1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins season

1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division	3rd Norris
Conference	6th Wales
1975–76 record	35-33-12
Goals for	339
Goals against	303
Team information
General Manager	Wren Blair
Coach	Marc Boileau (Oct-Jan) Ken Schinkel (Jan-Apr)
Captain	Ron Schock
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Pierre Larouche (53)
Assists	Syl Apps, Jr. (67)
Points	Pierre Larouche (111)
Penalties in minutes	Steve Durbano (161)
Wins	Michel Plasse (24)
Goals against average	Michel Plasse (3.45)
<1974–75 1976–77>

The 1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their ninth in the National Hockey League. They finished third in the Norris Division, as they had in 1974–75. Despite strong seasons by Pierre Larouche, who set new club records in goals scored in a season (53) and points in a season (111), Jean Pronovost and Syl Apps, Jr. (who set a new club record for assists in a season with 67) the Penguins powerful offense scored a meagre three goals in three games against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the preliminary round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, ending their season.

Regular season

Division 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.^[2]

Schedule and results

1975–76 Schedule
October: 4–2–1 (Home: 2–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–0), 9 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 1 Oct 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 1–0–0 2 2 Oct 11 Washington Capitals 5–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–0–0 4 3 Oct 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 3–0–0 6 4 Oct 18 Detroit Red Wings 1–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 4–0–0 8 5 Oct 21 Montreal Canadiens 7–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 4–1–0 8 6 Oct 25 Philadelphia Flyers 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 4–1–1 9 7 Oct 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 4–2–1 9
November: 6–8–1 (Home: 4–4–0 ; Road: 2–4–1), 13 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 8 Nov 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–7 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 4–3–1 9 9 Nov 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–7 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 4–4–1 9 10 Nov 5 New York Islanders 6–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 5–4–1 11 11 Nov 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–3 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena 6–4–1 13 12 Nov 8 Chicago Black Hawks 7–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 6–5–1 13 13 Nov 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 6–6–1 13 14 Nov 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–6 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 6–6–2 14 15 Nov 13 Montreal Canadiens 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 6–7–2 14 16 Nov 15 Buffalo Sabres 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 6–8–2 14 17 Nov 18 California Golden Seals 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 6–9–2 14 18 Nov 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 7–9–2 16 19 Nov 22 Los Angeles Kings 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 8–9–2 18 20 Nov 26 Detroit Red Wings 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 9–9–2 20 21 Nov 29 New York Rangers 3–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 10–9–2 22 22 Nov 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 10–10–2 22
December: 5–7–2 (Home: 3–0–1 ; Road: 2–7–1), 12 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 23 Dec 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 10–10–3 23 24 Dec 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–6 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10–11–3 23 25 Dec 7 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 11–11–3 25 26 Dec 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Kansas City Scouts Kemper Arena 11–12–3 25 27 Dec 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 11–13–3 25 28 Dec 13 Boston Bruins 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 11–13–4 26 29 Dec 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–7 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 11–14–4 26 30 Dec 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 9–2 California Golden Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena 12–14–4 28 31 Dec 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–5 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 12–15–4 28 32 Dec 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–1 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 13–15–4 30 33 Dec 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 13–16–4 30 34 Dec 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 13–17–4 30 35 Dec 27 Atlanta Flames 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 14–17–4 32 36 Dec 31 Los Angeles Kings 1–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–17–4 34
January: 4–7–3 (Home: 4–2–2 ; Road: 0–5–1), 11 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 37 Jan 3 Philadelphia Flyers 8–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–18–4 34 38 Jan 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 15–19–4 34 39 Jan 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 California Golden Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena 15–20–4 34 40 Jan 10 Vancouver Canucks 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–20–5 35 41 Jan 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–6 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 15–21–5 35 42 Jan 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–6 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 15–22–5 35 43 Jan 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 15–23–5 35 44 Jan 17 Buffalo Sabres 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–23–5 37 45 Jan 18 New York Rangers 3–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 17–23–5 39 46 Jan 22 Montreal Canadiens 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 17–24–5 39 47 Jan 24 Washington Capitals 2–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 18–24–5 41 48 Jan 25 Minnesota North Stars 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 18–24–6 42 49 Jan 29 Kansas City Scouts 2–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 19–24–6 44 50 Jan 31 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 Kansas City Scouts Kemper Arena 19–24–7 45
February: 8–2–4 (Home: 6–1–1 ; Road: 2–1–3), 20 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 51 Feb 1 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 20–24–7 47 52 Feb 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–5 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 20–25–7 47 53 Feb 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–3 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 21–25–7 49 54 Feb 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–3 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 22–25–7 51 55 Feb 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 California Golden Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena 22–25–8 52 56 Feb 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 22–25–9 53 57 Feb 15 Los Angeles Kings 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 23–25–9 55 58 Feb 17 Kansas City Scouts 1–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 24–25–9 57 59 Feb 19 Toronto Maple Leafs 5–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 25–25–9 59 60 Feb 21 Chicago Black Hawks 1–10 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 26–25–9 61 61 Feb 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 26–25–10 62 62 Feb 25 Atlanta Flames 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 26–25–11 63 63 Feb 28 Vancouver Canucks 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 27–25–11 65 64 Feb 29 St. Louis Blues 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 27–26–11 65
March: 7–6–1 (Home: 4–2–1 ; Road: 3–4–0), 15 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 65 Mar 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–2 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 28–26–11 67 66 Mar 6 Minnesota North Stars 0–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 29–26–11 69 67 Mar 7 New York Islanders 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 29–27–11 69 68 Mar 10 Buffalo Sabres 7–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 29–28–11 69 69 Mar 13 California Golden Seals 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 30–28–11 71 70 Mar 14 St. Louis Blues 1–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 31–28–11 73 71 Mar 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–5 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 31–29–11 73 72 Mar 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–3 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 32–29–11 75 73 Mar 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 33–29–11 77 74 Mar 24 Boston Bruins 5–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 33–29–12 78 75 Mar 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena 33–30–12 78 76 Mar 28 Detroit Red Wings 0–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 34–30–12 80 77 Mar 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–5 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 34–31–12 80 78 Mar 31 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–7 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 34–32–12 80
April: 1–1–0 (Home: 0–1–0 ; Road: 1–0–0), 2 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 79 Apr 3 Washington Capitals 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 34–33–12 80 80 Apr 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–5 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 35–33–12 82
Legend:           = Win           = Loss           = Tie

