1975–76 Atlanta Flames season

The 1975–76 Atlanta Flames season was the fourth season for the franchise. This season would mark a turning point for the franchise. After making the playoffs just once in their first three seasons, the Flames would miss the playoffs only once between 1976 and 1996 (that coming in 1991-92).

1975–76 Atlanta Flames
Division	3rd Patrick
Conference	Campbell
1975–76 record	35–33–12
Goals for	262
Goals against	237
Team information
General manager	Cliff Fletcher
Coach	Fred Creighton
Captain	Pat Quinn
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Omni Coliseum
Team leaders
Goals	Curt Bennett (34)
Assists	Tom Lysiak (51)
Points	Tom Lysiak (82)
Penalty minutes	Pat Quinn (134)
Wins	Dan Bouchard (19)
Goals against average	Dan Bouchard (2.54)
← 1974–75 1976–77 →

Regular season

Final standings

Patrick Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Philadelphia Flyers	80	51	13	16	348	209	118
New York Islanders	80	42	21	17	297	190	101
Atlanta Flames	80	35	33	12	262	237	82
New York Rangers	80	29	42	9	262	333	67

^[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.

Record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference

Vs. Wales Conference

Vs. Patrick Division 1975–76 NHL Records Team ATL NYI NYR PHI Total Atlanta — 1–1–4 3–2–1 1–4–1 5–7–6 N.Y. Islanders 1–1–4 — 4–2 4–2 9–5–4 N.Y. Rangers 2–3–1 2–4 — 1–5 5–12–1 Philadelphia 4–1–1 2–4 5–1 — 11–6–1

Vs. Smythe Division 1975–76 NHL Records Team CHI KCS MIN STL VAN Total Atlanta 2–2–1 5–0 4–1 1–3–1 3–0–2 15–6–4 N.Y. Islanders 3–1–1 2–0–3 4–1 4–0–1 0–3–2 13–5–7 N.Y. Rangers 2–0–3 4–1 4–1 3–2 3–1–1 16–5–4 Philadelphia 2–1–2 5–0 3–0–2 3–1–1 4–0–1 17–2–6

Vs. Adams Division 1975–76 NHL Records Team BOS BUF CAL TOR Total Atlanta 2–3 1–2–1 3–1 2–2 8–8–1 N.Y. Islanders 0–2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1–1 8–6–3 N.Y. Rangers 1–3 0–2–3 1–3 0–4 2–12–3 Philadelphia 1–2–1 3–0–1 4–0–1 3–0–1 11–2–4

Vs. Norris Division 1975–76 NHL Records ^[2] Team DET LAK MTL PIT WSH Total Atlanta 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–2–1 4–0 7–12–1 N.Y. Islanders 3–1 2–1–1 1–2–1 2–1–1 4–0 12–5–3 N.Y. Rangers 3–1 0–4 0–3–1 1–3 2–2 6–13–1 Philadelphia 2–2 2–0–2 2–1–1 3–0–1 3–0–1 12–3–5

