1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their tenth in the National Hockey League. They finished third in the Norris Division for the third season in a row. In the playoffs, the Penguins were eliminated in the first round. Changes occurred in management and ownership. In December 1976, Baz Bastien replaced Wren Blair as the club's general manager. The club was sold to shopping mall magnate Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. in February 1977.

1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division3rd Norris
Conference5th Wales
1976–77 record34–33–13
Goals for240
Goals against252
Team information
General managerWren Blair (Oct–Dec)
Baz Bastien (Dec–Apr)
CoachKen Schinkel
CaptainRon Schock
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
GoalsJean Pronovost (33)
AssistsSyl Apps, Jr. (43)
PointsJean Pronovost (64)
Penalty minutesBob Kelly (115)
WinsDunc Wilson (18)
Goals against averageDenis Herron (2.94)

Regular season

Despite the fact that Pierre Larouche, Jean Pronovost and Syl Apps were unable to reproduce their franchise record-setting offensive output of the previous season the team finished with a similar regular season record on the strength of improved defensive prowess and the goaltending of Dunc Wilson and Denis Herron, who was re-acquired from the Kansas City Scouts in the off-season.

General Manager Wren Blair, who had been part of the ownership group which bought the club from the NHL in July 1975 until February 1976, was removed from his position December 3, 1976. Aldege 'Baz' Bastien, the man who had coached the American Hockey League's Pittsburgh Hornets to a Calder Cup championship in 1967, was named Blair's replacement.

Co-owners Al Savill and Otto Frenzel sold the club to shopping mall magnate Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. in February 1977, less than two years after having bought the team from the NHL.

Final standings
Norris Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Montreal Canadiens8060812387171132
Los Angeles Kings8034311527124183
Pittsburgh Penguins8034331324025281
Washington Capitals8024421422130762
Detroit Red Wings801655918330941

[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.

