1976–77 Boston Bruins season

	1976–77 Boston Bruins
Division	1st Adams
1976–77 record	49–23–8
Goals for	312 (3rd)
Goals against	240 (5th)
Team information
General manager	Harry Sinden
Coach	Don Cherry
Captain	Johnny Bucyk
Arena	Boston Garden
Team leaders
Goals	Peter McNab (38)
Assists	Jean Ratelle (61)
Points	Jean Ratelle (94)
Penalty minutes	Mike Milbury (166)
Wins	Gilles Gilbert (18)
Goals against average	Gilles Gilbert (2.85)
	← 1975–76 1977–78 →

The 1976–77 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 53rd season in the NHL. The Bruins finished 1st in the Adams Division and lost in the 1977 Stanley Cup Finals to the Montreal Canadiens 4 games to 0.

Off-season[]

Regular Season[]

Final Standings[]

Adams Division
	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
Boston Bruins	80	49	23	8	312	240	106
Buffalo Sabres	80	48	24	8	301	220	104
Toronto Maple Leafs	80	33	32	15	301	285	81
Cleveland Barons	80	25	42	13	240	292	63

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Game Log[]

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

Playoffs[]

Boston Bruins 4, Los Angeles Kings 2[]

Boston Bruins 4, Philadelphia Flyers 0[]

Montreal Canadiens 4, Boston Bruins 0[]

Date	Visitors	Score	Home	Score	Notes
May 7	Boston	3	Montreal	7
May 10	Boston	0	Montreal	3
May 12	Montreal	4	Boston	2
May 14	Montreal	2	Boston	1	OT

Player Stats[]

Regular Season[]

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Ratelle, JeanJean Ratelle	C	78	33	61	94	22	19	8	1	6
McNab, PeterPeter McNab	C	80	38	48	86	11	26	6	0	8
Sheppard, GreggGregg Sheppard	C	77	31	36	67	20	3	8	1	5
Park, BradBrad Park	D	77	12	55	67	67	47	4	1	4
O'Reilly, TerryTerry O'Reilly	RW	79	14	41	55	147	38	1	1	4
Schmautz, BobbyBobby Schmautz	RW	57	23	29	52	62	25	4	0	2
Cashman, WayneWayne Cashman	LW	65	15	37	52	76	4	3	0	3
Marcotte, DonDon Marcotte	LW	80	27	18	45	20	28	3	1	5
Bucyk, JohnJohn Bucyk	LW	49	20	23	43	12	-2	6	0	2
Middleton, RickRick Middleton	RW	72	20	22	42	2	2	0	0	1
Jonathan, StanStan Jonathan	LW	69	17	13	30	69	1	1	0	2
Hagman, MattiMatti Hagman	C	75	11	17	28	0	6	1	0	0
Milbury, MikeMike Milbury	D	77	6	18	24	166	25	0	0	2
Smith, RickRick Smith	D	46	6	16	22	30	23	0	0	0
Smith, DallasDallas Smith	D	58	2	20	22	40	16	0	0	0
Anderson, EarlEarl Anderson	RW	40	10	11	21	4	4	1	0	3
Forbes, DaveDave Forbes	LW	73	9	11	20	47	13	0	2	1
Doak, GaryGary Doak	D	76	3	13	16	107	15	0	0	0
Nowak, HankHank Nowak	LW	24	7	5	12	14	4	0	0	1
Wensink, JohnJohn Wensink	LW	23	4	6	10	32	5	0	0	0
Maluta, RayRay Maluta	D	23	2	3	5	4	4	0	0	0
Halward, DougDoug Halward	D	18	2	2	4	6	9	0	0	0
Cheevers, GerryGerry Cheevers	G	45	0	4	4	46	0	0	0	0
Edestrand, DarrylDarryl Edestrand	D	17	0	3	3	16	4	0	0	0
Zanussi, JoeJoe Zanussi	D	8	0	1	1	8	1	0	0	0
Gilbert, GillesGilles Gilbert	G	34	0	1	1	15	0	0	0	0
Pachal, ClaytonClayton Pachal	C/LW	1	0	0	0	12	0	0	0	0
Sims, AlAl Sims	D	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Pettie, JimJim Pettie	G	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
Cheevers, GerryGerry Cheevers	2700	45	30	10	5	137	3.04	3
Gilbert, GillesGilles Gilbert	2040	34	18	13	3	97	2.85	1
Pettie, JimJim Pettie	60	1	1	0	0	3	3.00	0
Team:	4800	80	49	23	8	237	2.96	4

Playoffs[]

