From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division3rd Norris
Conference5th Wales
1976–77 record34–33–13
Goals for240
Goals against252
Team information
General manager Wren Blair (Oct–Dec)
Baz Bastien (Dec–Apr)
Coach Ken Schinkel
Captain Ron Schock
Alternate captainsNone
Arena Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
Goals Jean Pronovost (33)
Assists Syl Apps Jr. (43)
PointsJean Pronovost (64)
Penalty minutes Bob Kelly (115)
Wins Dunc Wilson (18)
Goals against averageDenis Herron (2.94)
←  1975–76
1977–78 →

The 1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their tenth in the National Hockey League. They finished third in the Norris Division for the third season in a row. In the playoffs, the Penguins were eliminated in the first round. Changes occurred in management and ownership. In December 1976, Baz Bastien replaced Wren Blair as the club's general manager. The club was sold to shopping mall magnate Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. in February 1977.

Regular season

Despite the fact that Pierre Larouche, Jean Pronovost and Syl Apps were unable to reproduce their franchise record-setting offensive output of the previous season the team finished with a similar regular season record on the strength of improved defensive prowess and the goaltending of Dunc Wilson and Denis Herron, who was re-acquired from the Kansas City Scouts in the off-season.

General Manager Wren Blair, who had been part of the ownership group which bought the club from the NHL in July 1975 until February 1976, was removed from his position December 3, 1976. Aldege 'Baz' Bastien, the man who had coached the American Hockey League's Pittsburgh Hornets to a Calder Cup championship in 1967, was named Blair's replacement.

Co-owners Al Savill and Otto Frenzel sold the club to shopping mall magnate Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. in February 1977, less than two years after having bought the team from the NHL.

Final standings

Norris Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Montreal Canadiens 80 60 8 12 387 171 132
Los Angeles Kings 80 34 31 15 271 241 83
Pittsburgh Penguins 80 34 33 13 240 252 81
Washington Capitals 80 24 42 14 221 307 62
Detroit Red Wings 80 16 55 9 183 309 41

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

Record vs. opponents

Norris Division record vs. opponents


Schedule and results

1976–77 Schedule
October: 2–6–4 (home: 2–2–2 ; road: 0–4–2), 8 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
1 Oct 6 Vancouver Canucks 5–9 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–0–0 2
2 Oct 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–10 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 1–1–0 2
3 Oct 9 Los Angeles Kings 7–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–2–0 2
4 Oct 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 1–3–0 2
5 Oct 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 1–4–0 2
6 Oct 16 Detroit Red Wings 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–4–0 4
7 Oct 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 2–4–1 5
8 Oct 23 Montreal Canadiens 9–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–5–1 5
9 Oct 24 Atlanta Flames 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–5–2 6
10 Oct 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 2–5–3 7
11 Oct 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–3 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 2–6–3 7
12 Oct 30 New York Rangers 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–6–4 8
November: 6–5–1 (home: 3–3–0 ; road: 3–2–1), 13 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
13 Nov 2 Los Angeles Kings 1–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 3–6–4 10
14 Nov 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Colorado Rockies McNichols Sports Arena 4–6–4 12
15 Nov 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Cleveland Barons Coliseum at Richfield 4–6–5 13
16 Nov 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 4–7–5 13
17 Nov 13 Philadelphia Flyers 0–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 5–7–5 15
18 Nov 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–1 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 6–7–5 17
19 Nov 20 Colorado Rockies 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 6–8–5 17
20 Nov 21 Chicago Black Hawks 0–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 7–8–5 19
21 Nov 24 Boston Bruins 4–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 7–9–5 19
22 Nov 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 Cleveland Barons Coliseum at Richfield 8–9–5 21
23 Nov 27 New York Islanders 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 8–10–5 21
24 Nov 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 8–11–5 21
December: 7–5–1 (home: 4–1–1 ; road: 3–4–0), 15 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
25 Dec 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9–11–5 23
26 Dec 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 9–12–5 23
27 Dec 7 Minnesota North Stars 2–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 10–12–5 25
28 Dec 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 11–12–5 27
29 Dec 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11–13–5 27
30 Dec 12 St. Louis Blues 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 12–13–5 29
31 Dec 16 Cleveland Barons 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 13–13–5 31
32 Dec 18 Washington Capitals 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 13–14–5 31
33 Dec 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 13–15–5 31
34 Dec 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 14–15–5 33
35 Dec 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 14–16–5 33
36 Dec 26 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–16–5 35
37 Dec 29 Montreal Canadiens 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–16–6 36
January: 7–4–2 (home: 5–3–1 ; road: 2–1–1), 16 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
38 Jan 1 Buffalo Sabres 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–16–6 38
39 Jan 4 Vancouver Canucks 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–16–7 39
40 Jan 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 16–16–8 40
41 Jan 8 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 17–16–8 42
42 Jan 11 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 17–17–8 42
43 Jan 15 Buffalo Sabres 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 18–17–8 44
44 Jan 16 Atlanta Flames 6–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 18–18–8 44
45 Jan 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–0 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 19–18–8 46
46 Jan 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 19–19–8 46
47 Jan 22 New York Islanders 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 20–19–8 48
48 Jan 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–0 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 21–19–8 50
49 Jan 29 Philadelphia Flyers 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 21–20–8 50
50 Jan 30 Boston Bruins 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 22–20–8 52
February: 5–5–4 (home: 4–0–2 ; road: 1–5–2), 14 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
51 Feb 2 Minnesota North Stars 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 23–20–8 54
52 Feb 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–0 Cleveland Barons Coliseum at Richfield 23–20–9 55
53 Feb 5 Detroit Red Wings 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 24–20–9 57
54 Feb 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Colorado Rockies McNichols Sports Arena 24–21–9 57
55 Feb 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena 24–22–9 57
56 Feb 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 24–23–9 57
57 Feb 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 25–23–9 59
58 Feb 16 Montreal Canadiens 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 25–23–10 60
59 Feb 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–6 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 25–23–11 61
60 Feb 20 Cleveland Barons 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 26–23–11 63
61 Feb 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 26–24–11 63
62 Feb 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 26–25–11 63
63 Feb 26 Washington Capitals 1–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 27–25–11 65
64 Feb 27 Boston Bruins 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 27–25–12 66
March: 5–8–1 (home: 3–3–0 ; road: 2–5–1), 11 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
65 Mar 2 Los Angeles Kings 5–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 27–26–12 66
66 Mar 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–5 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 27–27–12 66
67 Mar 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 27–27–13 67
68 Mar 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena 28–27–13 69
69 Mar 9 Colorado Rockies 0–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 29–27–13 71
70 Mar 12 Buffalo Sabres 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 30–27–13 73
71 Mar 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 30–28–13 73
72 Mar 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–7 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 30–29–13 73
73 Mar 16 St. Louis Blues 3–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 31–29–13 75
74 Mar 19 New York Rangers 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 31–30–13 75
75 Mar 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 31–31–13 75
76 Mar 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 32–31–13 77
77 Mar 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–3 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 32–32–13 77
78 Mar 30 Washington Capitals 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 32–33–13 77
April: 2–0–0 (home: 1–0–0 ; road: 1–0–0), 4 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
79 Apr 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 33–33–13 79
80 Apr 3 Detroit Red Wings 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 34–33–13 81
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

