1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins season
1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins | ||
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Division | 3rd Norris | |
Conference | 5th Wales | |
1976–77 record | 34–33–13 | |
Goals for | 240 | |
Goals against | 252 | |
Team information | ||
General Manager | Wren Blair (Oct–Dec) Baz Bastien (Dec–Apr) | |
Coach | Ken Schinkel | |
Captain | Ron Schock | |
Alternate captains | None | |
Arena | Pittsburgh Civic Arena | |
Team leaders | ||
Goals | Jean Pronovost (33) | |
Assists | Syl Apps, Jr. (43) | |
Points | Jean Pronovost (64) | |
Penalties in minutes | Bob Kelly (115) | |
Wins | Dunc Wilson (18) | |
Goals against average | Denis Herron (2.94) | |
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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
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.
Schedule and results
1976–77 Schedule | ||||||||
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October: 2–6–4 (Home: 2–2–2 ; Road: 0–4–2), 8 Points
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November: 6–5–1 (Home: 3–3–0 ; Road: 3–2–1), 13 Points
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December: 7–5–1 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 3–4–0), 15 Points
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January: 7–4–2 (Home: 5–3–1 ; Road: 2–1–1), 16 Points
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February: 5–5–4 (Home: 4–0–2 ; Road: 1–5–2), 14 Points
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March: 5–8–1 (Home: 3–3–0 ; Road: 2–5–1), 11 Points
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April: 2–0–0 (Home: 1–0–0 ; Road: 1–0–0), 4 Points
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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 |
April 7 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 6–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Maple Leaf Gardens |
April 9 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 5–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Civic Arena |
Toronto won series 2–1 | |
Player statistics
- Skaters
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- Goaltenders
Player | GP | W | L | T | GA | SO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wilson, DuncDunc Wilson | 45 | 18 | 19 | 8 | 129 | 5 |
Herron, DenisDenis Herron | 34 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 94 | 1 |
Laxton, GordonGordon Laxton | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
Total | 34 | 33 | 13 | 249 | 6 |
Player | GP | W | L | T | GA | SO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Herron, DenisDenis 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.
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 |
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
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†Colin Campbell was loaned to the Rockies for one season. He was returned to the Penguins in 1977.
Roster
# | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | NHL Draft | Birthplace |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | Anderson, RussellRussell Anderson | D | L | 22 | 1975 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | |
26 | Apps Jr., SylSyl Apps Jr. | C | R | 29 | 1964 | Toronto, Ontario | |
24 | Awrey, DonDon Awrey | D | L | 33 | Undrafted | Kitchener, Ontario | |
20 | Bergeron, YvesYves Bergeron | RW | R | 25 | 1972 | Malartic, Quebec | |
14 | Bianchin, WayneWayne Bianchin | RW | L | 23 | 1973 | Nanaimo, British Columbia | |
4 | Burrows, DavidDavid Burrows | D | L | 28 | Undrafted | Toronto, Ontario | |
9 | Chapman, BlairBlair Chapman | RW | R | 20 | 1976 | Lloydminster, Saskatchewan | |
27 | Corrigan, MikeMike Corrigan | LW | L | 31 | Undrafted | Ottawa, Ontario | |
5 | Faubert, MarioMario Faubert | D | R | 22 | 1974 | Valleyfield, Quebec | |
23 | Gilbert, EdEd Gilbert | C | L | 25 | 1972 | Hamilton, Ontario | |
15 | Gilbertson, StanStan Gilbertson | LW | L | 32 | Undrafted | Duluth, Minnesota | |
11 | Hadfield, VicVic Hadfield | LW | L | 36 | Undrafted | Oakville, Ontario | |
1 | Herron, DenisDenis Herron | G | L | 24 | 1972 | Chambly, Quebec | |
8 | Kehoe, RickRick Kehoe | RW | R | 25 | 1971 | Windsor, Ontario | |
22 | Kelly, JohnJohn Kelly | RW | L | 30 | 1967 | Fort William, Ontario | |
10 | Larouche, PierrePierre Larouche | C | R | 21 | 1974 | Taschereau, Quebec | |
30 | Laxton, GordonGordon Laxton | G | L | 22 | 1975 | Montreal, Quebec | |
5 | Lyon, SteveSteve Lyon | D | R | 24 | 1972 | Toronto, Ontario | |
18 | MacDonald, LowellLowell MacDonald | LW | R | 35 | Undrafted | New Glasgow, Nova Scotia | |
12 | Malone, WilliamWilliam Malone | C | L | 21 | 1976 | Fredericton, New Brunswick | |
16 | Morrison, LewLew Morrison | RW | R | 29 | 1968 | Gainsborough, Saskatchewan | |
25 | Owchar, DennisDennis Owchar | D | R | 24 | 1973 | Dryden, Ontario | |
6 | Price, ThomasThomas Price | D | — | 22 | 1974 | Toronto, Ontario | |
19 | Pronovost, JosephJoseph Pronovost | RW | R | 31 | Undrafted | Shawinigan Falls, Quebec | |
17 | Schock, RonRon Schock | C | L | 33 | Undrafted | Chapleau, Ontario | |
3 | Stackhouse, RonaldRonald Stackhouse | D | R | 27 | 1969 | Haliburton, Ontario | |
2 | Van Impe, EdEd Van Impe | D | L | 36 | Undrafted | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | |
29 | Wilson, DuncDunc Wilson | G | L | 29 | Undrafted | Toronto, Ontario | |
Draft picks
The 1976 NHL Amateur Draft was held on June 1, 1976 in Montreal, Quebec.[6]
Round | # | Player | Pos | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team (League) |
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1 | 2 | Blair Chapman | Right Wing | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
2 | 19 | William 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 | Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL) | |
6 | 101 | Vic Sirko | Defense | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
References
- ↑ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
- ↑ "1976–1977 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
- ↑ "1976–1977 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
- ↑ "1976–1977 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
- ↑ "1976–1977 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
- ↑ "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.