1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins season

1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins
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)
Penalty minutes	Bob Kelly (115)
Wins	Dunc Wilson (18)
Goals against average	Denis Herron (2.94)

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

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

Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Norris Division 1976–77 NHL records Team DET LAK MTL PIT WSH Total Detroit — 0–5–1 0–5–1 2–4 0–3–3 2–17–5 Los Angeles 5–0–1 — 0–4–2 3–2–1 5–0–1 13–6–5 Montreal 5–0–1 4–0–2 — 4–0–2 6–0 19–0–5 Pittsburgh 4–2 2–3–1 0–4–2 — 1–4–1 7–13–4 Washington 3–0–3 0–5–1 0–6 4–1–1 — 7–12–5 Vs. Adams Division 1976–77 NHL records Team BOS BUF CLE TOR Total Detroit 1–4 1–4 3–2 1–3–1 6–13–1 Los Angeles 2–2–1 2–3 2–1–2 1–2–2 7–8–5 Montreal 2–3 2–2–1 5–0 2–1–1 11–6–2 Pittsburgh 1–3–1 4–0–1 3–0–2 2–1–2 10–4–6 Washington 0–4–1 1–4 0–5 3–2 4–15–1 Vs. Patrick Division 1976–77 NHL records Team ATL NYI NYR PHI Total Detroit 1–2–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 5–10–1 Los Angeles 2–2 2–2 3–0–1 0–4 7–8–1 Montreal 3–0–1 4–0 3–1 4–0 14–1–1 Pittsburgh 0–3–1 2–2 2–1–1 1–3 5–9–2 Washington 1–3 0–1–3 2–2 0–2–2 3–8–5 Vs. Smythe Division 1976–77 NHL records Team CHI COL MIN STL VAN Total Detroit 0–4 0–4 0–3–1 0–3–1 3–1 3–15–2 Los Angeles 2–2 2–0–2 1–3 2–2 0–2–2 7–9–4 Montreal 3–0–1 3–0–1 3–0–1 3–1 4–0 16–1–3 Pittsburgh 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–1–1 12–7–1 Washington 1–2–1 3–1 1–1–2 3–1 2–2 10–7–3

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

Regular Season

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/−	PIM
Jean Pronovost	79	33	31	64	8	24
Pierre Larouche	65	29	34	63	–10	14
Syl Apps Jr.	72	18	43	61	2	20
Rick Kehoe	80	30	27	57	–5	10
Ron Schock	80	17	32	49	–6	10
Ron Stackhouse	80	7	34	41	11	72
Mike Corrigan	73	14	27	41	–13	36
Greg Malone	66	18	19	37	3	43
Blair Chapman	80	14	23	37	–12	16
Wayne Bianchin	79	28	6	34	–1	28
J. Bob Kelly	74	10	21	31	13	115
Dennis Owchar	46	5	18	23	–7	37
Stan Gilbertson	67	6	9	15	–9	13
Mario Faubert	47	2	11	13	–4	32
Don Awrey	79	1	12	13	–2	40
Russ Anderson	66	2	11	13	5	81
Dave Burrows	69	3	6	9	–15	29
Ed Van Impe	10	0	3	3	–2	6
Lew Morrison	76	2	1	3	–6	0
Lowell MacDonald	3	1	1	2	–1	0
Vic Hadfield	9	0	2	2	1	0
Thomas Price†	7	0	2	2	0	4
Ed Gilbert	7	0	0	0	–3	0
Yves Bergeron	1	0	0	0	0	0
Steve Lyon	3	0	0	0	0	2
Total		240	373	613	—	632

Playoffs

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/−	PIM
Jean Pronovost	3	2	1	3	0	2
Lowell MacDonald	3	1	2	3	0	4
Ron Stackhouse	3	2	1	3	0	0
Pierre Larouche	3	0	3	3	0	0
Blair Chapman	3	1	1	2	0	7
Rick Kehoe	3	0	2	2	0	0
Dave Burrows	3	0	2	2	0	0
Greg Malone	3	1	1	2	0	2
Don Awrey	3	0	1	1	0	0
Wayne Bianchin	3	0	1	1	0	6
Russ Anderson	3	0	1	1	0	14
Mario Faubert	3	1	0	1	0	2
John Kelly	3	1	0	1	0	4
Ron Schock	3	0	1	1	0	0
Syl Apps Jr.	3	1	0	1	0	12
Lew Morrison	1	0	0	0	0	0
Mike Corrigan	2	0	0	0	0	0
Total		10	17	27	—	53

Goaltenders

Regular Season

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

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.

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

• Penguins on Hockey Database