The Complete World Hockey Association
www.surgent.net/wha
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1976-77 • Franchise
1976-77 New England Whalers
Record: 35-40-6, 76 pts
Finish: 4th, East
Playoffs: Lost in first round to Quebec
Coach: Harry Neale
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Whalers Preview, 1976-77 • by Barry Wilner • The Hockey News 1977 Yearbook
The New England Whalers are the class of the East as well as its most solid franchise. Their main competition in the New England area is, of course, the Bruins, with whom the Whalers have no intention of competing. That is why they are based in Hartford, with a large impressive arena, and with the decline of the American Hockey League, a chance for greater attendance figures.
Coach Harry Neale, who took over New England last March and promptly led them to a seven-game semifinal against a superior Houston team before being eliminated, is back at the helm. Although they might not finish in the top two in the Western sector The Whalers will romp in the east.
Goaltending, while not a particular strength for New England, is the team's biggest asset in comparison to the rest of the division. Cap Raeder, former New Hampshire All-American, was a revelation in the playoffs after both regular season backstops Christer Abrahamsson and Bruce Landon were injured. One of the three, most likely Landon, will be used as trade bait in an effort to obtain a big scorer.
On defense, the Whalers boast Thommie Abrahamsson, Rick Ley and Brad Selwood, as good a trio of blue liners as any in the WHA. Veteran Doug Roberts lends a helping hand on defense as well.
The Whalers need to add some offensive punch in order to solidify their top ranking in the East. On hand on Larry Pleau, Mike Rogers, Rosaire Paiement, Ralph Backstrom and Tom Webster, who has the potential to tear up the league. Unfortunately for New England, Webster is more interested in tearing up his contractual ties with the whalers and heading back to the NHL. New England also obtained Wayne Connelly from Florida in an effort to bolster the goal scoring. They lost winger Fred O'Donnell and center Bob McManama.
Nick Fotiu, the Whalers main man with the fists, has jumped to the NHL Rangers, so in a league rampant with goons ready to take anyone on at the drop of the puck, the Whalers may be in for some heavy intimidating. They have added scrappy Dan Bolduc, a native American who can't fight as good as Fotiu, but may become as popular. Coach Neale had his problems with players in the past, including a fistfight with one, but he is a man who believes in systemized hockey and you know what that did for the Philadelphia Flyers.
"I think we showed in the playoffs what we're capable of," Neale notes. "This year I don't think would be losers in the semifinals."
Unless The Whalers offense perks up, the New Englanders would seem to be headed for the same fate in 1976-77.
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Game Log ... (@ away game, * overtime)
| no.
| Date
| Opponent
| Score
|
| w-l-t
| pts
| gf-ga
| no.
| Date
| Opponent
| Score
|
| w-l-t
| pts
| gf-ga
|
|
1. | Oct 8 | @ Edmonton | 0-2 | L | 0-1-0 | 0 | 0-2 | 41. | Jan 5 | San Diego | 1-2 | L | 17-20-4 | 38 | 136-145 |
|
2. | Oct 10 | @ Winnipeg | 2-5 | L | 0-2-0 | 0 | 2-7 | 42. | Jan 7 | Quebec | 3-7 | L | 17-21-4 | 38 | 139-152 |
