1976–77 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1976–77 Montreal Canadiens season was the Canadiens' 68th season. The team is regarded to be the greatest NHL team ever composed. The Canadiens won their 20th Stanley Cup in 1976–77, taking the NHL championship. Montreal set new records for most wins (60) and points (132) in a season. Those records were not broken until the re-introduction of regular season overtime and the extension of the schedule to 82 games. The 1976–77 Canadiens continue to hold the all-time records for regulation wins as well as points per game (1.650). They outscored their opponents by 216 goals (also a league record), a differential average of 2.7 goals per game.

Of the 24 players on the roster, 14 were drafted by the Canadiens: Pierre Bouchard, Rick Chartraw, Brian Engblom, Bob Gainey, Réjean Houle, Guy Lafleur, Michel Larocque, Pierre Mondou, Bill Nyrop, Doug Risebrough, Larry Robinson, Steve Shutt, Mario Tremblay, and Murray Wilson. The only player on the roster not developed by the Canadiens was Peter Mahovlich.

Montreal lost only eight games, a modern-era record that has never been tied or broken even when counting only regulation losses and including lockout and pandemic-shortened seasons. They earned at least a point in 72 games, which also still stands as an all-time record.

The Canadiens earned their 100th point in the 62nd game of the season with a victory over the Atlanta Flames on February 23, 1977. This was an NHL record for fastest team to 100 points for 45 seasons.

Stanley Cup Finals
Jacques Lemaire scored three game-winning goals, including the Cup winner in overtime. Guy Lafleur won the Conn Smythe Trophy for scoring 9 goals and 17 assists during the playoffs.

Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens
Montreal wins the series 4–0. Guy Lafleur won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Awards and records

 * Prince of Wales Trophy
 * Ken Dryden and Michel Larocque, Vezina Trophy
 * Ken Dryden, Goaltender, NHL First Team All-Star
 * Guy Lafleur, Art Ross Trophy
 * Guy Lafleur, Conn Smythe Trophy
 * Guy Lafleur, Hart Memorial Trophy
 * Guy Lafleur, Lou Marsh Trophy
 * Guy Lafleur, right wing, NHL First Team All-Star
 * Guy Lafleur, NHL leader, assists (80)
 * Guy Lafleur, NHL leader, points (136)
 * Guy Lapointe, defence, NHL Second Team All-Star
 * Larry Robinson, defence, NHL First Team All-Star
 * Steve Shutt, left wing, NHL First Team All-Star
 * Steve Shutt, NHL leader, goals (60)
 * 132 points, NHL record for most points in a season by a team
 * +216 goal differential, NHL record for highest team differential