1975–76 Los Angeles Kings season

The Kings were coming off their most successful season ever, built largely on the strength of their defense and goaltending. They ranked 2nd in fewest goals allowed in the 1974-75 season, but tied for 9th in goals scored. In addition, while their penalty killing was excellent, their power play ranked in the lower third of the league. Finally, their early round playoff upset by Toronto (where the Kings scored only 6 goals in 3 games) prompted them to make one of the biggest trades in club history. High scoring superstar Marcel Dionne was in a contract dispute with the Detroit Red Wings and was available to a team that would meet his salary demands. So to bolster the offense, they Kings traded veteran defenseman and team captain Terry Harper and tough guy forward Dan Maloney along with draft picks to the Detroit Red Wings for future hall of famer Dionne and defenseman Bart Crashley. They then gave Dionne one of the richest contracts in NHL history up to that point at $300,000 per year.

Regular season

Unlike the prior season when the Kings started fast, after the first two games in 1975-76, they were 0-2-0 and had been outscored 16-0! It was later revealed that golatender Rogie Vachon was playing with a flu like virus related to typhus. Vachon recovered and the Kings won 10 of their next 12 games to right the ship. However, they played .500 hockey the rest of the way and finished 27 points behind the Montreal Canadiens in the Norris Division. While Dionne delivered a club record 40 goals and 94 points, the team missed Harper's leadership and defense, and Maloney's tough guy presence. A number of players missed significant time with injuries, and the club actually scored 6 fewer goals that the year before despite the addition of Dionne. The Kings ended up with a record of 38-33-9, 2nd in the Norris Division and 6th overall in the league.

Post Season

The Kings mini series opponent was the Atlanta Flames. The Kings scored in the 1st minute of game one and went on to win 2-1 behind Vachon's brilliant goaltending. In game 2, Atlanta tried to physically overwhelm the Kings but Vachon was even better than in game one; Bob Berry's 3rd period goal won the game 1-0 and the series; it was the Kings first playoff series win since 1969.

Boston Series

What followed the Atlanta series was one of the most memorable playoff series in Kings history. The Kings were big underdogs against the big, powerful, tradition rich Boston Bruins. Game 1 went according to form as the Bruins used their size advantage on the smaller rink at the Boston Garden and smothered the Kings, 4-0. Boston continued to dominate play in game 2, but Rogie Vachon was brilliant and kept the Kings tied at 2 going into overtime. Butch Goring then stunned the Boston crowd with an overtime winner, and the teams flew to L.A. tied at a game apiece. One the larger ice surface at the Forum, the Kings' offense got going and, led by Marcel Dionne's hat trick, won game 3 by a score of 6-4. Suddenly the Kings led a series in which many thought they would get swept. Boston appeared to wake up and won games 4 and 5, outscoring the Kings 10-1, and again seemed in control of the series. When the Kings skated onto the ice in game 6 back in L.A., the sellout crowd greeted them with a 5-minute standing ovation that delayed the national anthem and the start of the game. Players on both sides said they had never seen anything like it. The game that followed was even more amazing. After a scoreless first period in which Vachon made numerous outstanding saves, the Kings' Tom Williams beat Gerry Cheevers over the golve hand on a wicked 55 foot slap shot to send the crowd into a frenzy. Boston came right back to tie the game, and then Vachon stopped Terry O'Reilly on a breakaway to keep the score 1-1. As the game wore on, the Bruins appeared to wear down the Kings and they took a 3-1 lead into the final five minutes. Mike Corrigan scored to make it 3-2, and with the crowd going crazy, Corrigan had another chance as he went for a rebound. Cheevers tripped him, but Corrigan swiped at the puck while lying on his stomach and put it in the net to tie the game. After Vachon made numerous great saves, the first overtime was winding down to its final minute when Butch Goring took a pass in the top of the slot and beat Cheevers, sending the crowd into a frenzy and the series back to Boston for the 7th game. Goring's game winner prompted Kings' hall of fame announcer Bob Miller's famous call "We're going back to Boston! We're going back to Boston! We're going back to Boston!" Goring was carried off the ice on his teammates' shoulders while the crowd continued to go crazy. In the 7th game, after a scoreless first period, Boston eventually wore down the Kings and won 3-0.

Final standings

Norris Division
	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.