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3. | Oct 16 | Quebec | 2-8 | L | 0-3-0 | 0 | 4-15 | 43. | Jan 8 | Phoenix | 3-4 | L | 17-22-4 | 38 | 142-156 |
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4. | Oct 19 | @ Houston | 4-4 | T | 0-3-1 | 1 | 8-19 | 44. | Jan 11 | @ Cincinnati | 2-8 | L | 17-23-4 | 38 | 144-164 |
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5. | Oct 22 | Houston | 5-2 | W | 1-3-1 | 3 | 13-21 | 45. | Jan 13 | @ Indianapolis | 1-4 | L | 17-24-4 | 38 | 145-168 |
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6. | Oct 23 | Cincinnati | 5-4 | W | 2-3-1 | 5 | 18-25 | 46. | Jan 14 | Edmonton | 3-5 | L | 17-25-4 | 38 | 148-173 |
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7. | Oct 26 | Cincinnati | 0-1 | L | 2-4-1 | 5 | 18-26 | 47. | Jan 20 | Quebec | 4-5 | L | 17-26-4 | 38 | 152-178 |
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8. | Oct 29 | Phoenix | 5-1 | W | 3-4-1 | 7 | 23-27 | 48. | Jan 22 | Indianapolis | 3-3 | T | 17-26-5 | 39 | 155-181 |
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9. | Oct 30 | Birmingham | 5-4 | W | 4-4-1 | 9 | 28-31 | 49. | Jan 23 | Cincinnati | 4-3 | W | 18-26-5 | 41 | 159-184 |
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10. | Nov 5 | @ Edmonton | 4-3 | W | 5-4-1 | 11 | 32-34 | 50. | Jan 25 | @ Cincinnati | 2-4 | L | 18-27-5 | 41 | 161-188 |
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11. | Nov 7 | @ Calgary | 2-4 | L | 5-5-1 | 11 | 34-38 | 51. | Jan 27 | @ San Diego | 5-3 | W | 19-27-5 | 43 | 166-191 |
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12. | Nov 9 | @ Winnipeg | *4-5 | L | 5-6-1 | 11 | 38-43 | 52. | Jan 28 | @ Phoenix | 6-2 | W | 20-27-5 | 45 | 172-193 |
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13. | Nov 11 | @ Minnesota | 3-3 | T | 5-6-2 | 12 | 41-46 | 53. | Jan 30 | @ Indianapolis | 0-5 | L | 20-28-5 | 45 | 172-198 |
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14. | Nov 12 | @ Phoenix | 1-3 | L | 5-7-2 | 12 | 42-49 | 54. | Feb 1 | @ Birmingham | 3-4 | L | 20-29-5 | 45 | 175-202 |
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15. | Nov 16 | @ Birmingham | 5-4 | W | 6-7-2 | 14 | 47-53 | 55. | Feb 4 | @ Houston | 1-4 | L | 20-30-5 | 45 | 176-206 |
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16. | Nov 17 | Birmingham | 6-4 | W | 7-7-2 | 16 | 53-57 | 56. | Feb 5 | @ Cincinnati | 3-8 | L | 20-31-5 | 45 | 179-214 |
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17. | Nov 19 | Winnipeg | 3-7 | L | 7-8-2 | 16 | 56-64 | 57. | Feb 6 | Indianapolis | 5-5 | T | 20-31-6 | 46 | 184-219 |
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18. | Nov 20 | Minnesota | 3-3 | T | 7-8-3 | 17 | 59-67 | 58. | Feb 10 | Winnipeg | 6-3 | W | 21-31-6 | 48 | 190-222 |
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19. | Nov 23 | @ Indianapolis | 3-4 | L | 7-9-3 | 17 | 62-71 | 59. | Feb 12 | Indianapolis | 1-5 | L | 21-32-6 | 48 | 191-227 |
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20. | Nov 25 | @ Birmingham | 5-3 | W | 8-9-3 | 19 | 67-74 | 60. | Feb 13 | @ Cincinnati | 5-4 | W | 22-32-6 | 50 | 196-231 |
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21. | Nov 27 | Minnesota | 1-3 | L | 8-10-3 | 19 | 68-77 | 61. | Feb 17 | Phoenix | 4-2 | W | 23-32-6 | 52 | 200-233 |
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22. | Nov 28 | Indianapolis | 3-4 | L | 8-11-3 | 19 | 71-81 | 62. | Feb 18 | Birmingham | 2-3 | L | 23-33-6 | 52 | 202-236 |
