The 1976–77

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 ...

season was the Canadiens' 68th

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 ...

. The team is regarded to be one of the greatest NHL teams ever composed. The Canadiens won their 20th

Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...

in 1976–77, taking the

NHL 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 ...

championship. Montreal set new records for most wins (60) and points (132) in a season. Those records were not broken until the re-introduction of regular season

overtime Overtime is the amount of time someone works beyond normal working hours. The term is also used for the pay received for this time. Normal hours may be determined in several ways: *by custom (what is considered healthy or reasonable by society) ...

and the extension of the schedule to 82 games. The 1976–77 Canadiens continue to hold the all-time records for regulation wins as well as points per game (1.650). They outscored their opponents by 216 goals (also a league record), a differential average of 2.7 goals per game. The 1976-77 Canadiens team has been widely regarded as one of the greatest teams in NHL history. Of the 24 players on the roster, 14 were drafted by the Canadiens: Pierre Bouchard, Rick Chartraw, Brian Engblom,

Bob Gainey Robert Michael Gainey (born December 13, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens from 1973 until 1989. After retiring from active play, he became a hockey coach and later an executive with ...

, Réjean Houle,

Guy Lafleur Guy Damien Lafleur (September 20, 1951 – April 22, 2022), nicknamed "the Flower" and "Le Démon Blond", was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was the first player in National Hockey League (NHL) history to score 50 goals in six c ...

, Michel Larocque, Pierre Mondou, Bill Nyrop, Doug Risebrough, Larry Robinson, Steve Shutt, Mario Tremblay, and Murray Wilson. The only player on the roster not developed by the Canadiens was Pete Mahovlich. Montreal lost only eight games, a modern-era record that has never been tied or broken even when counting only regulation losses and including lockout and pandemic-shortened seasons. They earned at least a point in 72 games, which also still stands as an all-time record. The Canadiens earned their 100th point in the 62nd game of the season with a victory over the Atlanta Flames on February 23, 1977. This was an NHL record for fastest team to 100 points for 45 seasons.

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , W, , October 7, 1976, , 10–1 , , 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) , , 1–0–0 , - , 2, , W, , October 9, 1976, , 3–0 , , 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) , , 2–0–0 , - , 3, , L, , October 10, 1976, , 1–3 , , 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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 2–1–0 , - , 4, , W, , October 12, 1976, , 4–2 , , 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) , , 3–1–0 , - , 5, , W, , October 14, 1976, , 7–1 , , 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) , , 4–1–0 , - , 6, , W, , October 16, 1976, , 7–4 , , 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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 5–1–0 , - , 7, , L, , October 17, 1976, , 3–5 , , 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) , , 5–2–0 , - , 8, , W, , October 19, 1976, , 6–0 , , 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) , , 6–2–0 , - , 9, , W, , October 21, 1976, , 5–3 , , 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) , , 7–2–0 , - , 10, , W, , October 23, 1976, , 9–1 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 8–2–0 , - , 11, , W, , October 25, 1976, , 4–1 , , 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) , , 9–2–0 , - , 12, , T, , October 27, 1976, , 4–4 , , 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) , , 9–2–1 , - , 13, , L, , October 30, 1976, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 9–3–1 , - , - , 14, , W, , November 1, 1976, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 10–3–1 , - , 15, , W, , November 3, 1976, , 5–2 , , 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 ...

( 1976–77) , , 11–3–1 , - , 16, , W, , November 6, 1976, , 11–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 12–3–1 , - , 17, , W, , November 9, 1976, , 8–1 , , 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) , , 13–3–1 , - , 18, , T, , November 10, 1976, , 2–2 , , 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) , , 13–3–2 , - , 19, , T, , November 13, 1976, , 3–3 , , 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) , , 13–3–3 , - , 20, , W, , November 15, 1976, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 14–3–3 , - , 21, , L, , November 17, 1976, , 0–1 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 14–4–3 , - , 22, , W, , November 19, 1976, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 15–4–3 , - , 23, , W, , November 21, 1976, , 9–5 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 16–4–3 , - , 24, , W, , November 23, 1976, , 5–1 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 17–4–3 , - , 25, , W, , November 24, 1976, , 8–1 , , align="left", @ Cleveland Barons ( 1976–77) , , 18–4–3 , - , 26, , W, , November 27, 1976, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

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. ...

