NHL standings at the end of December 5, 1971
| Eastern Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 New York Rangers |
25 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 38 | 118 | 60 | -0.22 | 2.10 | 10-1-2 | 7-3-2 | 7-3-0 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Boston Bruins |
24 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 36 | 97 | 55 | -0.03 | 1.72 | 11-3-1 | 6-2-1 | 9-0-1 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Montreal Canadiens |
24 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 36 | 95 | 52 | -0.07 | 1.72 | 9-0-3 | 6-3-3 | 5-1-4 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Toronto Maple Leafs |
25 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 26 | 69 | 74 | -0.06 | -0.26 | 5-4-4 | 4-4-4 | 5-2-3 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Detroit Red Wings |
27 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 21 | 69 | 89 | 0.11 | -0.63 | 6-5-1 | 2-9-4 | 3-4-3 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Vancouver Canucks |
27 | 7 | 16 | 4 | 18 | 63 | 93 | 0.32 | -0.79 | 5-7-2 | 2-9-2 | 2-6-2 | Lost 2 | ||||||
 Buffalo Sabres |
27 | 6 | 16 | 5 | 17 | 73 | 105 | -0.10 | -1.28 | 4-6-2 | 2-10-3 | 2-7-1 | Won 1 | ||||||
| Western Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Minnesota North Stars |
26 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 39 | 76 | 42 | -0.31 | 1.00 | 9-3-1 | 9-2-2 | 8-1-1 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Chicago Black Hawks |
26 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 36 | 84 | 46 | -0.24 | 1.22 | 11-0-1 | 6-7-1 | 5-3-2 | Won 1 | ||||||
 St. Louis Blues |
26 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 22 | 75 | 84 | 0.17 | -0.17 | 6-5-3 | 3-8-1 | 5-3-2 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Pittsburgh Penguins |
27 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 22 | 72 | 80 | 0.03 | -0.26 | 6-5-1 | 4-10-1 | 3-7-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Philadelphia Flyers |
25 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 21 | 54 | 72 | 0.01 | -0.71 | 6-5-3 | 2-7-2 | 2-4-4 | Won 1 | ||||||
 California Golden Seals |
28 | 9 | 16 | 3 | 21 | 84 | 117 | 0.21 | -0.97 | 5-7-3 | 4-9-0 | 4-6-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Los Angeles Kings |
27 | 5 | 21 | 1 | 11 | 53 | 113 | 0.12 | -2.10 | 2-9-0 | 3-12-1 | 2-8-0 | Lost 5 | ||||||