1975–76 Chicago Black Hawks season

National Hockey League team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1975–76 1975 Chicago Black Hawks Campbell 4th Smythe 1st 32–30–18 17–15–8 15–15–10 254 261 Tommy Ivan Billy Reay Pit Martin and Stan Mikita None Chicago Stadium Pit Martin (32) Dale Tallon (47) Pit Martin (71) Keith Magnuson (+13) Phil Russell (194) Tony Esposito (30) Tony Esposito (2.97) Yes The 1975–76 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 50th season in the NHL. During the previous season, the club had a 37–35–8 record, earning 82 points, and finished in third place in the Smythe Division. Then, the Black Hawks upset the heavily favored Boston Bruins in the NHL preliminary series before losing to the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL quarterfinals.1974–75 NHL Season Summary – Hockey-Reference.com Pit Martin and Stan Mikita were named co-captains for the season. The team had played without a captain, since 1969–70. Chicago started off the 1975–76 regular season with a 10–4–11 record in their first 25 games and took the lead in the Smythe Division. The Hawks had a 15-game unbeaten streak (6–0–9) during that span. The team reached a peak of being ten games over .500 with a record of 21–11–16 through 48 games. Chicago then fell into a slump and found themselves under .500 with only four games left in the season, falling to 29–30–17. The club went unbeaten in their last four games (3–0–1) to finish the year with a 32–30–18 record, earning 82 points, which was enough to finish in first place in the Smythe Division. The Hawks 32 wins was their lowest toal since 1967–68, when they also won 32 games. Offensively, the Black Hawks were led by Pit Martin, who had a club high 32 goals and 71 points. Dennis Hull rebounded from a poor 1974–75 season to score 27 goals and 66 points. Ivan Boldirev scored 28 goals and 62 points. Defenseman Dale Tallon led the club with 47 assists, while scoring 15 goals for 62 points. Stan Mikita missed 32 games due to injuries; however, he still earned 57 points. Keith Magnuson had a team high +13 rating, and Phil Russell led the club with 194 penalty minutes. In goal, Tony Esposito once again led the club with 30 victories and a 2.97 GAA, earning four shutouts in 68 games.http://goaliesarchive.com/hawks/indexesposito.html Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history : Tony Esposito 2008-07-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20080217053311/http://www.goaliesarchive.com/hawks/indexesposito.html 2008-02-17 usurped Since the Hawks won their division, they were given a bye in the NHL preliminary series, and they faced the powerful Montreal Canadiens in the NHL quarter-finals. The Canadiens had a record breaking season in 1975–76 with 58 wins and 127 points and finished in first place in the Norris Division. The Black Hawks—Canadiens series opened with two games at the Montreal Forum. The Canadiens quickly took control of the series, shutting out Chicago 4–0 in the series opener, and then winning 3–1 in the second game. The series continued at Chicago Stadium for the next two games, where the Canadiens took the third game by a 2–1 score, and then swept the Hawks out of the playoffs with a 4–1 victory in the fourth game. Season standings Final standings CHI Record vs. opponents CHI Schedule and results Regular season background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 5px solid; border-bottom:#000000 5px solid; 1975–76 regular season1975-76 Chicago Black Hawks Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CBH/1976_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 28, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; October Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- | 1 || October 8 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–2 || New York Rangers || 0–0–1 || 1 |- | 2 || October 11 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 0–1–1 || 1 |- | 3 || October 12 || Vancouver Canucks || 0–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–1–1 || 3 |- | 4 || October 15 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–1–2 || 4 |- | 5 || October 16 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–7 || Buffalo Sabres || 1–2–2 || 4 |- | 6 || October 18 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–1 || Minnesota North Stars || 2–2–2 || 6 |- | 7 || October 19 || Minnesota North Stars || 2–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–2–2 || 8 |- | 8 || October 22 || Los Angeles Kings || 5–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–3–2 || 8 |- | 9 || October 25 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–0 || Kansas City Scouts || 4–3–2 || 10 |- |10 || October 26 || Washington Capitals || 7–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–4–2 || 10 |- |11 || October 29 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–4–2 || 12 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; November Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |12 || November 1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–1 || Detroit Red Wings || 6–4–2 || 14 |- |13 || November 2 || Vancouver Canucks || 1–6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 7–4–2 || 16 |- |14 || November 5 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 7–4–3 || 17 |- |15 || November 8 || Chicago Black Hawks || 7–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–4–3 || 19 |- |16 || November 9 || Minnesota North Stars || 0–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 9–4–3 || 21 |- |17 || November 12 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–4 || New York Rangers || 9–4–4 || 22 |- |18 || November 13 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–5 || Philadelphia Flyers || 9–4–5 || 23 |- |19 || November 15 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–4 || Montreal Canadiens || 9–4–6 || 24 |- |20 || November 19 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–2 || Los Angeles Kings || 10–4–6 || 26 |- |21 || November 22 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–1 || Vancouver Canucks || 10–4–7 || 27 |- |22 || November 26 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–4–8 || 28 |- |23 || November 29 || Boston Bruins || 4–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–4–9 || 29 |- |24 || November 30 || Kansas City Scouts || 1–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–4–10 || 30 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; December Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |25 || December 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–4–11 || 31 |- |26 || December 4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–5 || Philadelphia Flyers || 10–5–11 || 31 |- |27 || December 7 || Atlanta Flames || 2–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–6–11 || 31 |- |28 || December 10 || Chicago Black Hawks || 7–2 || Washington Capitals || 11–6–11 || 33 |- |29 || December 13 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–2 || Minnesota North Stars || 11–7–11 || 33 |- |30 || December 14 || St. Louis Blues || 4–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 11–8–11 || 33 |- |31 || December 17 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 11–9–11 || 33 |- |32 || December 19 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–5 || California Golden Seals || 11–10–11 || 33 |- |33 || December 21 || New York Islanders || 2–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 12–10–11 || 35 |- |34 || December 23 || St. Louis Blues || 1–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 13–10–11 || 37 |- |35 || December 27 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 14–10–11 || 39 |- |36 || December 28 || Buffalo Sabres || 2–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 14–10–12 || 40 |- |37 || December 30 || California Golden Seals || 3–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 15–10–12 || 42 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; January Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |38 || January 3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–1 || New York Islanders || 15–10–13 || 43 |- |39 || January 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 16–10–13 || 45 |- |40 || January 9 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–1 || Atlanta Flames || 16–10–14 || 46 |- |41 || January 11 || New York Rangers || 6–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 16–11–14 || 46 |- |42 || January 14 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–2 || California Golden Seals || 16–11–15 || 47 |- |43 || January 16 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–1 || Vancouver Canucks || 17–11–15 || 49 |- |44 || January 18 || Philadelphia Flyers || 0–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 18–11–15 || 51 |- |45 || January 21 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–3 || New York Rangers || 18–11–16 || 52 |- |46 || January 24 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–1 || St. Louis Blues || 19–11–16 || 54 |- |47 || January 25 || Kansas City Scouts || 1–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 20–11–16 || 56 |- |48 || January 28 || Atlanta Flames || 3–7 || Chicago Black Hawks || 21–11–16 || 58 |- |49 || January 29 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–5 || Boston Bruins || 21–12–16 || 58 |- |50 || January 31 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–2 || Detroit Red Wings || 21–13–16 || 58 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; February Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |51 || February 1 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 21–14–16 || 58 |- |52 || February 4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–8 || Montreal Canadiens || 21–15–16 || 58 |- |53 || February 6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–1 || Atlanta Flames || 22–15–16 || 60 |- |54 || February 8 || Washington Capitals || 2–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 23–15–16 || 62 |- |55 || February 11 || Los Angeles Kings || 7–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 23–16–16 || 62 |- |56 || February 14 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–4 || Kansas City Scouts || 24–16–16 || 64 |- |57 || February 15 || Boston Bruins || 4–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 24–17–16 || 64 |- |58 || February 18 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 