1976–77 Toronto Maple Leafs season

The 1976–77 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the franchise's 60th season, 50th as the Maple Leafs. The Leafs finished in third place in the Adams Division with a record of 33 wins, 32 losses and 15 ties for 81 points. They defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Preliminary round 2 games to 1 before being defeated in the Quarter-finals by the Philadelphia Flyers 4 games to 2.
==Regular Season==
On February 2, 1977, Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Ian Turnbull became the first player in NHL history to score five goals on five shots and the first defenseman to score five goals in a game.
===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 	L 	October 5, 1976 	2–4 	@ Colorado Rockies (1976–77) 	0–1–0
2 	W 	October 9, 1976 	7–5 	Boston Bruins (1976–77) 	1–1–0
3 	T 	October 13, 1976 	4–4 	Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) 	1–1–1
4 	L 	October 15, 1976 	3–5 	@ Boston Bruins (1976–77) 	1–2–1
5 	T 	October 16, 1976 	5–5 	Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) 	1–2–2
6 	T 	October 20, 1976 	4–4 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) 	1–2–3
7 	L 	October 21, 1976 	3–5 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1976–77) 	1–3–3
8 	L 	October 23, 1976 	2–5 	New York Islanders (1976–77) 	1–4–3
9 	L 	October 27, 1976 	3–5 	Minnesota North Stars (1976–77) 	1–5–3
10 	W 	October 28, 1976 	3–1 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) 	2–5–3
11 	W 	October 30, 1976 	5–1 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1976–77)	3–5–3
12 	W 	November 1, 1976 	6–3 	@ Cleveland Barons (1976–77) 	4–5–3
13 	L 	November 3, 1976 	2–6 	St. Louis Blues (1976–77) 	4–6–3
14 	W 	November 5, 1976 	4–2 	@ Atlanta Flames (1976–77) 	5–6–3
15 	L 	November 6, 1976 	2–3 	@ St. Louis Blues (1976–77) 	5–7–3
16 	T 	November 10, 1976 	2–2 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) 	5–7–4
17 	W 	November 13, 1976 	3–0 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) 	6–7–4
18 	W 	November 17, 1976 	1–0 	Montreal Canadiens (1976–77) 	7–7–4
19 	W 	November 20, 1976 	8–3 	Minnesota North Stars (1976–77) 	8–7–4
20 	L 	November 21, 1976 	5–9 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1976–77) 	8–8–4
21 	L 	November 24, 1976 	3–4 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) 	8–9–4
22 	W 	November 27, 1976 	4–2 	Boston Bruins (1976–77) 	9–9–4
23 	W 	November 28, 1976 	5–1 	Cleveland Barons (1976–77) 	10–9–4
24 	W 	November 30, 1976 	4–2 	@ New York Islanders (1976–77) 	11–9–4
25 	W 	December 1, 1976 	6–3 	Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) 	12–9–4
26 	T 	December 4, 1976 	2–2 	Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) 	12–9–5
27 	T 	December 5, 1976 	5–5 	@ New York Rangers (1976–77) 	12–9–6
28 	L 	December 8, 1976 	3–4 	Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) 	12–10–6
29 	W 	December 11, 1976 	4–1 	New York Rangers (1976–77) 	13–10–6
30 	L 	December 12, 1976 	4–7 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) 	13–11–6
31 	W 	December 15, 1976 	4–1 	St. Louis Blues (1976–77) 	14–11–6
32 	L 	December 17, 1976 	2–3 	@ Washington Capitals (1976–77) 	14–12–6
33 	W 	December 18, 1976 	4–2 	Colorado Rockies (1976–77) 	15–12–6
34 	W 	December 20, 1976 	6–2 	Atlanta Flames (1976–77) 	16–12–6
35 	L 	December 22, 1976 	2–5 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) 	16–13–6
36 	L 	December 23, 1976 	2–4 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) 	16–14–6
37 	L 	December 26, 1976 	2–4 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) 	16–15–6
38 	W 	December 29, 1976 	6–2 	@ Cleveland Barons (1976–77) 	17–15–6