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results
1976–77 Schedule
October: 2–6–4 (home: 2–2–2 ; road: 0–4–2), 8 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
1Oct 6Vancouver Canucks5–9Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena1–0–02
2Oct 7Pittsburgh Penguins1–10Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum1–1–02
3Oct 9Los Angeles Kings7–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena1–2–02
4Oct 13Pittsburgh Penguins1–4Chicago Black HawksChicago Stadium1–3–02
5Oct 15Pittsburgh Penguins1–2Atlanta FlamesOmni Coliseum1–4–02
6Oct 16Detroit Red Wings3–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena2–4–04
7Oct 20Pittsburgh Penguins4–4Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens2–4–15
8Oct 23Montreal Canadiens9–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena2–5–15
9Oct 24Atlanta Flames3–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena2–5–26
10Oct 27Pittsburgh Penguins4–4Buffalo SabresBuffalo Memorial Auditorium2–5–37
11Oct 28Pittsburgh Penguins0–3Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum2–6–37
12Oct 30New York Rangers2–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena2–6–48
November: 6–5–1 (home: 3–3–0 ; road: 3–2–1), 13 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
13Nov 2Los Angeles Kings1–7Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena3–6–410
14Nov 5Pittsburgh Penguins4–1Colorado RockiesMcNichols Sports Arena4–6–412
15Nov 7Pittsburgh Penguins2–2Cleveland BaronsColiseum at Richfield4–6–513
16Nov 10Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Minnesota North StarsMet Center4–7–513
17Nov 13Philadelphia Flyers0–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena5–7–515
18Nov 14Pittsburgh Penguins5–1New York RangersMadison Square Garden (IV)6–7–517
19Nov 20Colorado Rockies5–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena6–8–517
20Nov 21Chicago Black Hawks0–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena7–8–519
21Nov 24Boston Bruins4–0Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena7–9–519
22Nov 26Pittsburgh Penguins3–1Cleveland BaronsColiseum at Richfield8–9–521
23Nov 27New York Islanders3–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena8–10–521
24Nov 30Pittsburgh Penguins4–6Washington CapitalsCapital Centre8–11–521
December: 7–5–1 (home: 4–1–1 ; road: 3–4–0), 15 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
25Dec 2Pittsburgh Penguins4–2New York IslandersNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum9–11–523
26Dec 4Pittsburgh Penguins1–3Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum9–12–523
27Dec 7Minnesota North Stars2–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena10–12–525
28Dec 9Pittsburgh Penguins2–1Buffalo SabresBuffalo Memorial Auditorium11–12–527
29Dec 11Pittsburgh Penguins3–6New York IslandersNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum11–13–527
30Dec 12St. Louis Blues3–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena12–13–529
31Dec 16Cleveland Barons4–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena13–13–531
32Dec 18Washington Capitals5–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena13–14–531
33Dec 19Pittsburgh Penguins3–6Boston BruinsBoston Garden13–15–531
34Dec 22Pittsburgh Penguins5–2Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens14–15–533
35Dec 23Pittsburgh Penguins2–5Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium14–16–533
36Dec 26Toronto Maple Leafs2–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena15–16–535
37Dec 29Montreal Canadiens3–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena15–16–636
January: 7–4–2 (home: 5–3–1 ; road: 2–1–1), 16 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
38Jan 1Buffalo Sabres3–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena16–16–638
39Jan 4Vancouver Canucks2–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena16–16–739
40Jan 6Pittsburgh Penguins3–3Washington CapitalsCapital Centre16–16–840
41Jan 8Chicago Black Hawks2–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena17–16–842
42Jan 11Toronto Maple Leafs2–0Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena17–17–842
43Jan 15Buffalo Sabres2–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena18–17–844
44Jan 16Atlanta Flames6–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena18–18–844
45Jan 19Pittsburgh Penguins3–0Vancouver CanucksPacific Coliseum19–18–846
46Jan 20Pittsburgh Penguins3–5Los Angeles KingsThe Forum19–19–846
47Jan 22New York Islanders2–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena20–19–848
48Jan 27Pittsburgh Penguins3–0New York RangersMadison Square Garden (IV)21–19–850
49Jan 29Philadelphia Flyers5–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena21–20–850
50Jan 30Boston Bruins2–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena22–20–852
February: 5–5–4 (home: 4–0–2 ; road: 1–5–2), 14 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
51Feb 2Minnesota North Stars2–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena23–20–854
52Feb 3Pittsburgh Penguins0–0Cleveland BaronsColiseum at Richfield23–20–955
53Feb 5Detroit Red Wings1–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena24–20–957
54Feb 6Pittsburgh Penguins2–5Colorado RockiesMcNichols Sports Arena24–21–957
55Feb 8Pittsburgh Penguins3–6St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena24–22–957
56Feb 11Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Vancouver CanucksPacific Coliseum24–23–957
57Feb 12Pittsburgh Penguins3–2Los Angeles KingsThe Forum25–23–959
58Feb 16Montreal Canadiens4–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena25–23–1060
59Feb 19Pittsburgh Penguins6–6Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens25–23–1161
60Feb 20Cleveland Barons1–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena26–23–1163
61Feb 22Pittsburgh Penguins1–3Washington CapitalsCapital Centre26–24–1163
62Feb 24Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium26–25–1163
63Feb 26Washington Capitals1–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena27–25–1165
64Feb 27Boston Bruins2–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena27–25–1266
March: 5–8–1 (home: 3–3–0 ; road: 2–5–1), 11 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
65Mar 2Los Angeles Kings5–0Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena27–26–1266
66Mar 3Pittsburgh Penguins1–5Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum27–27–1266
67Mar 5Pittsburgh Penguins3–3Los Angeles KingsThe Forum27–27–1367
68Mar 8Pittsburgh Penguins2–1St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena28–27–1369
69Mar 9Colorado Rockies0–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena29–27–1371
70Mar 12Buffalo Sabres2–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena30–27–1373
71Mar 13Pittsburgh Penguins0–4Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum30–28–1373
72Mar 15Pittsburgh Penguins3–7Atlanta FlamesOmni Coliseum30–29–1373
73Mar 16St. Louis Blues3–7Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena31–29–1375
74Mar 19New York Rangers5–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena31–30–1375
75Mar 20Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Chicago Black HawksChicago Stadium31–31–1375
76Mar 22Pittsburgh Penguins4–2Minnesota North StarsMet Center32–31–1377
77Mar 27Pittsburgh Penguins0–3Boston BruinsBoston Garden32–32–1377
78Mar 30Washington Capitals4–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena32–33–1377
April: 2–0–0 (home: 1–0–0 ; road: 1–0–0), 4 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
79Apr 2Pittsburgh Penguins4–3Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium33–33–1379
80Apr 3Detroit Red Wings2–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena34–33–1381
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

The Penguins' opponent in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs was once again the Toronto Maple Leafs. While 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.

