The NHL Belt · reign 493
Montréal Canadiens
Took the belt from Boston Bruins, 4–1, on December 5, 1944. Lost it to Toronto Maple Leafs, 4–2, on January 4, 1945.
7Defenses
30Days
75thReign for the franchise
+1Closest call · Dec 23, 1944
3.5Average winning margin
130thLongest of 3,434 reigns, by days
77thMost defenses of 3,434 reigns
Defended against
Bruins ×2Rangers ×2Maple LeafsChicago Black HawksRed Wings
The season
- 1944–45: they had the best record (38–8–4); Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup; 9 belt games of this reign; the belt changed hands 11 times that season.
Reign leaders
Most points for Montréal Canadiens across the 9 belt games of this reign with a box score.
| Player | PTS | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maurice Richard | 19 | 9 |
| 2 | Toe Blake | 17 | 9 |
| 3 | Elmer Lach | 14 | 9 |
| 4 | Butch Bouchard | 9 | 9 |
| 5 | Buddy O'Connor | 7 | 9 |
Every game of the reign
margins from Montréal Canadiens’ side| Belt game | Date | Result | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,225 | Dec 5, 1944 | Montréal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins 4–1 Game → | +3 | Title change |
| 1,226 | Dec 14, 1944 | Montréal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs tied 2–2 | 0 | Tie · defense |
| 1,227 | Dec 16, 1944 | Montréal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins 8–5 | +3 | Defense |
| 1,228 | Dec 17, 1944 | Montréal Canadiens beat New York Rangers 4–1 | +3 | Defense |
| 1,229 | Dec 23, 1944 | Montréal Canadiens beat Chicago Black Hawks 2–1 | +1 | Defense |
| 1,230 | Dec 28, 1944 | Montréal Canadiens beat Detroit Red Wings 9–1 | +8 | Defense |
| 1,231 | Dec 30, 1944 | Montréal Canadiens beat New York Rangers 4–1 | +3 | Defense |
| 1,232 | Jan 2, 1945 | Montréal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins 6–3 | +3 | Defense |
| 1,233 | Jan 4, 1945 | Toronto Maple Leafs beat Montréal Canadiens 4–2 Game → | −2 | Title change |