Champions of the 2nd Annual Ultimate NHL Playoff, the top-seeded ’78-’79 Canadiens

• Rick Chartraw (D)
  • 20 GP   0 G   0 A   0 P   -1   6 S   0 GWG   0 PIM   0 Stars
• Yvan Cournoyer (RW)
  • 20 GP   0 G   0 A   0 P   -1   5 S   0 GWG   0 PIM   0 Stars
• Ken Dryden (G)
  • 25 GP   25 GS   21-4-0   2.64 GAA   .910 SV%   1 SO   9 Stars
• Jacques Lemaire (C)
  • 25 GP   8 G   13 A   21 P   +14   69 S   3 GWG   2 PIM   5 Stars
• Brian Engblom (D)
  • 25 GP   2 G   6 A   8 P   +16   12 S   0 GWG   12 PIM   3 Stars
• Bob Gainey (LW)
  • 25 GP   4 G   3 A   7 P   +9   46 S   0 GWG   8 PIM   0 Stars
• Rejean Houle (RW)
  • 25 GP   3 G   5 A   8 P   +9   24 S   0 GWG   8 PIM   4 Stars
• Pat Hughes (RW)
  • 21 GP   0 G   0 A   0 P   +1   2 S   0 GWG   0 PIM   0 Stars
• Doug Jarvis (C)
  • 25 GP   4 G   4 A   8 P   +9   34 S   1 GWG   2 PIM   Stars
• Guy Lafleur (RW)
  • 25 GP   31* G   38* A   69* P   +21*   260* S   6* GWG   6 PIM   43* Stars
• Yvon Lambert (LW)
  • 25 GP   10 G   7 A   17 P   +18   50 S   1 GWG   0 PIM   5 Stars
• Rod Langway (D)
  • 21 GP   0 G   0 A   0 P   Even   2 S   0 GWG   0 PIM   0 Stars
• Guy Lapointe (D)
  • 25 GP   4 G   16 A   20 P   +10   54 S   1 GWG   2 PIM   0 Stars
• Michel Larocque (G)
  • 1 GP   0 GS   0-0-0   2.00 GAA   .833 SV%   0 SO   o Stars
• Pierre Larouche (C)
  • 14 GP   0 G   0 A   0 P   Even   0 S   0 GWG   0 PIM   0 Stars
• Gilles Lupien (D)
  • 25 GP   1 G   3 A   4 P   +4   18 S   0 GWG   43* PIM   1 Stars
• Pierre Mondou (C)
  • 25 GP   12 G   18 A   30 P   +6   79 S   3 GWG   2 PIM   5 Stars
• Larry Robinson (D)
  • 25 GP   4 G   25 A   29 P   +15   80 S   1 GWG   8 PIM   6 Stars
• Serge Savard (D)
  • 25 GP   3 G   5 A   8 P   +15   40 S   1 GWG   4 PIM   0 Stars
• Steve Shutt (LW)
  • 25 GP   15 G   19 A   34 P   +3   100 S   3 GWG   6 PIM   18 Stars

* – Team Best

Bold – Tournament Best

Team Stats:

• Record: 20-4-0
• Goals Scored: 101
• Goals/Game: 4.04
• Goals Allowed: 68
• Goals Allowed/Game: 2.72
• Shots: 881
• Shots Allowed: 742
• Shots/Game: 35.2
• Shots Allowed/Game: 29.7
• # of PP’s: 46
• PPG’s: 9
• PP%: 19.6%
• TSH: 38
• PPGA: 5
• PK%: 86.8%
• Penalties in minutes: 107

Bold – Tournament Best

Any team that is apart of the ’70s Montreal Canadiens dynasty is a damn good team. So, that era has now supplied the champions for both of the Ultimate NHL Playoffs now that the ’78-’79 Canadiens have won it. Here is how they did just that:

First Round:

Bye

Second Round:

Swept 33rd-seeded ’06-’07 Nashville Predators, 4-0

Third Round:

Swept 16th-seeded ’02-’03 Dallas Stars, 4-0

Quarterfinal:

Defeated 25th-seeded ’83-’84 Washington Capitals, 4-1

Semifinal:

Defeated 12th-seeded ’74-’75 Philadelphia Flyers, 4-1

Final:

Came back from 3-0 deficit to defeat 6th-seeded ’84-’85 Edmonton Oilers, 4-3

The 1978-1979 Montreal Canadiens had a tough act to follow as during the previous season, the Canadiens had won their third straight Stanley Cup. However, the ’78-’79 version of the Habs were up to the task. Under the leadership of the legendary Scotty Bowman, Montreal posted a record of 52-17-11, which was good for 115 points and 1st in the Norris Division. They finished second in the league in scoring with 337 (4.21 per game) while allowing the fewest amount of goals in the league with 204 (2.55 per game). Hockey Reference listed their strength of schedule at dead last in the league while their’ SRS listed them as the second best team in the league. They began the playoffs by sweeping the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, but in the Semifinal, they ran into another top rival. The Boston Bruins gave them a hell of a fight, but Montreal won the series in seven games, much thanks to a too many men penalty for Boston late in regulation, which allowed Montreal to tie it and eventually win in overtime. Then, in the Stanley Cup Final, they defeated the New York Rangers in five games to win their fourth straight Stanley Cup and sixth of the decade!

Along with the Cup, the Habs had a full trophy case that season. Goaltenders Ken Dryden and Michel Larocque shared the Vezina trophy for the third straight year. Bob Gainey won the Conn Smythe with 16 points during the Cup run. He also won the Frank J. Selke, which was his second in a row. Defenseman Serge Savard was awarded with the Bill Masterton. Meanwhile, Guy Lafleur and defenseman Larry Robinson were all stars, along with Dryden and Savard. All this success came with their team captain, Yvan Cournoyer missing all but 15 games of the regular season with recurring back problems. Lafleur led the Habs in goals (52), assists (77) and points (129) while also posting the highest Point Share on the team (13.4). Robinson was the only other player to post a Point Share over 10 with an even 11. This team was remarkable, but it marked the end of the magical decade for the Canadiens as Cournoyer, Dryden and Jacques Lemaire all announced their retirement and Bowman left the franchise leaving a big hole behind the bench.

Up next are the runners up, the 6th-seeded ’84-’85 Edmonton Oilers!