1975–76 Boston Bruins season

The 1975–76 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 52nd season in the NHL. The season involved trading Phil Esposito to the New York Rangers, while a knee injury limited Bobby Orr to 10 games.

1975–76 Boston Bruins
Adams Division champions
Division	1st Adams
Conference	Prince of Wales
1975–76 record	48–15–17
Goals for	313
Goals against	237
Team information
General manager	Harry Sinden
Coach	Don Cherry
Captain	Johnny Bucyk
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Boston Garden
Team leaders
Goals	Johnny Bucyk (36)
Assists	Jean Ratelle (59)
Points	Jean Ratelle (90)
Penalty minutes	Terry O'Reilly (150)
Wins	Gilles Gilbert (33)
Goals against average	Gerry Cheevers (2.73)
← 1974–75 1976–77 →

Offseason

NHL Draft

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team
1	14	Doug Halward (D)	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OHA)
2	32	Barry Smith (C)	Canada	New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
4	60	Rick Adduono (C)	Canada	St. Catharines Black Hawks (OMJHL)
4	68	Denis Daigle (LW)	Canada	Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge (QMJHL)
5	86	Stan Jonathan (LW)	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OMJHL)
6	104	Matti Hagman (C)	Finland	HIFK (Finland)
7	122	Gary Carr (G)	Canada	Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL)
8	140	Bo Berglund (LW)	Sweden	Modo AIK (Sweden)
9	156	Joe Rando (D)	United States	University of New Hampshire (ECAC)
10	171	Kevin Nugent (RW)	United States	University of Notre Dame (WCHA)

Regular season

Season standings

Adams Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Boston Bruins	80	48	15	17	313	237	113
Buffalo Sabres	80	46	21	13	339	240	105
Toronto Maple Leafs	80	34	31	15	294	276	83
California Golden Seals	80	27	42	11	250	278	65

^[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. Wales Conference

Vs. Campbell Conference

Vs. Adams Division 1975–76 NHL Records ^[2] Team BOS BUF CAL TOR Total Boston — 3–2–1 5–1 4–1–1 12–4–2 Buffalo 2–3–1 — 5–0–1 4–2 11–5–2 California 1–5 0–5–1 — 1–3–2 2–13–3 Toronto 1–4–1 2–4 3–1–2 — 6–9–3

Vs. Norris Division 1975–76 NHL Records Team DET LAK MTL PIT WSH Total Boston 3–0–2 4–1 0–3–2 3–0–2 4–0–1 14–4–7 Buffalo 4–1 3–2 2–3 4–1 4–0–1 17–7–1 California 3–1–1 2–3 0–5 2–2–1 3–1–1 10–12–3 Toronto 2–1–2 3–1–1 1–3–1 1–4 4–0–1 11–9–5

Vs. Patrick Division 1975–76 NHL Records Team ATL NYI NYR PHI Total Boston 3–2 2–0–2 3–1 2–1–1 10–4–3 Buffalo 2–1–1 2–2 2–0–3 0–3–1 6–6–5 California 1–3 1–3 3–1 0–4–1 5–11–1 Toronto 2–2 1–3–1 4–0 0–3–1 7–8–2

Vs. Smythe Division 1975–76 NHL Records Team CHI KCS MIN STL VAN Total Boston 3–0–1 2–1–1 3–0–1 2–1–1 2–1–1 12–3–5 Buffalo 2–0–2 3–0–1 4–0 2–1–1 1–2–1 12–3–5 California 2–1–1 1–2–1 3–1 2–1–1 2–1–1 10–6–4 Toronto 1–2–1 3–0–1 3–1 2–0–2 1–2–1 10–5–5

