The 1975–76

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

season was the Kings'

ninth In music, a ninth is a compound interval consisting of an octave plus a second. Like the second, the interval of a ninth is classified as a dissonance in common practice tonality. Since a ninth is an octave larger than a second, its ...

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

Offseason

The Kings were coming off their most successful season ever, built largely on the strength of their defense and goaltending. They ranked second in fewest goals allowed in the 1974–75 season, but tied for ninth in goals scored. In addition, while their penalty killing was excellent, their power play ranked in the lower third of the league. Their early round playoff upset by Toronto (where the Kings scored only six goals in three games) prompted them to make one of the biggest trades in club history. High scoring superstar

Marcel Dionne Marcel Elphège Dionne (born August 3, 1951) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre (ice hockey), centre. He played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers be ...

was in a contract dispute with the

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

and was available to a team that would meet his salary demands. So to bolster the offense, the Kings traded veteran defenseman and team captain

Terry Harper Terrance Victor Harper (born January 27, 1940) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Harper played in the National Hockey League from 1962–63 NHL season, 1962 to 1980–81 NHL season, 1981. During this time, he played ...

and tough guy forward

Dan Maloney Daniel Charles "Snowshoes" Maloney (September 24, 1950 – November 19, 2018) was a Canadian professional ice hockey Winger (ice hockey), left winger in the National Hockey League (NHL) and NHL coach. He featured in the 1971 Stanley Cup Finals wit ...

along with draft picks to the

for future hall of famer Dionne and defenseman Bart Crashley. They then gave Dionne one of the richest contracts in NHL history up to that point at $300,000 per year.

Regular season

Unlike the prior season when the Kings started fast, after the first two games in 1975–76, they were 0–2–0 and had been outscored 16–0. It was later revealed that goaltender

Rogie Vachon Rogatien Rosaire "Rogie the Goalie" Vachon (born September 8, 1945) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey Leagu ...

was playing with a flu-like virus related to

typhus Typhus, also known as typhus fever, is a group of infectious diseases that include epidemic typhus, scrub typhus, and murine typhus. Common symptoms include fever, headache, and a rash. Typically these begin one to two weeks after exposu ...

. Vachon recovered and the Kings won 10 of their next 12 games to right the ship. However, they played .500 hockey the rest of the way and finished 27 points behind the

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

in the

Norris Division The National Hockey League's Norris Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. When the NHL realigned into geographic divisions in 1981, the division moved to the Clarence Campbell Conference, where it comprised the ...

. While Dionne delivered a club record 40 goals and 94 points, the team missed Harper's leadership and defense, and Maloney's tough guy presence. A number of players missed significant time with injuries, and the club actually scored six fewer goals that the year before despite the addition of Dionne. The Kings ended up with a record of 38–33–9, second in the Norris Division and sixth overall in the league.

Post Season

The Kings mini series opponent was the

Atlanta Flames The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta from 1972 until 1980. They played home games in the Omni Coliseum and were members of the West and later Patrick divisions of the National Hockey League (NHL). Along with t ...

. The Kings scored in the 1st minute of game one and went on to win 2–1 behind Vachon's brilliant goaltending. In game two, Atlanta tried to physically overwhelm the Kings but Vachon was even better than in game one; Bob Berry's third-period goal won the game 1–0 and the series; it was the Kings first playoff series win since 1969.

Boston Series

What followed the Atlanta series was one of the most memorable playoff series in Kings history. The Kings were big underdogs against the big, powerful, tradition rich

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

. Game one went according to form as the Bruins used their size advantage on the smaller rink at the

Boston Garden The Boston Garden was an arena in Boston, Massachusetts. Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third iteration of New York's Madison Square Garden, it opened on November 17, 1928, as "Boston Madison Square Garden" (later ...

and smothered the Kings, 4–0. Boston continued to dominate play in game two, but Rogie Vachon was brilliant and kept the Kings tied at two going into overtime.

