1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their ninth in the National Hockey League. They finished third in the Norris Division, as they had in 1974–75. Despite strong seasons by Pierre Larouche, who set new club records in goals scored in a season (53) and points in a season (111), Jean Pronovost and Syl Apps, Jr. (who set a new club record for assists in a season with 67) the Penguins powerful offense scored a meagre three goals in three games against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the preliminary round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, ending their season.

1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division3rd Norris
Conference6th Wales
1975–76 record35–33–12
Goals for339
Goals against303
Team information
General managerWren Blair
CoachMarc Boileau (Oct–Jan)
Ken Schinkel (Jan–Apr)
CaptainRon Schock
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
GoalsPierre Larouche (53)
AssistsSyl Apps, Jr. (67)
PointsPierre Larouche (111)
Penalty minutesSteve Durbano (161)
WinsMichel Plasse (24)
Goals against averageMichel Plasse (3.45)

Regular season

Division standings
Norris Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Montreal Canadiens80581111337174127
Los Angeles Kings803833926326585
Pittsburgh Penguins8035331233930382
Detroit Red Wings8026441022630062
Washington Capitals8011591022439432

[1]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.[2]

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results
1975–76 Schedule
October: 4–2–1 (home: 2–1–1 ; road: 2–1–0), 9 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
1Oct 7Pittsburgh Penguins4–2Washington CapitalsCapital Centre1–0–02
2Oct 11Washington Capitals5–7Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena2–0–04
3Oct 15Pittsburgh Penguins8–4Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens3–0–06
4Oct 18Detroit Red Wings1–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena4–0–08
5Oct 21Montreal Canadiens7–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena4–1–08
6Oct 25Philadelphia Flyers4–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena4–1–19
7Oct 30Pittsburgh Penguins0–4Los Angeles KingsThe Forum4–2–19
November: 6–8–1 (home: 4–4–0 ; road: 2–4–1), 13 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
8Nov 1Pittsburgh Penguins3–7Minnesota North StarsMet Center4–3–19
9Nov 2Pittsburgh Penguins2–7Buffalo SabresBuffalo Memorial Auditorium4–4–19
10Nov 5New York Islanders6–7Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena5–4–111
11Nov 6Pittsburgh Penguins5–3St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena6–4–113
12Nov 8Chicago Black Hawks7–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena6–5–113
13Nov 9Pittsburgh Penguins4–6Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum6–6–113
14Nov 12Pittsburgh Penguins6–6Washington CapitalsCapital Centre6–6–214
15Nov 13Montreal Canadiens5–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena6–7–214
16Nov 15Buffalo Sabres5–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena6–8–214
17Nov 18California Golden Seals5–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena6–9–214
18Nov 21Pittsburgh Penguins4–1Atlanta FlamesOmni Coliseum7–9–216
19Nov 22Los Angeles Kings3–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena8–9–218
20Nov 26Detroit Red Wings2–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena9–9–220
21Nov 29New York Rangers3–8Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena10–9–222
22Nov 30Pittsburgh Penguins2–4Boston BruinsBoston Garden10–10–222
December: 5–7–2 (home: 3–0–1 ; road: 2–7–1), 12 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
23Dec 3Pittsburgh Penguins3–3Chicago Black HawksChicago Stadium10–10–323
24Dec 4Pittsburgh Penguins1–6New York IslandersNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum10–11–323
25Dec 7Toronto Maple Leafs3–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena11–11–325
26Dec 9Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Kansas City ScoutsKemper Arena11–12–325
27Dec 10Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium11–13–325
28Dec 13Boston Bruins4–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena11–13–426
29Dec 14Pittsburgh Penguins4–7Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum11–14–426
30Dec 17Pittsburgh Penguins9–2California Golden SealsOakland Coliseum Arena12–14–428
31Dec 19Pittsburgh Penguins1–5Vancouver CanucksPacific Coliseum12–15–428
32Dec 20Pittsburgh Penguins5–1Los Angeles KingsThe Forum13–15–430
33Dec 23Pittsburgh Penguins3–4New York RangersMadison Square Garden (IV)13–16–430
34Dec 26Pittsburgh Penguins3–4Atlanta FlamesOmni Coliseum13–17–430
