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76-77Chibh
1976–77 Chicago Black Hawks
Division 3rd Smythe
Conference 7th Campbell
1976–77 record 26–43–11
Home record 19–16–5
Road record 7–27–6
Goals for 240
Goals against 298
Team information
General manager Tommy Ivan
Coach Billy Reay (10-19-5)
Bill White (16-24-6)
Captain Stan Mikita
Pit Martin
Keith Magnuson
Arena Chicago Stadium
Team leaders
Goals Darcy Rota
Ivan Boldirev (24)
Assists Ivan Boldirev (38)
Points Ivan Boldirev (62)
Penalty minutes Phil Russell (233)
Plus/minus Bobby Orr (+6)
Wins Tony Esposito (25)
Goals against average Tony Esposito (3.45)

The 1976–77 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 51st season in the NHL. The Hawks finished 3rd in the Smythe Division and lost in the Preliminary round to the New York Islanders 2 games to 0.

Off-season[]

During the off-season, the Hawks made a big free agent acquisition, as the club signed eight time Norris Trophy winner Bobby Orr. Orr missed the majority of the 1975-76 due to a knee injury, as he was limited to ten games in his final season with the Boston Bruins. The team also named Keith Magnuson to become a co-captain, joining Stan Mikita and Pit Martin in that role. The NHL also made a few changes, as the Kansas City Scouts were relocated to Denver, Colorado, and renamed the Colorado Rockies, while the California Seals moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and were renamed the Cleveland Barons.

Regular Season[]

The Black Hawks got off to a solid start to the season, as in the month of October, they had a 7-5-1 record, however, injuries took a toll on the team, and the Hawks fell into a slump. The Hawks went 3-14-4 in their next 21 games which cost long time head coach Billy Reay his job. Reay had been with Chicago since 1963, and left the team with a record of 516-335-161 in his fourteen seasons with the club. He was replaced by recently retired Black Hawks defenseman Bill White, who played with the team from 1969-1975. Under White, the Hawks played better hockey, as they went 13-12-5 in his first 30 games, however, the team would go on an eight game losing streak, and find themselves battling the Vancouver Canucks for the final playoff spot in the Smythe Division. The Hawks eventually finished the season with a 26-43-11 record, earning 63 points, and squeaked into the post-season. The 26 victories and 63 points was their fewest total since the team won 24 games and earned 55 points in 1957-58, while their 43 losses was their highest since losing 51 games in 1953-54.[1]

Offensively, the Black Hawks were led by Ivan Boldirev, who had a team high 24 goals, 38 assists and 62 points. Darcy Rota tied Boldirev for the team lead in goals, as he also scored 24 times, while earning 46 points. Pit Martin had 17 goals and 53 points, while Stan Mikita had 19 goals and 49 points while appearing in only 57 games. On defense, Dick Redmond led the way, scoring 22 goals and 47 points, while Phil Russell had 9 goals and 45 points from the blueline, along with a team high 233 penalty minutes. Bobby Orr, limited to only 20 games, earned 23 points, while posting a team best +6 rating.

In goal, Tony Esposito played the majority of the games, winning 25 games, while registering a GAA of 3.45, and earning two shutouts.[2]

Final Standings[]

Smythe Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
St. Louis Blues 80 32 39 9 239 276 73
Minnesota North Stars 80 23 39 18 240 310 64
Chicago Black Hawks 80 26 43 11 240 298 63
Vancouver Canucks 80 25 42 13 235 294 63
Colorado Rockies 80 20 46 14 226 307 54

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[]