Playoffs

Preliminary Round vs. Toronto

Pittsburgh 1 Toronto 4

Toronto 0 Pittsburgh 2

Pittsburgh 0 Toronto 4

Toronto Wins Series 2-1

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season[3] Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Larouche, PierrePierre Larouche 76 53 58 111 4 33 Pronovost, JosephJoseph Pronovost 80 52 52 104 16 24 Apps Jr., SylSyl Apps Jr. 80 32 67 99 17 24 Kehoe, RickRick Kehoe 71 29 47 76 9 6 MacDonald, LowellLowell MacDonald 69 30 43 73 14 12 Stackhouse, RonaldRonald Stackhouse 80 11 60 71 19 76 Hadfield, VicVic Hadfield 76 30 35 65 –3 46 Schock, RonRon Schock 80 18 44 62 2 28 Kelly, JohnJohn Kelly 77 25 30 55 4 149 Burrows, DavidDavid Burrows 80 7 22 29 27 51 Wilkins, BarryBarry Wilkins 75 0 27 27 –1 106 Gilbertson, StanStan Gilbertson† 48 13 8 21 –3 6 Campbell, ColinColin Campbell 64 7 10 17 –4 105 Owchar, DennisDennis Owchar 54 5 12 17 13 19 Nolet, SimonSimon Nolet† 39 9 8 17 7 2 Arnason, ErnestErnest Arnason‡ 30 7 3 10 –4 14 Morrison, LewLew Morrison 78 4 5 9 7 8 Faubert, MarioMario Faubert 21 1 8 9 6 10 Durbano, SteveSteve Durbano‡ 32 0 8 8 9 161 Bennett, HarveyHarvey Bennett‡ 25 3 3 6 4 53 Bianchin, WayneWayne Bianchin 14 1 5 6 –4 4 Van Impe, EdEd Van Impe† 12 0 5 5 4 16 McManama, BobBob McManama 12 1 2 3 0 4 Gilbert, EdEd Gilbert† 38 1 1 2 –1 0 Cossette, JacquesJacques Cossette 7 0 2 2 –2 9 Paradise, RobertRobert Paradise‡ 9 0 0 0 –7 4

