1954–55 Montreal Canadiens season
| 1954–55 Montreal Canadiens | |
|---|---|
| League | 2nd NHL |
| 1954–55 record | 41–18–11 |
| Goals for | 228 |
| Goals against | 157 |
| Team information | |
| General Manager | Frank J. Selke |
| Coach | Dick Irvin |
| Captain | Butch Bouchard |
| Alternate captains | Maurice Richard |
| Arena | Montreal Forum |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Bernie Geoffrion and Maurice Richard (38) |
| Assists | Bert Olmstead (48) |
| Points | Bernie Geoffrion (75) |
| Penalties in minutes | Maurice Richard (125) |
| Wins | Jacques Plante (33) |
| Goals against average | Jacques Plante (2.14) |
The 1954–55 Montreal Canadiens season was the Canadiens' 46th season of play. The Canadiens finished in second place in the National Hockey League (NHL) with a record of 41 wins, 18 losses, and 11 ties for 93 points. In the playoffs, they defeated the Boston Bruins in five games in the semi-finals before falling to the Detroit Red Wings in seven games in the Stanley Cup Finals.
This season was notable for the suspension of Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Montreal's star player, by NHL president Clarence Campbell after a vicious fight with Boston defenceman Hal Laycoe and Richard punching an on-ice official. The suspension sparked a riot by angry Canadiens fans on March 17, 1955, during a game against the Red Wings (see below).
On March 13, 1955, Canadiens star Maurice Richard was involved in a fighting incident in Boston. Boston's Hal Laycoe high-sticked Richard and cut him on the head, momentarily leaving Richard dazed and prone on the ice. Richard then got up off the ice and attacked Laycoe, breaking his stick on Laycoe. While linesman Cliff Thompson restrained Richard, Laycoe got up and punched Richard. Richard broke free and punched Thompson in the face. This was Richard's second incident with an official that season and a league disciplinary hearing was held. NHL president Clarence Campbell (who had previously been criticized publicly by Richard) then suspended Richard for the rest of the season and the playoffs; at the time, this was the longest suspension for an on-ice incident in NHL history. The Bruins' Laycoe received no fine or suspension for his actions. Public outrage from Montreal soon poured in, but Campbell stood firm, and moreover announced that he would be attending the Canadiens' next home game against the Red Wings on March 17.
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