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Attendance ^[3]
1	L	October 8, 1975	3–4	California Golden Seals (1975–76)	0–1–0	11,298
2	L	October 10, 1975	1–2	New York Rangers (1975–76)	0–2–0	11,886
3	L	October 15, 1975	1–3	@ New York Rangers (1975–76)	0–3–0	17,500
4	L	October 17, 1975	0–2	New York Islanders (1975–76)	0–4–0	11,259
5	W	October 18, 1975	5–3	@ Kansas City Scouts (1975–76)	1–4–0	7,036
6	T	October 22, 1975	1–1	St. Louis Blues (1975–76)	1–4–1	10,086
7	W	October 24, 1975	7–1	Los Angeles Kings (1975–76)	2–4–1	10,943
8	L	October 25, 1975	3–7	@ St. Louis Blues (1975–76)	2–5–1	17,314
9	W	October 28, 1975	3–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1975–76)	3–5–1	15,570
10	W	October 31, 1975	2–0	@ California Golden Seals (1975–76)	4–5–1	4,793
11	L	November 1, 1975	1–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1975–76)	4–6–1	13,051
12	L	November 5, 1975	1–3	Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	4–7–1	11,120
13	W	November 7, 1975	3–2	Minnesota North Stars (1975–76)	5–7–1	10,780
14	L	November 9, 1975	3–6	@ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	5–8–1	9,321
15	W	November 12, 1975	2–1	Kansas City Scouts (1975–76)	6–8–1	9,989
16	W	November 14, 1975	4–1	@ Washington Capitals (1975–76)	7–8–1	9,206
17	L	November 15, 1975	3–5	Boston Bruins (1975–76)	7–9–1	14,838
18	T	November 18, 1975	2–2	Vancouver Canucks (1975–76)	7–9–2	10,490
19	L	November 21, 1975	1–4	Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	7–10–2	11,160
20	W	November 22, 1975	6–3	@ Minnesota North Stars (1975–76)	8–10–2	9,463
21	L	November 25, 1975	0–4	Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	8–11–2	10,825
22	L	November 26, 1975	3–7	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76)	8–12–2	17,077
23	W	November 28, 1975	6–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	9–12–2	12,664
24	W	November 30, 1975	4–1	@ California Golden Seals (1975–76)	10–12–2	4,429
25	L	December 2, 1975	3–5	@ Los Angeles Kings (1975–76)	10–13–2	8,575
26	W	December 5, 1975	6–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1975–76)	11–13–2	15,570
27	W	December 7, 1975	2–0	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76)	12–13–2	N/A
28	W	December 9, 1975	7–1	Washington Capitals (1975–76)	13–13–2	9,877
29	T	December 12, 1975	3–3	New York Islanders (1975–76)	13–13–3	11,396
30	W	December 14, 1975	7–4	@ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	14–13–3	16,433
31	W	December 16, 1975	3–1	Kansas City Scouts (1975–76)	15–13–3	9,834
32	L	December 17, 1975	2–3	@ Minnesota North Stars (1975–76)	15–14–3	8,106
33	W	December 19, 1975	8–3	New York Rangers (1975–76)	16–14–3	11,673
34	W	December 21, 1975	2–1	@ Boston Bruins (1975–76)	17–14–3	13,678
35	T	December 23, 1975	2–2	Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76)	17–14–4	14,484
36	W	December 26, 1975	4–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	18–14–4	13,120
37	L	December 27, 1975	2–3	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	18–15–4	10,301
38	L	December 29, 1975	2–6	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	18–16–4	16,485
39	W	December 31, 1975	8–1	@ New York Rangers (1975–76)	19–16–4	17,500
40	W	January 2, 1976	7–1	St. Louis Blues (1975–76)	20–16–4	13,465
