# 1975–76 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1975–76 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 50th season in the NHL. During the previous season, the club had a 37–35–8 record, earning 82 points, and finished in third place in the Smythe Division. Then, the Black Hawks upset the heavily favored Boston Bruins in the NHL preliminary series before losing to the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL quarter-finals.
Pit Martin and Stan Mikita were named co-captains for the season. The team had played without a captain, since 1969–70.
Chicago started off the 1975–76 regular season with a 10–4–11 record in their first 25 games and took the lead in the Smythe Division. The Hawks had a 15-game unbeaten streak (6–0–9) during that span. The team reached a peak of being ten games over .500 with a record of 21–11–16 through 48 games. Chicago then fell into a slump and found themselves under .500 with only four games left in the season, falling to 29–30–17. The club went unbeaten in their last four games (3–0–1) to finish the year with a 32–30–18 record, earning 82 points, which was enough to finish in first place in the Smythe Division. The Hawks 32 wins was their lowest toal since 1967–68, when they also won 32 games.
Offensively, the Black Hawks were led by Pit Martin, who had a club high 32 goals and 71 points. Dennis Hull rebounded from a poor 1974–75 season to score 27 goals and 66 points. Ivan Boldirev scored 28 goals and 62 points. Defenseman Dale Tallon led the club with 47 assists, while scoring 15 goals for 62 points. Stan Mikita missed 32 games due to injuries; however, he still earned 57 points. Keith Magnuson had a team high +13 rating, and Phil Russell led the club with 194 penalty minutes.
In goal, Tony Esposito once again led the club with 30 victories and a 2.97 GAA, earning four shutouts in 68 games.
Since the Hawks won their division, they were given a bye in the NHL preliminary series, and they faced the powerful Montreal Canadiens in the NHL quarter-finals. The Canadiens had a record breaking season in 1975–76 with 58 wins and 127 points and finished in first place in the Norris Division. The Black Hawks—Canadiens series opened with two games at the Montreal Forum. The Canadiens quickly took control of the series, shutting out Chicago 4–0 in the series opener, and then winning 3–1 in the second game. The series continued at Chicago Stadium for the next two games, where the Canadiens took the third game by a 2–1 score, and then swept the Hawks out of the playoffs with a 4–1 victory in the fourth game.

## Season standings
### Final standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 80 | 32 | 30 | 18 | 254 | 261 | 82 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 33 | 32 | 15 | 271 | 272 | 81 |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 29 | 37 | 14 | 249 | 290 | 72 |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 20 | 53 | 7 | 195 | 303 | 47 |
| Kansas City Scouts | 80 | 12 | 56 | 12 | 190 | 351 | 36 |
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

Smythe Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Smythe Division
1975–76 NHL records
Team
CHI
KCS
MIN
STL
VAN
Total
Chicago
—5–0–15–13–2–14–1–117–4–3
Kansas City
0–5–1—0–61–3–22–43–18–3
Minnesota
1–56–0—2–41–510–14–0
St. Louis
2–3–13–1–24–2—3–2–112–8–4
Vancouver
1–4–14–25–12–3–1—12–10–2
Vs. Patrick Division
1975–76 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
Total
Chicago
2–2–11–3–10–2–31–2–24–9–7
Kansas City
0–50–2–31–40–51–16–3
Minnesota
1–41–41–40–3–23–15–2
St. Louis
3–1–10–4–12–31–3–16–11–3
Vancouver
0–3–23–0–21–3–10–4–14–10–6
Vs. Adams Division
1975–76 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
CAL
TOR
Total
Chicago
0–3–10–2–21–2–12–1–13–8–5
Kansas City
1–2–10–3–12–1–10–3–13–9–4
Minnesota
0–3–10–41–31–32–13–1
St. Louis
1–2–11–2–11–2–10–2–23–8–5
Vancouver
1–2–12–1–11–2–12–1–16–6–4
Vs. Norris Division
1975–76 NHL records
Team
DET
LAK
MTL
PIT
WSH
Total
Chicago
1–2–12–21–2–12–1–12–28–9–3
Kansas City
1–30–41–31–2–12–1–15–13–2
Minnesota
1–31–2–10–41–2–12–0–25–11–4
St. Louis
1–2–11–2–10–42–24–08–10–2
Vancouver
4–01–31–1–21–2–14–011–6–3 :

