# 1976–77 New York Islanders season

The 1976–77 New York Islanders season was the fifth season for the franchise in the National Hockey League.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Patrick Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 48 | 16 | 16 | 323 | 213 | 112 |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 47 | 21 | 12 | 288 | 193 | 106 |
| Atlanta Flames | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 264 | 265 | 80 |
| New York Rangers | 80 | 29 | 37 | 14 | 272 | 310 | 72 |
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

Patrick Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1976–77 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
Total
Atlanta
—0–64–1–12–2–26–9–3
N.Y. Islanders
6–0—4–1–13–2–113–3–2
N.Y. Rangers
1–4–11–4–1—0–2–42–10–6
Philadelphia
2–2–22–3–12–0–4—6–5–7
Vs. Smythe Division
1976–77 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
MIN
STL
VAN
Total
Atlanta
3–23–1–12–1–24–11–3–113–8–4
N.Y. Islanders
3–1–15–03–1–13–1–14–118–4–3
N.Y. Rangers
2–2–13–1–15–02–2–13–215–7–3
Philadelphia
3–0–25–03–0–25–04–0–120–0–5
Vs. Adams Division
1976–77 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
CLE
TOR
Total
Atlanta
2–21–2–11–2–11–45–10–2
N.Y. Islanders
2–1–13–1–13–0–11–2–19–4–4
N.Y. Rangers
0–4–10–43–0–12–1–15–9–3
Philadelphia
3–12–23–1–12–1–110–5–2
Vs. Norris Division
1976–77 NHL records
Team
DET
LAK
MTL
PIT
WSH
Total
Atlanta
2–1–12–20–3–13–0–13–110–7–3
N.Y. Islanders
2–22–20–42–21–0–37–10–3
N.Y. Rangers
3–10–3–11–31–2–12–27–11–2
Philadelphia
3–14–00–43–12–0–212–6–2 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 7, 1976 | 3–0 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 9, 1976 | 2–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | W | October 12, 1976 | 7–0 | Atlanta Flames (1976–77) | 3–0–0 |
| 4 | W | October 13, 1976 | 4–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) | 4–0–0 |
| 5 | T | October 16, 1976 | 4–4 | Cleveland Barons (1976–77) | 4–0–1 |
| 6 | W | October 19, 1976 | 6–1 | Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) | 5–0–1 |
| 7 | L | October 22, 1976 | 0–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) | 5–1–1 |
| 8 | W | October 23, 1976 | 5–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77) | 6–1–1 |
| 9 | L | October 25, 1976 | 1–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1976–77) | 6–2–1 |
| 10 | W | October 28, 1976 | 5–2 | St. Louis Blues (1976–77) | 7–2–1 |
| 11 | T | October 30, 1976 | 3–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) | 7–2–2 |
| 12 | W | November 1, 1976 | 3–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) | 8–2–2 |
| 13 | W | November 2, 1976 | 5–1 | @ Colorado Rockies (1976–77) | 9–2–2 |
| 14 | W | November 6, 1976 | 5–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1976–77) | 10–2–2 |
| 15 | W | November 9, 1976 | 8–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) | 11–2–2 |
| 16 | T | November 11, 1976 | 2–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1976–77) | 11–2–3 |
| 17 | W | November 13, 1976 | 3–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1976–77) | 12–2–3 |
| 18 | W | November 18, 1976 | 3–1 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) | 13–2–3 |
| 19 | W | November 19, 1976 | 6–4 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) | 14–2–3 |
| 20 | L | November 23, 1976 | 1–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1976–77) | 14–3–3 |
| 21 | L | November 25, 1976 | 1–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) | 14–4–3 |
| 22 | W | November 27, 1976 | 3–1 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) | 15–4–3 |
| 23 | L | November 28, 1976 | 3–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) | 15–5–3 |
| 24 | L | November 30, 1976 | 2–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77) | 15–6–3 |
| 25 | L | December 2, 1976 | 2–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) | 15–7–3 |
| 26 | W | December 4, 1976 | 3–0 | Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) | 16–7–3 |
| 27 | W | December 7, 1976 | 4–2 | St. Louis Blues (1976–77) | 17–7–3 |
| 28 | W | December 11, 1976 | 6–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) | 18–7–3 |
| 29 | W | December 12, 1976 | 6–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) | 19–7–3 |
| 30 | T | December 14, 1976 | 4–4 | New York Rangers (1976–77) | 19–7–4 |