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 7 Chicago Black Hawks 6–4 St. Louis Blues 1–0–0 2
2 October 9 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 New York Islanders 1–1–0 2
3 October 10 Vancouver Canucks 1-5 Chicago Black Hawks 2–1-0 4
4 October 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1–0 6
5 October 15 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Colorado Rockies 3–2-0 6
6 October 17 Minnesota North Stars 0–3 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2–0 8
7 October 19 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3 Cleveland Barons 4–3–0 8
8 October 21 Chicago Black Hawks 1–5 Philadelphia Flyers 4–4–0 8
9 October 23 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 Minnesota North Stars 4–5–0 8
10 October 24 St. Louis Blues 2–7 Chicago Black Hawks 5–5–0 10
11 October 27 Montreal Canadiens 4–4 Chicago Black Hawks 5–5–1 11
12 October 30 Chicago Black Hawks 6–5 Detroit Red Wings 6–5–1 13
13 October 31 Washington Capitals 4–5 Chicago Black Hawks 7–5–1 15
14 November 4 Chicago Black Hawks 5-7 Boston Bruins 7–6–1 15
15 November 6 Chicago Black Hawks 3–11 Montreal Canadiens 7-7–1 15
16 November 7 Colorado Rockies 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 7–8–1 15
17 November 10 Philadelphia Flyers 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 7-8–2 16
18 November 12 Chicago Black Hawks 5-4 Washington Capitals 8–8–2 18
19 November 14 Los Angeles Kings 4-5 Chicago Black Hawks 9–8–2 20
20 November 17 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 New York Rangers 9–9–2 20
21 November 19 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Atlanta Flames 9–10–2 20
22 November 21 Chicago Black Hawks 0–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 9–11–2 20
23 November 24 Chicago Black Hawks 5-4 Los Angeles Kings 10–11–2 22
24 November 27 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 Vancouver Canucks 10–12–2 22
25 December 1 Boston Bruins 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 10–13–2 22
26 December 4 Chicago Black Hawks 2-2 Toronto Maple Leafs 10–13–3 23
27 December 5 Vancouver Canucks 4-2 Chicago Black Hawks 10–14–3 23
28 December 8 Montreal Canadiens 4-3 Chicago Black Hawks 10–15–3 23
29 December 11 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Atlanta Flames 10–16–3 23
30 December 12 New York Islanders 6–2 Chicago Black Hawks 10–17–3 23
31 December 16 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 Philadelphia Flyers 10–18–3 23
32 December 18 New York Rangers 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 10–18–4 24
33 December 19 St. Louis Blues 6–4 Chicago Black Hawks 10–19–4 24
34 December 21 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Minnesota North Stars 10–19–5 25
35 December 22 Buffalo Sabres 4-2 Chicago Black Hawks 10–20–5 25
36 December 26 Colorado Rockies 3-5 Chicago Black Hawks 11–20–5 27
37 December 29 Detroit Red Wings 3–6 Chicago Black Hawks 12–20–5 29
38 December 31 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Colorado Rockies 12–20–6 30
39 January 2 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–6 Chicago Black Hawks 13–20–6 32
40 January 5 Buffalo Sabres 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 14–20–6 34
41 January 8 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 14–21–6 34
42 January 9 Boston Bruins 4-2 Chicago Black Hawks 14-22–6 34
43 January 12 New York Islanders 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 15–22–6 36
44 January 15 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 Toronto Maple Leafs 16-22–6 38
45 January 16 New York Rangers 5–2 Chicago Black Hawks 16–23–6 38
46 January 18 Chicago Black Hawks 7-7 Colorado Rockies 16–23–7 39
47 January 19 St. Louis Blues 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 16–24–7 39
48 January 22 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0 Detroit Red Wings 17–24–7 41
49 January 23 Philadelphia Flyers 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 17–24–8 42
50 January 27 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 Vancouver Canucks 17–24–9 43
51 January 30 Cleveland Barons 3–9 Chicago Black Hawks 18–24–9 45
52 February 2 Atlanta Flames 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 19–24–9 47
53 February 3 Chicago Black Hawks 0–6 Philadelphia Flyers 19–25–9 47
54 February 5 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Cleveland Barons 19–26–9 47
55 February 6 Minnesota North Stars 3-0 Chicago Black Hawks 19–27–9 47
56 February 9 Washington Capitals 4–4 Chicago Black Hawks 19–27–10 48
57 February 12 Colorado Rockies 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 20–27–10 50
58 February 13 Atlanta Flames 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 21–27–10 52
59 February 15 Chicago Black Hawks 1–5 St. Louis Blues 21–28–10 52
60 February 16 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3 Buffalo Sabres 21–29–10 52
61 February 19 Chicago Black Hawks 2–6 Minnesota North Stars 21–30–10 52
62 February 20 Toronto Maple Leafs 10–8 Chicago Black Hawks 21–31–10 52
63 February 23 Detroit Red Wings 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 22–31–10 54
64 February 26 New York Rangers 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 23–31–10 56
65 February 27 Vancouver Canucks 4-3 Chicago Black Hawks 23–32–10 56
66 March 2 Chicago Black Hawks 3–6 Buffalo Sabres 23–33–10 56
67 March 3 Chicago Black Hawks 4–7 Washington Capitals 23-34–10 56
68 March 6 Chicago Black Hawks 2–6 Boston Bruins 23–35–10 56
69 March 8 Chicago Black Hawks 1–7 Los Angeles Kings 23–36–10 56
70 March 10 Chicago Black Hawks 0–5 Vancouver Canucks 23–37–10 56
71 March 12 Chicago Black Hawks 1–5 Montreal Canadiens 23–38–10 56
72 March 16 New York Islanders 5–0 Chicago Black Hawks 23–39-10 56
73 March 19 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 New York Islanders 23–39–11 57
74 March 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 24–39–11 59
75 March 23 Los Angeles Kings 3–1 Chicago Black Hawks 24–40–11 59
76 March 26 Minnesota North Stars 2–7 Chicago Black Hawks 25–40–11 61
77 March 27 Chicago Black Hawks 5–3 New York Rangers 26–40–11 63
78 March 30 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 St. Louis Blues 26-41–11 63
79 April 1 Chicago Black Hawks 4–6 Atlanta Flames 26–42–11 63
80 April 3 Cleveland Barons 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 26-43–11 63