39 	W 	January 1, 1977 	3–1 	Washington Capitals (1976–77) 	18–15–6
40 	L 	January 2, 1977 	4–6 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) 	18–16–6
41 	W 	January 5, 1977 	6–4 	Colorado Rockies (1976–77) 	19–16–6
42 	L 	January 8, 1977 	2–4 	Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) 	19–17–6
43 	W 	January 11, 1977 	2–0 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) 	20–17–6
44 	W 	January 12, 1977 	3–2 	Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) 	21–17–6
45 	L 	January 15, 1977 	1–4 	Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) 	21–18–6
46 	L 	January 18, 1977 	3–6 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1976–77) 	21–19–6
47 	W 	January 21, 1977 	3–1 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) 	22–19–6
48 	W 	January 23, 1977 	5–2 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1976–77)	23–19–6
49 	W 	January 27, 1977 	2–1 	@ New York Islanders (1976–77) 	24–19–6
50 	T 	January 29, 1977 	3–3 	@ Boston Bruins (1976–77) 	24–19–7
51 	L 	January 31, 1977 	3–7 	@ Atlanta Flames (1976–77) 	24–20–7
52 	W 	February 2, 1977 	9–1 	Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) 	25–20–7
53 	L 	February 5, 1977 	5–7 	Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) 	25–21–7
54 	W 	February 9, 1977 	5–1 	Atlanta Flames (1976–77) 	26–21–7
55 	W 	February 12, 1977 	10–0 	Washington Capitals (1976–77) 	27–21–7
56 	L 	February 13, 1977 	3–8 	@ New York Rangers (1976–77) 	27–22–7
57 	L 	February 14, 1977 	2–7 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) 	27–23–7
58 	W 	February 16, 1977 	5–3 	@ Cleveland Barons (1976–77) 	28–23–7
59 	T 	February 17, 1977 	2–2 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) 	28–23–8
60 	T 	February 19, 1977 	6–6 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1976–77) 	28–23–9
61 	W 	February 20, 1977 	10–8 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77) 	29–23–9
62 	L 	February 23, 1977 	4–5 	New York Rangers (1976–77) 	29–24–9
63 	L 	February 25, 1977 	2–4 	@ Washington Capitals (1976–77) 	29–25–9
64 	L 	February 26, 1977 	5–6 	Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) 	29–26–9
65 	L 	March 2, 1977 	1–4 	Cleveland Barons (1976–77) 	29–27–9
66 	T 	March 5, 1977 	4–4 	Vancouver Canucks (1976–77) 	29–27–10
67 	W 	March 7, 1977 	4–2 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77) 	30–27–10
68 	T 	March 9, 1977 	2–2 	Montreal Canadiens (1976–77) 	30–27–11
69 	W 	March 12, 1977 	6–0 	Detroit Red Wings (1976–77) 	31–27–11
70 	L 	March 13, 1977 	1–6 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) 	31–28–11
71 	W 	March 15, 1977 	4–1 	@ St. Louis Blues (1976–77) 	32–28–11
72 	T 	March 16, 1977 	4–4 	@ Colorado Rockies (1976–77) 	32–28–12
73 	W 	March 19, 1977 	5–4 	Atlanta Flames (1976–77) 	33–28–12
74 	L 	March 21, 1977 	2–7 	Cleveland Barons (1976–77) 	33–29–12
75 	T 	March 23, 1977 	1–1 	New York Islanders (1976–77) 	33–29–13
76 	L 	March 26, 1977 	5–7 	Boston Bruins (1976–77) 	33–30–13
77 	L 	March 27, 1977 	4–7 	@ Washington Capitals (1976–77) 	33–31–13
78 	T 	March 30, 1977 	3–3 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1976–77) 	33–31–14
79 	T 	April 2, 1977 	1–1 	Buffalo Sabres (1976–77) 	33–31–15
80 	L 	April 3, 1977 	4–7 	@ Boston Bruins (1976–77) 	33–32–15
==Playoffs==
===Toronto Maple Leafs 2, Pittsburgh Penguins 1===
The Leafs' opponent in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs was once again the Pittsburgh Penguins. Whilst the Penguins' offensive output greatly improved to ten goals scored (compared to 1976's three goals), the Maple Leafs once again dispatched the Penguins in three games with the away team winning every game in the series.