24–17–17 || 65 |- |59 || February 21 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 24–18–17 || 65 |- |60 || February 22 || California Golden Seals || 5–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 24–19–17 || 65 |- |61 || February 24 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–1 || Vancouver Canucks || 25–19–17 || 67 |- |62 || February 26 || Chicago Black Hawks || 6–2 || Los Angeles Kings || 26–19–17 || 69 |- |63 || February 28 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–4 || New York Islanders || 26–20–17 || 69 |- |64 || February 29 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–4 || Washington Capitals || 26–21–17 || 69 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; March Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |65 || March 4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–6 || Buffalo Sabres || 26–22–17 || 69 |- |66 || March 6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–7 || St. Louis Blues || 26–23–17 || 69 |- |67 || March 10 || Montreal Canadiens || 5–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 26–24–17 || 69 |- |68 || March 13 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–1 || Minnesota North Stars || 27–24–17 || 71 |- |69 || March 14 || New York Islanders || 5–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 27–25–17 || 71 |- |70 || March 16 || Chicago Black Hawks || 6–3 || Kansas City Scouts || 28–25–17 || 73 |- |71 || March 17 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 29–25–17 || 75 |- |72 || March 20 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–4 || New York Islanders || 29–26–17 || 75 |- |73 || March 21 || Detroit Red Wings || 6–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 29–27–17 || 75 |- |74 || March 24 || Atlanta Flames || 7–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 29–28–17 || 75 |- |75 || March 25 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–4 || Boston Bruins || 29–29–17 || 75 |- |76 || March 27 || New York Rangers || 6–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 29–30–17 || 75 |- |77 || March 28 || Minnesota North Stars || 3–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 30–30–17 || 77 |- |78 || March 31 || Kansas City Scouts || 3–6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 31–30–17 || 79 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; April Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |79 || April 3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–3 || St. Louis Blues || 31–30–18 || 80 |- |80 || April 4 || St. Louis Blues || 2–7 || Chicago Black Hawks || 32–30–18 || 82 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 5px solid; border-bottom:#000000 5px solid; 1976 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; Quarterfinals vs. (1) Montreal Canadiens – Canadiens win 4–0 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 11 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–4 || Montreal Canadiens || 0–1 |- | 2 || April 13 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–3 || Montreal Canadiens || 0–2 |- | 3 || April 15 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–3 |- | 4 || April 18 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–4 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Season stats Scoring leaders Player GP G A Pts PIMPit Martin 80 32 39 71 44Dennis Hull 80 29 39 68 28Ivan Boldirev 78 28 34 62 33Dale Tallon 80 15 47 62 101Cliff Koroll 80 25 33 58 29Chicago Blackhawks 1975-76 roster and statistics hockeydb.com Goaltending Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAATony Esposito 68 4003 30 23 13 198 4 2.97Gilles Villemure 15 797 2 7 5 57 0 4.29 Playoff stats Scoring leaders Player GP G A Pts PIMDick Redmond 4 0 2 2 4Darcy Rota 4 1 0 1 2Pit Martin 4 1 0 1 4Cliff Koroll 4 1 0 1 0Phil Russell 4 0 1 1 17 Goaltending Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAATony Esposito 4 240 0 4 13 0 3.25 Awards, records and honors Stan Mikita, Lester Patrick TrophyCollins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009–10, p.424, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 978-1-55468-621-6 Draft picks Chicago's draft picks during the 1975 NHL amateur draft at the NHL Office in Montreal. Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)17 Greg Vaydik Canada Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)225 Danny Arndt Canada Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)343 Mike O'Connell United States Kingston Canadians (OHA)461 Pierre Giroux Canada Hull Festivals (QMJHL)579 Bob Hoffmeyer Canada Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)697 Tom Ulseth United States University of Wisconsin (NCAA)7115 Ted Bulley Canada Hull Festivals (QMJHL)8141 Paul Jensen United States Michigan Tech (NCAA) References Sources Hockey-Reference Rauzulu's Street https://archive.today/20121204173426/http://www.goaliesarchive.com/hawks/index.html Goalies Archive HockeyDB National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007 Category:Chicago Blackhawks seasons Chicago Blackhawks Category:Smythe Division champion seasons Category:1975 in sports in Illinois Category:1976 in sports in Illinois Category:1975 in Chicago Category:1976 in Chicago