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1976 Stanley Cup Final

1976 ice hockey championship series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1976 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1975–76 season, and the culmination of the 1976 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Philadelphia Flyers, making their third consecutive finals appearance, and the Montreal Canadiens. This was the Canadiens first appearance in the Final since their Cup win in 1973. The Canadiens swept the series to win their 19th Stanley Cup in franchise history, denying the Flyers a three-peat.

Location(s)Montreal: Montreal Forum (1, 2)
Philadelphia: Spectrum (3, 4)
CoachesMontreal: Scotty Bowman
Philadelphia: Fred Shero
CaptainsMontreal: Yvan Cournoyer
Philadelphia: Bobby Clarke
National anthemsMontreal: Roger Doucet
Philadelphia: Kate Smith
Quick facts Total, Location(s) ...
1976 Stanley Cup Final
1234Total
Montreal Canadiens 42354
Philadelphia Flyers 31230
Location(s)Montreal: Montreal Forum (1, 2)
Philadelphia: Spectrum (3, 4)
CoachesMontreal: Scotty Bowman
Philadelphia: Fred Shero
CaptainsMontreal: Yvan Cournoyer
Philadelphia: Bobby Clarke
National anthemsMontreal: Roger Doucet
Philadelphia: Kate Smith
RefereesRon Wicks (1)
Dave Newell (2)
Wally Harris (3)
Lloyd Gilmour (4)
DatesMay 9–16, 1976
MVPReggie Leach (Flyers)
Series-winning goalGuy Lafleur (14:18, third)
Hall of FamersCanadiens:
Yvan Cournoyer (1982)
Ken Dryden (1983)
Bob Gainey (1992)
Guy Lafleur (1988)
Guy Lapointe (1993)
Jacques Lemaire (1984)
Larry Robinson (1995)
Serge Savard (1986)
Steve Shutt (1993)
Flyers:
Bill Barber (1990)
Bobby Clarke (1987)
Bernie Parent (1984; did not play)
Coaches:
Scotty Bowman (1991)
Fred Shero (2013)
Officials:
Neil Armstrong (1991)
John D'Amico (1993)
Matt Pavelich (1987)
NetworksCanada:
(English): CBC
(French): SRC
United States:
(English): NHL Network (national), WTXF-TV (Philadelphia)
Announcers(CBC) Danny Gallivan and Dick Irvin Jr.
(SRC) Rene Lecavalier and Gilles Tremblay
(NHLN) Marv Albert (1, 3–4), Ted Darling (2), Stan Mikita (1), Garry Unger (2), Chico Resch (3), and Curt Bennett (4)
(WTXF-TV) Don Earle and Gene Hart
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This marked the first of what is currently six consecutive losses in the Cup Final for the Flyers, as they would lose in the Final again in 1980, 1985, 1987, 1997, and 2010.

Paths to the Finals

Montreal defeated the Chicago Black Hawks 4–0 and the New York Islanders 4–1 to advance to the final.

Philadelphia defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4–3 and the Boston Bruins 4–1 to make it to the final.

Game summaries

Guy Lafleur scored the first two finals goals in his career, both game-winners.

Reggie Leach scored four goals in the Finals, and nineteen times in total in the playoffs to win the Conn Smythe Trophy even though the Flyers lost the Cup to the Canadiens. He is one of the only two non-goaltenders in NHL history to be named MVP of the playoffs in an unsuccessful cause, and the third of only six as of today. His accomplishment followed Roger Crozier (Detroit Red Wings, in 1966) and Glenn Hall (St. Louis Blues, 1968) and preceded Ron Hextall (Philadelphia, 1987), Jean-Sebastien Giguere (Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 2003) and Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers, 2024).

