1976β77 Los Angeles Kings | |
---|---|
Division | 2nd Norris |
Conference | Wales |
1976β77 record | 34β31β15 |
Goals for | 271 |
Goals against | 241 |
Team information | |
General manager | Jake Milford |
Coach | Bob Pulford |
Captain | Mike Murphy |
Alternate captains | None |
Arena | Los Angeles Forum |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Marcel Dionne (53) |
Assists | Marcel Dionne (69) |
Points | Marcel Dionne (122) |
Penalty minutes | Dave Schultz (232) |
Wins | Rogatien Vachon (33) |
Goals against average | Rogatien Vachon (2.72) |
The 1976β77 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' tenth season in the National Hockey League.
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The 1976β77 season was similar to the year before for the Kings. Dionne continued to lead the offense, the defense was unspectacular but solid, but it was a season of roster turnover as some aging veterans departed (e.g. Bob Nevin, Mike Corrigan) and others lost significant time to injuries (Larry Brown, Juha Widing, Sheldon Kannegiesser). Youngsters like Glen Goldup, Lorne Stamler, and Steve Clippingdale struggled although second year defenseman Gary Sargent was solid. The Kings added Dave Schultz (the "Hammer") to replace Dan Maloney who left in the Dionne trade for toughness, but it took nearly all season for the roster to gell. In addition, backup goalie Gary Edwards struggled and was eventually traded for Gary Simmons; he was not the answer either, so #1 goalie Rogie Vachon was overworked. The Kings were also stuck behind the Montreal Canadiens who finished an amazing 60β8β12; many say this was the greatest team in NHL history.
After struggling near or below the .500 mark, the Kings won 5 of their last 6 games to finish 6th overall β the same as the year before although with 2 fewer points.
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 |
[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.
Norris Division record vs. opponents
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No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | T | October 6, 1976 | 2β2 | @ Cleveland Barons ( 1976β77) | 0β0β1 |
2 | L | October 7, 1976 | 2β4 | @ Atlanta Flames ( 1976β77) | 0β1β1 |
3 | W | October 9, 1976 | 7β4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1976β77) | 1β1β1 |
4 | L | October 10, 1976 | 0β1 | @ Philadelphia Flyers ( 1976β77) | 1β2β1 |
5 | T | October 13, 1976 | 4β4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1976β77) | 1β2β2 |
6 | W | October 16, 1976 | 7β1 | Washington Capitals ( 1976β77) | 2β2β2 |
7 | W | October 17, 1976 | 6β2 | St. Louis Blues ( 1976β77) | 3β2β2 |
8 | W | October 20, 1976 | 4β2 | @ New York Rangers ( 1976β77) | 4β2β2 |
9 | T | October 21, 1976 | 5β5 | @ Washington Capitals ( 1976β77) | 4β2β3 |
10 | L | October 23, 1976 | 2β4 | Boston Bruins ( 1976β77) | 4β3β3 |
11 | W | October 26, 1976 | 3β2 | Detroit Red Wings ( 1976β77) | 5β3β3 |
12 | W | October 28, 1976 | 5β1 | Atlanta Flames ( 1976β77) | 6β3β3 |
13 | W | October 30, 1976 | 4β3 | Cleveland Barons ( 1976β77) | 7β3β3 |
14 | L | November 2, 1976 | 1β7 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1976β77) | 7β4β3 |
15 | W | November 3, 1976 | 4β2 | @ Cleveland Barons ( 1976β77) | 8β4β3 |
16 | L | November 5, 1976 | 1β4 | @ Vancouver Canucks ( 1976β77) | 8β5β3 |
17 | T | November 6, 1976 | 3β3 | New York Rangers ( 1976β77) | 8β5β4 |
18 | T | November 10, 1976 | 2β2 | Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1976β77) | 8β5β5 |
19 | T | November 13, 1976 | 3β3 | @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1976β77) | 8β5β6 |
20 | L | November 14, 1976 | 4β5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks ( 1976β77) | 8β6β6 |
21 | T | November 16, 1976 | 0β0 | Cleveland Barons ( 1976β77) | 8β6β7 |
22 | L | November 18, 1976 | 1β3 | New York Islanders ( 1976β77) | 8β7β7 |
23 | L | November 20, 1976 | 3β4 | Buffalo Sabres ( 1976β77) | 8β8β7 |