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 5	Toronto Maple Leafs	4-2 	Pittsburgh Penguins	1-0
2	April 7	Pittsburgh Penguins	6-4 	Toronto Maple Leafs	1-1
3	April 9	Toronto Maple Leafs	5-2 	Pittsburgh Penguins	2-1
===Philadelphia Flyers 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 2===
==Player Stats==
===Regular Season===
;Scoring
Player	Pos 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	RW 	80	46	44	90 	77 	12 	16 	4 	5
 	C 	73	38	52	90 	89 	8 	12 	1 	5
 	D 	80	22	57	79 	84 	47 	4 	2 	0
 	D 	76	12	66	78 	46 	45 	1 	0 	0
 	C 	66	15	30	45 	7 	5 	0 	3 	1
 	D 	76	14	31	45 	36 	-26	3 	0 	3
 	LW 	77	18	25	43 	338	11 	1 	0 	0
 	C 	76	19	23	42 	24 	-14	3 	0 	4
 	LW 	78	24	17	41 	16 	8 	5 	0 	3
 	LW 	41	21	16	37 	8 	-10	8 	1 	2
 	C/RW	80	18	18	36 	107	13 	3 	0 	1
 	LW 	70	17	16	33 	16 	-17	3 	0 	5
 	C 	65	11	19	30 	14 	2 	1 	0 	2
 	C 	69	9 	20	29 	83 	-18	3 	0 	1
 	C 	50	9 	15	24 	24 	0 	0 	2 	0
 	D 	48	1 	12	13 	12 	-4 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	69	1 	10	11 	73 	-1 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	15	2 	5 	7 	4 	2 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	26	2 	3 	5 	24 	5 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	45	0 	5 	5 	51 	-19	0 	0 	0
 	C/LW	7 	1 	1 	2 	19 	3 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	10	1 	1 	2 	4 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	13	0 	2 	2 	4 	-4 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	50	0 	2 	2 	8 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	11	0 	1 	1 	8 	-7 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	33	0 	1 	1 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	1 	0 	0 	0 	2 	 	 	 	
 	G 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L 	T 	GA 	GAA 	SO
 	2877	50	23	18	8 	154	3.21	4
 	1803	33	10	13	6 	116	3.86	1
 	120 	2 	0 	1 	1 	9 	4.50	0
Team: 	4800	80	33	32	15	279	3.49	5
===Playoffs===
;Scoring
Player	Pos 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	C 	9 	5 	16	21 	4 	3 	0 	0
 	RW 	9 	10	7 	17 	6 	3 	0 	1
 	D 	9 	3 	6 	9 	6 	2 	0 	0
 	LW 	9 	3 	6 	9 	29 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	9 	4 	4 	8 	10 	4 	0 	0
 	LW 	9 	1 	3 	4 	6 	1 	0 	0
 	C/RW	9 	0 	4 	4 	17 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	7 	2 	1 	3 	0 	1 	0 	1
 	C 	9 	0 	3 	3 	7 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	9 	2 	0 	2 	0 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	9 	0 	2 	2 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	9 	0 	2 	2 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	9 	1 	0 	1 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	9 	0 	1 	1 	20 	0 	0 	0
 	C/LW	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	6 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA 	SO
 	360	6 	3	3	16	2.67	0
 	202	4 	1	2	12	3.56	0
Team: 	562	9 	4	5	28	2.99	0
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 
==Transactions==
The Maple Leafs were involved in the following transactions during the 1976-77 season.
===Trades===
September 9, 1976 	To St. Louis BluesFA Signing of Rod Seiling 	To Toronto Maple Leafs2nd round pick in 1978 - Joel QuennevilleCash
September 15, 1976	To Colorado RockiesDoug Favell 	To Toronto Maple LeafsCash
September 27, 1976	To Washington CapitalsCash 	To Toronto Maple LeafsBlair MacKasey
September 28, 1976	To Chicago Black HawksJim Harrison 	To Toronto Maple Leafs2nd round pick in 1977 - Bob Gladney
March 8, 1977 	To Colorado Rockies3rd round pick in 1977 - Randy Pierce	To Toronto Maple LeafsTracy Pratt
===Free Agents===
{|class="wikitable"	
Player 	New Team
Rod Seiling	St. Louis Blues
Tom Cassidy	Boston Bruins
==Awards and Records==
*Borje Salming, Defence, NHL First Team All-Star
*Lanny McDonald, Right Wing, NHL Second Team All-Star
*Ian Turnbull, NHL Record, Most Goals in a Game by a Defenseman (5)
==References==
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs seasons
Category:1976 in hockey
Category:1977 in hockey