1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins season

1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division	3rd Norris
Conference	5th Wales
1976–77 record	34-33-13
Goals for	240
Goals against	252
Team information
General manager	Wren Blair (Oct-Dec) Baz Bastien (Dec-Apr)
Coach	Ken Schinkel
Captain	Ron Schock
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Jean Pronovost (33)
Assists	Syl Apps, Jr. (43)
Points	Jean Pronovost (64)
Penalty minutes	Bob Kelly (115)
Wins	Dunc Wilson (18)
Goals against average	Denis Herron (2.94)

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.

Offseason

Amateur Draft

Main article: 1976 NHL Amateur Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team
1	2.	Blair Chapman	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)
2	19.	Greg Malone	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OMJHL)
2	29.	Peter Marsh	Canada	Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)
3	47.	Morris Lukowich	Canada	Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)
4	65.	Greg Redquest	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OMJHL)
5	83.	Brendan Lowe		Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)
6	101.	Vic Sirko	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OMJHL)

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 Canadiens	80	60	8	12	387	171	132
Los Angeles Kings	80	34	31	15	271	241	83
Pittsburgh Penguins	80	34	33	13	240	252	81
Washington Capitals	80	24	42	14	221	307	62
Detroit Red Wings	80	16	55	9	183	309	41

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.

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 6, 1976	9–5	Vancouver Canucks (1976–77)	1–0–0
2	L	October 7, 1976	1–10	@ Montreal Canadiens (1976–77)	1–1–0
3	L	October 9, 1976	4–7	Los Angeles Kings (1976–77)	1–2–0
4	L	October 13, 1976	1–4	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77)	1–3–0
5	L	October 15, 1976	1–2	@ Atlanta Flames (1976–77)	1–4–0
6	W	October 16, 1976	4–3	Detroit Red Wings (1976–77)	2–4–0
7	T	October 20, 1976	4–4	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77)	2–4–1
8	L	October 23, 1976	1–9	Montreal Canadiens (1976–77)	2–5–1
9	T	October 24, 1976	3–3	Atlanta Flames (1976–77)	2–5–2
10	T	October 27, 1976	4–4	@ Buffalo Sabres (1976–77)	2–5–3
11	L	October 28, 1976	0–3	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77)	2–6–3
12	T	October 30, 1976	2–2	New York Rangers (1976–77)	2–6–4
13	W	November 2, 1976	7–1	Los Angeles Kings (1976–77)	3–6–4
14	W	November 5, 1976	4–1	@ Colorado Rockies (1976–77)	4–6–4
15	T	November 7, 1976	2–2	@ Cleveland Barons (1976–77)	4–6–5
16	L	November 10, 1976	2–3	@ Minnesota North Stars (1976–77)	4–7–5
17	W	November 13, 1976	1–0	Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77)	5–7–5
18	W	November 14, 1976	5–1	@ New York Rangers (1976–77)	6–7–5
19	L	November 20, 1976	2–5	Colorado Rockies (1976–77)	6–8–5
20	W	November 21, 1976	5–0	Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77)	7–8–5
21	L	November 24, 1976	0–4	Boston Bruins (1976–77)	7–9–5
22	W	November 26, 1976	3–1	@ Cleveland Barons (1976–77)	8–9–5
23	L	November 27, 1976	1–3	New York Islanders (1976–77)	8–10–5
24	L	November 30, 1976	4–6	@ Washington Capitals (1976–77)	8–11–5
25	W	December 2, 1976	4–2	@ New York Islanders (1976–77)	9–11–5
26	L	December 4, 1976	1–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1976–77)	9–12–5
27	W	December 7, 1976	6–2	Minnesota North Stars (1976–77)	10–12–5
28	W	December 9, 1976	2–1	@ Buffalo Sabres (1976–77)	11–12–5
29	L	December 11, 1976	3–6	@ New York Islanders (1976–77)	11–13–5