Game one

May 9 Philadelphia Flyers 3–4 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap
More information Scoring summary, Period ...
Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st PHI Reggie Leach (16) Bobby Clarke (12) and Jack McIlhargey (3) 00:21 1–0 PHI
PHI Ross Lonsberry (4) Mel Bridgman (7) and Tom Bladon (4) 13:22 2–0 PHI
2nd MTL Jim Roberts (3) Bob Gainey (3) and Doug Risebrough (2) 04:04 2–1 PHI
MTL Larry Robinson (3) Pete Mahovlich (5) and Guy Lafleur (6) 06:30 2–2
3rd PHI Larry Goodenough (3) – pp Gary Dornhoefer (4) 05:17 3–2 PHI
MTL Jacques Lemaire (2) Bill Nyrop (3) 10:02 3–3
MTL Guy Lapointe (3) Steve Shutt (6) 18:38 4–3 MTL
Penalty summary
Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM
1st PHI Tom Bladon Elbowing 02:32 2:00
MTL Pete Mahovlich Roughing 09:28 2:00
PHI Gary Dornhoefer Tripping 11:05 2:00
MTL Mario Tremblay Roughing 14:34 2:00
PHI Dave Schultz Roughing – double minor 14:34 4:00
MTL Pete Mahovlich Roughing 17:09 2:00
PHI Bobby Clarke Roughing 17:09 2:00
2nd MTL Yvon Lambert Roughing – double minor 05:59 4:00
PHI Don Saleski Roughing 05:59 2:00
MTL Bob Gainey High-sticking 11:50 2:00
PHI Jimmy Watson Slashing 11:50 2:00
PHI Joe Watson Holding 13:44 2:00
MTL Bob Gainey Elbowing 16:26 2:00
PHI Mel Bridgman Roughing 16:26 2:00
3rd MTL Pierre Bouchard Holding 04:09 2:00
PHI Dave Schultz Hooking 06:29 2:00
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Team 1 2 3 Total
Philadelphia48820
Montreal1116936
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Game two

May 11 Philadelphia Flyers 1–2 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap
More information Scoring summary, Period ...
Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st None
2nd MTL Jacques Lemaire (3) – sh Unassisted 15:19 1–0 MTL
3rd MTL Guy Lafleur (6) Unassisted 02:41 2–0 MTL
PHI Dave Schultz (2) Tom Bladon (5) 17:35 2–1 MTL
Penalty summary
Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM
1st MTL Guy Lafleur Tripping 08:44 2:00
PHI Jimmy Watson Hooking 11:44 2:00
MTL Guy Lapointe High-sticking 16:54 2:00
2nd PHI Bill Barber Charging 07:46 2:00
PHI Andre Dupont Hooking 11:29 2:00
MTL Guy Lapointe Holding 14:17 2:00
MTL Mario Tremblay Fighting – major 14:17 5:00
PHI Andre Dupont Fighting – major 14:17 5:00
3rd MTL Larry Robinson Boarding 11:20 2:00
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Team 1 2 3 Total
Philadelphia98926
Montreal68519
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Game three

May 13 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum Recap
More information Scoring summary, Period ...
Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st MTL Steve Shutt (5) – pp Guy Lafleur (7) 03:17 1–0 MTL
PHI Reggie Leach (17) – pp Bobby Clarke (13) and Larry Goodenough (11) 08:40 1–1
PHI Reggie Leach (18) Unassited 18:14 2–1 PHI
2nd MTL Steve Shutt (6) – pp Guy Lafleur (8) and Pete Mahovlich (6) 01:09 2–2
3rd MTL Pierre Bouchard (1) Murray Wilson (1) 09:16 3–2 MTL
Penalty summary
Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM
1st PHI Bill Barber Elbowing 01:52 2:00
MTL Doug Risebrough High-sticking 08:02 2:00
MTL Bob Gainey Elbowing 09:18 2:00
PHI Mel Bridgman Hooking 15:45 2:00
PHI Gary Dornhoefer Elbowing 19:59 2:00
2nd MTL Bill Nyrop Interference 02:38 2:00
PHI Jack McIlhargey Tripping 05:47 2:00
MTL Larry Robinson Roughing 09:57 2:00
MTL Bob Gainey Roughing 09:57 2:00
PHI Bob Kelly Roughing 09:57 2:00
PHI Jack McIlhargey Roughing 09:57 2:00
3rd None
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Team 1 2 3 Total
Montreal513725
Philadelphia96722
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Game four