35Dec 27Atlanta Flames2–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena14–17–432
36Dec 31Los Angeles Kings1–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena15–17–434
January: 4–7–3 (home: 4–2–2 ; road: 0–5–1), 11 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
37Jan 3Philadelphia Flyers8–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena15–18–434
38Jan 4Pittsburgh Penguins3–5Chicago Black HawksChicago Stadium15–19–434
39Jan 7Pittsburgh Penguins1–4California Golden SealsOakland Coliseum Arena15–20–434
40Jan 10Vancouver Canucks3–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena15–20–535
41Jan 11Pittsburgh Penguins0–6Buffalo SabresBuffalo Memorial Auditorium15–21–535
42Jan 13Pittsburgh Penguins2–6Boston BruinsBoston Garden15–22–535
43Jan 15Pittsburgh Penguins1–4Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum15–23–535
44Jan 17Buffalo Sabres2–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena16–23–537
45Jan 18New York Rangers3–8Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena17–23–539
46Jan 22Montreal Canadiens4–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena17–24–539
47Jan 24Washington Capitals2–8Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena18–24–541
48Jan 25Minnesota North Stars1–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena18–24–642
49Jan 29Kansas City Scouts2–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena19–24–644
50Jan 31Pittsburgh Penguins4–4Kansas City ScoutsKemper Arena19–24–745
February: 8–2–4 (home: 6–1–1 ; road: 2–1–3), 20 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
51Feb 1Toronto Maple Leafs1–7Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena20–24–747
52Feb 5Pittsburgh Penguins1–5Boston BruinsBoston Garden20–25–747
53Feb 7Pittsburgh Penguins7–3Los Angeles KingsThe Forum21–25–749
54Feb 8Pittsburgh Penguins7–3Vancouver CanucksPacific Coliseum22–25–751
55Feb 11Pittsburgh Penguins4–4California Golden SealsOakland Coliseum Arena22–25–852
56Feb 14Pittsburgh Penguins4–4New York IslandersNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum22–25–953
57Feb 15Los Angeles Kings4–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena23–25–955
58Feb 17Kansas City Scouts1–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena24–25–957
59Feb 19Toronto Maple Leafs5–7Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena25–25–959
60Feb 21Chicago Black Hawks1–10Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena26–25–961
61Feb 22Pittsburgh Penguins2–2Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium26–25–1062
62Feb 25Atlanta Flames3–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena26–25–1163
63Feb 28Vancouver Canucks4–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena27–25–1165
64Feb 29St. Louis Blues5–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena27–26–1165
March: 7–6–1 (home: 4–2–1 ; road: 3–4–0), 15 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
65Mar 2Pittsburgh Penguins6–2Minnesota North StarsMet Center28–26–1167
66Mar 6Minnesota North Stars0–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena29–26–1169
67Mar 7New York Islanders5–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena29–27–1169
68Mar 10Buffalo Sabres7–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena29–28–1169
69Mar 13California Golden Seals2–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena30–28–1171
70Mar 14St. Louis Blues1–7Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena31–28–1173
71Mar 16Pittsburgh Penguins4–5Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum31–29–1173
72Mar 19Pittsburgh Penguins7–3Washington CapitalsCapital Centre32–29–1175
73Mar 21Pittsburgh Penguins4–2New York RangersMadison Square Garden (IV)33–29–1177
74Mar 24Boston Bruins5–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena33–29–1278
75Mar 25Pittsburgh Penguins2–5St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena33–30–1278
76Mar 28Detroit Red Wings0–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena34–30–1280
77Mar 29Pittsburgh Penguins4–5Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens34–31–1280
78Mar 31Pittsburgh Penguins3–7Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum34–32–1280
April: 1–1–0 (home: 0–1–0 ; road: 1–0–0), 2 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
79Apr 3Washington Capitals5–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena34–33–1280
80Apr 4Pittsburgh Penguins6–5Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium35–33–1282
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

The Penguins' made the playoffs for the fourth time in their history, losing in the preliminary round to Toronto.