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 8, 1975	0–9	@ Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	0–1–0
2	L	October 11, 1975	0–7	@ New York Islanders (1975–76)	0–2–0
3	W	October 12, 1975	6–4	@ New York Rangers (1975–76)	1–2–0
4	W	October 15, 1975	4–3	Washington Capitals (1975–76)	2–2–0
5	W	October 17, 1975	5–3	@ Vancouver Canucks (1975–76)	3–2–0
6	W	October 18, 1975	5–3	California Golden Seals (1975–76)	4–2–0
7	L	October 21, 1975	1–6	@ St. Louis Blues (1975–76)	4–3–0
8	W	October 22, 1975	5–3	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76)	5–3–0
9	L	October 24, 1975	1–7	@ Atlanta Flames (1975–76)	5–4–0
10	W	October 26, 1975	4–2	Minnesota North Stars (1975–76)	6–4–0
11	W	October 28, 1975	6–0	Washington Capitals (1975–76)	7–4–0
12	W	October 30, 1975	4–0	Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	8–4–0
13	W	November 1, 1975	3–1	Atlanta Flames (1975–76)	9–4–0
14	W	November 5, 1975	3–1	@ Washington Capitals (1975–76)	10–4–0
15	T	November 6, 1975	1–1	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76)	10–4–1
16	W	November 8, 1975	3–1	New York Rangers (1975–76)	11–4–1
17	L	November 11, 1975	2–3	California Golden Seals (1975–76)	11–5–1
18	W	November 13, 1975	4–3	New York Islanders (1975–76)	12–5–1
19	T	November 15, 1975	1–1	Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	12–5–2
20	L	November 19, 1975	2–4	Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76)	12–6–2
21	L	November 22, 1975	3–6	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	12–7–2
22	L	November 23, 1975	1–4	@ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	12–8–2
23	L	November 25, 1975	2–4	@ Boston Bruins (1975–76)	12–9–2
24	L	November 26, 1975	2–7	@ Washington Capitals (1975–76)	12–10–2
25	W	November 29, 1975	8–3	Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	13–10–2
26	W	December 2, 1975	5–3	Atlanta Flames (1975–76)	14–10–2
27	W	December 3, 1975	3–2	@ California Golden Seals (1975–76)	15–10–2
28	W	December 6, 1975	3–2	Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	16–10–2
29	W	December 10, 1975	5–0	St. Louis Blues (1975–76)	17–10–2
30	L	December 13, 1975	4–6	Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76)	17–11–2
31	L	December 17, 1975	1–2	Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	17–12–2
32	L	December 20, 1975	1–5	Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	17–13–2
33	L	December 22, 1975	3–4	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	17–14–2
34	W	December 23, 1975	4–3	@ Boston Bruins (1975–76)	18–14–2
35	W	December 26, 1975	4–2	@ California Golden Seals (1975–76)	19–14–2
36	W	December 27, 1975	9–4	Kansas City Scouts (1975–76)	20–14–2
37	L	December 29, 1975	1–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1975–76)	20–15–2
38	L	December 31, 1975	1–5	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	20–16–2
39	W	January 1, 1976	9–6	@ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	21–16–2
40	L	January 3, 1976	0–3	Boston Bruins (1975–76)	21–17–2
41	W	January 7, 1976	5–2	@ Kansas City Scouts (1975–76)	22–17–2
42	L	January 8, 1976	4–6	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76)	22–18–2
43	L	January 10, 1976	3–4	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	22–19–2
44	W	January 13, 1976	3–0	@ Atlanta Flames (1975–76)	23–19–2
45	L	January 15, 1976	0–4	@ Boston Bruins (1975–76)	23–20–2
46	L	January 17, 1976	2–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	23–21–2
47	W	January 18, 1976	8–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	24–21–2
48	W	January 22, 1976	6–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	25–21–2
49	L	January 24, 1976	0–5	@ New York Islanders (1975–76)	25–22–2
50	W	January 25, 1976	4–1	@ New York Rangers (1975–76)	26–22–2
51	W	January 27, 1976	2–0	Washington Capitals (1975–76)	27–22–2
52	T	January 29, 1976	3–3	Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	27–22–3
53	W	January 31, 1976	7–3	Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	28–22–3
54	L	February 4, 1976	3–4	Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	28–23–3
55	L	February 7, 1976	3–7	Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	28–24–3
56	T	February 10, 1976	2–2	@ Washington Capitals (1975–76)	28–24–4
57	W	February 11, 1976	7–4	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76)	29–24–4
58	T	February 14, 1976	2–2	@ Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	29–24–5
59	L	February 15, 1976	4–6	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	29–25–5
60	W	February 17, 1976	2–1	Minnesota North Stars (1975–76)	30–25–5
61	T	February 18, 1976	2–2	St. Louis Blues (1975–76)	30–25–6
62	T	February 21, 1976	3–3	Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76)	30–25–7
63	L	February 26, 1976	2–6	Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76)	30–26–7
64	W	February 28, 1976	3–1	@ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	31–26–7
65	L	February 29, 1976	1–5	@ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	31–27–7
66	L	March 3, 1976	3–5	Boston Bruins (1975–76)	31–28–7
67	L	March 6, 1976	1–4	Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	31–29–7
68	W	March 9, 1976	6–1	Vancouver Canucks (1975–76)	32–29–7
69	W	March 11, 1976	4–3	New York Rangers (1975–76)	33–29–7
70	L	March 13, 1976	1–4	Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	33–30–7
71	L	March 16, 1976	2–4	Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	33–31–7
72	W	March 20, 1976	4–3	Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	34–31–7
73	T	March 21, 1976	4–4	@ Minnesota North Stars (1975–76)	34–31–8
74	T	March 24, 1976	1–1	New York Islanders (1975–76)	34–31–9
75	L	March 26, 1976	3–4	@ Vancouver Canucks (1975–76)	34–32–9
76	W	March 27, 1976	7–3	Vancouver Canucks (1975–76)	35–32–9
77	W	March 30, 1976	8–6	@ Kansas City Scouts (1975–76)	36–32–9
78	W	March 31, 1976	2–1	@ St. Louis Blues (1975–76)	37–32–9
79	W	April 3, 1976	5–1	Kansas City Scouts (1975–76)	38–32–9
80	L	April 4, 1976	2–5	@ California Golden Seals (1975–76)	38–33–9