## Game log
### Regular season

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record | Pts |
| 1 | October 8 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 | New York Rangers | 0–0–1 | 1 |
| 2 | October 11 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 0–1–1 | 1 |
| 3 | October 12 | Vancouver Canucks | 0–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–1–1 | 3 |
| 4 | October 15 | Detroit Red Wings | 4–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–1–2 | 4 |
| 5 | October 16 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–7 | Buffalo Sabres | 1–2–2 | 4 |
| 6 | October 18 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–1 | Minnesota North Stars | 2–2–2 | 6 |
| 7 | October 19 | Minnesota North Stars | 2–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–2–2 | 8 |
| 8 | October 22 | Los Angeles Kings | 5–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–3–2 | 8 |
| 9 | October 25 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–0 | Kansas City Scouts | 4–3–2 | 10 |
| 10 | October 26 | Washington Capitals | 7–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–4–2 | 10 |
| 11 | October 29 | Montreal Canadiens | 1–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 5–4–2 | 12 |
| 12 | November 1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–1 | Detroit Red Wings | 6–4–2 | 14 |
| 13 | November 2 | Vancouver Canucks | 1–6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 7–4–2 | 16 |
| 14 | November 5 | Philadelphia Flyers | 4–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 7–4–3 | 17 |
| 15 | November 8 | Chicago Black Hawks | 7–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 8–4–3 | 19 |
| 16 | November 9 | Minnesota North Stars | 0–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 9–4–3 | 21 |
| 17 | November 12 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–4 | New York Rangers | 9–4–4 | 22 |
| 18 | November 13 | Chicago Black Hawks | 5–5 | Philadelphia Flyers | 9–4–5 | 23 |
| 19 | November 15 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–4 | Montreal Canadiens | 9–4–6 | 24 |
| 20 | November 19 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–2 | Los Angeles Kings | 10–4–6 | 26 |
| 21 | November 22 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–1 | Vancouver Canucks | 10–4–7 | 27 |
| 22 | November 26 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 10–4–8 | 28 |
| 23 | November 29 | Boston Bruins | 4–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 10–4–9 | 29 |
| 24 | November 30 | Kansas City Scouts | 1–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 10–4–10 | 30 |
| 25 | December 3 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 3–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 10–4–11 | 31 |
| 26 | December 4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–5 | Philadelphia Flyers | 10–5–11 | 31 |
| 27 | December 7 | Atlanta Flames | 2–0 | Chicago Black Hawks | 10–6–11 | 31 |
| 28 | December 10 | Chicago Black Hawks | 7–2 | Washington Capitals | 11–6–11 | 33 |
| 29 | December 13 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–2 | Minnesota North Stars | 11–7–11 | 33 |
| 30 | December 14 | St. Louis Blues | 4–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 11–8–11 | 33 |
| 31 | December 17 | Philadelphia Flyers | 4–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 11–9–11 | 33 |
| 32 | December 19 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–5 | California Golden Seals | 11–10–11 | 33 |
| 33 | December 21 | New York Islanders | 2–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 12–10–11 | 35 |
| 34 | December 23 | St. Louis Blues | 1–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 13–10–11 | 37 |
| 35 | December 27 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 14–10–11 | 39 |
| 36 | December 28 | Buffalo Sabres | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 14–10–12 | 40 |
| 37 | December 30 | California Golden Seals | 3–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 15–10–12 | 42 |
| 38 | January 3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–1 | New York Islanders | 15–10–13 | 43 |
| 39 | January 4 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 3–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 16–10–13 | 45 |
| 40 | January 9 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–1 | Atlanta Flames | 16–10–14 | 46 |
| 41 | January 11 | New York Rangers | 6–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 16–11–14 | 46 |
| 42 | January 14 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 | California Golden Seals | 16–11–15 | 47 |
| 43 | January 16 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–1 | Vancouver Canucks | 17–11–15 | 49 |
| 44 | January 18 | Philadelphia Flyers | 0–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 18–11–15 | 51 |
| 45 | January 21 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–3 | New York Rangers | 18–11–16 | 52 |
| 46 | January 24 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–1 | St. Louis Blues | 19–11–16 | 54 |
| 47 | January 25 | Kansas City Scouts | 1–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 20–11–16 | 56 |
| 48 | January 28 | Atlanta Flames | 3–7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 21–11–16 | 58 |
| 49 | January 29 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–5 | Boston Bruins | 21–12–16 | 58 |
| 50 | January 31 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–2 | Detroit Red Wings | 21–13–16 | 58 |
| 51 | February 1 | Vancouver Canucks | 3–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 21–14–16 | 58 |
| 52 | February 4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–8 | Montreal Canadiens | 21–15–16 | 58 |
| 53 | February 6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–1 | Atlanta Flames | 22–15–16 | 60 |
| 54 | February 8 | Washington Capitals | 2–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 23–15–16 | 62 |
| 55 | February 11 | Los Angeles Kings | 7–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 23–16–16 | 62 |
| 56 | February 14 | Chicago Black Hawks | 5–4 | Kansas City Scouts | 24–16–16 | 64 |
| 57 | February 15 | Boston Bruins | 4–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 24–17–16 | 64 |
| 58 | February 18 | Buffalo Sabres | 4–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 24–17–17 | 65 |
| 59 | February 21 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–10 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 24–18–17 | 65 |
| 60 | February 22 | California Golden Seals | 5–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 24–19–17 | 65 |
| 61 | February 24 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–1 | Vancouver Canucks | 25–19–17 | 67 |
| 62 | February 26 | Chicago Black Hawks | 6–2 | Los Angeles Kings | 26–19–17 | 69 |
| 63 | February 28 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–4 | New York Islanders | 26–20–17 | 69 |
| 64 | February 29 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–4 | Washington Capitals | 26–21–17 | 69 |
| 65 | March 4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–6 | Buffalo Sabres | 26–22–17 | 69 |
| 66 | March 6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–7 | St. Louis Blues | 26–23–17 | 69 |
| 67 | March 10 | Montreal Canadiens | 5–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 26–24–17 | 69 |
| 68 | March 13 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–1 | Minnesota North Stars | 27–24–17 | 71 |
| 69 | March 14 | New York Islanders | 5–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 27–25–17 | 71 |
| 70 | March 16 | Chicago Black Hawks | 6–3 | Kansas City Scouts | 28–25–17 | 73 |
| 71 | March 17 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 5–6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 29–25–17 | 75 |
| 72 | March 20 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–4 | New York Islanders | 29–26–17 | 75 |
| 73 | March 21 | Detroit Red Wings | 6–0 | Chicago Black Hawks | 29–27–17 | 75 |
| 74 | March 24 | Atlanta Flames | 7–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 29–28–17 | 75 |
| 75 | March 25 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–4 | Boston Bruins | 29–29–17 | 75 |
| 76 | March 27 | New York Rangers | 6–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 29–30–17 | 75 |
| 77 | March 28 | Minnesota North Stars | 3–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 30–30–17 | 77 |
| 78 | March 31 | Kansas City Scouts | 3–6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 31–30–17 | 79 |
| 79 | April 3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–3 | St. Louis Blues | 31–30–18 | 80 |
| 80 | April 4 | St. Louis Blues | 2–7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 32–30–18 | 82 |

