List of NHL seasons
Expansion years
Since 1967, the league re-organized several times as it grew. In 1967, the league played in two divisions, with the playoff winner of each division playing off for the NHL championship.

List of NHL seasons

Section Title: Expansion years
Table Section Text: Since 1967, the league re-organized several times as it grew. In 1967, the league played in two divisions, with the playoff winner of each division playing off for the NHL championship.

No.	Season	Playoffs	Finals	No. of teams	Reg. season games	Start (reg. season)	Finish (incl. playoffs)	Top record	Champion

51	1967–68	1968	1968	12	74	October 11	May 11	Montreal Canadiens (42–22–10)	Montreal Canadiens

52	1968–69	1969	1969	12	76	October 11	May 4	Montreal Canadiens (46–19–11)	Montreal Canadiens

53	1969–70	1970	1970	12	76	October 11	May 10	Chicago Black Hawks (45–22–9)	Boston Bruins

54	1970–71	1971	1971	14	78	October 9	May 18	Boston Bruins (57–14–7)	Montreal Canadiens

55	1971–72	1972	1972	14	78	October 8	May 11	Boston Bruins (54–13–11)	Boston Bruins

56	1972–73	1973	1973	16	78	October 7	May 10	Montreal Canadiens (52–10–16)	Montreal Canadiens

57	1973–74	1974	1974	16	78	October 10	May 19	Boston Bruins (52–17–9)	Philadelphia Flyers

58	1974–75	1975	1975	18	80	October 9	May 27	Philadelphia Flyers (51–18–11)	Philadelphia Flyers

59	1975–76	1976	1976	18	80	October 7	May 16	Montreal Canadiens (58–11–11)	Montreal Canadiens

60	1976–77	1977	1977	18	80	October 5	May 14	Montreal Canadiens (60–8–12)	Montreal Canadiens

61	1977–78	1978	1978	18	80	October 12	May 25	Montreal Canadiens (59–10–11)	Montreal Canadiens

62	1978–79	1979	1979	17	80	October 11	May 21	New York Islanders (51–15–14)	Montreal Canadiens

63	1979–80	1980	1980	21	80	October 9	May 24	Philadelphia Flyers (48–12–20)	New York Islanders

64	1980–81	1981	1981	21	80	October 9	May 21	New York Islanders (48–18–14)	New York Islanders

65	1981–82	1982	1982	21	80	October 6	May 16	New York Islanders (54–16–10)	New York Islanders

66	1982–83	1983	1983	21	80	October 5	May 17	Boston Bruins (50–20–10)	New York Islanders

67	1983–84	1984	1984	21	80	October 4	May 19	Edmonton Oilers (57–18–5)	Edmonton Oilers

68	1984–85	1985	1985	21	80	October 11	May 30	Philadelphia Flyers (53–20–7)	Edmonton Oilers

69	1985–86	1986	1986	21	80	October 10	May 24	Edmonton Oilers (56–17–7)	Montreal Canadiens

70	1986–87	1987	1987	21	80	October 9	May 31	Edmonton Oilers (50–24–6)	Edmonton Oilers

71	1987–88	1988	1988	21	80	October 8	May 26	Calgary Flames (48–23–9)	Edmonton Oilers

72	1988–89	1989	1989	21	80	October 6	May 25	Calgary Flames (54–17–9)	Calgary Flames

73	1989–90	1990	1990	21	80	October 5	May 24	Boston Bruins (46–25–9)	Edmonton Oilers

74	1990–91	1991	1991	21	80	October 4	May 25	Chicago Blackhawks (49–23–8)	Pittsburgh Penguins

75	1991–92	1992	1992	22	80	October 3	June 1	New York Rangers (50–25–5)	Pittsburgh Penguins

Sentence(s)

The 1971–72 season was the 55th season of the National Hockey League.

final_sentence: The 1971–72 season was the 55th season of the National Hockey League.