1976–77 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1976–77 Montreal Canadiens season was the Canadiens' 68th season. The team is regarded to be one of the greatest NHL teams ever composed. The Canadiens won their 20th Stanley Cup in 1976–77, taking the NHL championship. Montreal set new records for most wins (60) and points (132) in a season. Those records were not broken until the re-introduction of regular season overtime and the extension of the schedule to 82 games. The 1976–77 Canadiens continue to hold the all-time records for regulation wins as well as points per game (1.650). They outscored their opponents by 216 goals (also a league record), a differential average of 2.7 goals per game. The 1976-77 Canadiens team has been widely regarded as one of the greatest teams in NHL history.

Of the 24 players on the roster, 14 were drafted by the Canadiens: Pierre Bouchard, Rick Chartraw, Brian Engblom, Bob Gainey, Réjean Houle, Guy Lafleur, Michel Larocque, Pierre Mondou, Bill Nyrop, Doug Risebrough, Larry Robinson, Steve Shutt, Mario Tremblay, and Murray Wilson. The only player on the roster not developed by the Canadiens was Pete Mahovlich.

Montreal lost only eight games, a modern-era record that has never been tied or broken even when counting only regulation losses and including lockout and pandemic-shortened seasons. They earned at least a point in 72 games, which also still stands as an all-time record.

The Canadiens earned their 100th point in the 62nd game of the season with a victory over the Atlanta Flames on February 23, 1977. This was an NHL record for fastest team to 100 points for 45 seasons.

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|1||W||October 7, 1976||10–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) ||1–0–0

|2||W||October 9, 1976||3–0 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) ||2–0–0

|3||L||October 10, 1976||1–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) ||2–1–0

|4||W||October 12, 1976||4–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) ||3–1–0

|5||W||October 14, 1976||7–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) ||4–1–0

|6||W||October 16, 1976||7–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1976–77) ||5–1–0

|7||L||October 17, 1976||3–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1976–77) ||5–2–0

|8||W||October 19, 1976||6–0 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1976–77) ||6–2–0

|9||W||October 21, 1976||5–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77) ||7–2–0

|10||W||October 23, 1976||9–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) ||8–2–0

|11||W||October 25, 1976||4–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1976–77) ||9–2–0

|12||T||October 27, 1976||4–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) ||9–2–1

|13||L||October 30, 1976||3–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1976–77) ||9–3–1

|14||W||November 1, 1976||3–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) ||10–3–1

|15||W||November 3, 1976||5–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1976–77) ||11–3–1

|16||W||November 6, 1976||11–3 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) ||12–3–1

|17||W||November 9, 1976||8–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1976–77) ||13–3–1

|18||T||November 10, 1976||2–2 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1976–77) ||13–3–2

|19||T||November 13, 1976||3–3 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1976–77) ||13–3–3

|20||W||November 15, 1976||4–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1976–77) ||14–3–3

|21||L||November 17, 1976||0–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77) ||14–4–3

|22||W||November 19, 1976||6–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1976–77) ||15–4–3

|23||W||November 21, 1976||9–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77) ||16–4–3

|24||W||November 23, 1976||5–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1976–77) ||17–4–3

|25||W||November 24, 1976||8–1 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Barons (1976–77) ||18–4–3

|26||W||November 27, 1976||4–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) ||19–4–3

|27||T||December 2, 1976||3–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) ||19–4–4

|28||W||December 4, 1976||3–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) ||20–4–4

|29||W||December 6, 1976||1–0 || align="left"| Cleveland Barons (1976–77) ||21–4–4

|30||W||December 8, 1976||4–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) ||22–4–4

|31||W||December 11, 1976||5–0 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) ||23–4–4

|32||L||December 12, 1976||2–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1976–77) ||23–5–4

|33||W||December 15, 1976||8–2 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1976–77) ||24–5–4

|34||W||December 18, 1976||2–0 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) ||25–5–4

|35||W||December 20, 1976||5–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) ||26–5–4

|36||W||December 27, 1976||4–2 || align="left"| Cleveland Barons (1976–77) ||27–5–4

|37||T||December 29, 1976||3–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) ||27–5–5

|38||T||December 30, 1976||5–5 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1976–77) ||27–5–6

|39||W||January 2, 1977||7–0 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1976–77) ||28–5–6

|40||W||January 3, 1977||6–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) ||29–5–6

|41||W||January 6, 1977||9–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) ||30–5–6

|42||W||January 8, 1977||7–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1976–77) ||31–5–6

|43||W||January 11, 1977||6–0 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1976–77) ||32–5–6

|44||L||January 12, 1977||2–7 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1976–77) ||32–6–6

|45||W||January 15, 1977||6–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) ||33–6–6

|46||L||January 17, 1977||3–7 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1976–77) ||33–7–6

|47||W||January 18, 1977||3–0 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1976–77) ||34–7–6

|48||W||January 20, 1977||6–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) ||35–7–6

|49||W||January 22, 1977||5–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1976–77) ||36–7–6

|50||T||January 23, 1977||2–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) ||36–7–7

|51||T||January 29, 1977||3–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) ||36–7–8

|52||W||January 30, 1977||2–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1976–77) ||37–7–8

|53||W||February 1, 1977||7–3 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Barons (1976–77) ||38–7–8

|54||W||February 3, 1977||6–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) ||39–7–8

|55||T||February 5, 1977||3–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) ||39–7–9

|56||W||February 9, 1977||6–0 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) ||40–7–9

|57||W||February 12, 1977||8–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1976–77) ||41–7–9

|58||W||February 13, 1977||5–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) ||42–7–9

