NHL All-Stars: Bobby Rousseau’s Brilliant 1965-66 Season

Bobby Rousseau put together the best campaign of his NHL career in 1965-66, delivering a breakout year that helped power the Montreal Canadiens back to the top of the league. Rousseau scored 30 goals and added 48 assists for 78 points, edging out Jean Béliveau for the team scoring lead by a single point. His playmaking touch stood out across the league as well. He led the NHL in assists and finished tied with Stan Mikita for second place in the Art Ross Trophy race.

His strong performance carried straight into the postseason. Rousseau collected eight points in ten games, helping Montreal sweep the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opening round and defeat the Detroit Red Wings in six games to capture another Stanley Cup championship.

Despite Rousseau’s exceptional production, Gordie Howe earned First Team NHL All-Star honours at right wing. The two stars posted remarkably similar numbers that year, but Howe’s iconic stature and Hart Trophy voting (finishing third) gave him the edge. Rousseau still earned recognition, finishing as the runner-up for the Lady Byng Trophy behind Alex Delvecchio.

By the end of his career, Rousseau had put together an impressive resume:

• 942 regular season games

• 128 playoff games

• Four Stanley Cup championships with Montreal

• 1961-62 Calder Trophy winner

• NHL stops with the Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars, and New York Rangers

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Bobby Rousseau

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Bobby Rousseau won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in which season?

1960-61
1961-62
1962-63

2. Which team did Rousseau lead in scoring during his career-best 1965-66 season?

Montreal Canadiens
Minnesota North Stars
New York Rangers

3. How many Stanley Cup championships did Bobby Rousseau win?

Two
Four
Five

4. Rousseau finished runner-up for which major NHL award in 1965-66?

Lady Byng Trophy
Hart Trophy
Vezina Trophy

5. Across his NHL career, which team did Bobby Rousseau NOT play for?

New York Rangers
Minnesota North Stars
Chicago Blackhawks

Your Score:

Steve Shutt Hits 60 Goals: A Montreal Canadiens Milestone

In Montreal Canadiens lore, few offensive feats shine brighter than the elusive 60-goal season and in the 1970s, it was accomplished by not one but two Habs legends. Steve Shutt and Guy Lafleur share the franchise record for most goals in a single season, each hitting the 60-goal mark. But Shutt did it first.

The milestone came during the final game of the 1976-77 season, on April 3, 1977, at the Capital Centre against the Washington Capitals. With the Canadiens already boasting 60 wins and playoff positioning locked up, it was clear the team had one priority that night: getting Shutt to 60.

Lafleur got things started early, scoring his 56th of the season at 4:21 of the first period, assisted by Shutt himself. Washington tied it midway through the frame, but the moment everyone waited for came at 18:17 of the first period, Shutt took a pass from Jacques Lemaire and Larry Robinson and fired his 60th of the season past Caps goalie Ron Low. It was one of just five shots Shutt took all night.

That would be the final goal of the game. Both teams seemingly coasted to the finish, with Montreal taking a narrow 2-1 win. The Canadiens registered just 19 shots on net, while Michel Larocque turned away 24 of 25 for Montreal.

At the time, Shutt’s 60-goal output set the NHL record for most goals in a season by a left winger, a mark later topped by Luc Robitaille in 1992-93 (63 goals) and then Alex Ovechkin in 2007-08 (65 goals).

For his efforts that season, Shutt was named a First Team All-Star, finishing well ahead of Buffalo’s Rick Martin in the voting. And though Guy Lafleur would match the 60-goal total the following season, Steve Shutt was the first Canadiens player to make it happen and he did it in style.

About Steve Shutt

Steve Shutt played 930 regular season and 99 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings. His time in L.A. was limited to 59 games in his final season.

He was the fourth overall pick by the Habs at the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft behind Billy Harris, Jacques Richard and Don Lever. A junior with the Toronto Marlboros, Shutt scored 70 and 63 goals in his final two years with the club.

Along with his 60 goal campaign, Steve had 45 or more in four seasons and 30 or more in nine straight. Shutt was part of five Stanley Cup championship teams in Montreal, arriving in time for the 1973 win but playing just a single game in that post season.