1976–77 Chicago Black Hawks season

National Hockey League team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1976–77 1976 Chicago Black Hawks Campbell 7th Smythe 3rd 26–43–11 19–16–5 7–27–6 240 298 Tommy Ivan Billy Reay (10–19–5) Bill White (16–24–6) Keith MagnusonPit Martin andStan Mikita None Chicago Stadium Darcy Rota and Ivan Boldirev (24) Ivan Boldirev (38) Ivan Boldirev (62) Bobby Orr (+6) Phil Russell (233) Tony Esposito (25) Tony Esposito (3.45) The 1976–77 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 51st season in the NHL, and the club was coming off a 32–30–18 record in 1975–76, earning 82 points, and finishing in first place in the Smythe Division. In the playoffs, the Black Hawks were quickly swept out in four games by the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL quarter-finals.1975–76 NHL Season Summary – Hockey-Reference.com During the off-season, the Hawks made a big free agent signing, as the club signed eight time Norris Trophy winner Bobby Orr. Orr missed the majority of the 1975–76 due to a knee injury, as he was limited to ten games in his final season with the Boston Bruins. The team also named Keith Magnuson to become a tri-captain, joining Stan Mikita and Pit Martin in that role. The NHL also made a few changes, as the Kansas City Scouts were relocated to Denver, Colorado, and renamed the Colorado Rockies, while the California Seals moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and were renamed the Cleveland Barons. The Black Hawks got off to a solid start to the season, as in the month of October, they had a 7–5–1 record, however, injuries took a toll on the team, and the Hawks fell into a slump. The Hawks went 3–14–4 in their next 21 games which cost longtime head coach Billy Reay his job. Reay had been with Chicago since 1963, and left the team with a record of 516-335-161 in his fourteen seasons with the club. He was replaced by recently retired Black Hawks defenseman Bill White, who played with the team from 1969 to 1975. Under White, the Hawks played better hockey, as they went 13–12–5 in his first 30 games, however, the team would go on an eight-game losing streak, and find themselves battling the Vancouver Canucks for the final playoff spot in the Smythe Division. The Hawks eventually finished the season with a 26–43–11 record, earning 63 points, and squeaked into the post-season. The 26 victories and 63 points was their fewest total since the team won 24 games and earned 55 points in 1957–58, while their 43 losses was their highest since losing 51 games in 1953–54. Offensively, the Black Hawks were led by Ivan Boldirev, who had a team high 24 goals, 38 assists and 62 points. Darcy Rota tied Boldirev for the team lead in goals, as he also scored 24 times, while earning 46 points. Pit Martin had 17 goals and 53 points, while Stan Mikita had 19 goals and 49 points while appearing in only 57 games. On defense, Dick Redmond led the way, scoring 22 goals and 47 points, while Phil Russell had 9 goals and 45 points from the blueline, along with a team high 233 penalty minutes. Bobby Orr, limited to only 20 games, earned 23 points, while posting a team best +6 rating. In goal, Tony Esposito played the majority of the games, winning 25 games, while registering a GAA of 3.45, and earning two shutouts.http://goaliesarchive.com/hawks/indexesposito.html Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history : Tony Esposito 2008-07-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20080217053311/http://www.goaliesarchive.com/hawks/indexesposito.html 2008-02-17 usurped The Hawks opened the playoffs in a best of three preliminary series against the New York Islanders, who finished in second place in the Patrick Division with 106 points, which was 43 more than the Hawks. The series opened with two games at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New York, and the Islanders made quick work of the Hawks in the first game, easily winning 5–2 to take the series lead. New York would then complete the two-game sweep, narrowly defeating the Hawks 2–1 in the second game, as Chicago was swept out of the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Black Hawks were originally scheduled as the home team for the second game, but its home rink Chicago Stadium had already been booked that night for the second of three Led Zeppelin concerts.Herman, Robin. "Islanders Get Home Ice for All Hawk Games," The New York Times, Tuesday, April 5, 1977. Retrieved March 13, 2023. Season standings CHI Record vs. opponents CHI Schedule and results Regular season background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 5px solid; border-bottom:#000000 5px solid; 1976–77 regular season1976-77 Chicago Black Hawks Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CBH/1977_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 7 || Chicago Black Hawks || 6–4 || St. Louis Blues || 1–0–0 || 2 |- | 2 || October 9 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–2 || New York Islanders || 1–1–0 || 2 |- | 3 || October 10 || Vancouver Canucks || 1–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–1–0 || 4 |- | 4 || October 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–1–0 || 6 |- | 5 || October 15 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–5 || Colorado Rockies || 3–2–0 || 6 |- | 6 || October 17 || Minnesota North Stars || 0–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–2–0 || 8 |- | 7 || October 19 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–3 || Cleveland Barons || 4–3–0 || 8 |- | 8 || October 21 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–5 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–4–0 || 8 |- | 9 || October 23 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–4 || Minnesota North Stars || 4–5–0 || 8 |- |10 || October 24 || St. Louis Blues || 2–7 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–5–0 || 10 |- |11 || October 27 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–5–1 || 11 |- |12 || October 30 || Chicago Black Hawks || 6–5 || Detroit Red Wings || 6–5–1 || 13 |- |13 || October 31 || Washington Capitals || 4–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 7–5–1 || 15 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; November Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |14 || November 4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–7 || Boston Bruins || 7–6–1 || 15 |- |15 || November 6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–11 || Montreal Canadiens || 7–7–1 || 15 |- |16 || November 7 || Colorado Rockies || 3–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 7–8–1 || 15 |- |17 || November 10 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 7–8–2 || 16 |- |18 || November 12 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–4 || Washington Capitals || 8–8–2 || 18 |- |19 || November 14 || Los Angeles Kings || 4–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 9–8–2 || 20 |- |20 || November 17 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–3 || New York Rangers || 9–9–2 || 20 |- |21 || November 19 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–5 || Atlanta Flames || 9–10–2 || 20 |- |22 || November 21 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 9–11–2 || 20 |- |23 || November 24 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–4 || Los Angeles Kings || 10–11–2 || 22 |- |24 || November 27 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–4 || Vancouver Canucks || 10–12–2 || 22 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; December Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |25 || December 1 || Boston Bruins || 5–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–13–2 || 22 |- |26 || December 4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 10–13–3 || 23 |- |27 || December 5 || Vancouver Canucks || 4–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–14–3 || 23 |- |28 || December 8 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–15–3 || 23 |- |29 || December 11 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–3 || Atlanta Flames || 10–16–3 || 23 |- |30 || December 12 || New York Islanders || 6–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–17–3 || 23 |- |31 || December 16 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–4 || Philadelphia Flyers || 10–18–3 || 23 |- |32 || December 18 || New York Rangers || 3–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–18–4 || 24 |- |33 || December 19 || St. Louis Blues || 6–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–19–4 || 24 |- |34 || December 21 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–3 || Minnesota North Stars || 10–19–5 || 25 |- |35 || December 22 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–20–5 || 25 |- |36 || December 26 || Colorado Rockies || 3–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 11–20–5 || 27 |- |37 || December 29 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 12–20–5 || 29 |- |38 || December 31 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–2 || Colorado Rockies || 12–20–6 || 30 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; January Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |39 || January 2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 13–20–6 || 32 |- |40 || January 5 || Buffalo Sabres || 1–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 14–20–6 || 34 |- |41 || January 8 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 14–21–6 || 34 |- |42 || January 9 || Boston Bruins || 4–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 14–22–6 || 34 |- |43 || January 12 || New York Islanders || 1–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 15–22–6 || 36 |- |44 || January 15 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 16–22–6 || 38 |- |45 || January 16 || New York Rangers || 5–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 16–23–6 || 38 |- |46 || January 18 || Chicago Black Hawks || 7–7 || Colorado Rockies || 16–23–7 || 39 |- |47 || January 19 || St. Louis Blues || 5–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 16–24–7 || 39 |- |48 || January 22 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–0 || Detroit Red Wings || 17–24–7 || 41 |- |49 || January 23 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 17–24–8 || 42 |- |50 || January 27 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–1 || Vancouver Canucks || 17–24–9 || 43 |- |51 || January 30 || Cleveland Barons || 3–9 || Chicago Black Hawks || 18–24–9 || 45 