Schedule and results

Regular season schedule

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 9, 1975	4–9	Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	0–1–0
2	T	October 12, 1975	3–3	New York Islanders (1975–76)	0–1–1
3	T	October 16, 1975	2–2	@ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	0–1–2
4	W	October 18, 1975	5–2	@ New York Islanders (1975–76)	1–1–2
5	W	October 19, 1975	3–0	Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	2–1–2
6	L	October 23, 1975	2–3	Kansas City Scouts (1975–76)	2–2–2
7	L	October 25, 1975	2–6	@ Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	2–3–2
8	W	October 26, 1975	7–3	Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	3–3–2
9	W	October 30, 1975	3–2	St. Louis Blues (1975–76)	4–3–2
10	L	November 1, 1975	1–8	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76)	4–4–2
11	W	November 2, 1975	5–0	California Golden Seals (1975–76)	5–4–2
12	L	November 5, 1975	0–4	@ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	5–5–2
13	L	November 8, 1975	2–4	@ Vancouver Canucks (1975–76)	5–6–2
14	W	November 9, 1975	6–3	@ California Golden Seals (1975–76)	6–6–2
15	W	November 13, 1975	6–0	Minnesota North Stars (1975–76)	7–6–2
16	W	November 15, 1975	5–3	@ Atlanta Flames (1975–76)	8–6–2
17	W	November 16, 1975	4–2	Kansas City Scouts (1975–76)	9–6–2
18	T	November 19, 1975	3–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	9–6–3
19	T	November 20, 1975	2–2	New York Islanders (1975–76)	9–6–4
20	T	November 23, 1975	3–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	9–6–5
21	W	November 25, 1975	4–2	Los Angeles Kings (1975–76)	10–6–5
22	W	November 26, 1975	6–4	@ New York Rangers (1975–76)	11–6–5
23	T	November 29, 1975	4–4	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76)	11–6–6
24	W	November 30, 1975	4–2	Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	12–6–6
25	W	December 4, 1975	3–2	Washington Capitals (1975–76)	13–6–6
26	W	December 6, 1975	4–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	14–6–6
27	T	December 7, 1975	2–2	Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	14–6–7
28	L	December 11, 1975	1–5	New York Rangers (1975–76)	14–7–7
29	T	December 13, 1975	4–4	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	14–7–8
30	W	December 14, 1975	3–2	Vancouver Canucks (1975–76)	15–7–8
31	W	December 17, 1975	3–2	@ Washington Capitals (1975–76)	16–7–8
32	W	December 20, 1975	5–3	Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	17–7–8
33	L	December 21, 1975	1–2	Atlanta Flames (1975–76)	17–8–8
34	L	December 23, 1975	3–4	Los Angeles Kings (1975–76)	17–9–8
35	W	December 26, 1975	6–3	@ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	18–9–8
36	W	December 28, 1975	4–2	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76)	19–9–8
37	W	December 31, 1975	6–1	@ Minnesota North Stars (1975–76)	20–9–8
38	T	January 2, 1976	4–4	@ Vancouver Canucks (1975–76)	20–9–9
39	W	January 3, 1976	3–0	@ Los Angeles Kings (1975–76)	21–9–9
40	W	January 10, 1976	3–2	California Golden Seals (1975–76)	22–9–9
41	W	January 11, 1976	7–4	@ Washington Capitals (1975–76)	23–9–9
42	W	January 13, 1976	6–2	Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	24–9–9
43	W	January 15, 1976	4–0	Los Angeles Kings (1975–76)	25–9–9
44	L	January 17, 1976	5–7	@ St. Louis Blues (1975–76)	25–10–9
45	W	January 22, 1976	5–3	Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	26–10–9
46	W	January 24, 1976	6–1	@ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	27–10–9
47	W	January 25, 1976	5–3	Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76)	28–10–9
48	W	January 29, 1976	5–3	Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76)	29–10–9
49	W	January 30, 1976	4–2	@ Atlanta Flames (1975–76)	30–10–9
50	W	February 1, 1976	5–3	Atlanta Flames (1975–76)	31–10–9
51	W	February 5, 1976	5–1	Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	32–10–9
52	L	February 7, 1976	4–11	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	32–11–9
53	W	February 8, 1976	7–0	Detroit Red Wings (1975–76)	33–11–9
54	W	February 11, 1976	5–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1975–76)	34–11–9
55	W	February 13, 1976	6–5	@ California Golden Seals (1975–76)	35–11–9
56	W	February 15, 1976	4–1	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76)	36–11–9
57	T	February 18, 1976	3–3	@ Kansas City Scouts (1975–76)	36–11–10
58	W	February 21, 1976	2–1	@ New York Islanders (1975–76)	37–11–10
59	W	February 22, 1976	5–2	@ New York Rangers (1975–76)	38–11–10
60	W	February 26, 1976	4–2	St. Louis Blues (1975–76)	39–11–10
61	T	February 27, 1976	3–3	@ Washington Capitals (1975–76)	39–11–11
62	W	February 29, 1976	5–3	Vancouver Canucks (1975–76)	40–11–11
63	W	March 3, 1976	5–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1975–76)	41–11–11
64	L	March 5, 1976	3–4	@ California Golden Seals (1975–76)	41–12–11
65	W	March 7, 1976	4–3	Washington Capitals (1975–76)	42–12–11
66	L	March 9, 1976	0–9	@ Atlanta Flames (1975–76)	42–13–11
67	W	March 11, 1976	6–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	43–13–11
68	L	March 13, 1976	2–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	43–14–11
69	W	March 14, 1976	4–2	California Golden Seals (1975–76)	44–14–11
70	T	March 16, 1976	3–3	@ St. Louis Blues (1975–76)	44–14–12
71	W	March 18, 1976	5–2	@ Kansas City Scouts (1975–76)	45–14–12
72	W	March 20, 1976	8–1	New York Rangers (1975–76)	46–14–12
73	T	March 24, 1976	5–5	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76)	46–14–13
74	W	March 25, 1976	4–2	Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76)	47–14–13
75	T	March 27, 1976	4–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76)	47–14–14
76	T	March 28, 1976	2–2	Montreal Canadiens (1975–76)	47–14–15
77	T	March 30, 1976	4–4	Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	47–14–16
78	L	April 1, 1976	2–7	@ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76)	47–15–16
79	W	April 3, 1976	4–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76)	48–15–16
80	T	April 4, 1976	2–2	Minnesota North Stars (1975–76)	48–15–17

