	Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
7	142	Ed Cristofoli (RW)	Canada	Penticton Knights (BCJHL)
8	163	Mike Claringbull (D)	Canada	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
9	184	Roger Beedon (G)	Canada	Sarnia Legionnaires (OPJHL)
10	198	Maurizio Mansi (F)	Canada	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC)
10	205	Chad Arthur (LW)	United States	Stratford Cullitons (OPJHL)
11	226	Mike Bishop (D)	Canada	Sarnia Legionnaires (OPJHL)
12	247	John Ferguson Jr. (LW)	Canada	Winnipeg South Blues (MJHL)

See also

• 1985–86 NHL season

References

• Canadiens on Hockey Database
• Canadiens on NHL Reference

1. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN   9781894801225.
2. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
3. "1985-86 Montreal Canadiens Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
4. "1985-86 Montreal Canadiens Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
5. National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 237, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN   0-920445-98-5.