The 1975/76 NHL season was the 59th season in the National Hockey League . 18 teams played 80 games each. The Stanley Cup won the Montréal Canadiens after a 4-0 win in the final series against the Philadelphia Flyers . Phil Esposito moved from Boston to the Rangers, but was far less successful there than Jean Ratelle , who had come to the Bruins in return. The increasing brutality on the ice occupied the courts four times during this season, including four Flyers players who were indicted after a play-off game in Toronto. Toronto's Darryl Sittler made better headlines, with an 11: 4 win with six goals and four assists , who scored ten points in a game that is still unmatched today. In the play-offs he scored 5 goals in one game. So far, only two players had managed this, and this season Reggie Leach also did it .