Playoffs[4] Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Gilbertson, StanStan Gilbertson 3 1 1 2 0 2 Larouche, PierrePierre Larouche 3 0 1 1 0 0 Apps Jr., SylSyl Apps Jr. 3 0 1 1 0 0 MacDonald, LowellLowell MacDonald 3 1 0 1 0 0 Hadfield, VicVic Hadfield 3 1 0 1 0 11 Schock, RonRon Schock 3 0 1 1 0 0 Wilkins, BarryBarry Wilkins 3 0 1 1 0 4 Van Impe, EdEd Van Impe 3 0 1 1 0 2 Pronovost, JosephJoseph Pronovost 3 0 0 0 0 2 Kehoe, RickRick Kehoe 3 0 0 0 0 0 Stackhouse, RonaldRonald Stackhouse 3 0 0 0 0 0 Kelly, JohnJohn Kelly 3 0 0 0 0 2 Burrows, DavidDavid Burrows 3 0 0 0 0 0 Nolet, SimonSimon Nolet 3 0 0 0 0 0 Campbell, ColinColin Campbell 3 0 0 0 0 0 Morrison, LewLew Morrison 3 0 0 0 0 0 Owchar, DennisDennis Owchar 2 0 0 0 0 2

Goaltenders

Regular Season^[5]

Player	GP	W	L	T	GA	SO
Plasse, MichelMichel Plasse	55	24	19	10	178	2
Inness, GaryGary Inness‡	23	8	9	2	82	0
Laxton, GordonGordon Laxton	8	3	4	0	31	0
Taylor, BobbyBobby Taylor†	2	0	1	0	7	0

Playoffs^[6]

Player	GP	W	L	T	GA	SO
Plasse, MichelMichel Plasse	3	1	2	0	8	1

^†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 1975–76 season:

Trades

November 26, 1975	To Washington Capitals Bob Paradise	To Pittsburgh Penguins 1976 2nd round pick
December 16, 1975	To Washington Capitals Harvey Bennett Jr.	To Pittsburgh Penguins Stan Gilbertson
January 9, 1976	To Kansas City Scouts Chuck Arnason Steve Durbano 1976 1st round pick	To Pittsburgh Penguins Ed Gilbert Simon Nolet 1976 1st round pick
March 8, 1976	To Philadelphia Flyers Gary Inness 1977 9th round pick 1977 eleventh round pick 1977 tenth round pick 1977 twelfth round pick future considerations (1977 8th round pick)	To Pittsburgh Penguins Bobby Taylor Ed Van Impe

Additions and subtractions

Additions Player Former team Via — — —

Subtractions Player New team Via Larry Bignell Denver Spurs (WHA) free agency Bob Johnson Denver Spurs (WHA) free agency (1975-09) Bob McManama New England Whalers (WHA) free agency