May 16 Montreal Canadiens 5–3 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum Recap
More information Scoring summary, Period ...
Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st PHI Reggie Leach (19) Mel Bridgman (8) 00:40 1–0 PHI
MTL Steve Shutt (7) – pp Yvan Cournoyer (6) and Pete Mahovlich (7) 05:35 1–1
MTL Pierre Bouchard (2) – pp Doug Risebrough (3) 11:48 2–1 MTL
PHI Bill Barber (6) – pp Tom Bladon (6) and Andre Dupont (2) 18:20 2–2
2nd PHI Andre Dupont (2) – pp Bill Barber (7) and Bobby Clarke (14) 13:59 3–2 PHI
MTL Yvan Cournoyer (3) – pp Larry Robinson (6) and Guy Lafleur (9) 19:49 3–3
3rd MTL Guy Lafleur (7) Pete Mahovlich (8) and Steve Shutt (7) 14:18 4–3 MTL
MTL Pete Mahovlich (4) Guy Lafleur (10) and Steve Shutt (8) 15:16 5–3 MTL
Penalty summary
Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM
1st MTL Serge Savard Roughing 00:29 2:00
PHI Dave Schultz Roughing – double minor 00:29 4:00
PHI Don Saleski Interference 03:44 2:00
PHI Bill Barber High-sticking 09:54 2:00
PHI Guy Lapointe Holding 17:32 2:00
2nd MTL Bob Gainey Slashing 00:21 2:00
PHI Bobby Clarke Slashing 00:21 2:00
MTL Guy Lapointe Tripping 12:43 2:00
MTL Jacques Lemaire Tripping 17:20 2:00
PHI Gary Dornhoefer Hooking 17:53 2:00
3rd PHI Larry Goodenough Interference 09:03 2:00
MTL Bob Gainey Holding 11:26 2:00
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Shots by period
Team 1 2 3 Total
Montreal1171230
Philadelphia79824
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Team rosters

Montreal Canadiens

Philadelphia Flyers

Stanley Cup engraving

The 1976 Stanley Cup was presented to Canadiens captain Yvan Cournoyer by NHL President Clarence Campbell following the Canadiens 5–3 win over the Flyers in game four.

The following Canadiens players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup

1975–76 Montreal Canadiens

Players

Coaching and administrative staff

Stanley Cup engraving

  • #24 Don Awrey^ (D) played in 72 regular-season games. #3 John van Boxmeer^ (D) played in 46 regular-season games. As neither player played in the playoffs, their names were not included on the Stanley Cup. The official rules say that players must play in the playoffs to be included on the Stanley Cup, but this rule was not followed very well. Players who played in the playoffs were often left off, and many players who did not play in the playoffs were still engraved on it. The NHL changed the rules to say that any player who played at least 40 games (half the regular-season game total) or more for the winning team, or one game in the Stanley Cup Final, must be included. However, Awrey and Van Boxmeer were not added to the cup for 1976. Awrey's name is on the Cup in 1970, 1972 with Boston. Van Boxmeer's name does not appear on the Stanley Cup.
  • Murray Wilson's name was misspelled in 1973, 1976, 1977 as MURRY WILSON, missing an "A". Murray Wilson was spelled correctly on the Stanley Cup in 1978. Wilson's name was also spelled correctly all 4 times on the Replica Cup.
  • Between 1976 and 1985, an "A" (alternate captain) was no longer marked on players' sweaters. Only the captain was marked with a "C."
  • American Rick Chartraw was born in Venezuela and was the first South American-born player to win the Stanley Cup.

See also

Notes

References

Quick facts External videos ...
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  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Stanley Cup. NHL.
  • Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-55168-261-7.

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