| 31 | W | December 17, 1976 | 4–2 | @ Atlanta Flames (1976–77) | 20–7–4 |
| 32 | L | December 18, 1976 | 2–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) | 20–8–4 |
| 33 | W | December 21, 1976 | 3–0 | Boston Bruins (1976–77) | 21–8–4 |
| 34 | W | December 26, 1976 | 2–1 | @ New York Rangers (1976–77) | 22–8–4 |
| 35 | T | December 28, 1976 | 4–4 | @ St. Louis Blues (1976–77) | 22–8–5 |
| 36 | L | January 1, 1977 | 1–5 | Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) | 22–9–5 |
| 37 | T | January 2, 1977 | 3–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) | 22–9–6 |
| 38 | W | January 7, 1977 | 5–4 | @ Atlanta Flames (1976–77) | 23–9–6 |
| 39 | W | January 8, 1977 | 6–3 | Atlanta Flames (1976–77) | 24–9–6 |
| 40 | W | January 10, 1977 | 8–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) | 25–9–6 |
| 41 | L | January 12, 1977 | 1–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) | 25–10–6 |
| 42 | W | January 15, 1977 | 2–1 | Washington Capitals (1976–77) | 26–10–6 |
| 43 | T | January 16, 1977 | 2–2 | @ Washington Capitals (1976–77) | 26–10–7 |
| 44 | W | January 18, 1977 | 7–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1976–77) | 27–10–7 |
| 45 | W | January 20, 1977 | 4–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1976–77) | 28–10–7 |
| 46 | L | January 22, 1977 | 2–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) | 28–11–7 |
| 47 | W | January 23, 1977 | 7–1 | @ Colorado Rockies (1976–77) | 29–11–7 |
| 48 | L | January 27, 1977 | 1–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77) | 29–12–7 |
| 49 | L | January 29, 1977 | 0–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) | 29–13–7 |
| 50 | L | January 30, 1977 | 1–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1976–77) | 29–14–7 |
| 51 | W | February 1, 1977 | 6–3 | Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) | 30–14–7 |
| 52 | W | February 3, 1977 | 6–3 | New York Rangers (1976–77) | 31–14–7 |
| 53 | T | February 5, 1977 | 3–3 | Washington Capitals (1976–77) | 31–14–8 |
| 54 | L | February 6, 1977 | 0–4 | @ New York Rangers (1976–77) | 31–15–8 |
| 55 | W | February 8, 1977 | 4–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) | 32–15–8 |
| 56 | W | February 12, 1977 | 2–1 | Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) | 33–15–8 |
| 57 | W | February 14, 1977 | 2–1 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) | 34–15–8 |
| 58 | L | February 15, 1977 | 0–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) | 34–16–8 |
| 59 | W | February 19, 1977 | 5–2 | New York Rangers (1976–77) | 35–16–8 |
| 60 | T | February 20, 1977 | 2–2 | @ Washington Capitals (1976–77) | 35–16–9 |
| 61 | W | February 22, 1977 | 2–1 | Colorado Rockies (1976–77) | 36–16–9 |
| 62 | W | February 25, 1977 | 2–1 | @ Cleveland Barons (1976–77) | 37–16–9 |
| 63 | W | February 26, 1977 | 8–2 | Atlanta Flames (1976–77) | 38–16–9 |
| 64 | L | March 1, 1977 | 4–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1976–77) | 38–17–9 |
| 65 | W | March 3, 1977 | 4–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) | 39–17–9 |
| 66 | L | March 5, 1977 | 1–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1976–77) | 39–18–9 |
| 67 | W | March 6, 1977 | 5–0 | @ Colorado Rockies (1976–77) | 40–18–9 |
| 68 | L | March 8, 1977 | 1–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1976–77) | 40–19–9 |
| 69 | W | March 9, 1977 | 6–2 | @ Atlanta Flames (1976–77) | 41–19–9 |
| 70 | W | March 12, 1977 | 8–3 | Cleveland Barons (1976–77) | 42–19–9 |
| 71 | T | March 13, 1977 | 5–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1976–77) | 42–19–10 |
| 72 | W | March 16, 1977 | 5–0 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) | 43–19–10 |
| 73 | T | March 19, 1977 | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) | 43–19–11 |
| 74 | W | March 22, 1977 | 9–2 | Colorado Rockies (1976–77) | 44–19–11 |
| 75 | T | March 23, 1977 | 1–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77) | 44–19–12 |
| 76 | W | March 26, 1977 | 5–2 | St. Louis Blues (1976–77) | 45–19–12 |
| 77 | W | March 27, 1977 | 6–3 | @ Cleveland Barons (1976–77) | 46–19–12 |
| 78 | L | March 29, 1977 | 1–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) | 46–20–12 |
| 79 | L | April 2, 1977 | 3–5 | Boston Bruins (1976–77) | 46–21–12 |
| 80 | W | April 3, 1977 | 5–2 | @ New York Rangers (1976–77) | 47–21–12 |

