1975–76 NHL season


The 1975–76 NHL season was the 59th season of the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup, defeating the defending champion Philadelphia Flyers in the final.
This season also marked the final time that Hockey Night in Canada on CBC in Canada would air both radio and television broadcasts of games, the show would become exclusive to television the next season.

Regular season

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. The Philadelphia Flyers tied the record set by the 1929–30 Boston Bruins for most consecutive home ice wins, with 20.
During the regular season, between December 28 and January 10, "Super Series '76" took place as two teams from the Soviet Championship League played eight exhibitions against NHL teams. HC CSKA Moscow, defending Soviet champion, played against the New York Rangers, Montreal, Boston and, on January 11, the defending NHL champion, the Philadelphia Flyers, while Krylya Sovetov Moscow played against Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Chicago and the New York Islanders.
The blockbuster trade of the year saw the Boston Bruins send superstar center Phil Esposito and star defenceman Carol Vadnais to the New York Rangers for star center Jean Ratelle and superstar defenceman Brad Park. Both Ratelle and Park would excel for the Bruins for years to come, while Esposito's days as the preeminent scorer in the NHL were behind him.
On February 7, 1976, Darryl Sittler set an NHL record that still stands for most points scored in one game. He recorded ten points against the Boston Bruins.

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

Clarence Campbell Conference

Playoffs

Playoff seeds

The twelve teams that qualified for the playoffs are ranked 1–12 based on regular season points.
Note: Only teams that qualified for the playoffs are listed here.
  1. Montreal Canadiens, Norris Division champions, Prince of Wales Conference regular season champions – 127 points
  2. Philadelphia Flyers, Patrick Division champions, Clarence Campbell Conference regular season champions – 118 points
  3. Boston Bruins, Adams Division champions – 113 points
  4. Buffalo Sabres – 105 points
  5. New York Islanders – 101 points
  6. Los Angeles Kings – 85 points
  7. Toronto Maple Leafs – 83 points
  8. Pittsburgh Penguins – 82 points
  9. Atlanta Flames – 82 points
  10. Chicago Black Hawks, Smythe Division champions – 82 points
  11. Vancouver Canucks – 81 points
  12. St. Louis Blues – 72 points

    Playoff bracket

(1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (8) St. Louis Blues

The Buffalo Sabres were the first seed of the preliminary round and fourth overall with 105 points. The St. Louis Blues were the eighth seed of the preliminary round and twelfth overall with 72 points. This was the first playoff series between these two teams. The Buffalo Sabres won this year's regular season series earning 5 of 8 points.

(2) New York Islanders vs. (7) Vancouver Canucks

The New York Islanders were the second seed in the preliminary round and fifth overall with 101 points. The Vancouver Canucks were the seventh seed in the preliminary round and eleventh overall with 81 points. This was the first playoff series between these two teams. Vancouver won this year's regular season series earning 8 of 10 points.

(3) Los Angeles Kings vs. (6) Atlanta Flames

The Los Angeles Kings were the third seed of the preliminary round and sixth overall 85 points. The Atlanta Flames were the sixth seed of the preliminary round and ninth overall with 82 points. Atlanta tied with Pittsburgh in points and wins, but Pittsburgh earned 5 points in games against the Flames while Atlanta earned 3 points in games against the Penguins. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Los Angeles won this year's regular season series earning 6 of 8 points.

(4) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (5) Pittsburgh Penguins

The Toronto Maple Leafs were the fourth seed in the preliminary round and seventh overall with 83 points. The Pittsburgh Penguins were the fifth seed in the preliminary round and eighth overall with 82 points. The Atlanta Flames tied with Pittsburgh in points and wins, but Pittsburgh earned 5 points in games against the Flames while Atlanta earned 3 points in games against the Penguins. This was the first playoff series between these two teams. Pittsburgh won this year's regular season series earning 8 of 10 points.

Quarterfinals

(1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (8) Chicago Black Hawks

The Montreal Canadiens finished first in the league with 127 points. The Chicago Black Hawks finished as the Smythe Division Champions and eighth seed of the quarterfinals with 82 points. This was the seventeenth playoff series between these two teams with Montreal winning eleven of the sixteen previous series. Their most recent meeting came in the 1973 Stanley Cup Finals which Montreal won in 6 games. Montreal won this year's regular season series earning 5 of 8 points.

(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (7) Toronto Maple Leafs

The Philadelphia Flyers finished as Clarence Campbell Conference regular season champions and second seed overall with 118 points. This was the second playoff series between these two teams. Their only previous meeting came in the 1975 quarterfinals which Philadelphia won in 4 games. Philadelphia won this year's regular season series earning 7 of 8 points.

(3) Boston Bruins vs. (6) Los Angeles Kings

The Boston Bruins finished as the Adams Division regular season champions and third seed overall with 113 points. This was the first playoff series between these two teams. Boston won this year's regular season series earning 8 of 10 points.

(4) Buffalo Sabres vs. (5) New York Islanders

This was the first playoff series between these two teams. The teams split this year's four-game regular season series.

Semifinals

(1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (4) New York Islanders

(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (3) Boston Bruins

Stanley Cup Finals

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

Awards

All-Star teams

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points
PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Guy LafleurMontreal Canadiens80566912536
Bobby ClarkePhiladelphia Flyers763089119136
Gilbert PerreaultBuffalo Sabres80446911336
Bill BarberPhiladelphia Flyers805062112104
Pierre LarouchePittsburgh Penguins76535811133
Jean RatelleNew York Rangers/Boston Bruins80366910518
Pete MahovlichMontreal Canadiens80347110576
Jean PronovostPittsburgh Penguins80525210424
Darryl SittlerToronto Maple Leafs79415910090
Syl Apps, Jr.Pittsburgh Penguins8032679924

Source: NHL.

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts
PlayerTeamGPMINGAGAAWLTSO
Ken DrydenMontreal Canadiens6235801212.03421088
Chico ReschN.Y. Islanders442546882.07231187
Dan BouchardAtlanta Flames4726711132.54191782
Wayne StephensonPhiladelphia Flyers6638191642.584010131
Billy SmithN.Y. Islanders392254982.61191093
Gilles GilbertBoston Bruins5531231512.90338103
Tony EspositoChicago Black Hawks6840031982.973023134
Rogatien VachonL.A. Kings5130601603.14262055
Wayne ThomasToronto Maple Leafs6436841963.192824122
Gary SimmonsCalifornia Seals4023601313.33151952

Other statistics

Patrick Division

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1975–76 :
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1975–76 :
NOTE: Boudrias finished his major professional career in the World Hockey Association.