41	W	January 3, 1976	6–4	@ Kansas City Scouts (1975–76)	21–16–4	9,139
42	W	January 6, 1976	4–3	Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	22–16–4	10,614
43	T	January 9, 1976	1–1	Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76)	22–16–5	14,806
44	W	January 11, 1976	5–2	Vancouver Canucks (1975–76)	23–16–5	11,467
45	L	January 13, 1976	0–3	Los Angeles Kings (1975–76)	23–17–5	10,814
46	L	January 15, 1976	3–5	St. Louis Blues (1975–76)	23–18–5	10,302
47	T	January 17, 1976	2–2	@ New York Islanders (1975–76)	23–18–6	14,865
48	L	January 18, 1976	2–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	23–19–6	15,459
49	L	January 22, 1976	2–7	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76)	23–20–6	17,077
50	T	January 23, 1976	3–3	Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	23–20–7	15,141
51	W	January 27, 1976	8–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76)	24–20–7	14,118
52	L	January 28, 1976	3–7	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76)	24–21–7	N/A
53	L	January 30, 1976	2–4	Boston Bruins (1975–76)	24–22–7	15,141
54	L	February 1, 1976	3–5	@ Boston Bruins (1975–76)	24–23–7	14,574
55	T	February 3, 1976	2–2	@ New York Islanders (1975–76)	24–23–8	14,865
56	W	February 4, 1976	4–1	California Golden Seals (1975–76)	25–23–8	10,169
57	L	February 6, 1976	1–2	Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76)	25–24–8	12,921
58	W	February 11, 1976	5–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	26–24–8	N/A
59	L	February 13, 1976	2–3	Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	26–25–8	13,756
60	L	February 14, 1976	3–5	@ St. Louis Blues (1975–76)	26–26–8	17,973
61	L	February 19, 1976	1–3	@ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	26–27–8	16,433
62	W	February 20, 1976	3–1	@ Kansas City Scouts (1975–76)	27–27–8	6,842
63	L	February 23, 1976	1–7	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	27–28–8	16,461
64	T	February 25, 1976	3–3	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	27–28–9	9,127
65	L	February 28, 1976	2–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	27–29–9	17,008
66	L	March 3, 1976	2–3	Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	27–30–9	10,854
67	W	March 5, 1976	8–3	New York Rangers (1975–76)	28–30–9	13,323
68	T	March 7, 1976	6–6	@ New York Rangers (1975–76)	28–30–10	17,500
69	W	March 9, 1976	9–0	Boston Bruins (1975–76)	29–30–10	11,269
70	W	March 10, 1976	4–1	@ Minnesota North Stars (1975–76)	30–30–10	8,280
71	W	March 12, 1976	4–1	Washington Capitals (1975–76)	31–30–10	12,154
72	L	March 14, 1976	1–6	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76)	31–31–10	17,077
73	L	March 16, 1976	2–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76)	31–32–10	15,184
74	T	March 19, 1976	2–2	Vancouver Canucks (1975–76)	31–32–11	12,930
75	W	March 24, 1976	7–2	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76)	32–32–11	N/A
76	L	March 27, 1976	0–8	@ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	32–33–11	11,540
77	W	March 28, 1976	3–1	@ Washington Capitals (1975–76)	33–33–11	9,563
78	T	April 1, 1976	1–1	@ New York Islanders (1975–76)	33–33–12	14,865
79	W	April 2, 1976	4–2	Minnesota North Stars (1975–76)	34–33–12	11,876
80	W	April 4, 1976	5–2	New York Islanders (1975–76)	35–33–12	11,798