## Playoffs
### Preliminary
#### (4) New York Islanders vs. (12) Chicago Black Hawks

* New York wins 2–0

### Quarterfinals
#### (4) New York Islanders vs. (5) Buffalo Sabres

* New York won series 4–0

### Semifinals
#### (1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (4) New York Islanders

* Montreal won series 4–2

## Player statistics

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Denis Potvin | D | 80 | 25 | 55 | 80 | 103 | 42 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| Bryan Trottier | C | 76 | 30 | 42 | 72 | 34 | 28 | 11 | 1 | 6 |
| Billy Harris | RW | 80 | 24 | 43 | 67 | 44 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Bob Nystrom | RW | 80 | 29 | 27 | 56 | 91 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| J.P. Parise | LW | 80 | 25 | 31 | 56 | 46 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| Clark Gillies | LW | 70 | 33 | 22 | 55 | 93 | 18 | 12 | 0 | 5 |
| Jude Drouin | C | 78 | 24 | 29 | 53 | 27 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Ed Westfall | D/RW | 79 | 14 | 33 | 47 | 8 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Jean Potvin | D | 79 | 10 | 36 | 46 | 26 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Bob Bourne | C | 75 | 16 | 19 | 35 | 30 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Lorne Henning | C | 80 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 10 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Garry Howatt | LW | 70 | 13 | 15 | 28 | 182 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Dave Lewis | D | 79 | 4 | 24 | 28 | 44 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bert Marshall | D | 72 | 4 | 21 | 25 | 61 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Pat Price | D | 71 | 3 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre St. Laurent | C | 72 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 55 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Gerry Hart | D | 80 | 4 | 18 | 22 | 98 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Billy MacMillan | RW | 43 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Richie Hansen | C | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Lorimer | D | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chico Resch | G | 46 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy Smith | G | 36 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Walt Ledingham | LW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Chico Resch | 2711 | 46 | 26 | 13 | 6 | 103 | 2.28 | 4 |
| Billy Smith | 2089 | 36 | 21 | 8 | 6 | 87 | 2.50 | 2 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 47 | 21 | 12 | 190 | 2.37 | 6 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Billy Harris | RW | 12 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Jude Drouin | C | 12 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Denis Potvin | D | 12 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Trottier | C | 12 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clark Gillies | LW | 12 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| J.P. Parise | LW | 11 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Lewis | D | 12 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Westfall | D/RW | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jean Potvin | D | 11 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre St. Laurent | C | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Bob Bourne | C | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy MacMillan | RW | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Garry Howatt | LW | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerry Hart | D | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Nystrom | RW | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lorne Henning | C | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Price | D | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Salvian | RW | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bert Marshall | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chico Resch | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy Smith | G | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Billy Smith | 580 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 27 | 2.79 | 0 |
| Chico Resch | 144 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2.08 | 0 |
| Team: | 724 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 32 | 2.65 | 0 |
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals  MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;

## Draft picks

New York's draft picks at the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft held in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 14 | Alex McKendry | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL) |
| 2 | 32 | Mike Kaszycki | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |
| 3 | 50 | Garth MacGuigan | Canada | Montreal Juniors (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 68 | Ken Morrow | United States | Bowling Green University (CCHA) |
| 5 | 86 | Mike Hordy | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |
| 6 | 104 | Yvon Vautour | Canada | Laval National (QMJHL) |