24 | L | November 24, 1976 | 4β5 | Chicago Black Hawks ( 1976β77) | 8β9β7 |
25 | L | November 27, 1976 | 3β4 | Montreal Canadiens ( 1976β77) | 8β10β7 |
26 | T | November 28, 1976 | 6β6 | @ Colorado Rockies ( 1976β77) | 8β10β8 |
27 | L | December 1, 1976 | 3β6 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1976β77) | 8β11β8 |
28 | T | December 2, 1976 | 3β3 | @ Montreal Canadiens ( 1976β77) | 8β11β9 |
29 | W | December 4, 1976 | 4β1 | Detroit Red Wings ( 1976β77) | 9β11β9 |
30 | T | December 8, 1976 | 3β3 | Colorado Rockies ( 1976β77) | 9β11β10 |
31 | L | December 11, 1976 | 2β4 | Buffalo Sabres ( 1976β77) | 9β12β10 |
32 | W | December 14, 1976 | 4β2 | @ Washington Capitals ( 1976β77) | 10β12β10 |
33 | W | December 15, 1976 | 3β1 | @ Atlanta Flames ( 1976β77) | 11β12β10 |
34 | L | December 18, 1976 | 0β2 | Montreal Canadiens ( 1976β77) | 11β13β10 |
35 | L | December 22, 1976 | 2β3 | Vancouver Canucks ( 1976β77) | 11β14β10 |
36 | W | December 27, 1976 | 7β4 | @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1976β77) | 12β14β10 |
37 | L | December 28, 1976 | 3β8 | @ Minnesota North Stars ( 1976β77) | 12β15β10 |
38 | L | December 30, 1976 | 0β2 | Philadelphia Flyers ( 1976β77) | 12β16β10 |
39 | W | January 1, 1977 | 5β2 | Boston Bruins ( 1976β77) | 13β16β10 |
40 | L | January 4, 1977 | 3β4 | @ St. Louis Blues ( 1976β77) | 13β17β10 |
41 | L | January 5, 1977 | 2β5 | @ Minnesota North Stars ( 1976β77) | 13β18β10 |
42 | L | January 8, 1977 | 1β6 | @ Philadelphia Flyers ( 1976β77) | 13β19β10 |
43 | W | January 9, 1977 | 5β4 | @ New York Rangers ( 1976β77) | 14β19β10 |
44 | L | January 12, 1977 | 2β3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1976β77) | 14β20β10 |
45 | L | January 13, 1977 | 3β4 | @ Boston Bruins ( 1976β77) | 14β21β10 |
46 | L | January 15, 1977 | 0β6 | @ Montreal Canadiens ( 1976β77) | 14β22β10 |
47 | W | January 18, 1977 | 6β3 | Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1976β77) | 15β22β10 |
48 | W | January 20, 1977 | 5β3 | Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1976β77) | 16β22β10 |
49 | W | January 22, 1977 | 6β0 | New York Rangers ( 1976β77) | 17β22β10 |
50 | L | January 26, 1977 | 2β3 | Minnesota North Stars ( 1976β77) | 17β23β10 |
51 | W | January 29, 1977 | 4β0 | @ New York Islanders ( 1976β77) | 18β23β10 |
52 | W | February 2, 1977 | 7β2 | Washington Capitals ( 1976β77) | 19β23β10 |
53 | T | February 5, 1977 | 3β3 | Montreal Canadiens ( 1976β77) | 19β23β11 |
54 | L | February 8, 1977 | 1β4 | @ New York Islanders ( 1976β77) | 19β24β11 |
55 | L | February 9, 1977 | 3β6 | @ Cleveland Barons ( 1976β77) | 19β25β11 |
56 | L | February 12, 1977 | 2β3 | Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1976β77) | 19β26β11 |
57 | W | February 15, 1977 | 3β0 | New York Islanders ( 1976β77) | 20β26β11 |
58 | L | February 17, 1977 | 3β4 | Atlanta Flames ( 1976β77) | 20β27β11 |
59 | W | February 19, 1977 | 2β0 | Boston Bruins ( 1976β77) | 21β27β11 |
60 | W | February 22, 1977 | 4β0 | St. Louis Blues ( 1976β77) | 22β27β11 |
61 | T | February 24, 1977 | 2β2 | Vancouver Canucks ( 1976β77) | 22β27β12 |
62 | W | February 26, 1977 | 4β3 | @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1976β77) | 23β27β12 |
63 | W | February 27, 1977 | 5β1 | @ Buffalo Sabres ( 1976β77) | 24β27β12 |
64 | W | March 1, 1977 | 3β2 | @ Washington Capitals ( 1976β77) | 25β27β12 |
65 | W | March 2, 1977 | 5β0 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1976β77) | 26β27β12 |
66 | L | March 3, 1977 | 2β7 | @ Buffalo Sabres ( 1976β77) | 26β28β12 |
67 | T | March 5, 1977 | 3β3 | Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1976β77) | 26β28β13 |
68 | W | March 8, 1977 | 7β1 | Chicago Black Hawks ( 1976β77) | 27β28β13 |
69 | W | March 10, 1977 | 6β0 | Washington Capitals ( 1976β77) | 28β28β13 |
70 | T | March 13, 1977 | 2β2 | @ Boston Bruins ( 1976β77) | 28β28β14 |
