1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins season

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.

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)
Penalty minutes	Steve Durbano (161)
Wins	Michel Plasse (24)
Goals against average	Michel Plasse (3.45)

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

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.

Record vs. opponents

Norris Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Norris Division 1975–76 NHL records Team DET LAK MTL PIT WSH Total Detroit — 2–3–1 0–5–1 1–4–1 3–3 6–15–3 Los Angeles 3–2–1 — 2–3–1 1–5 4–1–1 10–11–3 Montreal 5–0–1 3–2–1 — 6–0 6–0 20–2–2 Pittsburgh 4–1–1 5–1 0–6 — 4–1–1 13–9–2 Washington 3–3 1–4–1 0–6 1–4–1 — 5–17–2 Vs. Adams Division 1975–76 NHL records Team BOS BUF CAL TOR Total Detroit 0–3–2 1–4 1–3–1 1–2–2 3–12–5 Los Angeles 1–4 2–3 3–2 1–3–1 7–12–1 Montreal 3–0–2 3–2 5–0 3–1–1 14–3–3 Pittsburgh 0–3–2 1–4 2–2–1 4–1 7–10–3 Washington 0–4–1 0–4–1 1–3–1 0–4–1 1–15–4 Vs. Patrick Division 1975–76 NHL records Team ATL NYI NYR PHI Total Detroit 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 7–9 Los Angeles 3–1 1–2–1 4–0 0–2–2 8–5–3 Montreal 4–0 2–1–1 3–0–1 1–2–1 10–3–3 Pittsburgh 2–1–1 1–2–1 3–1 0–3–1 6–7–3 Washington 0–4 0–4 2–2 0–3–1 2–13–1 Vs. Smythe Division 1975–76 NHL records Team CHI KCS MIN STL VAN Total Detroit 2–1–1 3–1 3–1 2–1–1 0–4 10–8–2 Los Angeles 2–2 4–0 2–1–1 2–1–1 3–1 13–5–2 Montreal 2–1–1 3–1 4–0 4–0 1–1–2 14–3–3 Pittsburgh 1–2–1 2–1–1 2–1–1 2–2 2–1–1 9–7–4 Washington 2–2 1–2–1 0–2–2 0–4 0–4 3–14–3

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

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 – pp – Jim 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 – pp – Lowell MacDonald (1)
No scoring		Third period			19:21 – en – Vic 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 – pp – Borje 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

Skaters

Regular Season

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/−	PIM
Pierre Larouche	76	53	58	111	4	33
Jean Pronovost	80	52	52	104	16	24
Syl Apps Jr.	80	32	67	99	17	24
Rick Kehoe	71	29	47	76	9	6
Lowell MacDonald	69	30	43	73	14	12
Ron Stackhouse	80	11	60	71	19	76
Vic Hadfield	76	30	35	65	–3	46
Ron Schock	80	18	44	62	2	28
J. Bob Kelly	77	25	30	55	4	149
Dave Burrows	80	7	22	29	27	51
Barry Wilkins	75	0	27	27	–1	106
Stan Gilbertson†	48	13	8	21	–3	6
Dennis Owchar	54	5	12	17	13	19
Colin Campbell	64	7	10	17	–4	105
Simon Nolet†	39	9	8	17	7	2
Chuck Arnason‡	30	7	3	10	–4	14
Lew Morrison	78	4	5	9	7	8
Mario Faubert	21	1	8	9	6	10
Steve Durbano‡	32	0	8	8	9	161
Wayne Bianchin	14	1	5	6	–4	4
Harvey Bennett Jr.‡	25	3	3	6	4	53
Ed Van Impe†	12	0	5	5	4	16
Bob McManama	12	1	2	3	0	4
Jacques Cossette	7	0	2	2	–2	9
Ed Gilbert†	38	1	1	2	–1	0
Bob Paradise‡	9	0	0	0	–7	4
Total		339	565	904	—	970

Playoffs

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/−	PIM
Stan Gilbertson	3	1	1	2	0	2
Syl Apps Jr.	3	0	1	1	0	0
Ed Van Impe	3	0	1	1	0	2
Ron Schock	3	0	1	1	0	0
Lowell MacDonald	3	1	0	1	0	0
Barry Wilkins	3	0	1	1	0	4
Pierre Larouche	3	0	1	1	0	0
Vic Hadfield	3	1	0	1	0	11
Colin Campbell	3	0	0	0	0	0
Ron Stackhouse	3	0	0	0	0	0
Dennis Owchar	2	0	0	0	0	2
Jean Pronovost	3	0	0	0	0	2
J. Bob Kelly	3	0	0	0	0	2
Lew Morrison	3	0	0	0	0	0
Rick Kehoe	3	0	0	0	0	0
Simon Nolet	3	0	0	0	0	0
Dave Burrows	3	0	0	0	0	0
Total		3	6	9	—	25

Goaltenders

Regular Season

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

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

• 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

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

Draft picks

See also: List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks

The 1975 NHL Amateur Draft was held in Montreal.

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

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