Playoffs

Atlanta qualified for the post-season for the second time in franchise history, and would face the Los Angeles Kings in a best-of-three preliminary round series. The Kings finished with a 38–33–9 record, earning 85 points and second place in the Norris Division. They finished the season with three more points than the Flames.

The series opened at The Forum in Inglewood, California, and the Kings scored in the first minute of play, as Tom Williams beat goaltender Dan Bouchard to give Los Angeles a 1–0 lead. The Kings doubled their lead in the second period when Bob Nevin scored. In the third period, the Flames cut the Kings lead to 2–1 after a goal by Barry Gibbs, however, that's as close as Atlanta would get, as Los Angeles held on for the 2–1 victory.

The second game was played at the Omni Coliseum, as the Flames needed a win to force a third and deciding game. Both goaltenders played great games, however, the Kings Bob Berry scored with 1:44 remaining in the third period, as Los Angeles held on to beat the Flames 1–0. Kings goaltender Rogie Vachon made 27 saves for the shutout.

Los Angeles Kings 2, Atlanta Flames 0

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record	Attendance
1	April 6	Atlanta Flames	1–2	Los Angeles Kings	0–1	12,023
2	April 8	Los Angeles Kings	1–0	Atlanta Flames	0–2	10,450

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

			Regular season						Playoffs
Player	#		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Tom Lysiak	12		80	31	51	82	60		2	0	0	0	2
Curt Bennett	5		80	34	31	65	61		2	0	0	0	4
Hilliard Graves	17		80	19	30	49	16		2	0	0	0	0
Claude St. Sauveur	11		79	24	24	48	23		2	0	0	0	0
Eric Vail	25		60	16	31	47	34		2	0	0	0	0
Bill Flett	9		78	23	17	40	30		2	0	0	0	0
Dave Kryskow	20/8		79	15	25	40	65		2	0	0	0	2
Rey Comeau	18		79	17	22	39	42		–	–	–	–	–
Randy Manery	7		80	7	32	39	42		2	0	0	0	0
Larry Romanchych	21		67	16	19	35	8		2	0	0	0	0
Barry Gibbs	2		76	8	21	29	92		2	1	0	1	2
Bill Clement^†	10		31	13	14	27	29		2	0	1	1	0
Ed Kea	19		78	8	19	27	101		2	0	0	0	7
Gerry Meehan^‡	10		48	7	20	27	8		–	–	–	–	–
Tim Ecclestone	14		69	6	21	27	30		–	–	–	–	–
Larry Carriere	23		75	4	15	19	96		2	0	0	0	2
Jean Lemieux^‡	6		33	4	9	13	10		–	–	–	–	–
Pat Quinn	3		80	2	11	13	134		2	0	1	1	2
Ken Houston	24/6		38	5	6	11	11		2	0	0	0	0
Bob Leiter	16		26	2	3	5	4		–	–	–	–	–
Guy Chouinard	16		4	0	2	2	2		2	0	0	0	0
Richard Mulhern	4		12	1	0	1	4		–	–	–	–	–
Richard Lemieux^†	20		1	0	1	1	0		2	0	0	0	0
Cam Botting	24		2	0	1	1	0		–	–	–	–	–
Phil Myre	1		37	0	1	1	0		–	–	–	–	–
Dan Bouchard	30		47	0	1	1	10		2
Buster Harvey^‡	8		1	0	0	0	0		–	–	–	–	–
Noel Price	4		3	0	0	0	2		–	–	–	–	–
Pat Ribble	23		3	0	0	0	0		–	–	–	–	–
Willi Plett	22		4	0	0	0	0		–	–	–	–	–
Rick Bowness	15		5	0	0	0	0		–	–	–	–	–

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Atlanta. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
^‡Traded mid-season

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

			Regular season									Playoffs
Player	#		GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	SO	GAA		GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	GAA
Dan Bouchard	30		47	2671	19	17	8	113	2	2.54		2	120	0	2	3	0	1.50
Phil Myre	1		37	2129	16	16	4	123	1	3.47		–	–	–	–	–	–	–

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1975–76 season.

Trades

June 5, 1975	To Atlanta Flames ----Dave Kryskow	To Detroit Red Wings ----Bryan Hextall Jr.
September 9, 1975	To Atlanta Flames ----Curt Ridley	To New York Rangers ----Jerry Byers
September 23, 1975	To Atlanta Flames ----Rights to Claude St. Sauveur	To California Golden Seals ----Cash
October 1, 1975	To Atlanta Flames ----Larry Carriere 1st round pick in 1976 (traded to Washington Capitals; Capitals selected Greg Carroll) Cash	To Buffalo Sabres ----Jacques Richard
October 13, 1975	To Atlanta Flames ----Richard Lemieux Future considerations	To Kansas City Scouts ----Buster Harvey
January 20, 1976	To Atlanta Flames ----1st round pick in 1976 (Dave Shand)	To Vancouver Canucks ----Curt Ridley
January 22, 1976	To Atlanta Flames ----Bill Clement	To Washington Capitals ----Jean Lemieux Gerry Meehan Sabres' 1st round pick in 1976 (Greg Carroll)

Free agents

Player Former team

Player New team

Waivers

Player	Former team
RW Bill Flett	Toronto Maple Leafs

Draft picks

See also: 1975 NHL Amateur Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team
1	8.	Richard Mulhern (D)	Canada	Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)
2	26.	Rick Bowness (RW)	Canada	Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge (QMJHL)
4	62.	Dale Ross (LW)	Canada	Ottawa 67s (OHA)
5	80.	Willi Plett (RW)	Paraguay	St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
6	98.	Paul Heaver (D)	United Kingdom	Oshawa Generals (OHA)
7	116.	Dale McMullin (LW)	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)
8	134.	Rick Piche (D)	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)
9	150.	Nick Sanza (G)	Canada	Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)
10	167.	Brian O'Connell (G)	Canada	Saint Louis University (NCAA)
11	181.	Joe Augustine (D)	United States	Austin Mavericks (MidJHL)
12	192.	Torbjorn Nilsson (RW)	Sweden	Skelleftea AIK (Grundserien)
13	216.	Gary Gill (LW)	Canada	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)

References

• Flames on Hockey Database

1. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
2. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
3. 1975-76 Atlanta Flames Results and Schedule hockeydb.com Retrieved November 17, 2022