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; February Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |52 || February 2 || Atlanta Flames || 2–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 19–24–9 || 47 |- |53 || February 3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–6 || Philadelphia Flyers || 19–25–9 || 47 |- |54 || February 5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–5 || Cleveland Barons || 19–26–9 || 47 |- |55 || February 6 || Minnesota North Stars || 3–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 19–27–9 || 47 |- |56 || February 9 || Washington Capitals || 4–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 19–27–10 || 48 |- |57 || February 12 || Colorado Rockies || 2–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 20–27–10 || 50 |- |58 || February 13 || Atlanta Flames || 2–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 21–27–10 || 52 |- |59 || February 15 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–5 || St. Louis Blues || 21–28–10 || 52 |- |60 || February 16 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–3 || Buffalo Sabres || 21–29–10 || 52 |- |61 || February 19 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–6 || Minnesota North Stars || 21–30–10 || 52 |- |62 || February 20 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 10–8 || Chicago Black Hawks || 21–31–10 || 52 |- |63 || February 23 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 22–31–10 || 54 |- |64 || February 26 || New York Rangers || 1–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 23–31–10 || 56 |- |65 || February 27 || Vancouver Canucks || 4–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 23–32–10 || 56 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; March Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |66 || March 2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–6 || Buffalo Sabres || 23–33–10 || 56 |- |67 || March 3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–7 || Washington Capitals || 23–34–10 || 56 |- |68 || March 6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–6 || Boston Bruins || 23–35–10 || 56 |- |69 || March 8 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–7 || Los Angeles Kings || 23–36–10 || 56 |- |70 || March 10 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–5 || Vancouver Canucks || 23–37–10 || 56 |- |71 || March 12 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–5 || Montreal Canadiens || 23–38–10 || 56 |- |72 || March 16 || New York Islanders || 5–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 23–39–10 || 56 |- |73 || March 19 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–2 || New York Islanders || 23–39–11 || 57 |- |74 || March 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 24–39–11 || 59 |- |75 || March 23 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 24–40–11 || 59 |- |76 || March 26 || Minnesota North Stars || 2–7 || Chicago Black Hawks || 25–40–11 || 61 |- |77 || March 27 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–3 || New York Rangers || 26–40–11 || 63 |- |78 || March 30 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–4 || St. Louis Blues || 26–41–11 || 63 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; April Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |79 || April 1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–6 || Atlanta Flames || 26–42–11 || 63 |- |80 || April 3 || Cleveland Barons || 4–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 26–43–11 || 63 |- |- | 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; 1977 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; Preliminary round vs. (1) New York Islanders – Islanders win 2–0 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–5 || New York Islanders || 0–1 |- | 2 || April 7 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–2 || New York Islanders || 0–2 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Season stats Scoring leaders Player GP G A Pts PIMIvan Boldirev 80 24 38 62 40Pit Martin 75 17 36 53 22Stan Mikita 57 19 30 49 20Dick Redmond 80 22 25 47 30Darcy Rota 76 24 22 46 82 Goaltending Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAATony Esposito 69 4067 25 36 8 234 2 3.45Michel Dumas 5 241 0 1 2 17 0 4.23Mike Veisor 3 180 1 2 0 13 0 4.33Gilles Villemure 6 312 0 4 1 28 0 5.38 Playoff stats Scoring leaders Player GP G A Pts PIMKirk Bowman 2 1 0 1 0Dennis Hull 2 1 0 1 0Grant Mulvey 2 1 0 1 2Dale Tallon 2 0 1 1 0Bob Murray 2 0 1 1 2 Goaltending Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAATony Esposito 2 120 0 2 6 0 3.00 Draft picks Chicago's draft picks at the 1976 NHL amateur draft at the NHL Office in Montreal. Round # Player Nationality College/junior/club team (league)19 Réal Cloutier Canada Quebec Nordiques (WHA)227 Jeff McDill Canada Victoria Cougars (WCHL)345 Thomas Gradin Sweden Modo Hockey (Sweden)463 Dave Debol United States University of Michigan (NCAA)581 Terry McDonald Canada Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)699 John Peterson Canada University of Notre Dame (NCAA)7115 John Rothstein United States University of Minnesota-Duluth (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:1976 in sports in Illinois Category:1977 in sports in Illinois Category:1976 in Chicago Category:1977 in Chicago