Playoffs[]

The Hawks opened the playoffs in a best of three preliminary series against the New York Islanders, who finished in second place in the Patrick Division with 106 points, which was 43 more than the Hawks. The series opened with two games at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New York, and the Islanders made quick work of the Hawks in the first game, easily winning 5-2 to take the series lead. New York would then complete the two game sweep, narrowly defeating the Hawks 2-1 in the second game, as Chicago was swept out of the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

New York Islanders 2, Chicago Black Hawks 0[]

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 5 Chicago Black Hawks 2–5 New York Islanders 0-1
2 April 7 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 New York Islanders 0-2

Player Stats[]

Scoring Leaders[]

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Ivan Boldirev 80 24 38 62 40
Pit Martin 75 17 36 53 22
Stan Mikita 57 19 30 49 20
Dick Redmond 80 22 25 47 30
Darcy Rota 76 24 22 46 82

Goaltending[]

Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
Tony Esposito 69 4067 25 36 8 234 2 3.45
Michel Dumas 5 241 0 1 2 17 0 4.23
Mike Veisor 3 180 1 2 0 13 0 4.33
Gilles Villemure 6 312 0 4 1 28 0 5.38

Playoff Stats[]

Scoring Leaders[]

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Kirk Bowman 2 1 0 1 0
Dennis Hull 2 1 0 1 0
Grant Mulvey 2 1 0 1 2
Dale Tallon 2 0 1 1 0
Bob Murray 2 0 1 1 2

Goaltending[]

Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Tony Esposito 2 120 0 2 6 0 3.00

Awards and Records[]

  • The Black Hawks did not win any awards this season.

Draft Picks[]

Chicago's draft picks at the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft at the NHL Office in Montreal, Quebec.

Round # Player Nationality College/junior/club team (league)
1 9 Real Cloutier Flag of Canada Canada Quebec Nordiques (WHA)
2 27 Jeff McDill Flag of Canada Canada Victoria Cougars (WCHL)
3 45 Thomas Gradin Flag of Sweden Sweden Modo Hockey (Sweden)
4 63 Dave Debol Flag of the United States United States University of Michigan (NCAA)
5 81 Terry McDonald Flag of Canada Canada Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
6 99 John Peterson Flag of Canada Canada University of Notre Dame (NCAA)
7 115 John Rothstein Flag of the United States United States University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)

References[]

Sources[]

Chicago Blackhawks Seasons
1926-271927-281928-291929-301930-311931-321932-331933-341934-351935-361936-371937-381938-391939-401940-411941-421942-431943-441944-451945-461946-471947-481948-491949-501950-511951-521952-531953-541954-551955-561956-571957-581958-591959-601960-611961-621962-631963-641964-651965-661966-671967-681968-691969-701970-711971-721972-731973-741974-751975-761976-771977-781978-791979-801980-811981-821982-831983-841984-851985-861986-871987-881988-891989-901990-911991-921992-931993-941994-951995-961996-971997-981998-991999-002000-012001-022002-032003-042004-052005-062006-072007-082008-092009-102010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-172017-182018-192019-20
Chicago Blackhawks
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This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at 1976–77 Chicago Black Hawks season. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Ice Hockey Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA).


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