If you’re a sports fan, you would’ve enjoyed a stunning summer of action from Europe. The action began in Germany with the 2024 renewal of the European Championships. The host nation was a popular pick with pundits, while traders working at the best betting sites online made England the pre-tournament favourites. Spain upset those predictions by blazing a trail of glory to the title, beating England in the final. It was a thrilling renewal and set soccer fans up nicely for the FIFA World Cup in 2028, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, the USA, and Mexico.
With the Euro 2024 results confirmed and the Paris Olympic Games medal table decided, sports fans in Montreal are turning their attention back to hockey. The new National Hockey League season is fast approaching, and the campaign will run between October 2024 and June 2025. NHL 2024 will be the 108th season, and fans can look forward to 32 teams competing over 82 games to decide the next Stanley Cup champion. Which team do you expect to go all the way and lift the trophy?
Hockey lovers in Montreal hope it’s the turn of their favourite, the Montreal Canadiens. The team from Bell Centre enters as 24-time Stanley Cup champions, and they’re hoping to stretch that to 25 gongs. Will they return to the glory days this term? Experts aren’t convinced, as the team’s most recent success came back in 1993. Over three decades without a title is a painful drought in this part of the world, and the pressure is mounting on current head coach Martin St Louis.
NHL season overview
The regular season opens on 4th October, and overseas NHL fans have a treat in store with the Buffalo Sabres and the New Jersey Devils facing off in the Czech Republic as part of the NHL Global Series. You can visit the stadium and watch games or follow the action live on television through the league’s partners, including Sportsnet, ESPN, and TNT. But which side will catch the eye this season and win the title?
The current odds available at online sportsbooks suggest Edmonton Oilers fans will have the most to cheer this season. Oilers are the pre-competition betting favourites, and the odds suggest another competitive renewal. Edmonton sits just ahead of the Florida Panthers in the betting, with teams like the Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils also prominent on that list. Does Montreal have a chance of upsetting the odds? Unlikely, according to the betting with the Canadians underdogs. The current list has only four teams with bigger odds than Montreal, and that’s surprising.
With the market writing off Montreal, fans have a decision to make. Do they trust the betting and stick with one of the favourites, or take a chance on the Canadians and hope the team delivers victory at huge odds? While you study the stats, read reviews, and follow the betting, we take a walk down memory lane. Pre-season is often a quiet time for hockey enthusiasts, and we use the break in play to reflect on happier times for the Montreal Canadians. Here are the team’s most impressive Stanley Cup wins.
1944 Stanley Cup
The 1944 Stanley Cup victory was one of the most significant in the Montreal Canadiens’ history. Coming after a challenging period during the Great Depression and World War II, this win marked the Canadiens’ return to dominance in the NHL. Led by legendary coach Dick Irvin and a roster filled with future Hall of Famers, the 1943-44 Canadiens are often regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time.
The Canadiens entered the 1944 playoffs after finishing the regular season atop the league standings with an impressive 38-5-7 record. They faced the Chicago Black Hawks in the Stanley Cup Finals, a series that would solidify their reputation as the team to beat in the NHL. Montreal’s roster was stacked with talent, including Maurice “Rocket” Richard, who was beginning to establish himself as one of the most feared goal-scorers in the league, and Elmer Lach, a brilliant playmaker.
The Canadiens dominated the Black Hawks, sweeping them in four games to win the Stanley Cup. Montreal outscored Chicago 16-6 in the series, showcasing their offensive firepower and defensive prowess. Maurice Richard was particularly outstanding, scoring five goals in the series, including a hat-trick in Game 2, cementing his place as a rising star.
1953 Stanley Cup
The 1953 Stanley Cup victory was another landmark moment in the Montreal Canadiens’ history. This win was particularly meaningful as it marked the end of a five-year championship drought and ushered in a new era of dominance for the franchise. The Canadiens last won the Stanley Cup in 1946, and while they remained competitive in the ensuing years, they were unable to reclaim the title until 1953.
The 1952-53 Canadiens, coached by Dick Irvin, were a team in transition, blending veteran leadership with emerging young talent. Players like Maurice Richard, who was by then an established superstar, and the young Jean Béliveau, who would go on to become one of the greatest players in NHL history, were central to the team’s success. The Canadiens finished the regular season in second place, setting up a playoff run that would culminate in a thrilling Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins.
The 1953 Stanley Cup Final was a hard-fought series that went to five games, with the Canadiens eventually prevailing 4-1. The series was closely contested, with three of the five games decided in overtime. The most dramatic moment came in Game 5, held at the Montreal Forum. The game was tied 0-0 after regulation, and it took until the 10:54 mark of overtime for the Canadiens to secure victory. The winning goal was scored by Elmer Lach, assisted by Maurice Richard, capping off a tense and thrilling contest that left fans on the edge of their seats.
This victory was significant not just for the win itself but for what it represented. It was the last Stanley Cup won under the leadership of Dick Irvin, who had been instrumental in building the team into a powerhouse. It also marked the beginning of Jean Béliveau’s illustrious career as a Stanley Cup champion, a player who would go on to define an era of Canadiens hockey. The 1953 championship was a bridge between the Canadiens’ past successes and the unprecedented run of titles they would achieve in the coming years.