### Playoffs: Montreal Canadiens 4, Chicago Black Hawks 0

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 11 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–4 | Montreal Canadiens | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 13 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–3 | Montreal Canadiens | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 15 | Montreal Canadiens | 2–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–3 |
| 4 | April 18 | Montreal Canadiens | 4–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–4 |

## Season stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Pit Martin | 80 | 32 | 39 | 71 | 44 |
| Dennis Hull | 80 | 29 | 39 | 68 | 28 |
| Ivan Boldirev | 78 | 28 | 34 | 62 | 33 |
| Dale Tallon | 80 | 15 | 47 | 62 | 101 |
| Cliff Koroll | 80 | 25 | 33 | 58 | 29 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA |
| Tony Esposito | 68 | 4003 | 30 | 23 | 13 | 198 | 4 | 2.97 |
| Gilles Villemure | 15 | 797 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 57 | 0 | 4.29 |

## Playoff stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Dick Redmond | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Darcy Rota | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Pit Martin | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Cliff Koroll | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Phil Russell | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Tony Esposito | 4 | 240 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 3.25 |

## Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks during the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft at the NHL Office in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 7 | Greg Vaydik | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) |
| 2 | 25 | Danny Arndt | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 3 | 43 | Mike O'Connell | United States | Kingston Canadians (OHA) |
| 4 | 61 | Pierre Giroux | Canada | Hull Festivals (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 79 | Bob Hoffmeyer | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 6 | 97 | Tom Ulseth | United States | University of Wisconsin (NCAA) |
| 7 | 115 | Ted Bulley | Canada | Hull Festivals (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 141 | Paul Jensen | United States | Michigan Tech (NCAA) |

## Awards, records and honors

* Stan Mikita, Lester Patrick Trophy