The NHL Belt · reign 1,449
Montréal Canadiens
Took the belt from New York Islanders, 7–5, on December 23, 1977. Lost it to New York Rangers, 6–3, on February 25, 1978.
25Defenses
64Days
245thReign for the franchise
+1Closest call · Dec 29, 1977
3.2Average winning margin
109thLongest of 3,434 reigns, by days
2ndMost defenses of 3,434 reigns
Defended against
Barons ×3Blues ×3Penguins ×2Atlanta Flames ×2Flyers ×2Canucks ×2Kings ×2Colorado Rockies ×2IslandersRed WingsBruinsChicago Black HawksRangersCapitalsSabres
The season
- 1977–78: they had the best record (59–10–11); they won the Stanley Cup; 27 belt games of this reign; the belt changed hands 22 times that season.
Reign leaders
Most points for Montréal Canadiens across the 27 belt games of this reign with a box score.
| Player | PTS | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guy Lafleur | 53 | 27 |
| 2 | Jacques Lemaire | 39 | 27 |
| 3 | Steve Shutt | 32 | 27 |
| 4 | Rejean Houle | 31 | 27 |
| 5 | Pierre Larouche | 27 | 25 |
Every game of the reign
margins from Montréal Canadiens’ side| Belt game | Date | Result | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,846 | Dec 23, 1977 | Montréal Canadiens beat New York Islanders 7–5 Game → | +2 | Title change |
| 3,847 | Dec 27, 1977 | Montréal Canadiens beat Cleveland Barons 5–3 | +2 | Defense |
| 3,848 | Dec 29, 1977 | Montréal Canadiens beat Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 | +1 | Defense |
| 3,849 | Dec 31, 1977 | Montréal Canadiens beat New York Islanders 4–2 | +2 | Defense |
| 3,850 | Jan 3, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat St. Louis Blues 2–0 | +2 | Defense |
| 3,851 | Jan 4, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat Atlanta Flames 4–1 | +3 | Defense |
| 3,852 | Jan 9, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers tied 3–3 | 0 | Tie · defense |
| 3,853 | Jan 11, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat Pittsburgh Penguins 8–6 | +2 | Defense |
| 3,854 | Jan 12, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat Detroit Red Wings 6–1 | +5 | Defense |
| 3,855 | Jan 14, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins 5–3 | +2 | Defense |
| 3,856 | Jan 18, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat Cleveland Barons 7–4 | +3 | Defense |
| 3,857 | Jan 19, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers tied 1–1 | 0 | Tie · defense |
| 3,858 | Jan 21, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat Vancouver Canucks 8–1 | +7 | Defense |
| 3,859 | Jan 26, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat Atlanta Flames 5–2 | +3 | Defense |
| 3,860 | Jan 28, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat Los Angeles Kings 6–3 | +3 | Defense |
| 3,861 | Jan 31, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat Colorado Rockies 5–3 | +2 | Defense |
| 3,862 | Feb 2, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks tied 4–4 | 0 | Tie · defense |
| 3,863 | Feb 4, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings tied 5–5 | 0 | Tie · defense |
| 3,864 | Feb 9, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens and Chicago Black Hawks tied 3–3 | 0 | Tie · defense |
| 3,865 | Feb 11, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat St. Louis Blues 7–3 | +4 | Defense |
| 3,866 | Feb 12, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat New York Rangers 5–3 | +2 | Defense |
| 3,867 | Feb 15, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat St. Louis Blues 6–2 | +4 | Defense |
| 3,868 | Feb 17, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat Washington Capitals 8–2 | +6 | Defense |
| 3,869 | Feb 18, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat Colorado Rockies 9–4 | +5 | Defense |
| 3,870 | Feb 20, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat Buffalo Sabres 4–2 | +2 | Defense |
| 3,871 | Feb 23, 1978 | Montréal Canadiens beat Cleveland Barons 5–1 | +4 | Defense |
| 3,872 | Feb 25, 1978 | New York Rangers beat Montréal Canadiens 6–3 Game → | −3 | Title change |