# 1976–77 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1976–77 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 51st season in the NHL, and the club was coming off a 32–30–18 record in 1975–76, earning 82 points, and finishing in first place in the Smythe Division. In the playoffs, the Black Hawks were quickly swept out in four games by the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL quarter-finals.
During the off-season, the Hawks made a big free agent signing, as the club signed eight time Norris Trophy winner Bobby Orr. Orr missed the majority of the 1975–76 due to a knee injury, as he was limited to ten games in his final season with the Boston Bruins. The team also named Keith Magnuson to become a tri-captain, joining Stan Mikita and Pit Martin in that role. The NHL also made a few changes, as the Kansas City Scouts were relocated to Denver, Colorado, and renamed the Colorado Rockies, while the California Seals moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and were renamed the Cleveland Barons.
The Black Hawks got off to a solid start to the season, as in the month of October, they had a 7–5–1 record, however, injuries took a toll on the team, and the Hawks fell into a slump. The Hawks went 3–14–4 in their next 21 games which cost longtime head coach Billy Reay his job. Reay had been with Chicago since 1963, and left the team with a record of 516-335-161 in his fourteen seasons with the club. He was replaced by recently retired Black Hawks defenseman Bill White, who played with the team from 1969 to 1975. Under White, the Hawks played better hockey, as they went 13–12–5 in his first 30 games, however, the team would go on an eight-game losing streak, and find themselves battling the Vancouver Canucks for the final playoff spot in the Smythe Division. The Hawks eventually finished the season with a 26–43–11 record, earning 63 points, and squeaked into the post-season. The 26 victories and 63 points was their fewest total since the team won 24 games and earned 55 points in 1957–58, while their 43 losses was their highest since losing 51 games in 1953–54.
Offensively, the Black Hawks were led by Ivan Boldirev, who had a team high 24 goals, 38 assists and 62 points. Darcy Rota tied Boldirev for the team lead in goals, as he also scored 24 times, while earning 46 points. Pit Martin had 17 goals and 53 points, while Stan Mikita had 19 goals and 49 points while appearing in only 57 games. On defense, Dick Redmond led the way, scoring 22 goals and 47 points, while Phil Russell had 9 goals and 45 points from the blueline, along with a team high 233 penalty minutes. Bobby Orr, limited to only 20 games, earned 23 points, while posting a team best +6 rating.
In goal, Tony Esposito played the majority of the games, winning 25 games, while registering a GAA of 3.45, and earning two shutouts.
The Hawks opened the playoffs in a best of three preliminary series against the New York Islanders, who finished in second place in the Patrick Division with 106 points, which was 43 more than the Hawks. The series opened with two games at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New York, and the Islanders made quick work of the Hawks in the first game, easily winning 5–2 to take the series lead. New York would then complete the two-game sweep, narrowly defeating the Hawks 2–1 in the second game, as Chicago was swept out of the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Black Hawks were originally scheduled as the home team for the second game, but its home rink Chicago Stadium had already been booked that night for the second of three Led Zeppelin concerts.

## Season standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 32 | 39 | 9 | 239 | 276 | 73 |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 23 | 39 | 18 | 240 | 310 | 64 |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 80 | 26 | 43 | 11 | 240 | 298 | 63 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 25 | 42 | 13 | 235 | 294 | 63 |
| Colorado Rockies | 80 | 20 | 46 | 14 | 226 | 307 | 54 |
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
1976–77 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
MIN
STL
VAN
Total
Chicago
—2–2–22–3–12–41–4–17–13–4
Colorado
2–2–2—3–2–11–4–12–2–28–10–6
Minnesota
3–2–12–3–1—2–2–21–4–18–11–5
St. Louis
4–24–1–12–2–2—4–1–114–6–4
Vancouver
4–1–12–2–24–1–11–4–1—11–8–5
Vs. Patrick Division
1976–77 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
Total
Chicago
2–31–3–12–2–10–3–25–11–4
Colorado
1–3–10–51–3–10–52–16–2
Minnesota
1–2–21–3–10–50–3–22–13–5
St. Louis
1–41–3–12–2–10–54–14–2
Vancouver
3–1–11–42–30–4–16–12–2
Vs. Adams Division
1976–77 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
CLE
TOR
Total
Chicago
0–41–31–32–1–14–11–1
Colorado
1–30–3–11–2–11–2–13–10–3
Minnesota
2–1–11–2–11–1–21–35–7–4
St. Louis
1–2–12–21–2–12–26–8–2
Vancouver
0–40–3–11–2–11–2–12–11–3
Vs. Norris Division
1976–77 NHL records
Team
DET
LAK
MTL
PIT
WSH
Total
Chicago
4–02–20–3–12–22–1–110–8–2
Colorado
4–00–2–20–3–12–21–37–10–3
Minnesota
3–0–13–10–3–11–31–1–28–8–4
St. Louis
3–0–12–21–31–31–38–11–1
Vancouver
1–32–0–20–41–2–12–26–11–3 :

## Game log
### Regular season

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

### New York Islanders 2, Chicago Black Hawks 0

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–5 | New York Islanders | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–2 | New York Islanders | 0–2 |

## Season stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Ivan Boldirev | 80 | 24 | 38 | 62 | 40 |
| Pit Martin | 75 | 17 | 36 | 53 | 22 |
| Stan Mikita | 57 | 19 | 30 | 49 | 20 |
| Dick Redmond | 80 | 22 | 25 | 47 | 30 |
| Darcy Rota | 76 | 24 | 22 | 46 | 82 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA |
| Tony Esposito | 69 | 4067 | 25 | 36 | 8 | 234 | 2 | 3.45 |
| Michel Dumas | 5 | 241 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 4.23 |
| Mike Veisor | 3 | 180 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 4.33 |
| Gilles Villemure | 6 | 312 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 5.38 |

## Playoff stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Kirk Bowman | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Dennis Hull | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Grant Mulvey | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Dale Tallon | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Bob Murray | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Tony Esposito | 2 | 120 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3.00 |

## Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft at the NHL Office in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/junior/club team (league) |
| 1 | 9 | Réal Cloutier | Canada | Quebec Nordiques (WHA) |
| 2 | 27 | Jeff McDill | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) |
| 3 | 45 | Thomas Gradin | Sweden | Modo Hockey (Sweden) |
| 4 | 63 | Dave Debol | United States | University of Michigan (NCAA) |
| 5 | 81 | Terry McDonald | Canada | Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) |
| 6 | 99 | John Peterson | Canada | University of Notre Dame (NCAA) |
| 7 | 115 | John Rothstein | United States | University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA) |