30	W	December 12, 1976	5–3	St. Louis Blues (1976–77)	12–13–5
31	W	December 16, 1976	5–4	Cleveland Barons (1976–77)	13–13–5
32	L	December 18, 1976	3–5	Washington Capitals (1976–77)	13–14–5
33	L	December 19, 1976	3–6	@ Boston Bruins (1976–77)	13–15–5
34	W	December 22, 1976	5–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77)	14–15–5
35	L	December 23, 1976	2–5	@ Detroit Red Wings (1976–77)	14–16–5
36	W	December 26, 1976	4–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77)	15–16–5
37	T	December 29, 1976	3–3	Montreal Canadiens (1976–77)	15–16–6
38	W	January 1, 1977	6–3	Buffalo Sabres (1976–77)	16–16–6
39	T	January 4, 1977	2–2	Vancouver Canucks (1976–77)	16–16–7
40	T	January 6, 1977	3–3	@ Washington Capitals (1976–77)	16–16–8
41	W	January 8, 1977	4–2	Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77)	17–16–8
42	L	January 11, 1977	0–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77)	17–17–8
43	W	January 15, 1977	5–2	Buffalo Sabres (1976–77)	18–17–8
44	L	January 16, 1977	5–6	Atlanta Flames (1976–77)	18–18–8
45	W	January 19, 1977	3–0	@ Vancouver Canucks (1976–77)	19–18–8
46	L	January 20, 1977	3–5	@ Los Angeles Kings (1976–77)	19–19–8
47	W	January 22, 1977	3–2	New York Islanders (1976–77)	20–19–8
48	W	January 27, 1977	3–0	@ New York Rangers (1976–77)	21–19–8
49	L	January 29, 1977	2–5	Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77)	21–20–8
50	W	January 30, 1977	5–2	Boston Bruins (1976–77)	22–20–8
51	W	February 2, 1977	5–2	Minnesota North Stars (1976–77)	23–20–8
52	T	February 3, 1977	0–0	@ Cleveland Barons (1976–77)	23–20–9
53	W	February 5, 1977	3–1	Detroit Red Wings (1976–77)	24–20–9
54	L	February 6, 1977	2–5	@ Colorado Rockies (1976–77)	24–21–9
55	L	February 8, 1977	3–6	@ St. Louis Blues (1976–77)	24–22–9
56	L	February 11, 1977	2–3	@ Vancouver Canucks (1976–77)	24–23–9
57	W	February 12, 1977	3–2	@ Los Angeles Kings (1976–77)	25–23–9
58	T	February 16, 1977	4–4	Montreal Canadiens (1976–77)	25–23–10
59	T	February 19, 1977	6–6	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1976–77)	25–23–11
60	W	February 20, 1977	4–1	Cleveland Barons (1976–77)	26–23–11
61	L	February 22, 1977	1–3	@ Washington Capitals (1976–77)	26–24–11
62	L	February 24, 1977	2–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1976–77)	26–25–11
63	W	February 26, 1977	2–1	Washington Capitals (1976–77)	27–25–11
64	T	February 27, 1977	2–2	Boston Bruins (1976–77)	27–25–12
65	L	March 2, 1977	0–5	Los Angeles Kings (1976–77)	27–26–12
66	L	March 3, 1977	1–5	@ Montreal Canadiens (1976–77)	27–27–12
67	T	March 5, 1977	3–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1976–77)	27–27–13
68	W	March 8, 1977	2–1	@ St. Louis Blues (1976–77)	28–27–13
69	W	March 9, 1977	3–0	Colorado Rockies (1976–77)	29–27–13
70	W	March 12, 1977	3–2	Buffalo Sabres (1976–77)	30–27–13
71	L	March 13, 1977	0–4	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1976–77)	30–28–13
72	L	March 15, 1977	3–7	@ Atlanta Flames (1976–77)	30–29–13
73	W	March 16, 1977	7–3	St. Louis Blues (1976–77)	31–29–13
74	L	March 19, 1977	2–5	New York Rangers (1976–77)	31–30–13
75	L	March 20, 1977	2–3	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1976–77)	31–31–13
76	W	March 22, 1977	4–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1976–77)	32–31–13
77	L	March 27, 1977	0–3	@ Boston Bruins (1976–77)	32–32–13
78	L	March 30, 1977	3–4	Washington Capitals (1976–77)	32–33–13
79	W	April 2, 1977	4–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1976–77)	33–33–13
80	W	April 3, 1977	4–2	Detroit Red Wings (1976–77)	34–33–13