The Penguins' opponent in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs was once again the Toronto Maple Leafs. While the Penguins' offensive output greatly improved to ten goals scored (compared to 1976's three goals), the Maple Leafs once again dispatched the Penguins in three games.


April 5 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena Recap  
No scoring First period 13:25 – Bob Kelly (1)
Don Ashby (1) – 04:12
Lanny McDonald (1) – 12:11 		Second period No scoring
Dave Williams (1) – 10:32
Darryl Sittler (1) – en – 19:52 		Third period 18:34 – pp – Mario Faubert (1)
Wayne Thomas 29 saves / 31 shots Goalie stats Denis Herron 29 saves / 32 shots
April 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Jean Pronovost (1) – 01:01
Ron Stackhouse (1) – 06:37
Syl Apps Jr. (1) – pp – 12:30 		First period No scoring
Lowell MacDonald (1) – 07:38 Second period 06:10 – pp – Darryl Sittler (2)
12:38 – Stan Weir (1)
Greg Malone (1) – 13:57
Ron Stackhouse (2) – en – 19:23 		Third period 03:37 – pp – Ian Turnbull (1)
07:52 – Borje Salming (1)
Denis Herron 37 saves / 41 shots Goalie stats Wayne Thomas 28 saves / 33 shots
April 9 Toronto Maple Leafs 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena Recap  
Borje Salming (2) – pp – 08:34
Ian Turnbull (2) – pp – 14:14 		First period 19:40 – pp – Jean Pronovost (2)
Lanny McDonald (2) – 08:46
Lanny McDonald (3) – 14:17 		Second period 16:06 – Blair Chapman (1)
Lanny McDonald (4) – en – 19:44 Third period No scoring
Mike Palmateer 38 saves / 40 shots Goalie stats Denis Herron 37 saves / 41 shots
Toronto won series 2–1


Player statistics

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season [5]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Dunc Wilson 45 18 19 8 129 5
Denis Herron 34 15 11 5 94 1
Gordon Laxton 6 1 3 0 26 0
Total 34 33 13 249 6
Playoffs [6]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Denis Herron 3 1 2 0 11 0
Total 1 2 0 11 0

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Awards and records

  • Jean Pronovost became the first player to score 500 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 3–6 loss to New York on December 11.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1976–77 season:

Trades

August 11, 1976 To Montreal Canadiens

1978 3rd round pick
future considerations

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Don Awrey

October 8, 1976 To New York Rangers

1978 4th round pick

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Dunc Wilson

October 18, 1976 To Los Angeles Kings

1977 5th round pick

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Mike Corrigan

Additions and subtractions

Additions
Player Former team Via
Denis Herron Kansas City Scouts free agency (1976-08-07)
Steve Lyon Minnesota North Stars free agency (1976–11)
Tom Price Cleveland Barons free agency (1977-02-28)
Subtractions
Player New team Via
Barry Wilkins Edmonton Oilers ( WHA) free agency
Pete Laframboise Edmonton Oilers (WHA) free agency (1976-05)
Simon Nolet Colorado Rockies compensation for signing of Denis Herron (1976-08-07)
Michel Plasse Colorado Rockies compensation for signing of Denis Herron (1976-08-07)
Colin Campbell† Colorado Rockies compensation for signing of Denis Herron (1976-09-01)

†Colin Campbell was loaned to the Rockies for one season. He was returned to the Penguins in 1977.

Draft picks

See also: List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks

The 1976 NHL Amateur Draft was held on June 1, 1976, in Montreal. [7]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 2 Blair Chapman Right wing  Canada Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)
2 19 Greg Malone Center  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA)
2 29 Peter Marsh Right wing  Canada Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)
3 47 Morris Lukowich Left wing  Canada Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)
4 65 Greg Redquest Goaltender  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA)
5 83 Brendan Lowe Defense  Canada Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)
6 101 Vic Sirko Defense  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA)

References

  1. ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN  9781894801225.
  2. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  3. ^ "1976–1977 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  4. ^ "1976–1977 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  5. ^ "1976–1977 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  6. ^ "1976–1977 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  7. ^ "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.
Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=1976–77_Pittsburgh_Penguins_season&oldid=1220440994"