1975–76 NHL season

The 1975–76 NHL season was the 59th season of the National Hockey League. Eighteen teams each played 80 games. The Montreal Canadiens set records in wins with 58 and points with 127, beginning a four-year stretch where they would dominate the league in the regular season and win four straight Stanley Cup titles.

Regular season

Final standings

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold

Prince of Wales Conference

Adams Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Boston Bruins 80 48 15 17 113 313 237 1195
Buffalo Sabres 80 46 21 13 105 339 240 943
Toronto Maple Leafs 80 34 31 15 83 294 276 1368
California Golden Seals 80 27 42 11 65 250 278 1058
Norris Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Montreal Canadiens 80 58 11 11 127 337 174 977
Los Angeles Kings 80 38 33 9 85 263 265 1022
Pittsburgh Penguins 80 35 33 12 82 339 303 1004
Detroit Red Wings 80 26 44 10 62 226 300 1922
Washington Capitals 80 11 59 10 32 224 394 951

Clarence Campbell Conference

Patrick Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Philadelphia Flyers 80 51 13 16 118 348 209 1980
New York Islanders 80 42 21 17 101 297 190 1277
Atlanta Flames 80 35 33 12 82 262 237 928
New York Rangers 80 29 42 9 67 262 333 911
Smythe Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Chicago Black Hawks 80 32 30 18 82 254 261 944
Vancouver Canucks 80 33 32 15 81 271 272 1122
St. Louis Blues 80 29 37 14 72 249 290 1274
Minnesota North Stars 80 20 53 7 47 195 303 1191
Kansas City Scouts 80 12 56 12 36 190 351 984

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Guy Lafleur Montreal Canadiens 80 56 69 125 36
Bobby Clarke Philadelphia Flyers 76 30 89 119 136
Gilbert Perreault Buffalo Sabres 80 44 69 113 36
Bill Barber Philadelphia Flyers 80 50 62 112 104
Pierre Larouche Pittsburgh Penguins 76 53 58 111 33
Jean Ratelle Boston Bruins / New York Rangers 80 36 69 105 18
Pete Mahovlich Montreal Canadiens 80 34 71 105 76
Jean Pronovost Pittsburgh Penguins 80 52 52 104 24
Darryl Sittler Toronto Maple Leafs 79 41 59 100 90
Syl Apps, Jr. Pittsburgh Penguins 80 32 67 99 24

Stanley Cup playoffs

Playoff bracket

  Preliminary Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                                     
        
  1  Montreal Canadiens 4  
    10  Chicago Black Hawks 0  
      
        
  1  Montreal Canadiens 4  
  5  New York Islanders 1  
4  Buffalo Sabres 2  
12  St. Louis Blues 1  
  4  Buffalo Sabres 2
    5  New York Islanders 4  
5  New York Islanders 2
11  Vancouver Canucks 0  
  1  Montreal Canadiens 4
  2  Philadelphia Flyers 0
        
        
  2  Philadelphia Flyers 4
    7  Toronto Maple Leafs 3  
7  Toronto Maple Leafs 2
8  Pittsburgh Penguins 1  
  2  Philadelphia Flyers 4
  3  Boston Bruins 1  
        
        
  3  Boston Bruins 4
    6  Los Angeles Kings 3  
6  Los Angeles Kings 2
9  Atlanta Flames 0  

Finals

The two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Philadelphia Flyers, once again made it to the finals, but lost in four games to the Montreal Canadiens.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Date Visitors Score Home Score Notes
May 9 Philadelphia 3 Montreal 4
May 11 Philadelphia 1 Montreal 2
May 13 Montreal 3 Philadelphia 2
May 16 Montreal 5 Philadelphia 3

NHL awards

Prince of Wales Trophy: Montreal Canadiens
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Philadelphia Flyers
Art Ross Memorial Trophy: Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Rod Gilbert, New York Rangers
Calder Memorial Trophy: Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders
Conn Smythe Trophy: Reggie Leach, Philadelphia Flyers
Hart Memorial Trophy: Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers
Jack Adams Award: Don Cherry, Boston Bruins
James Norris Memorial Trophy: Denis Potvin, New York Islanders
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Jean Ratelle, New York Rangers/Boston Bruins
Lester B. Pearson Award: Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens
NHL Plus/Minus Award: Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers
Vezina Trophy: Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens
Lester Patrick Trophy: Stan Mikita, George A. Leader, Bruce A. Norris

All-Star teams

First Team   Position   Second Team
Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens G Glenn Resch, New York Islanders
Denis Potvin, New York Islanders D Borje Salming, Toronto Maple Leafs
Brad Park, Boston Bruins D Guy Lapointe, Montreal Canadiens
Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers C Gilbert Perreault, Buffalo Sabres
Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens RW Reggie Leach, Philadelphia Flyers
Bill Barber, Philadelphia Flyers LW Rick Martin, Buffalo Sabres

References