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1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins season

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1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division3rd Norris
Conference6th Wales
1975–76 record35–33–12
Goals for339
Goals against303
Team information
General managerWren Blair
CoachMarc Boileau (Oct–Jan)
Ken Schinkel (Jan–Apr)
CaptainRon Schock
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
GoalsPierre Larouche (53)
AssistsSyl Apps Jr. (67)
PointsPierre Larouche (111)
Penalty minutesSteve Durbano (161)
WinsMichel Plasse (24)
Goals against averageMichel Plasse (3.45)

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

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Division standings

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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]

Record vs. opponents

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Norris Division record vs. opponents


Schedule and results

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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

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The Penguins' made the playoffs for the fourth time in their history, losing in the preliminary round to Toronto.


April 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 13:01 – ppJim McKenny (1)
No scoring Second period 04:44 – Lanny McDonald (1)
11:00 – Bob Neely (1)
Stan Gilbertson (1) – 04:17 Third period 15:02 – George Ferguson (1)
Michel Plasse 32 saves / 36 shots Goalie stats Wayne Thomas 35 saves / 36 shots
April 8 Toronto Maple Leafs 0–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 11:25 – ppLowell MacDonald (1)
No scoring Third period 19:21 – enVic Hadfield (1)
Wayne Thomas 47 saves / 48 shots Goalie stats Michel Plasse 21 saves / 21 shots
April 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens Recap  
No scoring First period 17:01 – Jim McKenny (2)
No scoring Second period 02:03 – Pat Boutette (1)
09:14 – ppBorje Salming (1)
No scoring Third period 02:14 – Lanny McDonald (2)
Michel Plasse 32 saves / 36 shots Goalie stats Wayne Thomas 26 saves / 26 shots
Toronto won series 2–1


Player statistics

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Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[6]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Michel Plasse 55 24 19 10 178 2
Gary Inness 23 8 9 2 82 0
Gordon Laxton 8 3 4 0 31 0
Bobby Taylor 2 0 1 0 7 0
Total 35 33 12 298 2
Playoffs[7]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Michel Plasse 3 1 2 0 8 1
Total 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.

Awards and records

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  • Jean Pronovost became the first player to score 200 goals for the Penguins. He did so in a 4–5 loss to Montreal on November 13.
  • Jean Pronovost became the first player to score 400 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–2 win over Detroit on November 26.
  • Jean Pronovost became the first person to score 50 goals in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–5 tie with Boston on March 24.
  • Pierre Larouche became the first person to score 100 points in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–5 tie with Boston on March 24.
  • Pierre Larouche established a new franchise record for goals in a season with 53, besting the previous high of 52 held by Jean Pronovost.
  • Pierre Larouche established a new franchise record for points in a season with 111, besting the previous high of 86 held by Ron Schock.
  • Syl Apps Jr. established a new franchise record for assists in a season with 67, besting the previous high of 63 held by Ron Schock.
  • Ron Stackhouse established a new franchise record for assists (60) and points (71) by a defenseman in a season. He topped the previous highs of 45 assists 60 points both held by himself.
  • Ron Stackhouse established a new franchise record for points by a defenseman with 150, besting the previous high of 104 held by Duane Rupp.

Transactions

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The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1975–76 season:

Trades

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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

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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

Awards and honors

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Draft picks

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The 1975 NHL Amateur Draft was held in Montreal.[8]

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  Canada Michigan Tech (NCAA)
5 85 Kimbel Clackson Defense  Canada Victoria Cougars (WCHL)
6 103 Peter Morris Forward  Canada Victoria Cougars (WCHL)
7 121 Mike Will Forward  Canada 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  Canada Peterborough Petes (OHA)
11 185 John Glynne Defense  United States U. of Vermont (NCAA)
12 196 Alexander Hudson Defense  Canada U. of Denver (NCAA)
13 202 Dan Tsubouchi Right wing  Canada St. Louis University (NCAA)
14 206 Bronisla Stankovsky Forward  United States Fargo-Moorhead Sugar Kings (MJHL)
16 217 Kelly Secord Forward  Canada New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)

References

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  • Penguins on Hockey Database
  • "1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2009.