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23. | Nov 30 | @ Quebec | 1-2 | L | 8-12-3 | 19 | 72-83 | 63. | Feb 20 | @ Calgary | 5-0 | W | 24-33-6 | 54 | 207-236 |
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24. | Dec 1 | Calgary | 8-4 | W | 9-12-3 | 21 | 80-87 | 64. | Feb 22 | @ Edmonton | 3-4 | L | 24-34-6 | 54 | 210-240 |
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25. | Dec 3 | Quebec | 5-5 | T | 9-12-4 | 22 | 85-92 | 65. | Feb 25 | @ Calgary | 3-2 | W | 25-34-6 | 56 | 213-242 |
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26. | Dec 4 | Winnipeg | 2-6 | L | 9-13-4 | 22 | 87-98 | 66. | Feb 27 | @ Winnipeg | 3-2 | W | 26-34-6 | 58 | 216-244 |
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27. | Dec 7 | @ Minnesota | 2-4 | L | 9-14-4 | 22 | 89-102 | 67. | Mar 2 | San Diego | 2-0 | W | 27-34-6 | 60 | 218-244 |
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28. | Dec 8 | Houston | 5-1 | W | 10-14-4 | 24 | 94-103 | 68. | Mar 4 | Houston | 3-2 | W | 28-34-6 | 62 | 221-246 |
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29. | Dec 11 | San Diego | 3-2 | W | 11-14-4 | 26 | 97-105 | 69. | Mar 6 | Quebec | 6-2 | W | 29-34-6 | 64 | 227-248 |
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30. | Dec 12 | @ Quebec | 1-5 | L | 11-15-4 | 26 | 98-110 | 70. | Mar 9 | @ Birmingham | *3-4 | L | 29-35-6 | 64 | 230-252 |
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31. | Dec 14 | @ Quebec | 3-1 | W | 12-15-4 | 28 | 101-111 | 71. | Mar 11 | @ Birmingham | 3-6 | L | 29-36-6 | 64 | 233-258 |
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32. | Dec 17 | Indianapolis | *4-5 | L | 12-16-4 | 28 | 105-116 | 72. | Mar 13 | @ Quebec | 3-5 | L | 29-37-6 | 64 | 236-263 |
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33. | Dec 18 | Birmingham | 6-2 | W | 13-16-4 | 30 | 111-118 | 73. | Mar 18 | Calgary | 3-1 | W | 30-37-6 | 66 | 239-264 |
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34. | Dec 21 | @ Houston | 0-4 | L | 13-17-4 | 30 | 111-122 | 74. | Mar 20 | Calgary | 9-0 | W | 31-37-6 | 68 | 248-264 |
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35. | Dec 23 | @ San Diego | 5-3 | W | 14-17-4 | 32 | 116-125 | 75. | Mar 24 | Edmonton | 4-5 | L | 31-38-6 | 68 | 252-269 |
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36. | Dec 26 | Minnesota | 3-2 | W | 15-17-4 | 34 | 119-127 | 76. | Mar 26 | Indianapolis | 2-4 | L | 31-39-6 | 68 | 254-273 |
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37. | Dec 28 | @ Minnesota | 4-5 | L | 15-18-4 | 34 | 123-132 | 77. | Mar 27 | Edmonton | 5-2 | W | 32-39-6 | 70 | 259-275 |
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38. | Dec 30 | @ Cincinnati | 6-4 | W | 16-18-4 | 36 | 129-136 | 78. | Mar 29 | @ San Diego | 5-4 | W | 33-39-6 | 72 | 264-279 |
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39. | Jan 2 | Cincinnati | 3-2 | W | 17-18-4 | 38 | 132-138 | 79. | Mar 31 | @ Phoenix | 6-2 | W | 34-39-6 | 74 | 270-281 |
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40. | Jan 4 | @ Quebec | 3-5 | L | 17-19-4 | 38 | 135-143 | 80. | Apr 2 | @ Indianapolis | *3-2 | W | 35-39-6 | 76 | 273-283 |
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- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 81. | Apr 5 | @ Quebec | 2-7 | L | 35-40-6 | 76 | 275-290
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Player Scoring
| pos.
