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 | |
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Division | 3rd Norris |
Conference | 6th Wales |
1975–76 record | 35–33–12 |
Goals for | 339 |
Goals against | 303 |
Team information | |
General manager | Wren Blair |
Coach | Marc Boileau (Oct–Jan) Ken Schinkel (Jan–Apr) |
Captain | Ron Schock |
Alternate captains | None |
Arena | Pittsburgh Civic Arena |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Pierre Larouche (53) |
Assists | Syl Apps, Jr. (67) |
Points | Pierre Larouche (111) |
Penalty minutes | Steve Durbano (161) |
Wins | Michel Plasse (24) |
Goals against average | Michel Plasse (3.45) |
Regular season
Division standings
GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 58 | 11 | 11 | 337 | 174 | 127 |
Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 38 | 33 | 9 | 263 | 265 | 85 |
Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 35 | 33 | 12 | 339 | 303 | 82 |
Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 26 | 44 | 10 | 226 | 300 | 62 |
Washington Capitals | 80 | 11 | 59 | 10 | 224 | 394 | 32 |
[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]
Schedule and results
1975–76 Schedule | ||||||||
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October: 4–2–1 (Home: 2–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–0), 9 Points
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November: 6–8–1 (Home: 4–4–0 ; Road: 2–4–1), 13 Points
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December: 5–7–2 (Home: 3–0–1 ; Road: 2–7–1), 12 Points
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January: 4–7–3 (Home: 4–2–2 ; Road: 0–5–1), 11 Points
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February: 8–2–4 (Home: 6–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–3), 20 Points
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March: 7–6–1 (Home: 4–2–1 ; Road: 3–4–0), 15 Points
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April: 1–1–0 (Home: 0–1–0 ; Road: 1–0–0), 2 Points
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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
Player | GP | W | L | T | GA | SO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michel Plasse | 55 | 24 | 19 | 10 | 178 | 2 |
Gary Inness‡ | 23 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 82 | 0 |
Gordon Laxton | 8 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
Bobby Taylor† | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Total | 35 | 33 | 12 | 298 | 2 |
Player | GP | W | L | T | GA | SO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michel Plasse | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
Total | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
†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 |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Ed Gilbert |
March 8, 1976 | To Philadelphia Flyers
Gary Inness |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Bobby Taylor |
Additions and subtractions
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Roster
# | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | NHL Draft | Birthplace |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 | Syl Apps Jr. | C | R | 28 | 1964 | Toronto, Ontario | |
14 | Wayne Bianchin | RW | L | 22 | 1973 | Nanaimo, British Columbia | |
4 | David Burrows | D | L | 27 | Undrafted | Toronto, Ontario | |
6 | Colin Campbell | D | L | 23 | 1973 | Toronto, Ontario | |
27 | Jacques Cossette | RW | R | 21 | 1974 | Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec | |
24 | Mario Faubert | D | R | 21 | 1974 | Valleyfield, Quebec | |
23 | Ed Gilbert | C | L | 24 | 1972 | Hamilton, Ontario | |
15 | Stan Gilbertson | LW | L | 31 | Undrafted | Duluth, Minnesota | |
11 | Vic Hadfield | LW | L | 35 | Undrafted | Oakville, Ontario | |
8 | Rick Kehoe | RW | R | 24 | 1971 | Windsor, Ontario | |
22 | John Kelly | RW | L | 29 | 1967 | Fort William, Ontario | |
10 | Pierre Larouche | C | R | 20 | 1974 | Taschereau, Quebec | |
1 | Gordon Laxton | G | L | 21 | 1975 | Montreal, Quebec | |
18 | Lowell MacDonald | LW | R | 34 | Undrafted | New Glasgow, Nova Scotia | |
15 | Bob McManama | C | L | 24 | Undrafted | Belmont, Massachusetts | |
16 | Lew Morrison | RW | R | 28 | 1968 | Gainsborough, Saskatchewan | |
9 | Simon Nolet | RW | R | 34 | Undrafted | St-Odilon, Quebec | |
25 | Dennis Owchar | D | R | 23 | 1973 | Dryden, Ontario | |
31 | Michel Plasse | G | L | 27 | 1968 | Montreal, Quebec | |
19 | Jean Pronovost | RW | R | 30 | Undrafted | Shawinigan Falls, Quebec | |
17 | Ron Schock (C) | C | L | 32 | Undrafted | Chapleau, Ontario | |
3 | Ronald Stackhouse | D | R | 26 | 1969 | Haliburton, Ontario | |
30 | Bobby Taylor | G | L | 31 | Undrafted | Calgary, Alberta | |
2 | Ed Van Impe | D | L | 35 | Undrafted | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | |
5 | Barry Wilkins | D | L | 29 | Undrafted | Toronto, Ontario |
Draft picks
The 1975 NHL Amateur Draft was held in Montreal, Quebec.[7]
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 2009-05-06.
- Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
- Total Hockey, p.77, Total Sports, New York, ISBN 0-8362-7114-9
- "1975–1976 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
- "1975–1976 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
- "1975–1976 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
- "1975–1976 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
- "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.