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Jean Ratelle	C	67	31	59	90	16	17	15	1	3
John Bucyk	LW	77	36	47	83	20	22	13	0	9
Gregg Sheppard	C	70	31	43	74	28	24	5	2	4
Wayne Cashman	LW	80	28	43	71	87	30	9	0	6
Bobby Schmautz	RW	75	28	34	62	116	13	7	0	7
Ken Hodge	RW	72	25	36	61	42	19	8	0	5
Brad Park	D	43	16	37	53	95	23	7	1	2
Terry O'Reilly	RW	80	23	27	50	150	3	2	0	2
Andre Savard	C	79	17	23	40	60	4	0	0	3
Don Marcotte	LW	58	16	20	36	24	15	1	0	2
Dallas Smith	D	77	7	25	32	103	42	0	0	0
Dave Forbes	LW	79	16	13	29	52	15	0	4	1
Doug Gibson	C	50	7	18	25	0	8	1	0	1
Darryl Edestrand	D	77	4	17	21	103	7	1	0	1
Bobby Orr	D	10	5	13	18	22	10	3	1	0
Phil Esposito	C	12	6	10	16	8	-1	3	0	0
Hank Nowak	LW	66	7	3	10	41	-1	0	0	1
Joe Zanussi	D	60	1	7	8	30	2	0	0	0
Al Sims	D	48	4	3	7	43	6	0	0	0
Carol Vadnais	D	12	2	5	7	17	1	1	0	0
Gary Doak	D	58	1	6	7	60	25	0	0	1
Doug Halward	D	22	1	5	6	6	-4	1	0	0
Barry Smith	C	19	1	0	1	2	-5	0	0	0
Earl Anderson	RW	5	0	1	1	2	-2	0	0	0
Gordie Clark	RW	7	0	1	1	0	-5	0	0	0
Kent Ruhnke	RW	2	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0
Al Simmons	D	7	0	1	1	21	0	0	0	0
Rick Adduono	C	1	0	0	0	0	-1	0	0	0
Gerry Cheevers	G	15	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
Gilles Gilbert	G	55	0	0	0	18	0	0	0	0
Stan Jonathan	LW	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Steve Langdon	LW	4	0	0	0	2	-1	0	0	0
Ray Maluta	D	2	0	0	0	2	-3	0	0	0
Mike Milbury	D	3	0	0	0	9	1	0	0	0
Paul O'Neil	C/RW	1	0	0	0	0	-1	0	0	0
Dave Reece	G	14	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
Gilles Gilbert	3123	55	33	8	10	151	2.90	3
Gerry Cheevers	900	15	8	2	5	41	2.73	1
Dave Reece	777	14	7	5	2	43	3.32	2
Team:	4800	80	48	15	17	235	2.94	6

Playoffs

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
Jean Ratelle	C	12	8	8	16	4	5	0	1
Gregg Sheppard	C	12	5	6	11	6	1	0	1
Brad Park	D	11	3	8	11	14	1	1	0
Ken Hodge	RW	12	4	6	10	4	4	0	1
Bobby Schmautz	RW	11	2	8	10	13	0	0	1
John Bucyk	LW	12	2	7	9	0	2	0	0
Don Marcotte	LW	12	4	2	6	8	1	0	0
Wayne Cashman	LW	11	1	5	6	16	0	0	0
Andre Savard	C	12	1	4	5	9	0	0	0
Terry O'Reilly	RW	12	3	1	4	25	0	0	0
Dallas Smith	D	11	2	2	4	19	0	0	1
Darryl Edestrand	D	12	1	3	4	23	0	0	0
Dave Forbes	LW	12	1	1	2	5	0	1	0
Gary Doak	D	12	1	0	1	22	0	0	0
Joe Zanussi	D	4	0	1	1	2	0	0	0
Gerry Cheevers	G	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gordie Clark	RW	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gilles Gilbert	G	6	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
Doug Halward	D	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Steve Langdon	LW	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ray Maluta	D	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mike Milbury	D	11	0	0	0	29	0	0	0
Hank Nowak	LW	10	0	0	0	8	0	0	0
Al Sims	D	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA	SO
Gilles Gilbert	360	6	3	3	19	3.17	2
Gerry Cheevers	392	6	2	4	14	2.14	1
Team:	752	12	5	7	33	2.63	3

^[3]

Note:

Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Playoffs

Awards and honors

• Jack Adams Award: || Don Cherry
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: || Jean Ratelle
• Brad Park, Defenceman, NHL First Team All-Star

References

• Bruins 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 Boston Bruins Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 9, 2009.