5 Fascinating Statistics About the Canadiens and Maple Leafs Rivalry

The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs are two of the original teams to form the NHL in 1917. Throughout their 107-year-old histories, some of the game’s biggest names have played on one side of the rivalry, while others have donned colors on both sides.

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Anytime these two clubs, no matter their place in the standings, get together, it is always must-see TV. Whether someone lives in Quebec, Ontario, or anywhere else, these games always add another layer to a battle that has raged for over a century.

Today, we only begin to scratch the surface with fascinating facts about the Canadiens and Maple Leafs. Some may sound repetitive, while others may be new and insightful.

5 Fascinating Statistics About the Canadiens and Maple Leafs Rivalry

Most head-to-head meetings in NHL history

The Canadiens first faced the Maple Leafs on Dec. 26, 1917. At the time, Toronto was known as the Arenas, and during their first encounter, they defeated Montreal 7-5.

Related: Canadiens’ Pregame: Montreal vs. Toronto

In the past 107 seasons, the two oldest Canadian-based franchises have met an NHL record 768 times. The Canadiens have an edge in the overall matchup with a 366-301-88-13 record.

Interestingly, Montreal has dominated the series at home with a 227-108-43-7 record. However, Toronto has flipped the script on their home ice with a 193-139-45-6 record.

Regarding playoff meetings, the Canadiens maintain a slight lead in wins, 9-7, securing their most recent victory in the first round of the 2021 post-season.

Canadiens maintain a sizeable lead in hat tricks

Thanks to some of the game’s legendary players, such as Guy Lafleur, Jean Béliveau, and Newsy Lalonde, the Canadiens have recorded 418 hat tricks.

Against the Maple Leafs, Montreal has recorded 50 hat tricks, with Newsy Lalonde and Maurice Richard leading the pack with seven apiece. The last Canadiens player to tally three goals against Toronto was Ryan Poehling on Apr. 6, 2019.

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have only collected 36 hat tricks in the rivalry, with Babe Dye leading the team with four, all of which occurred in the 1920s. The last Toronto skater to score a hat trick against Montreal was Auston Matthews on Oct. 11, 2023.

Historically, Vincent Damphousse remains the only player to register a hat trick for both teams against each other, one in 1988 and one in 1993.

Each franchise has retired the same number six times

Some great players will pull on a sweater when franchises have been around for over a century. In the case of Montreal and Toronto, they have a combined 37 retired numbers and could build their Hall of Fame together.

Because so many legendary players have played with each club, they have retired the same number six times.

• No. 1 – Jacques Plante (Montreal) / Turk Broda & Johnny Bower (Toronto)

• No. 4 – Jean Béliveau (Montreal) / Red Kelly & Hap Day (Toronto)

• No. 5 – Bernie Geoffiron & Guy Lapointe (Montreal) / Bill Barliko (Toronto)

• No. 7 – Howie Morenz (Montreal) / King Clancy & Tim Horton (Toronto)

• No. 9 – Maurice Richard (Montreal) / Charlie Conacher & Ted Kennedy (Toronto)

• No. 10 – Guy Lafleur (Montreal) / George Armstrong & Syl Apps (Toronto)

Only 112 players have skated with both franchises

According to Hockey Reference, 112 players have worn the iconic Maple Leafs and Canadiens jerseys. Several of them have gone on to be in the Hall of Fame, including Plante, who played 11 seasons in Montreal before spending three with Toronto.

Related: Canadiens Chasing Milestones in 2024-25

Frank Mahovlich won four Stanley Cup titles with the Maple Leafs in the 1960s before winning two more with the Canadiens in the early 1970s.

Meanwhile, George Hainsworth played eight years in Montreal before a four-year stint with Toronto in the 1920s and 1930s.

Regarding the players with the most points for each franchise to play with the other, Mahovlich scored 597 with Toronto before collecting 310 in Montreal. Meanwhile, Tomáš Plekanec had 606 points with the Canadiens before just two in 17 games with the Maple Leafs.

Went 42 years between playoff series (1979-2021)

The first playoff meeting between Montreal and Toronto took place in the NHL Finals in 1917. The Arenas would win the total-goals series 10-7 before capturing the Stanley Cup in their next series.

Between 1917 and 1979, these two Original Six franchises would meet 14 more times in the post-season, with the Canadiens building up an 8-7 lead.

• 1917 – NHL Finals – Arenas (10-7) Total Goals

• 1925 – NHL semifinals – Canadiens (5-2) Total Goals

• 1944 – semifinals – Canadiens (4-1)

• 1945 – semifinals – Maple Leafs (4-2)

• 1947 – Stanley Cup Final – Maple Leafs (4-2)

• 1951 – Stanley Cup Final – Maple Leafs (4-1)

• 1959 – Stanley Cup Final – Canadiens (4-1)

• 1960 – Stanley Cup Final – Canadiens (4-0)

• 1963 – semifinals – Maple Leafs (4-1)

• 1964 – semifinals – Maple Leafs (4-3)

• 1965 – semifinals – Canadiens (4-2)

• 1966 – semifinals – Canadiens (4-0)

• 1967 – Stanley Cup Final – Maple Leafs (4-2)

• 1978 – semifinals – Canadiens (4-0)

• 1979 – semifinals – Canadiens (4-0)

After 42 years, in 2021, the Maple Leafs and Canadiens met in the post-season with the higher seed, Toronto, blowing a 3-1 series lead to lose in Game 7.

That series marked just the third time they met in the expansion era, with Montreal improving to a perfect 3-0 record since losing in the last Original Six Stanley Cup Final in 1967.

Related: Montreal Canadiens With 100 Point Seasons

As one of the most storied rivalries in professional sports, these are just five fascinating statistics regarding the Canadiens and Maple Leafs.

Throughout the season, we hope to bring you more stories behind the numbers and players who have built this historic matchup into what it is today.

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