1976–77 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1976–77 Montreal Canadiens season was the Canadiens' 68th season. The Canadiens won their 20th Stanley Cup defeating the Boston Bruins 4 games to 0 in the 1977 Stanley Cup Finals.
==Off-season==
==Regular Season==
The Canadiens set an NHL record for most points in a season by a team with 132 points. Habs Team Best Ever, by Ken Campbell, The Hockey News, November 20, 2007 They outscored opponents by 216 goals in 80 games for an average of 2.7 goals a game .
Of the 24 players on the roster, 14 were drafted by the Canadiens including: Pierre Bouchard, Rick Chartraw, Brian Engblom, Bob Gainey, Rejean Houle, Guy Lafleur, Michel Larocque, Pierre Mondou, Bill Nyrop, Doug Risebrough, Larry Robinson, Steve Shutt, Mario Tremblay, and Murray Wilson. The only player on the roster not developed by the Canadiens was Peter Mahovlich. 
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results 	Regular Season Results
No. 	R 	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	W 	October 7, 1976 	10–1 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) 	1–0–0
2 	W 	October 9, 1976 	3–0 	Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) 	2–0–0
3 	L 	October 10, 1976 	1–3 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) 	2–1–0
4 	W 	October 12, 1976 	4–2 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) 	3–1–0
5 	W 	October 14, 1976 	7–1 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) 	4–1–0
6 	W 	October 16, 1976 	7–4 	New York Rangers (1976–77) 	5–1–0
7 	L 	October 17, 1976 	3–5 	@ Boston Bruins (1976–77) 	5–2–0
8 	W 	October 19, 1976 	6–0 	@ Washington Capitals (1976–77) 	6–2–0
9 	W 	October 21, 1976 	5–3 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77) 	7–2–0
10 	W 	October 23, 1976 	9–1 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) 	8–2–0
11 	W 	October 25, 1976 	4–1 	New York Islanders (1976–77) 	9–2–0
12 	T 	October 27, 1976 	4–4 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) 	9–2–1
13 	L 	October 30, 1976 	3–4 	Boston Bruins (1976–77) 	9–3–1
14 	W 	November 1, 1976 	3–2 	Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) 	10–3–1
15 	W 	November 3, 1976 	5–2 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1976–77)	11–3–1
16 	W 	November 6, 1976 	11–3 	Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) 	12–3–1
17 	W 	November 9, 1976 	8–1 	@ St. Louis Blues (1976–77) 	13–3–1
18 	T 	November 10, 1976 	2–2 	@ Atlanta Flames (1976–77) 	13–3–2
19 	T 	November 13, 1976 	3–3 	Colorado Rockies (1976–77) 	13–3–3
20 	W 	November 15, 1976 	4–2 	St. Louis Blues (1976–77) 	14–3–3
21 	L 	November 17, 1976 	0–1 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77) 	14–4–3
22 	W 	November 19, 1976 	6–3 	Minnesota North Stars (1976–77) 	15–4–3
23 	W 	November 21, 1976 	9–5 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77) 	16–4–3
24 	W 	November 23, 1976 	5–1 	@ New York Islanders (1976–77) 	17–4–3
25 	W 	November 24, 1976 	8–1 	@ Cleveland Barons (1976–77) 	18–4–3
26 	W 	November 27, 1976 	4–3 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) 	19–4–3
27 	T 	December 2, 1976 	3–3 	Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) 	19–4–4
28 	W 	December 4, 1976 	3–1 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) 	20–4–4
29 	W 	December 6, 1976 	1–0 	Cleveland Barons (1976–77) 	21–4–4
30 	W 	December 8, 1976 	4–3 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) 	22–4–4
31 	W 	December 11, 1976 	5–0 	Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) 	23–4–4
32 	L 	December 12, 1976 	2–5 	@ New York Rangers (1976–77) 	23–5–4
33 	W 	December 15, 1976 	8–2 	@ Colorado Rockies (1976–77) 	24–5–4
34 	W 	December 18, 1976 	2–0 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) 	25–5–4
35 	W 	December 20, 1976 	5–4 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) 	26–5–4
