# 1976–77 St. Louis Blues season

The 1976–77 St. Louis Blues season was the tenth for the franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. The Blues won the Smythe Division title with a record of 32 wins, 39 losses and nine ties, good for 73 points, and received a first-round bye in the 1977 NHL Playoffs. However, the Blues were no match for the eventual Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens, as the Montrealers swept the Blues in the quarter-finals.

## Regular season
### Final 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 :

## Schedule and results

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

## Playoffs

The Blues lost to the Montreal Canadiens 4 – 0 in the quarterfinals.

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Bob MacMillan | RW | 80 | 19 | 39 | 58 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| Garry Unger | C | 80 | 30 | 27 | 57 | 56 | −12 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
| Larry Patey | C | 80 | 21 | 29 | 50 | 41 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Red Berenson | C | 80 | 21 | 28 | 49 | 8 | −28 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Claude Larose | RW | 80 | 29 | 19 | 48 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Chuck Lefley | LW | 71 | 11 | 30 | 41 | 12 | −15 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Pierre Plante | RW | 76 | 18 | 20 | 38 | 77 | −4 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Jerry Butler | RW | 80 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 65 | −31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rod Seiling | D | 79 | 3 | 26 | 29 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Ted Irvine | LW | 69 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 38 | −16 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Bruce Affleck | D | 80 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 24 | −22 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Gassoff | D | 77 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 254 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Bernie Federko | C | 31 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 15 | −6 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Bob Hess | D | 53 | 4 | 18 | 22 | 14 | −2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Derek Sanderson | C | 32 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 26 | −8 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Floyd Thomson | LW | 58 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Rick Bourbonnais | RW | 33 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 10 | −6 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Brian Sutter | LW | 35 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 82 | −8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Plager | D | 54 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 23 | −9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jamie Masters | D | 16 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 2 | −7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Gilles Marotte | D | 47 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 26 | −13 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Dave Hrechkosy | LW | 15 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Zanussi | D | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | −6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Palazzari | C | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yves Belanger | G | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barclay Plager | D | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Smith | D | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Grant | G | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eddie Johnston | G | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Ogilvie | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Staniowski | G | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Eddie Johnston | 2111 | 38 | 13 | 16 | 5 | 108 | 3.07 | 1 |
| Ed Staniowski | 1589 | 29 | 10 | 16 | 1 | 108 | 4.08 | 0 |
| Doug Grant | 960 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 50 | 3.12 | 1 |
| Yves Belanger | 140 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3.00 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 32 | 39 | 9 | 273 | 3.41 | 2 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Bernie Federko | C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Claude Larose | RW | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Patey | C | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Sutter | LW | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Bourbonnais | RW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Gassoff | D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chuck Lefley | LW | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob MacMillan | RW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Garry Unger | C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bruce Affleck | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red Berenson | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jerry Butler | RW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Hess | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ted Irvine | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eddie Johnston | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gilles Marotte | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jamie Masters | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Plager | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pierre Plante | RW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rod Seiling | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Staniowski | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Floyd Thomson | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Eddie Johnston | 138 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 3.91 | 0 |
| Ed Staniowski | 102 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 5.29 | 0 |
| Team: | 240 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 4.50 | 0 |
    Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
    Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

## Draft picks

St. Louis's draft picks at the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft held in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 7 | Bernie Federko | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 2 | 20 | Brian Sutter | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WCHL) |
| 2 | 25 | John Smrke | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
| 3 | 43 | Jim Kirkpatrick | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
| 4 | 56 | Mike Liut | Canada | Bowling Green University (CCHA) |
| 4 | 61 | Paul Skidmore | United States | Boston College (ECAC) |
| 6 | 97 | Nels Goddard | Canada | Michigan Tech University (WCHA) |
| 7 | 113 | Mike Eaves | United States | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
| 8 | 121 | Jacques Soguel | Switzerland | Davos (Switzerland) |
| 9 | 124 | Dave Dornseif | United States | Providence College (ECAC) |
| 10 | 126 | Brad Wilson | United States | Providence College (ECAC) |
| 11 | 128 | Dan Hoene | United States | University of Michigan (WCHA) |
| 12 | 130 | Goran Lindblom | Sweden | Skelleftea (Sweden) |
| 13 | 132 | Jim Bales | Canada | University of Denver (WCHA) |
| 14 | 134 | Anders Hakansson | Sweden | Solna (Sweden) |
| 15 | 135 | Juhani Wallenius | Finland | Rauma (Finland) |