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
Ratelle, JeanJean Ratelle	C	14	5	12	17	4	1	0	1
Schmautz, BobbyBobby Schmautz	RW	14	11	1	12	10	4	0	1
Sheppard, GreggGregg Sheppard	C	14	5	7	12	8	1	1	2
Park, BradBrad Park	D	14	2	10	12	4	0	0	0
Marcotte, DonDon Marcotte	LW	14	5	6	11	10	0	1	0
O'Reilly, TerryTerry O'Reilly	RW	14	5	6	11	28	0	0	1
Middleton, RickRick Middleton	RW	13	5	4	9	0	0	0	1
Cashman, WayneWayne Cashman	LW	14	1	8	9	18	0	0	0
Smith, RickRick Smith	D	14	0	9	9	14	0	0	0
McNab, PeterPeter McNab	C	14	5	3	8	2	2	0	0
Jonathan, StanStan Jonathan	LW	14	4	2	6	24	0	0	1
Milbury, MikeMike Milbury	D	13	2	2	4	47	0	0	1
Wensink, JohnJohn Wensink	LW	13	0	3	3	8	0	0	0
Doak, GaryGary Doak	D	14	0	2	2	26	0	0	0
Forbes, DaveDave Forbes	LW	14	0	1	1	2	0	0	0
Hagman, MattiMatti Hagman	C	8	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
Anderson, EarlEarl Anderson	RW	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sims, AlAl Sims	D	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Edestrand, DarrylDarryl Edestrand	D	3	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
Bucyk, JohnJohn Bucyk	LW	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Halward, DougDoug Halward	D	6	0	0	0	4	0	0	0
Gilbert, GillesGilles Gilbert	G	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cheevers, GerryGerry Cheevers	G	14	0	0	0	4	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA	SO
Cheevers, GerryGerry Cheevers	858	14	8	5	44	3.08	1
Gilbert, GillesGilles Gilbert	20	1	0	1	3	9.00	0
Team:	878	14	8	6	47	3.21	1

^[1]

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts

Awards and Records[]

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Jean Ratelle, Runner-up
Lester Patrick Trophy: John Bucyk ^[2]

Transactions[]

Trade Ken Hodge to the New York Rangers for Rick Middleton on May 26, 1976.
Trade Joe Zanussi to the St. Louis Blues for Rick Smith on December 20, 1976.

Draft Picks[]

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team
1	16	Clayton Pachal (C)	Canada	New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)

Trivia[]

Bruins who recorded a Hat trick this season include:
- Gregg Sheppard during the 5-1 win over the New York Rangers on October 13, 1976.
- Rick Middleton during the 6-2 win over the Minnesota North Stars on October 7, 1976.
- Peter McNab during the 7-5 win over the Chicago Black Hawks on November 4, 1976.
- Peter McNab during the 8-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks on December 29, 1976.
- Gregg Sheppard during the 5-2 win over the Cleveland Barons on January 21, 1977.
- Bobby Schmautz during the 6-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies on January 27, 1977.
- Gregg Sheppard during the 8-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings on March 1, 1977.
- Don Marcotte during the 5-3 win over the New York Islanders on April 2, 1977.
- Bobby Schmautz during the 8-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings, Game 1 of the Quarter-finals, April 11, 1977.

Gallery[]

References[]

Bruins on Hockey Database

↑ 1976-77 Boston Bruins Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com. hockey-reference.com. Retrieved on 2009-06-09.
↑ Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009-10, p.424, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6

[1] 1976-77 Boston Bruins Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com. hockey-reference.com. Retrieved on 2009-06-09.

[2] Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009-10, p.424, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6

[1]

[2]

Boston Bruins
The Franchise	Franchise • Original Six • Team History • All-time Roster • Seasons • Players • Records • GMs • Head Coaches
Arenas	Boston Arena • Boston Garden • TD Garden
Head Coaches	Ross • Denneny • Patrick • Weiland • Clapper • Boucher • Patrick • Schmidt • Watson • Sinden • Johnson • Guidolin • Cherry • Creighton • Cheevers • Goring • O'Reilly • Milbury • Bowness • Sutter • Kasper • Burns • Keenan • Ftorek • O'Connell • Sullivan • Lewis • Julien • Cassidy • Montgomery
Retired Numbers	2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 15 • 16 • 22 • 24 • 77 • 99
Affiliates	Providence Bruins • Maine Mariners
Rivals	Montreal Canadiens • Toronto Maple Leafs • Philadelphia Flyers • New York Rangers
Stanley Cups	1929, 1939, 1941, 1970, 1972, 2011

1976–77 NHL season by team
Patrick	Atlanta • NY Islanders • NY Rangers • Philadelphia
Adams	Boston • Buffalo • Cleveland • Toronto
Norris	Detroit • Los Angeles • Montreal • Pittsburgh • Washington
Smythe	Chicago • Colorado • Minnesota • St. Louis • Vancouver
See also	1976 NHL Amateur Draft • All-Star Game • 1977 Stanley Cup Finals