| #
| Player
| gp
| g
| a
| pts
| pim
| +/-
| ppg
| shg
| sog
| sc%
| gp
| g
| a
| pts
| pim
|
|
G | 1 | Abrahamsson, Christer | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
D | 6 | Abrahamsson, Thommie | 64 | 6 | 24 | 30 | 33 | +6 | 0 | 0 | 174 | 0.034 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
|
C | 12 | Antonovich, Mike | 26 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 10 | +11 | 1 | 0 | 83 | 0.145 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
|
LW | 19 | Arndt, Danny | 46 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 11 | -13 | 1 | 0 | 87 | 0.092 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
C | 9 | Backstrom, Ralph | 77 | 17 | 31 | 48 | 30 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 162 | 0.105 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
LW | 21 | Bolduc, Dan | 33 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 15 | -13 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 0.140 | - | - | - | - | - |
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RW | 5 | Busniuk, Ron | 59 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 141 | -10 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 0.013 | - | - | - | - | - |
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D | 22 | Butters, Bill | 26 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 65 | +13 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0.026 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 15 |
|
C | 22 | Callighen, Brett | 33 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 41 | -1 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 0.122 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
RW | 23 | Carlson, Jack | 35 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 81 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 0.152 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
|
C | 26 | Carlson, Steve | 31 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 0.078 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
|
LW | 15 | Climie, Ron | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.000 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
RW | 27 | Earl, Tom | 54 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 37 | -7 | 0 | 1 | 69 | 0.130 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
D | 10 | Hangsleben, Alan | 74 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 79 | -24 | 0 | 0 | 118 | 0.110 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
|
D | 24 | Hanson, Dave | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 35 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
LW | 11 | Hynes, Dave | 22 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 0 | 1 | 41 | 0.122 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
C | 14 | Keon, Dave | 34 | 14 | 25 | 39 | 8 | +13 | 5 | 1 | 107 | 0.131 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
|
G | 30 | Landon, Bruce | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
D | 2 | Ley, Rick | 55 | 2 | 21 | 23 | 102 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 0.020 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
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LW | 16 | Lyle, George | 75 | 39 | 33 | 72 | 62 | +30 | 12 | 0 | 229 | 0.170 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
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C | 12 | MacGregor, Gary | 30 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 4 | -14 | 3 | 0 | 67 | 0.119 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
RW | 19 | McKenzie, John | 34 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 25 | +10 | 0 | 3 | 63 | 0.175 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
|
RW | 12 | Paiement, Rosaire | 13 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 12 | +2 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 0.156 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