April 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 13:01 – pp – Jim McKenny (1)
No scoring Second period 04:44 – Lanny McDonald (1)
11:00 – Bob Neely (1)
Stan Gilbertson (1) – 04:17 Third period 15:02 – George Ferguson (1)
Michel Plasse 32 saves / 36 shots Goalie stats Wayne Thomas 35 saves / 36 shots
April 8 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 11:25 – pp – Lowell MacDonald (1)
No scoring Third period 19:21 – en – Vic Hadfield (1)
Wayne Thomas 47 saves / 48 shots Goalie stats Michel Plasse 21 saves / 21 shots
April 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 17:01 – Jim McKenny (2)
No scoring Second period 02:03 – Pat Boutette (1)
09:14 – pp – Borje Salming (1)
No scoring Third period 02:14 – Lanny McDonald (2)
Michel Plasse 32 saves / 36 shots Goalie stats Wayne Thomas 26 saves / 26 shots
Toronto won series 2–1

Player statistics
Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[6]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Michel Plasse552419101782
Gary Inness‡23892820
Gordon Laxton8340310
Bobby Taylor†201070
Total3533122982
Playoffs[7]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Michel Plasse312081
Total12081

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Awards and records
  • Jean Pronovost became the first player to score 200 goals for the Penguins. He did so in a 4–5 loss to Montreal on November 13.
  • Jean Pronovost became the first player to score 400 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–2 win over Detroit on November 26.
  • Jean Pronovost became the first person to score 50 goals in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–5 tie with Boston on March 24.
  • Pierre Larouche became the first person to score 100 points in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–5 tie with Boston on March 24.
  • Pierre Larouche established a new franchise record for goals in a season with 53, besting the previous high of 52 held by Jean Pronovost.
  • Pierre Larouche established a new franchise record for points in a season with 111, besting the previous high of 86 held by Ron Schock.
  • Syl Apps, Jr. established a new franchise record for assists in a season with 67, besting the previous high of 63 held by Ron Schock.
  • Ron Stackhouse established a new franchise record for assists (60) and points (71) by a defenseman in a season. He topped the previous highs of 45 assists 60 points both held by himself.
  • Ron Stackhouse established a new franchise record for points by a defenseman with 150, besting the previous high of 104 held by Duane Rupp.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1975–76 season:

Trades
November 26, 1975 To Washington Capitals

Bob Paradise

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

1976 2nd round pick

December 16, 1975 To Washington Capitals

Harvey Bennett Jr.

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Stan Gilbertson

January 9, 1976 To Kansas City Scouts

Chuck Arnason
Steve Durbano
1976 1st round pick

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Ed Gilbert
Simon Nolet
1976 1st round pick

March 8, 1976 To Philadelphia Flyers

Gary Inness
1977 9th round pick
1977 eleventh round pick
1977 tenth round pick
1977 twelfth round pick
future considerations (1977 8th round pick)

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Bobby Taylor
Ed Van Impe

Additions and subtractions
Additions
PlayerFormer teamVia
———
Subtractions
PlayerNew teamVia
Larry BignellDenver Spurs (WHA)free agency
Bob JohnsonDenver Spurs (WHA)free agency (1975-09)
Bob McManamaNew England Whalers (WHA)free agency

Draft picks
See also: List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks

The 1975 NHL Amateur Draft was held in Montreal, Quebec.[8]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 13 Gordon Laxton Goaltender  Canada New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
2 31 Russell Anderson Defense  United States U. of Minnesota (NCAA)
3 49 Paul Baxter Defense  Canada Cleveland Crusaders (WHA)
4 67 Stu Younger Left wing  Canada Michigan Tech (NCAA)
5 85 Kimbel Clackson Defense  Canada Victoria Cougars (WCHL)
6 103 Peter Morris Forward  Canada Victoria Cougars (WCHL)
7 121 Mike Will Forward  Canada Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
8 139 Tapio Levo Defense  Finland (Finland Jr. Nationals)
9 155 Byron Shutt Left wing  Canada Bowling Green State University (NCAA)
10 170 Frank Salive Goaltender  Canada Peterborough Petes (OHA)
11 185 John Glynne Defense  United States U. of Vermont (NCAA)
12 196 Alexander Hudson Defense  Canada U. of Denver (NCAA)
13 202 Dan Tsubouchi Right wing  Canada St. Louis University (NCAA)
14 206 Bronisla Stankovsky Forward  United States Fargo-Moorhead Sugar Kings (MJHL)
16 217 Kelly Secord Forward  Canada New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)

References
  • Penguins on Hockey Database
  • "1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
  1. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
  2. Total Hockey, p.77, Total Sports, New York, ISBN 0-8362-7114-9
  3. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  4. "1975–1976 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  5. "1975–1976 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  6. "1975–1976 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  7. "1975–1976 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  8. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.
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