The 1976–77

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' tenth

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

Regular season

The 1976–77 season was similar to the year before for the Kings. Dionne continued to lead the offense, the defense was unspectacular but solid, but it was a season of roster turnover as some aging veterans departed (e.g. Bob Nevin, Mike Corrigan) and others lost significant time to injuries (Larry Brown, Juha Widing, Sheldon Kannegiesser). Youngsters like Glen Goldup, Lorne Stamler, and Steve Clippingdale struggled although second year defenseman Gary Sargent was solid. The Kings added Dave Schultz (the "Hammer") to replace Dan Maloney who left in the Dionne trade for toughness, but it took nearly all season for the roster to gell. In addition, backup goalie Gary Edwards struggled and was eventually traded for Gary Simmons; he was not the answer either, so #1 goalie

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 overworked. The Kings were also stuck 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 ...

who finished an amazing 60–8–12; many say this was the greatest team in NHL history. After struggling near or below the .500 mark, the Kings won 5 of their last 6 games to finish 6th overall – the same as the year before although with 2 fewer points.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , T, , October 6, 1976, , 2–2 , , align="left", @ Cleveland Barons ( 1976–77) , , 0–0–1 , - , 2, , L, , October 7, 1976, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 0–1–1 , - , 3, , W, , October 9, 1976, , 7–4 , , 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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 1–1–1 , - , 4, , L, , October 10, 1976, , 0–1 , , 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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 1–2–1 , - , 5, , T, , October 13, 1976, , 4–4 , , 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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 1–2–2 , - , 6, , W, , October 16, 1976, , 7–1 , , 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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 2–2–2 , - , 7, , W, , October 17, 1976, , 6–2 , , 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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 3–2–2 , - , 8, , W, , October 20, 1976, , 4–2 , , 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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 4–2–2 , - , 9, , T, , October 21, 1976, , 5–5 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 4–2–3 , - , 10, , L, , October 23, 1976, , 2–4 , , align="left",

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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 4–3–3 , - , 11, , W, , October 26, 1976, , 3–2 , , align="left",

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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 5–3–3 , - , 12, , W, , October 28, 1976, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 6–3–3 , - , 13, , W, , October 30, 1976, , 4–3 , , align="left", Cleveland Barons ( 1976–77) , , 7–3–3 , - , - , 14, , L, , November 2, 1976, , 1–7 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 7–4–3 , - , 15, , W, , November 3, 1976, , 4–2 , , align="left", @ Cleveland Barons ( 1976–77) , , 8–4–3 , - , 16, , L, , November 5, 1976, , 1–4 , , 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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 8–5–3 , - , 17, , T, , November 6, 1976, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 8–5–4 , - , 18, , T, , November 10, 1976, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 8–5–5 , - , 19, , T, , November 13, 1976, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 8–5–6 , - , 20, , L, , November 14, 1976, , 4–5 , , 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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 8–6–6 , - , 21, , T, , November 16, 1976, , 0–0 , , align="left", Cleveland Barons ( 1976–77) , , 8–6–7 , - , 22, , L, , November 18, 1976, , 1–3 , , 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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 8–7–7 , - , 23, , L, , November 20, 1976, , 3–4 , , 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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 8–8–7 , - , 24, , L, , November 24, 1976, , 4–5 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 8–9–7 , - , 25, , L, , November 27, 1976, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 8–10–7 , - , 26, , T, , November 28, 1976, , 6–6 , , align="left", @

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...