C | 4 | Pleau, Larry | 78 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 22 | -17 | 0 | 0 | 146 | 0.075 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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G | 35 | Raeder, Cap | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
D | 14 | Roberts, Doug | 64 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 33 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 107 | 0.028 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
D | 7 | Roberts, Gordie | 77 | 13 | 33 | 46 | 169 | +16 | 2 | 0 | 199 | 0.065 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
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C | 17 | Rogers, Mike | 78 | 25 | 57 | 82 | 10 | +11 | 6 | 0 | 212 | 0.118 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
|
D | 3 | Selwood, Brad | 41 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 71 | -8 | 2 | 0 | 60 | 0.067 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
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LW | 24 | Smedsmo, Dale | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 54 | -6 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0.167 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
C | 20 | Swain, Garry | 26 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 6 | -6 | 1 | 2 | 30 | 0.167 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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RW | 25 | Troy, Jim | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.000 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
RW | 8 | Webster, Tom | 70 | 36 | 49 | 85 | 43 | +18 | 11 | 0 | 188 | 0.191 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
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Goaltending
| Goaltender
| gp
| min
| ga
| en
| so
| w-l-t
| gaa
| sog
| sv%
| gp
| min
| ga
| w-l
| gaa
|
|
Abrahamsson, Christer | 45 | 2484 | 159 | 0 | 0 | 15-22-4 | 3.84 | 1432 | 0.889 | 2 | 90 | 5 | 0-1 | 3.33 |
|
Landon, Bruce | 23 | 1118 | 59 | 3 | 1 | 8-8-1 | 3.17 | 567 | 0.896 | 3 | 152 | 11 | 1-2 | 4.34 |
|
Raeder, Cap | 26 | 1328 | 69 | 0 | 2 | 12-10-1 | 3.12 | 704 | 0.902 | 1 | 60 | 7 | 0-1 | 7.00
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Transactions
• Wayne Carleton acquired in trade with Cleveland for Rob McManama and Fred O'Donnell, Jun 1976
• George Lyle signed to contract, Jul 1976
• Dave Hynes signed to contract, Aug 1976
• Rosaire Paiement traded to Indianapolis for Gary MacGregor, Nov 1976
• Danny Arndt traded to Edmonton for future considerations, Jan 1977
• Dave Keon, John McKenzie, Steve Carlson, Jack Carlson purchased from Edmonton, Jan 1977
• Dave Hanson signed from defunct Minnesota, Jan 1977
• Brett Callighen and Ron Busniuk traded to Edmonton for Mike Antonovich and Bill Butters, Feb 1977
• Dale Smedsmo traded to Cincinnati for future considerations, Feb 1977
Splits versus opposing teams, home and away, and by month
| opponent
| overall
| gf-ga
| home
| gf-ga
| away
| gf-ga
|
Birmingham | 5-4-0 | 38-34 | 3-1-0 | 19-13 | 2-3-0 | 19-21 | |
Calgary | 5-1-0 | 30-11 | 3-0-0 | 20-5 | 2-1-0 | 10-6 |
|
Cincinnati | 5-4-0 | 30-38 | 3-1-0 | 12-10 | 2-3-0 | 18-28 |
|
Edmonton | 2-4-0 | 19-21 | 1-2-0 | 12-12 | 1-2-0 | 7-9 |
|
Houston | 3-2-1 | 18-17 | 3-0-0 | 13-5 | 0-2-1 | 5-12 |
|
Indianapolis | 1-7-2 | 25-41 | 0-4-2 | 18-26 | 1-3-0 | 7-15 |
|
Minnesota | 1-3-2 | 16-20 | 1-1-1 | 7-8 | 0-2-1 | 9-12 |
|
Phoenix | 4-2-0 | 25-14 | 2-1-0 | 12-7 | 2-1-0 | 13-7 |
|
Quebec | 2-8-1 | 33-52 | 1-3-1 | 20-27 | 1-5-0 | 13-25 |
|
San Diego | 5-1-0 | 21-14 | 2-1-0 | 6-4 | 3-0-0 | 15-10 |
|
Winnipeg | 2-4-0 | 20-28 | 1-2-0 | 11-16 | 1-2-0 | 9-12 |
|
|
|
October | 4-4-1 | 28-31 | 4-2-0 | 22-20 | 0-2-1 | 6-11 |
|
November | 4-8-2 | 44-52 | 1-3-1 | 16-21 | 3-5-1 | 28-31 |
|
December | 8-6-1 | 57-53 | 5-2-1 | 36-27 | 3-4-0 | 21-26 |
|
January | 4-10-1 | 43-62 | 2-5-1 | 24-31 | 2-5-0 | 19-31 |
|
February | 6-6-1 | 44-46 | 2-2-1 | 18-18 | 4-4-0 | 26-28 |
|
March | 8-5-0 | 54-37 | 6-2-0 | 34-16 | 2-3-0 | 20-21 |
|
April | 1-1-0 | 5-9 | 0-0-0 | 0-0 | 1-1-0 | 5-9 |
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