36 	W 	December 27, 1976 	4–2 	Cleveland Barons (1976–77) 	27–5–4
37 	T 	December 29, 1976 	3–3 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) 	27–5–5
38 	T 	December 30, 1976 	5–5 	Minnesota North Stars (1976–77) 	27–5–6
39 	W 	January 2, 1977 	7–0 	Atlanta Flames (1976–77) 	28–5–6
40 	W 	January 3, 1977 	6–4 	Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) 	29–5–6
41 	W 	January 6, 1977 	9–2 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) 	30–5–6
42 	W 	January 8, 1977 	7–2 	Washington Capitals (1976–77) 	31–5–6
43 	W 	January 11, 1977 	6–0 	@ Colorado Rockies (1976–77) 	32–5–6
44 	L 	January 12, 1977 	2–7 	@ St. Louis Blues (1976–77) 	32–6–6
45 	W 	January 15, 1977 	6–0 	Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) 	33–6–6
46 	L 	January 17, 1977 	3–7 	@ Boston Bruins (1976–77) 	33–7–6
47 	W 	January 18, 1977 	3–0 	@ Washington Capitals (1976–77) 	34–7–6
48 	W 	January 20, 1977 	6–2 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) 	35–7–6
49 	W 	January 22, 1977 	5–2 	Washington Capitals (1976–77) 	36–7–6
50 	T 	January 23, 1977 	2–2 	Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) 	36–7–7
51 	T 	January 29, 1977 	3–3 	Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) 	36–7–8
52 	W 	January 30, 1977 	2–1 	New York Islanders (1976–77) 	37–7–8
53 	W 	February 1, 1977 	7–3 	@ Cleveland Barons (1976–77) 	38–7–8
54 	W 	February 3, 1977 	6–4 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) 	39–7–8
55 	T 	February 5, 1977 	3–3 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) 	39–7–9
56 	W 	February 9, 1977 	6–0 	Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) 	40–7–9
57 	W 	February 12, 1977 	8–3 	Boston Bruins (1976–77) 	41–7–9
58 	W 	February 13, 1977 	5–3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) 	42–7–9
59 	T 	February 16, 1977 	4–4 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) 	42–7–10
60 	W 	February 19, 1977 	5–2 	Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) 	43–7–10
61 	W 	February 21, 1977 	3–2 	Atlanta Flames (1976–77) 	44–7–10
62 	W 	February 23, 1977 	4–2 	@ Atlanta Flames (1976–77) 	45–7–10
63 	W 	February 26, 1977 	5–3 	Cleveland Barons (1976–77) 	46–7–10
64 	W 	February 27, 1977 	8–1 	@ New York Rangers (1976–77) 	47–7–10
65 	W 	March 1, 1977 	5–4 	@ New York Islanders (1976–77) 	48–7–10
66 	W 	March 3, 1977 	5–1 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) 	49–7–10
67 	W 	March 5, 1977 	7–2 	New York Rangers (1976–77) 	50–7–10
68 	L 	March 6, 1977 	1–4 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) 	50–8–10
69 	T 	March 9, 1977 	2–2 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77) 	50–8–11
70 	W 	March 10, 1977 	7–1 	Colorado Rockies (1976–77) 	51–8–11
71 	W 	March 12, 1977 	5–1 	Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) 	52–8–11
72 	W 	March 14, 1977 	3–0 	Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) 	53–8–11
73 	W 	March 16, 1977 	5–2 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1976–77)	54–8–11
74 	W 	March 21, 1977 	5–1 	@ Boston Bruins (1976–77) 	55–8–11
75 	W 	March 24, 1977 	6–1 	St. Louis Blues (1976–77) 	56–8–11
76 	W 	March 26, 1977 	4–0 	Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) 	57–8–11
77 	W 	March 27, 1977 	6–0 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) 	58–8–11
78 	T 	March 30, 1977 	3–3 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77) 	58–8–12
79 	W 	April 2, 1977 	11–0 	Washington Capitals (1976–77) 	59–8–12
80 	W 	April 3, 1977 	2–1 	@ Washington Capitals (1976–77) 	60–8–12
==Playoffs==
===Montreal Canadiens 4, St Louis Blues 0===
===Montreal Canadiens 4, New York Islanders 2===
===Montreal Canadiens 4, Boston Bruins 0===
Facing the Boston Bruins, Jacques Lemaire scored three game-winning goals, including the Cup winner in overtime. Guy Lafleur won the Conn Smythe Trophy for scoring 9 goals and 17 assists during the playoffs.