Playoffs

Mini Series

Kings 2 Flames 1
Kings 1 at Flames 0

Quarter Finals

Kings 0 at Bruins 4
Kings 3 at Bruins 2 (OT)
Kings 6 Bruins 4
Kings 0 Bruins 3
Kings 1 at Bruins 7
Kings 4 Bruins 3 (OT)
Kings 0 at Bruins 4

Transactions

January 24, 1976 - Obtained defenseman Ab DeMarco from the Vancouver Canucks for future considerations.

Roster

Coach, Bob Pulford
1 Gary Edwards, G
2 Bart Crashley, D
3 Larry Brown, D
4 Dave Hutchison, D
5 Bob Murdoch, D
6 Sheldon Kannegiesser, D
7 Mike Murphy(Captain), RW
9 Bob Nevin, RW
10 Vic Venasky, C
11 Mike Corrigan, RW
12 Gene Carr, C
14 Frank St. Marseille, LW
15 Juha Widing, C
16 Marcel Dionne, C
17 Tom Williams, LW
18 Bob Berry, LW
19 Butch Goring, C
20 Ab DeMarco, D
22 Gary Sargent, D
23 Neil Komadoski, D
24 Don Kozak, RW
30 Rogie Vachon, G

Draft picks

2nd round, 3rd pick, #21 overall - Steve Clippingdale
3rd round, 13th pick, #49 overall - Don Moores
4th round, 13th pick, #67 overall - Bob Mears
5th round, 13th pick, #85 overall - Robert Palmer
6th round, 13th pick, #103 overall - Larry McRae

References

↑ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.

"1975–76 Los Angeles Kings Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-06.

External links

Los Angeles Kings

Founded in 1967 Based in Los Angeles, California

Franchise	Team General managers Coaches Players Captains Draft picks Seasons Current season

History	History Awards Records

Personnel	Owners Philip Anschutz Edward P. Roski General manager Dean Lombardi Head coach Darryl Sutter Team captain Dustin Brown Current roster

Arenas	Long Beach Arena Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Great Western Forum Staples Center

Rivalries	Anaheim Ducks

Affiliates	AHL Ontario Reign ECHL Manchester Monarchs

General managers	Regan Milford Maguire Vachon Beverley McMaster Taylor Lombardi

Head coaches	Kelly Laycoe Wilson Regan Glover Pulford Stewart Berry MacDonald Perry Vachon Neilson Quinn Murphy Ftorek Webster Melrose Robinson A. Murray Torchetti Crawford T. Murray Stevens D. Sutter

Media	Broadcasters TV: FSN West/Prime Ticket Radio: KABC (790 AM)

Retired numbers	4 16 18 20 30 99

Stanley Cup Finals	1993 2012 2014

Culture/lore	1967 NHL expansion 1967 NHL Expansion Draft I Love L.A. Bailey Frozen Fury Miracle on Manchester 1991 Las Vegas outdoor game Garnet Bailey and Mark Bavis 2011 NHL Premiere 2014 NHL Stadium Series 2015 NHL Stadium Series

Los Angeles Kings seasons

1960s	1967–68 1968–69 1969–70

1970s	1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1979–79 1979–80

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1990s	1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00

2000s	2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10

2010s	2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16

Highlighted seasons indicate Stanley Cup championship

1975–76 NHL season

Patrick	Atlanta NY Islanders NY Rangers Philadelphia

Adams	Boston Buffalo California Toronto

Norris	Detroit Los Angeles Montreal Pittsburgh Washington

Smythe	Chicago Kansas City Minnesota St. Louis Vancouver

See also	Draft Super Series '76 All-Star Game Stanley Cup Finals

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