1976–77 Montreal Canadiens season

1976–77 Montreal Canadiens season
Team	Montreal Canadiens
Year	1976–77
League	NHL
Conference	Prince of Wales
Division	Norris
Record	60–8–12
Homerecord	33–2–5
Roadrecord	27–6–7
Goalsfor	387
Goalsagainst	171
Attendance	18,076 (100.0%)
Goalsleader	Steve Shutt (60)
Assistsleader	Guy Lafleur (80)
Pointsleader	Guy Lafleur (136)
Plusminusleader	Larry Robinson (+120)
Pimleader	Pierre Bouchard (89)
Wingleader	Ken Dryden (41)
Coach	Scotty Bowman
Captain	Yvan Cournoyer
Gm	Sam Pollock
President	Jacques Courtois
Arena	Montreal Forum
Playoffs	Won Stanley Cup

Contents

Regular season
Playoffs
Roster
NHL Draft
Awards and records
See also

1976–77 Montreal Canadiens season. The 1976–77 campaign for the Montreal Canadiens stands as one of the most dominant in the history of professional sports. Under the guidance of coach Scotty Bowman and general manager Sam Pollock, the team set numerous league records en route to capturing the Stanley Cup. The roster, featuring legends like Guy Lafleur, Ken Dryden, and Larry Robinson, is widely considered among the greatest ever assembled in ice hockey.

Regular season

The Canadiens authored a historic regular season, compiling a remarkable record of 60 wins, 8 losses, and 12 ties for 132 points. This established new NHL records for most wins and points in a season, surpassing the previous marks set by the 1975–76 team. The club's offensive prowess was unmatched, leading the league with 387 goals for, while their defensive discipline, anchored by goaltender Ken Dryden and the defensive corps led by Larry Robinson and Serge Savard, yielded a mere 171 goals against. Key contributors included Guy Lafleur, who won the Art Ross Trophy with 136 points, and Steve Shutt, who became the first left-winger to score 60 goals in a season. The team's dominance at the Montreal Forum was particularly stark, losing only two of 40 home games.

Playoffs

In the 1977 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Canadiens continued their supremacy, sweeping the St. Louis Blues in the preliminary round. They then dispatched the New York Islanders in six games in the quarterfinals, despite a strong challenge from Bryan Trottier and Denis Potvin. The Stanley Cup Finals pitted them against their archrivals, the Boston Bruins, led by Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito. The Canadiens won the series in a four-game sweep, with Jacques Lemaire scoring the Cup-winning goal in Boston Garden. Guy Lafleur was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after recording 26 points in 14 games, and Ken Dryden backstopped the team to its second consecutive championship.

Roster

The legendary roster was built around a core of future Hockey Hall of Fame inductees. The offense was powered by the "Triple Crown Line" of Guy Lafleur, Steve Shutt, and center Jacques Lemaire, with additional scoring from Yvan Cournoyer, Pete Mahovlich, and Bob Gainey. The defense, known as the "Big Three," featured Larry Robinson, Serge Savard, and Guy Lapointe, supported by Pierre Bouchard and Brian Engblom. In goal, Ken Dryden was the undisputed starter, with Michel Larocque as his capable backup. The team's leadership included captain Yvan Cournoyer and was masterfully coached by Scotty Bowman.

NHL Draft

The 1976 NHL Amateur Draft was held at the Montreal Forum, with the Canadiens selecting ninth overall due to their previous season's success. Their first-round pick was center Rod Schutt from the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey Association. Other notable selections included defenseman Gaston Gingras in the second round and forward Mats Näslund in the fourth round, though Näslund would not join the team until later. The draft was managed by Sam Pollock, who was renowned for his strategic acumen in building the Canadiens' dynasty through both the draft and trades.

Awards and records

The team and its players captured a multitude of NHL awards and set enduring records. Guy Lafleur won the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, and Conn Smythe Trophy, while Ken Dryden and Michel Larocque shared the Vezina Trophy. Larry Robinson received the James Norris Memorial Trophy, and Bob Gainey won the first of his four Selke Trophies. Team records set included most wins (60), most points (132), and best road winning percentage, while Larry Robinson's +120 plus/minus rating remains an NHL record. The season is often cited as the peak of the Canadiens' dynasty of the late 1970s.