On This Date in Sports March 18, 1944: Home Strengthen
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
With an 11-2 dismantling of the New York Rangers, the Montreal Canadiens complete an unbeaten season at home, going 23-0-2 in 45 games the Montreal Forum. The Canadiens also were the best team in the regular season, posting a record of 38-5-7. The Canadiens would see their home winning streak end with a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in their opener. It would be their only postseason loss as they won their fifth Stanley Cup Championship.
The 1943/44 Montreal Canadiens were one of the best teams in the history of the NHL, especially during the war years. After barely making the playoffs in 1943, the Canadiens coached by Dick Irvin were bolstered by a breakout season from Maurice Richard who suffered a broken leg in his rookie season. Playing on the Punch Line, Richard became the Rocket for the first time, scoring 32 goals with 22 assists in 46 games. However, it was only third best as his linemates, Elmer Lach and Toe Blake were even better. Lach led the league in scoring with 24 goals and 48 assists, while Blake scored 26 goals with 33 assists.
At the other end of the ice, the Canadiens were given a boost by the play of rookie Bill Durnan who after a decade in the minors finally got a chance and won the Vezina Trophy, posting a record of 38-5-7. The Canadiens were especially dominant at the Montreal Forum, with two ties during the season in which they did not lose a game at home. The first tie came in the season opener on October 30, 1943, against the Boston Bruins 2-2. The second tie came on January 27, 1944, against the Toronto Maple Leafs by the same 2-2 score.
The Canadiens easily finished atop the standings in the six-team NHL with a record of 38-5-7. The New York Rangers, whom they beat in the final games of the season were on the opposite end of the spectrum finishing with the worst record of 6-39-5.
After posting a record of 23-0-2 at home in the regular season, the Canadiens began the postseason with a 3-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Montreal would rebound to win the next game 5-1 and went into Toronto and swept the Leafs in Game 3 and 4 with a 2-1 and 4-1 win. Returning home for Game 5, the Habs unleashed their full dominance with an 11-0 win. In the Stanley Cup Finals, the Canadiens would sweep the Chicago Black Hawks in four straight. In the finale, the Canadiens won 5-4 in overtime on a goal by Toe Blake.