1959–60 Montreal Canadiens season


The 1959–60 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 51st season of play. The team had another outstanding season, placing first in the league and winning the Stanley Cup for the fifth consecutive season, and the 12th time in team history.

Regular season

On November 1, 1959, at 3:06 of the first period, Jacques Plante was hit in the face by a shot fired by Andy Bathgate. Plante came back in the game wearing a mask starting a trend where all NHL goaltenders today wear a mask.

Jacques Plante

The use of the goalie mask was Plante's most enduring contribution to the game, however, occurred as a result of an incident on November 1, 1959. He was hit in the face by a shot from New York Rangers player Andy Bathgate, needing to go to the dressing room for stitches. When he returned, he was wearing the crude home-made goalie mask that he'd been using in practices. His coach, Toe Blake, was livid, but he had no other goalie to call upon, and Plante refused to return to the goal unless he kept the mask. Blake agreed on the condition that Plante discard the mask when the cut healed. Only Camille Henry beat him in that game, which the Canadiens won 3–1. In the ensuing days Plante refused to discard the mask, and as the Canadiens continued to win, Blake became less obstinate. The unbeaten streak stretched to 18 games. Plante didn't wear the mask, at Blake's request, against Detroit on March 8, 1960. The Canadiens lost 3–0, and the mask returned for good the next night. Plante subsequently designed his own mask and masks for other goalies. Although Plante was not the first NHL goalie known to wear a facemask, Plante introduced the mask as everyday equipment, which continues to this day.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Playoffs

The Canadiens placed first in the standings and met the Chicago Black Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. The Canadiens would sweep the Hawks 4–0 to move on to the finals against Toronto.

Stanley Cup finals

Montreal swept the Maple Leafs, outscoring them 15–5, en route to being the first team since the 1952 Detroit Red Wings to go without a loss in the playoffs.
After the series Rocket Richard retired. He went out with style, finishing with his 34th finals goal in game three.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens
DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 7Toronto Maple Leafs2Montreal Canadiens4
April 9Toronto Maple Leafs1Montreal Canadiens2
April 12Montreal Canadiens5Toronto Maple Leafs2
April 14Montreal Canadiens4Toronto Maple Leafs0

Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 0.

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM
C6034407457
C7030437366
RW5930417136
LW6222426454
W5917345159
RW7017294642
C652122434
LW701622384
RW5119163550
LW6912193161
D644252959
C6413152824
D666212745
LW689132226
D671141548
D691141560
RW433101317
D5409940
D110110
D/LW30002
G10000
C40000
G690002

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLTGAGAASO
4140694017121752.543
60101033.000
Team:4200704018121782.543

Playoffs

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM
C839129
RW8210124
LW864104
C85276
W814512
LW82240
RW81342
D83036
C82134
RW71230
LW81230
C70332
D803318
RW81120
D81128
D80114
G80000
D80000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLGAGAASO
489880111.353
Team:489880111.353

Awards and records

Transactions

Roster