( 1976–77) , , 8–10–8 , - , - , 27, , L, , December 1, 1976, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 8–11–8 , - , 28, , T, , December 2, 1976, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 8–11–9 , - , 29, , W, , December 4, 1976, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 9–11–9 , - , 30, , T, , December 8, 1976, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 9–11–10 , - , 31, , L, , December 11, 1976, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 9–12–10 , - , 32, , W, , December 14, 1976, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 10–12–10 , - , 33, , W, , December 15, 1976, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 11–12–10 , - , 34, , L, , December 18, 1976, , 0–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 11–13–10 , - , 35, , L, , December 22, 1976, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 11–14–10 , - , 36, , W, , December 27, 1976, , 7–4 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 12–14–10 , - , 37, , L, , December 28, 1976, , 3–8 , , 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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 12–15–10 , - , 38, , L, , December 30, 1976, , 0–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 12–16–10 , - , - , 39, , W, , January 1, 1977, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 13–16–10 , - , 40, , L, , January 4, 1977, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 13–17–10 , - , 41, , L, , January 5, 1977, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 13–18–10 , - , 42, , L, , January 8, 1977, , 1–6 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 13–19–10 , - , 43, , W, , January 9, 1977, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 14–19–10 , - , 44, , L, , January 12, 1977, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 14–20–10 , - , 45, , L, , January 13, 1977, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 14–21–10 , - , 46, , L, , January 15, 1977, , 0–6 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 14–22–10 , - , 47, , W, , January 18, 1977, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 15–22–10 , - , 48, , W, , January 20, 1977, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 16–22–10 , - , 49, , W, , January 22, 1977, , 6–0 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 17–22–10 , - , 50, , L, , January 26, 1977, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 17–23–10 , - , 51, , W, , January 29, 1977, , 4–0 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 18–23–10 , - , - , 52, , W, , February 2, 1977, , 7–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 19–23–10 , - , 53, , T, , February 5, 1977, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 19–23–11 , - , 54, , L, , February 8, 1977, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 19–24–11 , - , 55, , L, , February 9, 1977, , 3–6 , , align="left", @ Cleveland Barons ( 1976–77) , , 19–25–11 , - , 56, , L, , February 12, 1977, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 19–26–11 , - , 57, , W, , February 15, 1977, , 3–0 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 20–26–11 , - , 58, , L, , February 17, 1977, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 20–27–11 , - , 59, , W, , February 19, 1977, , 2–0 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 21–27–11 , - , 60, , W, , February 22, 1977, , 4–0 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 22–27–11 , - , 61, , T, , February 24, 1977, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 22–27–12 , - , 62, , W, , February 26, 1977, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 23–27–12 , - , 63, , W, , February 27, 1977, , 5–1 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 24–27–12 , - , - , 64, , W, , March 1, 1977, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 25–27–12 , - , 65, , W, , March 2, 1977, , 5–0 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 26–27–12 , - , 66, , L, , March 3, 1977, , 2–7 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 26–28–12 , - , 67, , T, , March 5, 1977, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 26–28–13 , - , 68, , W, , March 8, 1977, , 7–1 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 27–28–13 , - , 69, , W, , March 10, 1977, , 6–0 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 28–28–13 , - , 70, , T, , March 13, 1977, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 28–28–14 , - , 71, , L, , March 14, 1977, , 0–3 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 28–29–14 , - , 72, , W, , March 17, 1977, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 29–29–14 , - , 73, , L, , March 19, 1977, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 29–30–14 , - , 74, , L, , March 22, 1977, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 29–31–14 , - , 75, , W, , March 23, 1977, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 30–31–14 , - , 76, , W, , March 26, 1977, , 6–4 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 31–31–14 , - , 77, , T, , March 29, 1977, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 31–31–15 , - , 78, , W, , March 31, 1977, , 7–5 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 32–31–15 , - , - , 79, , W, , April 2, 1977, , 7–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 33–31–15 , - , 80, , W, , April 3, 1977, , 6–4 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 34–31–15 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

For the second straight year, the Kings faced the

in the mini series. And for the second year in a row, the Kings scored in the first minute of game 1 and won 5–2. But unlike the prior year, they lost game 2 in Atlanta 3–2, forcing a deciding game 3 back in L.A. Vachon was brilliant as the Kings took a 3–1 lead into the 3rd period. But Atlanta scored late to make it 3–2, and the issue wasn't decided until the Kings got an empty net goal for a 4–2 win. For the second straight year, the Kings faced the

in the quarter finals and again were heavy underdogs. Boston dominated the first two games in Boston, winning 8–3 and 6–2. The Kings offense woke up when they returned to L.A., but the defense continued to struggle and the Kings lost 7–6 to fall behind 3 games to none. Vachon looked exhausted (he had now played 74 games) and the Kings could not cope with Boston's size advantage. But they managed to outskate Boston in a 7–4 game 4 win, but it seemed a formality to go back to Boston for game 5. It was in that game that Vachon played one of the great games in playoff history. The Kings were badly outshot but in the words of Boston goalie

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 ...

, "Vachon did everything but stand on his head to make great save after great save." The Kings led 2–1 and clinched the game with an empty netter, forcing a game 6 in Los Angeles. In that game, the Kings fell behind 3–0 but battled back to tie the game in the 3rd period at 3. Then, as Kings defenseman Dave Hutchison went to clear the puck on a Boston power play, he broke his stick on the ice, turned the puck over, and Boston scored to win the game 4–3 and the series 4 games to 2.

Player statistics

Awards and records

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard ...

–

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 ...

All NHL 2nd team –

, Goalie

Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1976–77 season.

Trades

Free agents lost

Draft picks

Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1976 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:1976-77 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