Butch Goring Robert Thomas "Butch" Goring (born October 22, 1949) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach. He played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders and Boston Bruins. A four-t ...

then stunned the Boston crowd with an overtime winner, and the teams flew to L.A. tied at a game apiece. One the larger ice surface at the Forum, the Kings' offense got going and, led by

's hat trick, won game three by a score of 6–4. Suddenly the Kings led a series in which many thought they would get swept. Boston appeared to wake up and won games four and five, outscoring the Kings 10–1, and again seemed in control of the series. When the Kings skated onto the ice in game six back in L.A., the sellout crowd greeted them with a five-minute standing ovation that delayed the national anthem and the start of the game. Players on both sides said they had never seen anything like it. The game that followed was even more amazing. After a scoreless first period in which Vachon made numerous outstanding saves, the Kings' Tom Williams beat

Gerry Cheevers Gerald Michael Cheevers (born December 7, 1940) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and World Hockey Association (WHA) between 1961 and 1980. Cheevers is best known for his two s ...

over the glove hand on a wicked 55 foot slap shot to send the crowd into a frenzy. Boston came right back to tie the game, and then Vachon stopped

Terry O'Reilly Terence Joseph James O'Reilly (born June 7, 1951) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He played for the NHL's Boston Bruins and featured in three Stanley Cup Finals. He was one of the most effective enforcers in NHL histor ...

on a breakaway to keep the score 1–1. As the game wore on, the Bruins appeared to wear down the Kings and they took a 3–1 lead into the final five minutes. Mike Corrigan scored to make it 3–2, and with the crowd going crazy, Corrigan had another chance as he went for a rebound. Cheevers tripped him, but Corrigan swiped at the puck while lying on his stomach and put it in the net to tie the game. After Vachon made numerous great saves, the first overtime was winding down to its final minute when Butch Goring took a pass in the top of the slot and beat Cheevers, sending the crowd into a frenzy and the series back to Boston for the seventh game. Goring's game winner prompted Kings' hall of fame announcer Bob Miller's famous call "We're going back to Boston! We're going back to Boston! We're going back to Boston!" Goring was carried off the ice on his teammates' shoulders while the crowd continued to go crazy. In the seventh game, after a scoreless first period, Boston eventually wore down the Kings and won 3–0.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , L, , October 8, 1975, , 0–9 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 0–1–0 , - , 2, , L, , October 11, 1975, , 0–7 , , align="left", @

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

( 1975–76) , , 0–2–0 , - , 3, , W, , October 12, 1975, , 6–4 , , align="left", @

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 1975–76) , , 1–2–0 , - , 4, , W, , October 15, 1975, , 4–3 , , align="left",

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

( 1975–76) , , 2–2–0 , - , 5, , W, , October 17, 1975, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

( 1975–76) , , 3–2–0 , - , 6, , W, , October 18, 1975, , 5–3 , , align="left",

California Golden Seals The California Golden Seals were a professional ice hockey club that competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1967–68 NHL season, 1967 to 1975–76 NHL season, 1976. Based in Oakland, California, they played their home games at the Oa ...

( 1975–76) , , 4–2–0 , - , 7, , L, , October 21, 1975, , 1–6 , , align="left", @

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1975–76) , , 4–3–0 , - , 8, , W, , October 22, 1975, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

( 1975–76) , , 5–3–0 , - , 9, , L, , October 24, 1975, , 1–7 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 5–4–0 , - , 10, , W, , October 26, 1975, , 4–2 , , align="left",

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

( 1975–76) , , 6–4–0 , - , 11, , W, , October 28, 1975, , 6–0 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 7–4–0 , - , 12, , W, , October 30, 1975, , 4–0 , , align="left",

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

( 1975–76) , , 8–4–0 , - , - , 13, , W, , November 1, 1975, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 9–4–0 , - , 14, , W, , November 5, 1975, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 10–4–0 , - , 15, , T, , November 6, 1975, , 1–1 , , align="left", @

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 1975–76) , , 10–4–1 , - , 16, , W, , November 8, 1975, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 11–4–1 , - , 17, , L, , November 11, 1975, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 11–5–1 , - , 18, , W, , November 13, 1975, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 12–5–1 , - , 19, , T, , November 15, 1975, , 1–1 , , align="left",

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

( 1975–76) , , 12–5–2 , - , 20, , L, , November 19, 1975, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 12–6–2 , - , 21, , L, , November 22, 1975, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 12–7–2 , - , 22, , L, , November 23, 1975, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 12–8–2 , - , 23, , L, , November 25, 1975, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 12–9–2 , - , 24, , L, , November 26, 1975, , 2–7 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 12–10–2 , - , 25, , W, , November 29, 1975, , 8–3 , , align="left",

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

( 1975–76) , , 13–10–2 , - , - , 26, , W, , December 2, 1975, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 14–10–2 , - , 27, , W, , December 3, 1975, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 15–10–2 , - , 28, , W, , December 6, 1975, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 16–10–2 , - , 29, , W, , December 10, 1975, , 5–0 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 17–10–2 , - , 30, , L, , December 13, 1975, , 4–6 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 17–11–2 , - , 31, , L, , December 17, 1975, , 1–2 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 17–12–2 , - , 32, , L, , December 20, 1975, , 1–5 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 17–13–2 , - , 33, , L, , December 22, 1975, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 17–14–2 , - , 34, , W, , December 23, 1975, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 18–14–2 , - , 35, , W, , December 26, 1975, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 19–14–2 , - , 36, , W, , December 27, 1975, , 9–4 , , align="left",

Kansas City Scouts The Kansas City Scouts were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1974 to 1976. In 1976–77 NHL season, 1976, the franchise relocated to Denver and became the Colorado Rockies (NHL), Colorado Rockies. In 1982– ...