April 5 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena Recap  
No scoring First period 13:25 – Bob Kelly (1)
Don Ashby (1) – 04:12
Lanny McDonald (1) – 12:11		 Second period No scoring
Dave Williams (1) – 10:32
Darryl Sittler (1) – en – 19:52		 Third period 18:34 – pp – Mario Faubert (1)
Wayne Thomas 29 saves / 31 shots Goalie stats Denis Herron 29 saves / 32 shots
April 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
Jean Pronovost (1) – 01:01
Ron Stackhouse (1) – 06:37
Syl Apps Jr. (1) – pp – 12:30		 First period No scoring
Lowell MacDonald (1) – 07:38 Second period 06:10 – pp – Darryl Sittler (2)
12:38 – Stan Weir (1)
Greg Malone (1) – 13:57
Ron Stackhouse (2) – en – 19:23		 Third period 03:37 – pp – Ian Turnbull (1)
07:52 – Borje Salming (1)
Denis Herron 37 saves / 41 shots Goalie stats Wayne Thomas 28 saves / 33 shots
April 9 Toronto Maple Leafs 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena Recap  
Borje Salming (2) – pp – 08:34
Ian Turnbull (2) – pp – 14:14		 First period 19:40 – pp – Jean Pronovost (2)
Lanny McDonald (2) – 08:46
Lanny McDonald (3) – 14:17		 Second period 16:06 – Blair Chapman (1)
Lanny McDonald (4) – en – 19:44 Third period No scoring
Mike Palmateer 38 saves / 40 shots Goalie stats Denis Herron 37 saves / 41 shots
Toronto won series 2–1

Player statistics
Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[5]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Dunc Wilson45181981295
Denis Herron3415115941
Gordon Laxton6130260
Total3433132496
Playoffs[6]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Denis Herron3120110
Total120110

†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 500 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 3–6 loss to New York on December 11.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1976–77 season:

Trades
August 11, 1976 To Montreal Canadiens

1978 3rd round pick
future considerations

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Don Awrey

October 8, 1976 To New York Rangers

1978 4th round pick

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Dunc Wilson

October 18, 1976 To Los Angeles Kings

1977 5th round pick

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Mike Corrigan

Additions and subtractions
Additions
PlayerFormer teamVia
Denis HerronKansas City Scoutsfree agency (1976-08-07)
Steve LyonMinnesota North Starsfree agency (1976–11)
Tom PriceCleveland Baronsfree agency (1977-02-28)
Subtractions
PlayerNew teamVia
Barry WilkinsEdmonton Oilers (WHA)free agency
Pete LaframboiseEdmonton Oilers (WHA)free agency (1976-05)
Simon NoletColorado Rockiescompensation for signing of Denis Herron (1976-08-07)
Michel PlasseColorado Rockiescompensation for signing of Denis Herron (1976-08-07)
Colin Campbell†Colorado Rockiescompensation for signing of Denis Herron (1976-09-01)

†Colin Campbell was loaned to the Rockies for one season. He was returned to the Penguins in 1977.

Draft picks
See also: List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks

The 1976 NHL Amateur Draft was held on June 1, 1976 in Montreal, Quebec.[7]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 2 Blair Chapman Right wing  Canada Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)
2 19 Greg Malone Center  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA)
2 29 Peter Marsh Right wing  Canada Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)
3 47 Morris Lukowich Left wing  Canada Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)
4 65 Greg Redquest Goaltender  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA)
5 83 Brendan Lowe Defense  Canada Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)
6 101 Vic Sirko Defense  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA)

References
  1. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
  2. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  3. "1976–1977 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  4. "1976–1977 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  5. "1976–1977 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  6. "1976–1977 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  7. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.
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