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

April 7

Pittsburgh Penguins

6–4

Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leaf Gardens

April 9

Toronto Maple Leafs

5–2

Pittsburgh Penguins

Civic Arena

Toronto won series 2–1

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/−	PIM
Joseph Pronovost	79	33	31	64	8	24
Pierre Larouche	65	29	34	63	–10	14
Syl Apps Jr.	72	18	43	61	2	20
Rick Kehoe	80	30	27	57	–5	10
Ron Schock	80	17	32	49	–6	10
Ronald Stackhouse	80	7	34	41	11	72
Mike Corrigan	73	14	27	41	–13	36
Blair Chapman	80	14	23	37	–12	16
William Malone	66	18	19	37	3	43
Wayne Bianchin	79	28	6	34	–1	28
John Kelly	74	10	21	31	13	115
Dennis Owchar	46	5	18	23	–7	37
Stan Gilbertson	67	6	9	15	–9	13
Don Awrey	79	1	12	13	–2	40
Russell Anderson	66	2	11	13	5	81
Mario Faubert	47	2	11	13	–4	32
David Burrows	69	3	6	9	–15	29
Lew Morrison	76	2	1	3	–6	0
Ed Van Impe	10	0	3	3	–2	6
Vic Hadfield	9	0	2	2	1	0
Thomas Price†	7	0	2	2	0	4
Lowell MacDonald	3	1	1	2	–1	0
Ed Gilbert	7	0	0	0	–3	0
Steve Lyon	3	0	0	0	0	2
Yves Bergeron	1	0	0	0	0	0

Playoffs

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/−	PIM
Joseph Pronovost	3	2	1	3	0	2
Pierre Larouche	3	0	3	3	0	0
Ronald Stackhouse	3	2	1	3	0	0
Lowell MacDonald	3	1	2	3	0	4
Rick Kehoe	3	0	2	2	0	0
William Malone	3	1	1	2	0	2
Blair Chapman	3	1	1	2	0	7
David Burrows	3	0	2	2	0	0
Syl Apps Jr.	3	1	0	1	0	12
Ron Schock	3	0	1	1	0	0
Wayne Bianchin	3	0	1	1	0	6
John Kelly	3	1	0	1	0	4
Mario Faubert	3	1	0	1	0	2
Russell Anderson	3	0	1	1	0	14
Don Awrey	3	0	1	1	0	0
Mike Corrigan	2	0	0	0	0	0
Lew Morrison	1	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltenders

Regular Season

Player	GP	W	L	T	GA	SO
Dunc Wilson	45	18	19	8	129	5
Denis Herron	34	15	11	5	94	1
Gordon Laxton	6	1	3	0	26	0

Playoffs

Player	GP	W	L	T	GA	SO
Denis Herron	3	1	2	0	11	0

^†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.

Transactions

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

Trades

August 11, 1976	To Pittsburgh Penguins Don Awrey	To Montreal Canadiens 3rd round pick in 1978 draft (Richard David)
October 8, 1976	To Pittsburgh Penguins Dunc Wilson	To New York Rangers 4th round pick in 1978 Draft (Dave Silk)
October 18, 1976	To Pittsburgh Penguins Mike Corrigan	To Los Angeles Kings 5th round pick in 1977 Draft (Julian Baretta)

Additions and subtractions

Additions Player Former team Via Denis Herron Kansas City Scouts free agency (1976-08-07) Steve Lyon Minnesota North Stars free agency (1976-11) Tom Price Cleveland Barons free agency (1977-02-28)

Subtractions Player New team Via Barry Wilkins Edmonton Oilers (WHA) free agency Pete Laframboise Edmonton Oilers (WHA) free agency (1976-05) Simon Nolet Colorado Rockies compensation for signing of Denis Herron (1976-08-07) Michel Plasse Colorado Rockies compensation for signing of Denis Herron (1976-08-07) Colin Campbell† Colorado Rockies compensation 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.

Roster

1976-77 Pittsburgh Penguins
Goaltenders 1 – Denis Herron  29 – Dunc Wilson  30 – Gord Laxton		Defencemen 2 – Ed Van Impe  3 – Ron Stackhouse  4 – Dave Burrows  5 – Mario Faubert  5 – Steve Lyon  6 – Tom Price  7 – Russ Anderson  24 – Don Awrey  25 – Dennis Owchar	Wingers 8 – Rick Kehoe  9 – Blair Chapman  9 – Simon Nolet  11 – Vic Hadfield  14 – Wayne Bianchin  15 – Stan Gilbertson  16 – Lew Morrison  18 – Lowell MacDonald  19 – Jean Pronovost  20 – Yves Bergeron  22 – Bob Kelly  27 – Mike Corrigan		Centers 10 – Pierre Larouche  12 – Greg Malone  17 – Ron Schock  - C 23 – Ed Gilbert  26 – Syl Apps  GM: Wren Blair (Oct.-Dec.) GM: Baz Bastien (Dec.-Apr.) Coach: Ken Schinkel

References

• Penguins on Hockey Database