| TEAM |
GP
Games played - Number of games the team has played
|
W
Wins - Games the team has won, either in regulation or in overtime
|
L
Losses - Games the team has lost in regulation
|
T
Ties - Games that have ended in a tie
|
PTS
Points - Team points, calculated from W, L, T, OTL and SOL; used to determine standings
|
GF
Goals for - Number of goals the team has scored
|
GA
Goals against - Number of goals scored against the team
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 60 | 8 | 12 | 132 | 387 | 171 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 34 | 31 | 15 | 83 | 271 | 241 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 34 | 33 | 13 | 81 | 240 | 252 |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 24 | 42 | 14 | 62 | 221 | 307 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 16 | 55 | 9 | 41 | 183 | 309 |
| # | SKATERS |
GP
Games played - Number of games the player has set foot on the ice
|
G
Goals - Number of goals the player has scored
|
A
Assists - Number of goals the player has assisted in
|
PTS
Points - Scoring points, calculated as the sum of G and A
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Guy Lafleur | 80 | 56 | 80 | 136 |
| 22 | Steve Shutt | 80 | 60 | 45 | 105 |
| 19 | Larry Robinson | 77 | 19 | 66 | 85 |
| 5 | Guy Lapointe | 77 | 25 | 51 | 76 |
| 25 | Jacques Lemaire | 75 | 34 | 41 | 75 |
| # | #1 GOALIE |
GP
Games played - Number of games the player has set foot on the ice
|
RECORD
Record - Goalie record (W-L-T)
|
SO
Shutouts - Number of games where the goaltender has not allowed a goal
|
GAA
Goals against average - Mean goals-per-game scored on the goaltender
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Ken Dryden | 56 | 41-6-8 | 10 | 2.14 |
| DATE | AWAY | HOME |
|---|
THE REGULAR SEASON
There was very little room for improvement for the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens, and with good reason. As it turned out, the only major roster move was Rejean Houle’s return from a three-year excursion in the WHA.
Scotty Bowman’s Habs were the undisputed cream of the NHL crop, losing just eight games all season, and only one on Forum ice. A young team built on speed and scoring talent that featured the tightest defense in the league, they could also take care of themselves when things got physical.
Steve Shutt’s 60 markers, a new team-high, led all NHL snipers and were the most ever by a left winger. Guy Lafleur replicated his 56-goal season and, with 136 points, repeated as Art Ross Trophy recipient and was also awarded the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP. Third and fourth place in scoring ladder went to rearguards Larry Robinson and Guy Lapointe, who combined for 117 points. All four joined netminder, Ken Dryden, as league All-Stars and Robinson also claimed the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman.
Ten Canadiens recorded 50 points or more as Montreal’s youthful supporting cast of grinders, speedsters and defensive specialists continued to develop, lessening the impact of injuries that kept captain Yvan Cournoyer from 20 regular season games and all of the postseason.
Ken Dryden’s 10 shutouts led all NHL netminders and his 2.14 goals-against average was good enough for second in that department. Michel Larocque shared Vezina Trophy honors with his tall stablemate, relieving him for 26 games and allowing an average of only 2.09 goals per game.
Montreal went 60-8-12, scoring 216 goals more than they allowed. The most impressive feat was the Habs’ whopping 132 point total, which set a league record which still stands today. The Canadiens ran away from the pack, finishing 20 points ahead of the Flyers, second overall in the NHL and a whopping 49 points ahead of the Norris Division runner-up, Los Angeles Kings.
In what was a surprise to no one, Scotty Bowman was named as the NHL’s top coach, capturing the Jack Adams Trophy for getting the best out of the greatest team ever assembled.
THE PLAYOFFS
The spring of 1977 had a sense of deja vu to it. The Blues fared no better than the Blackhawks had a year earlier, as Montreal cruised to the semis in just four games, outscoring the Blues 19-4.Like a year earlier, the only bumps on Montreal’s road to Lord Stanley’s Cup came courtesy of the New York Islanders, a youthful team on the rise led by youngsters Denis Potvin and Bryan Trottier.
Montreal took an early lead with 4-3 and 3-0 wins before dropping game three on Long Island. Momentum shifted to the visitors for the rest of the series with Dryden’s second shutout of the semis, the 4-0 victory putting Montreal a game away from the Finals.
The Isles briefly postponed the inevitable with a 4-3 overtime victory, but Montreal won last game of the series 2-1 to go on to the Finals against the Boston Bruins.
Opening with a 7-3 win, Montreal reverted to defense to take the second game, and Ken Dryden closed the door to post his third playoff shutout in a 3-0 whitewashing.
Playing at home didn’t change the Bruins’ fortunes. Allowing their guests a three-goal lead before replying, they ended the night on the losing end of a 4-2 decision in Game 3.
Boston took the fourth game into overtime with the teams tied at a goal apiece. Four and a half minutes later, Jacques Lemaire ended the series with his third game-winning goal of the postseason as the Montreal Canadiens hoisted a second Stanley Cup in as many years to cap their dream season.
| Quarter-finals - St. Louis Blues | ||||
| Date | AWAY | HOME | ||
| April 11th, 1977 | STL 2 | MTL 7 | ||
| April 13th, 1977 | STL 0 | MTL 3 | ||
| April 16th, 1977 | MTL 5 | STL 1 | ||
| April 17th, 1977 | MTL 4 | STL 1 | ||
| Canadiens won best-of-seven series 4-0 | ||||
| Semi-finals - New York Islanders | ||||
| Date | AWAY | HOME | ||
| April 23rd, 1977 | NYI 3 | MTL 4 | ||
| April 26th, 1977 | NYI 0 | MTL 3 | ||
| April 28th, 1977 | MTL 3 | NYI 5 | ||
| April 30th, 1977 | MTL 4 | NYI 0 | ||
| May 3rd, 1977 | NYI 4 | MTL 3 | ||
| May 5th, 1977 | MTL 2 | NYI 1 | ||
| Canadiens won best-of-seven series 4-2 | ||||
| Stanley Cup Finals - Boston Bruins | ||||
| Date | AWAY | HOME | ||
| May 7th, 1977 | BOS 3 | MTL 7 | ||
| May 10th, 1977 | BOS 0 | MTL 3 | ||
| May 12th, 1977 | MTL 4 | BOS 2 | ||
| May 14th, 1977 | MTL 2 | BOS 1 | ||
| Canadiens won best-of-seven series 4-0 | ||||
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