NHL standings at the end of December 8, 1971
| Eastern Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 New York Rangers |
26 | 17 | 4 | 5 | 39 | 120 | 62 | -0.17 | 2.06 | 10-1-2 | 7-3-3 | 6-3-1 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 Boston Bruins |
25 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 38 | 102 | 58 | -0.11 | 1.65 | 11-3-1 | 7-2-1 | 9-0-1 | Won 3 | ||||||
 Montreal Canadiens |
25 | 16 | 3 | 6 | 38 | 99 | 54 | -0.11 | 1.69 | 10-0-3 | 6-3-3 | 5-1-4 | Won 3 | ||||||
 Toronto Maple Leafs |
26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 28 | 72 | 75 | -0.03 | -0.14 | 6-4-4 | 4-4-4 | 6-2-2 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Detroit Red Wings |
28 | 8 | 15 | 5 | 21 | 71 | 93 | 0.15 | -0.64 | 6-5-1 | 2-10-4 | 3-5-2 | Lost 2 | ||||||
 Vancouver Canucks |
28 | 8 | 16 | 4 | 20 | 65 | 94 | 0.29 | -0.74 | 6-7-2 | 2-9-2 | 3-6-1 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Buffalo Sabres |
27 | 6 | 16 | 5 | 17 | 73 | 105 | -0.10 | -1.29 | 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 |
27 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 39 | 77 | 45 | -0.30 | 0.88 | 9-3-1 | 9-3-2 | 7-2-1 | Lost 2 | ||||||
 Chicago Black Hawks |
27 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 37 | 86 | 48 | -0.16 | 1.25 | 11-0-2 | 6-7-1 | 4-3-3 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 Pittsburgh Penguins |
28 | 10 | 15 | 3 | 23 | 73 | 81 | -0.01 | -0.29 | 6-5-2 | 4-10-1 | 2-7-1 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 St. Louis Blues |
27 | 9 | 14 | 4 | 22 | 76 | 86 | 0.13 | -0.24 | 6-5-3 | 3-9-1 | 5-4-1 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 California Golden Seals |
29 | 9 | 16 | 4 | 22 | 85 | 118 | 0.18 | -0.96 | 5-7-3 | 4-9-1 | 3-6-1 | Tied 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 | ||||||
 Los Angeles Kings |
28 | 5 | 22 | 1 | 11 | 56 | 118 | 0.17 | -2.05 | 2-10-0 | 3-12-1 | 2-8-0 | Lost 6 | ||||||