The NHL Belt · reign 956
Montréal Canadiens
Took the belt from New York Rangers, 3–1, on October 14, 1961. Lost it to Toronto Maple Leafs, 3–2, on November 1, 1961.
7Defenses
18Days
177thReign for the franchise
+1Closest call · Oct 22, 1961
3.2Average winning margin
213thLongest of 3,434 reigns, by days
77thMost defenses of 3,434 reigns
Defended against
Bruins ×2Chicago Black Hawks ×2Red Wings ×2Rangers
The season
- 1961–62: Montréal Canadiens finished 42–14–14, 1st of 6 by record; Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup; 9 belt games of this reign; the belt changed hands 28 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 | Claude Provost | 17 | 9 |
| 2 | Bernie Geoffrion | 14 | 9 |
| 3 | Ralph Backstrom | 12 | 9 |
| 4 | Henri Richard | 12 | 9 |
| 5 | Marcel Bonin | 10 | 9 |
Every game of the reign
margins from Montréal Canadiens’ side| Belt game | Date | Result | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,449 | Oct 14, 1961 | Montréal Canadiens beat New York Rangers 3–1 Game → | +2 | Title change |
| 2,450 | Oct 15, 1961 | Montréal Canadiens and Boston Bruins tied 5–5 | 0 | Tie · defense |
| 2,451 | Oct 18, 1961 | Montréal Canadiens beat New York Rangers 5–2 | +3 | Defense |
| 2,452 | Oct 21, 1961 | Montréal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins 6–2 | +4 | Defense |
| 2,453 | Oct 22, 1961 | Montréal Canadiens beat Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 | +1 | Defense |
| 2,454 | Oct 26, 1961 | Montréal Canadiens beat Chicago Black Hawks 7–1 | +6 | Defense |
| 2,455 | Oct 28, 1961 | Montréal Canadiens beat Detroit Red Wings 7–5 | +2 | Defense |
| 2,456 | Oct 29, 1961 | Montréal Canadiens beat Detroit Red Wings 6–3 | +3 | Defense |
| 2,457 | Nov 1, 1961 | Toronto Maple Leafs beat Montréal Canadiens 3–2 Game → | −1 | Title change |