( 1976–77) , , 19–4–3 , - , - , 27, , T, , December 2, 1976, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 19–4–4 , - , 28, , W, , December 4, 1976, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 20–4–4 , - , 29, , W, , December 6, 1976, , 1–0 , , align="left", Cleveland Barons ( 1976–77) , , 21–4–4 , - , 30, , W, , December 8, 1976, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 22–4–4 , - , 31, , W, , December 11, 1976, , 5–0 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 23–4–4 , - , 32, , L, , December 12, 1976, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 23–5–4 , - , 33, , W, , December 15, 1976, , 8–2 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 24–5–4 , - , 34, , W, , December 18, 1976, , 2–0 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 25–5–4 , - , 35, , W, , December 20, 1976, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 26–5–4 , - , 36, , W, , December 27, 1976, , 4–2 , , align="left", Cleveland Barons ( 1976–77) , , 27–5–4 , - , 37, , T, , December 29, 1976, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 27–5–5 , - , 38, , T, , December 30, 1976, , 5–5 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 27–5–6 , - , - , 39, , W, , January 2, 1977, , 7–0 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 28–5–6 , - , 40, , W, , January 3, 1977, , 6–4 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 29–5–6 , - , 41, , W, , January 6, 1977, , 9–2 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 30–5–6 , - , 42, , W, , January 8, 1977, , 7–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 31–5–6 , - , 43, , W, , January 11, 1977, , 6–0 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 32–5–6 , - , 44, , L, , January 12, 1977, , 2–7 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 32–6–6 , - , 45, , W, , January 15, 1977, , 6–0 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 33–6–6 , - , 46, , L, , January 17, 1977, , 3–7 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 33–7–6 , - , 47, , W, , January 18, 1977, , 3–0 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 34–7–6 , - , 48, , W, , January 20, 1977, , 6–2 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 35–7–6 , - , 49, , W, , January 22, 1977, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 36–7–6 , - , 50, , T, , January 23, 1977, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 36–7–7 , - , 51, , T, , January 29, 1977, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 36–7–8 , - , 52, , W, , January 30, 1977, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 37–7–8 , - , - , 53, , W, , February 1, 1977, , 7–3 , , align="left", @ Cleveland Barons ( 1976–77) , , 38–7–8 , - , 54, , W, , February 3, 1977, , 6–4 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 39–7–8 , - , 55, , T, , February 5, 1977, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 39–7–9 , - , 56, , W, , February 9, 1977, , 6–0 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 40–7–9 , - , 57, , W, , February 12, 1977, , 8–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 41–7–9 , - , 58, , W, , February 13, 1977, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 42–7–9 , - , 59, , T, , February 16, 1977, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 42–7–10 , - , 60, , W, , February 19, 1977, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 43–7–10 , - , 61, , W, , February 21, 1977, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 44–7–10 , - , 62, , W, , February 23, 1977, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 45–7–10 , - , 63, , W, , February 26, 1977, , 5–3 , , align="left", Cleveland Barons ( 1976–77) , , 46–7–10 , - , 64, , W, , February 27, 1977, , 8–1 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 47–7–10 , - , - , 65, , W, , March 1, 1977, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 48–7–10 , - , 66, , W, , March 3, 1977, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 49–7–10 , - , 67, , W, , March 5, 1977, , 7–2 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 50–7–10 , - , 68, , L, , March 6, 1977, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 50–8–10 , - , 69, , T, , March 9, 1977, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 50–8–11 , - , 70, , W, , March 10, 1977, , 7–1 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 51–8–11 , - , 71, , W, , March 12, 1977, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 52–8–11 , - , 72, , W, , March 14, 1977, , 3–0 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 53–8–11 , - , 73, , W, , March 16, 1977, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 54–8–11 , - , 74, , W, , March 21, 1977, , 5–1 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 55–8–11 , - , 75, , W, , March 24, 1977, , 6–1 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 56–8–11 , - , 76, , W, , March 26, 1977, , 4–0 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 57–8–11 , - , 77, , W, , March 27, 1977, , 6–0 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 58–8–11 , - , 78, , T, , March 30, 1977, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 58–8–12 , - , - , 79, , W, , April 2, 1977, , 11–0 , , align="left",

( 1976–77) , , 59–8–12 , - , 80, , W, , April 3, 1977, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1976–77) , , 60–8–12 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

Stanley Cup Finals

Jacques Lemaire scored three game-winning goals, including the Cup winner in overtime.

won the

Conn Smythe Trophy The Conn Smythe Trophy () is awarded annually to the most valuable player (MVP) of his team during the National Hockey League's (NHL) Stanley Cup playoffs. It is named after Conn Smythe, the longtime owner, general manager, and head coach of the ...

for scoring 9 goals and 17 assists during the playoffs.

Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens

Montreal wins the series 4–0.

won the

as playoff MVP.

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Goaltending

Playoffs

Scoring

Goaltending

Awards and records

Prince of Wales Trophy The Prince of Wales Trophy, also known as the Wales Trophy, is a team award presented by the National Hockey League (NHL). Named for Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII and then Duke of Windsor), it has been awarded for different ac ...

Ken Dryden Kenneth Wayne Dryden (born August 8, 1947) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender, politician, lawyer, businessman, and author. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was ...

and Michel Larocque,

Vezina Trophy The Vezina Trophy ( ) is awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the thirty-two List of NHL general managers, NHL general managers vote to dete ...

* Ken Dryden, Goaltender, NHL First Team All-Star *

Art Ross Trophy The Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League (NHL) player who leads the league in Point (ice hockey), points at the end of the regular season. It was presented to the league by former player, general manager, and head coach Art Ros ...

* Guy Lafleur,

Hart Memorial Trophy The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, is an annual award for the most valuable player to his team in the National Hockey League (NHL), voted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. The original tr ...

* Guy Lafleur, Lou Marsh Trophy * Guy Lafleur, right wing, NHL First Team All-Star * Guy Lafleur, NHL leader, assists (80)National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 204, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, . * Guy Lafleur, NHL leader, points (136) * Guy Lapointe, defence, NHL Second Team All-Star * Larry Robinson, defence, NHL First Team All-Star * Steve Shutt, left wing, NHL First Team All-Star * Steve Shutt, NHL leader, goals (60) * 132 points, NHL record for most points in a season by a team * +216 goal differential, NHL record for highest team differential

Draft picks

Notes

Citations

References

Canadiens on Hockey Database

{{DEFAULTSORT:1976-77 Montreal Canadiens Season Stanley Cup championship seasons Norris Division champion seasons Montreal Canadiens seasons

Eastern Conference (NHL) championship seasons

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 ...

1976 in Montreal 1977 in Montreal 1976 in sports in Quebec 1977 in sports in Quebec