71 | L | March 14, 1977 | 0β3 | @ Montreal Canadiens ( 1976β77) | 28β29β14 |
72 | W | March 17, 1977 | 3β2 | Detroit Red Wings ( 1976β77) | 29β29β14 |
73 | L | March 19, 1977 | 3β5 | Philadelphia Flyers ( 1976β77) | 29β30β14 |
74 | L | March 22, 1977 | 2β4 | @ St. Louis Blues ( 1976β77) | 29β31β14 |
75 | W | March 23, 1977 | 3β1 | @ Chicago Black Hawks ( 1976β77) | 30β31β14 |
76 | W | March 26, 1977 | 6β4 | Buffalo Sabres ( 1976β77) | 31β31β14 |
77 | T | March 29, 1977 | 3β3 | @ Vancouver Canucks ( 1976β77) | 31β31β15 |
78 | W | March 31, 1977 | 7β5 | Colorado Rockies ( 1976β77) | 32β31β15 |
79 | W | April 2, 1977 | 7β2 | Minnesota North Stars ( 1976β77) | 33β31β15 |
80 | W | April 3, 1977 | 6β4 | @ Colorado Rockies ( 1976β77) | 34β31β15 |
For the second straight year, the Kings faced the Atlanta Flames in the mini series. And for the second year in a row, the Kings scored in the first minute of game 1 and won 5β2. But unlike the prior year, they lost game 2 in Atlanta 3β2, forcing a deciding game 3 back in L.A. Vachon was brilliant as the Kings took a 3β1 lead into the 3rd period. But Atlanta scored late to make it 3β2, and the issue wasn't decided until the Kings got an empty net goal for a 4β2 win.
For the second straight year, the Kings faced the Boston Bruins in the quarter finals and again were heavy underdogs. Boston dominated the first two games in Boston, winning 8β3 and 6β2. The Kings offense woke up when they returned to L.A., but the defense continued to struggle and the Kings lost 7β6 to fall behind 3 games to none. Vachon looked exhausted (he had now played 74 games) and the Kings could not cope with Boston's size advantage. But they managed to outskate Boston in a 7β4 game 4 win, but it seemed a formality to go back to Boston for game 5. It was in that game that Vachon played one of the great games in playoff history. The Kings were badly outshot but in the words of Boston goalie Gerry Cheevers, "Vachon did everything but stand on his head to make great save after great save." The Kings led 2β1 and clinched the game with an empty netter, forcing a game 6 in Los Angeles. In that game, the Kings fell behind 3β0 but battled back to tie the game in the 3rd period at 3. Then, as Kings defenseman Dave Hutchison went to clear the puck on a Boston power play, he broke his stick on the ice, turned the puck over, and Boston scored to win the game 4β3 and the series 4 games to 2.
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Lady Byng Memorial Trophy β Marcel Dionne
All NHL 2nd team β Rogie Vachon, Goalie
The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1976β77 season. [3]
May 28, 1976 | To
Los Angeles Kings John Campbell |
To
New York Rangers Mark Heaslip |
June 12, 1976 | To
Los Angeles Kings Glenn Goldup 3rd round pick in 1978 β Doug Derkson |
To
Montreal Canadiens 3rd round pick in 1977 β Moe Robinson 1st round pick in 1978 β Dan Geoffrion |
September 29, 1976 | To
Los Angeles Kings Dave Schultz |
To
Philadelphia Flyers 4th round pick in 1977 β Yves Guillemette 2nd round pick in 1978 β Merlin Malinowski |
October 18, 1976 | To
Los Angeles Kings 5th round pick in 1977 β Julian Baretta |
To
Pittsburgh Penguins Mike Corrigan |
January 22, 1977 | To
Los Angeles Kings Jim Moxey Gary Simmons |
To
Cleveland Barons Gary Edwards Juha Widing |
October 25, 1976 | To
Edmonton Oilers (
WHA) Bob Nevin |
Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft held in Montreal.
Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 21 | Steve Clippingdale | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
3 | 49 | Don Moores | Canada | Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL) |
4 | 67 | Bob Mears | Canada | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
5 | 85 | Rob Palmer | Canada | University of Michigan (WCHA) |
6 | 103 | Larry McRae | Canada | Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL) |
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