( 1975–76) , , 20–14–2 , - , 37, , L, , December 29, 1975, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 20–15–2 , - , 38, , L, , December 31, 1975, , 1–5 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 20–16–2 , - , - , 39, , W, , January 1, 1976, , 9–6 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 21–16–2 , - , 40, , L, , January 3, 1976, , 0–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 21–17–2 , - , 41, , W, , January 7, 1976, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 22–17–2 , - , 42, , L, , January 8, 1976, , 4–6 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 22–18–2 , - , 43, , L, , January 10, 1976, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 22–19–2 , - , 44, , W, , January 13, 1976, , 3–0 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 23–19–2 , - , 45, , L, , January 15, 1976, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 23–20–2 , - , 46, , L, , January 17, 1976, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 23–21–2 , - , 47, , W, , January 18, 1976, , 8–3 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 24–21–2 , - , 48, , W, , January 22, 1976, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 25–21–2 , - , 49, , L, , January 24, 1976, , 0–5 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 25–22–2 , - , 50, , W, , January 25, 1976, , 4–1 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 26–22–2 , - , 51, , W, , January 27, 1976, , 2–0 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 27–22–2 , - , 52, , T, , January 29, 1976, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 27–22–3 , - , 53, , W, , January 31, 1976, , 7–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 28–22–3 , - , - , 54, , L, , February 4, 1976, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 28–23–3 , - , 55, , L, , February 7, 1976, , 3–7 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 28–24–3 , - , 56, , T, , February 10, 1976, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 28–24–4 , - , 57, , W, , February 11, 1976, , 7–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 29–24–4 , - , 58, , T, , February 14, 1976, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 29–24–5 , - , 59, , L, , February 15, 1976, , 4–6 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 29–25–5 , - , 60, , W, , February 17, 1976, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 30–25–5 , - , 61, , T, , February 18, 1976, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 30–25–6 , - , 62, , T, , February 21, 1976, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 30–25–7 , - , 63, , L, , February 26, 1976, , 2–6 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 30–26–7 , - , 64, , W, , February 28, 1976, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 31–26–7 , - , 65, , L, , February 29, 1976, , 1–5 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 31–27–7 , - , - , 66, , L, , March 3, 1976, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 31–28–7 , - , 67, , L, , March 6, 1976, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 31–29–7 , - , 68, , W, , March 9, 1976, , 6–1 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 32–29–7 , - , 69, , W, , March 11, 1976, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 33–29–7 , - , 70, , L, , March 13, 1976, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 33–30–7 , - , 71, , L, , March 16, 1976, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 33–31–7 , - , 72, , W, , March 20, 1976, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 34–31–7 , - , 73, , T, , March 21, 1976, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 34–31–8 , - , 74, , T, , March 24, 1976, , 1–1 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 34–31–9 , - , 75, , L, , March 26, 1976, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 34–32–9 , - , 76, , W, , March 27, 1976, , 7–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 35–32–9 , - , 77, , W, , March 30, 1976, , 8–6 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 36–32–9 , - , 78, , W, , March 31, 1976, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 37–32–9 , - , - , 79, , W, , April 3, 1976, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 38–32–9 , - , 80, , L, , April 4, 1976, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 38–33–9 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

Mini Series *Kings 2 Flames 1 *Kings 1 at Flames 0 Quarter Finals *Kings 0 at Bruins 4 *Kings 3 at Bruins 2 (OT) *Kings 6 Bruins 4 *Kings 0 Bruins 3 *Kings 1 at Bruins 7 *Kings 4 Bruins 3 (OT) *Kings 0 at Bruins 4

Player statistics

Awards and records

Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1975–76 season.

Trades

Free agent signings

Free agent compensation

Intra-league draft

Draft picks

Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1975 NHL amateur draft held in

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1975-76 Los Angeles Kings season Los Angeles Kings seasons

Los LOS, or Los, or LoS may refer to: Science and technology * Length of stay, the duration of a single episode of hospitalisation * Level of service, a measure used by traffic engineers * Level of significance, a measure of statistical significanc ...

1970s in Los Angeles County, California