Date 	Visitors	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
May 7 	Boston 	3 	Montreal	7 	
May 10	Boston 	0 	Montreal	3 	
May 12	Montreal	4 	Boston 	2 	
May 14	Montreal	2 	Boston 	1 	OT
==Player Stats==
===Regular Season===
;Scoring
Player	Pos 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	RW 	80	56	80	136	20 	89 	14 	0 	8
 	LW 	80	60	45	105	28 	88 	8 	0 	9
 	D 	77	19	66	85 	45 	120	3 	0 	3
 	D 	77	25	51	76 	53 	69 	10 	0 	6
 	C 	75	34	41	75 	22 	70 	5 	2 	4
 	C 	76	15	47	62 	45 	36 	3 	0 	1
 	C 	78	22	38	60 	132	33 	1 	0 	6
 	RW 	60	25	28	53 	8 	27 	6 	0 	2
 	LW 	79	24	28	52 	50 	30 	2 	0 	5
 	W 	65	22	30	52 	24 	39 	2 	0 	3
 	RW 	74	18	28	46 	61 	25 	4 	0 	3
 	D 	78	9 	33	42 	35 	79 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	80	16	22	38 	14 	30 	0 	0 	2
 	LW 	80	14	19	33 	41 	31 	0 	1 	3
 	LW 	60	13	14	27 	26 	25 	1 	0 	1
 	D 	74	3 	19	22 	21 	42 	0 	0 	1
 	D/RW	45	5 	14	19 	18 	22 	0 	1 	1
 	D 	73	4 	11	15 	52 	33 	0 	1 	0
 	D/RW	43	3 	4 	7 	59 	27 	0 	0 	1
 	G 	56	0 	2 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	4 	0 	1 	1 	0 	1 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	26	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L	T 	GA 	GAA 	SO
 	3275	56	41	6	8 	117	2.14	10
 	1525	26	19	2	4 	53 	2.09	4
Team: 	4800	80	60	8	12	170	2.12	14
===Playoffs===
;Scoring
Player	Pos 	GP	G	A 	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	RW 	14	9	17	26 	6 	1 	0 	2
 	C 	14	7	12	19 	6 	1 	0 	3
 	LW 	14	8	10	18 	2 	2 	0 	3
 	D 	12	3	9 	12 	4 	1 	0 	0
 	D 	14	2	10	12 	12 	1 	0 	0
 	C 	13	4	5 	9 	19 	2 	0 	1
 	D 	14	2	7 	9 	2 	1 	0 	1
 	LW 	14	1	6 	7 	14 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	14	0	7 	7 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	14	3	3 	6 	12 	1 	0 	0
 	LW 	14	4	1 	5 	25 	0 	1 	1
 	C 	12	2	3 	5 	16 	0 	0 	0
 	D/RW	14	3	0 	3 	6 	0 	1 	1
 	RW 	14	3	0 	3 	9 	0 	0 	0
 	D/RW	13	2	1 	3 	17 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	8 	1	0 	1 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	6 	0	1 	1 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	W 	6 	0	1 	1 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	2 	0	0 	0 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	4 	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	C/LW	5 	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	14	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN	GP	W 	L	GA	GAA 	SO
 	849	14	12	2	22	1.55	4
Team: 	849	14	12	2	22	1.55	4
Note: 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 
==Awards and Records==
*Prince of Wales Trophy: Montreal Canadiens
*Hart Trophy: Guy Lafleur
*Art Ross Trophy: Guy Lafleur
*Conn Smythe Trophy: Guy Lafleur
*Vezina Trophy: Ken Dryden and Michel Larocque
*NHL Goal Scoring Leader: Steve Shutt
*Guy Lafleur, NHL Leader, Assists (80) National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 204, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5
*Steve Shutt, Left Wing, NHL First Team All-Star
*Guy Lafleur, Right Wing, NHL First Team All-Star
*Larry Robinson, Defence, NHL First Team All-Star
*Ken Dryden, Goaltender, NHL First Team All-Star
*Guy Lapointe, Defence, NHL Second Team All-Star
*NHL record for most points in a season by a team (132)
==1977 Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup Champions==
Ken Dryden, Serge Savard, Guy Lapointe, Larry Robinson, Bill Nyrop, Pierre Bouchard, Jimmy Roberts, Rick Chartraw, Brian Engblom, Guy Lafleur, Steve Shutt, Peter Mahovlich, Yvan Cournoyer, Jacques Lemaire, Yvon Lambert, Bob Gainey, Doug Jarvis, Doug Risebrough, Murray Wilson, Mario Tremblay, Rejean Houle, Pierre Mondou, Mike Polich, Michel Larocque, Scotty Bowman (coach), Sam Pollock (general manager), Eddy Palchak, Pierre Meilleur (trainers)
==Draft Picks==
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team
1 	12	Peter Lee (L) 	/ 	Ottawa 67's (OHA)
1 	13	Rod Schutt (L)	 	Sudbury Wolves (OHA)
1 	18	Bruce Baker 	 	Ottawa 67's (OHA)
==Trivia==
*Canadiens who recorded a Hat trick this season include:
**Guy Lafleur during the 7-2 win over the St. Louis Blues, Game 1 of the Quarter-finals, April 11, 1977.
==References==
*Canadiens on Hockey Database
*Canadiens on NHL Reference
*Canadiens on Hockey Reference
Category:Stanley Cup championship seasons
Category:Montreal Canadiens seasons
Category:1976 in hockey
Category:1977 in hockey