This sports-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Roster

#	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	NHL Draft	Birthplace
26		Apps Jr., SylSyl Apps Jr.	C	R	28	1964	Toronto, Ontario
14		Bianchin, WayneWayne Bianchin	RW	L	22	1973	Nanaimo, British Columbia
4		Burrows, DavidDavid Burrows	D	L	27	Undrafted	Toronto, Ontario
6		Campbell, ColinColin Campbell	D	L	23	1973	Toronto, Ontario
27		Cossette, JacquesJacques Cossette	RW	R	21	1974	Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec
24		Faubert, MarioMario Faubert	D	R	21	1974	Valleyfield, Quebec
23		Gilbert, EdEd Gilbert	C	L	24	1972	Hamilton, Ontario
15		Gilbertson, StanStan Gilbertson	LW	L	31	Undrafted	Duluth, Minnesota
11		Hadfield, VicVic Hadfield	LW	L	35	Undrafted	Oakville, Ontario
8		Kehoe, RickRick Kehoe	RW	R	24	1971	Windsor, Ontario
22		Kelly, JohnJohn Kelly	RW	L	29	1967	Fort William, Ontario
10		Larouche, PierrePierre Larouche	C	R	20	1974	Taschereau, Quebec
1		Laxton, GordonGordon Laxton	G	L	21	1975	Montreal, Quebec
18		MacDonald, LowellLowell MacDonald	LW	R	34	Undrafted	New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
15		McManama, BobBob McManama	C	L	24	Undrafted	Belmont, Massachusetts
16		Morrison, LewLew Morrison	RW	R	28	1968	Gainsborough, Saskatchewan
9		Nolet, SimonSimon Nolet	RW	R	34	Undrafted	St-Odilon, Quebec
25		Owchar, DennisDennis Owchar	D	R	23	1973	Dryden, Ontario
31		Plasse, MichelMichel Plasse	G	L	27	1968	Montreal, Quebec
19		Pronovost, JosephJoseph Pronovost	RW	R	30	Undrafted	Shawinigan Falls, Quebec
17		Schock, RonRon Schock	C	L	32	Undrafted	Chapleau, Ontario
3		Stackhouse, RonaldRonald Stackhouse	D	R	26	1969	Haliburton, Ontario
30		Taylor, BobbyBobby Taylor	G	L	31	Undrafted	Calgary, Alberta
2		Van Impe, EdEd Van Impe	D	L	35	Undrafted	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
5		Wilkins, BarryBarry Wilkins	D	L	29	Undrafted	Toronto, Ontario

Draft picks

The 1975 NHL Amateur Draft was held in Montreal, Quebec.^[7]

Round	#	Player	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1	13	Gordon Laxton	Goaltender	Canada	New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
2	31	Russell Anderson	Defense	United States	U. of Minnesota (NCAA)
3	49	Paul Baxter	Defense	Canada	Cleveland Crusaders (WHA)
4	67	Stu Younger	Left Wing		Michigan Tech (NCAA)
5	85	Kimbel Clackson	Defense	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WCHL)
6	103	Peter Morris	Forward		Victoria Cougars (WCHL)
7	121	Mike Will	Forward		Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
8	139	Tapio Levo	Defense	Finland	(Finland Jr. Nationals)
9	155	Byron Shutt	Left Wing	Canada	Bowling Green State University (NCAA)
10	170	Frank Salive	Goaltender		Peterborough Petes (OHA)
11	185	John Glynne	Defense		U. of Vermont (NCAA)
12	196	Alexander Hudson	Defense	Canada	U. of Denver (NCAA)
13	202	Dan Tsubouchi	Right Wing		St. Louis University (NCAA)
14	206	Bronisla Stankovsky	Forward		Fargo-Moorhead Sugar Kings (MJHL)
16	217	Kelly Secord	Forward		New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)

References

• Penguins on Hockey Database
• "1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-06.

1. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
2. Total Hockey, p.77, Total Sports, New York, ISBN 0-8362-7114-9
3. "1975–1976 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
4. "1975–1976 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
5. "1975–1976 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
6. "1975–1976 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
7. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.com.