|59||T||February 16, 1977||4–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) ||42–7–10

|60||W||February 19, 1977||5–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) ||43–7–10

|61||W||February 21, 1977||3–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1976–77) ||44–7–10

|62||W||February 23, 1977||4–2 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1976–77) ||45–7–10

|63||W||February 26, 1977||5–3 || align="left"| Cleveland Barons (1976–77) ||46–7–10

|64||W||February 27, 1977||8–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1976–77) ||47–7–10

|65||W||March 1, 1977||5–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1976–77) ||48–7–10

|66||W||March 3, 1977||5–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) ||49–7–10

|67||W||March 5, 1977||7–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1976–77) ||50–7–10

|68||L||March 6, 1977||1–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) ||50–8–10

|69||T||March 9, 1977||2–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77) ||50–8–11

|70||W||March 10, 1977||7–1 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1976–77) ||51–8–11

|71||W||March 12, 1977||5–1 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) ||52–8–11

|72||W||March 14, 1977||3–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) ||53–8–11

|73||W||March 16, 1977||5–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1976–77) ||54–8–11

|74||W||March 21, 1977||5–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1976–77) ||55–8–11

|75||W||March 24, 1977||6–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1976–77) ||56–8–11

|76||W||March 26, 1977||4–0 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) ||57–8–11

|77||W||March 27, 1977||6–0 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) ||58–8–11

|78||T||March 30, 1977||3–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77) ||58–8–12

|79||W||April 2, 1977||11–0 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1976–77) ||59–8–12

|80||W||April 3, 1977||2–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1976–77) ||60–8–12

Legend:

Playoffs

Stanley Cup Finals

Jacques Lemaire scored three game-winning goals, including the Cup winner in overtime. Guy Lafleur won the Conn Smythe Trophy for scoring 9 goals and 17 assists during the playoffs.

Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens

Date Visitors Score Home Score NotesMay 7 Boston 3 Montreal 7 May 10 Boston 0 Montreal 3 May 12 Montreal 4Boston 2 May 14 Montreal 2 Boston 1 OT

Montreal wins the series 4–0. Guy Lafleur won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Player statistics

Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG RW 80 56 80 136 20891408 LW 80 60 45 105 2888809 D 77 19 66 85 45120303 D 77 25 51 76 53691006 C 75 34 41 75 2270524 C 76 15 47 62 4536301 C 78 22 38 60 13233106 RW 60 25 28 53 827602 LW 79 24 28 52 5030205 W 65 22 30 52 2439203 RW 74 18 28 46 6125403 D 78 9 33 42 3579001 C 80 16 22 38 1430002 LW 80 14 19 33 4131013 LW 60 13 14 27 2625101 D 74 3 19 22 2142001 D/RW 45 5 14 19 1822011 D 73 4 11 15 5233010 D/RW 43 3 4 7 5927001 G 56 02 2 00000 D 4 0 1 1 01000 G 26 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SO 3275 56 41 6 8 117 2.14 10 1525 26 19 2 4 53 2.09 4 Team: 4800 80 60 8 12 170 2.12 14

Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG RW 14 9 17 26 6102 C 14 7 12 19 6103 LW 14 8 10 18 2203 D 12 3 9 12 4100 D 14 2 10 12 12100 C 13 4 5 9 19201 D 14 2 7 9 2101 LW 14 1 6 7 14000 C 14 0 7 7 2000 LW 14 3 3 6 12100 LW 14 4 1 5 25011 C 12 2 3 5 16000 D/RW 14 3 0 3 6011 RW 14 3 0 3 9000 D/RW 13 2 1 3 17000 D 8 1 0 1 4000 D 6 0 1 1 6000 W 6 0 1 1 4000 G 14 0 0 0 0000 D 2 0 0 0 2000 C 4 0 0 0 0000 C/LW 5 0 0 0 0000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LGAGAA SO 849 14 12 2 22 1.55 4 Team: 849 14 12 2 22 1.55 4

Awards and records Prince of Wales Trophy Ken Dryden and Michel Larocque, Vezina Trophy Ken Dryden, Goaltender, NHL First Team All-Star Guy Lafleur, Art Ross Trophy Guy Lafleur, Conn Smythe Trophy Guy Lafleur, Hart Memorial Trophy Guy Lafleur, Lou Marsh Trophy Guy Lafleur, right wing, NHL First Team All-Star Guy Lafleur, NHL leader, assists (80)National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 204, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, . Guy Lafleur, NHL leader, points (136) Guy Lapointe, defence, NHL Second Team All-Star Larry Robinson, defence, NHL First Team All-Star Steve Shutt, left wing, NHL First Team All-Star Steve Shutt, NHL leader, goals (60) 132 points, NHL record for most points in a season by a team +216 goal differential, NHL record for highest team differential

Draft picks

Round # Player Nationality College/junior/club team112Peter LeeOttawa 67's (OHA)113Rod SchuttSudbury Wolves (OMJHL)118Bruce BakerOttawa 67's (OMJHL)236Barry Melrose Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL)354Bill Baker University of Minnesota (WCHA)472Ed Clarey Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)590Maurice Barrette Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)6108Pierre Brassard Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)7118Rich Gosselin Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)8123John Gregory University of Wisconsin (WCHA)9125Bruce Horsch Michigan Tech University (WCHA)10127John Tavella Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL)11129Mark Davidson Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)12131Bill Wells Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)13133Ron Wilson St. Catharines Black Hawks (OMJHL)

Notes

Citations

References Canadiens on Hockey Database Canadiens on NHL Reference Canadiens on Hockey Reference