NHL standings at the end of December 12, 1971
| Eastern Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 New York Rangers |
28 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 43 | 131 | 63 | -0.22 | 2.21 | 11-1-2 | 8-3-3 | 7-2-1 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Boston Bruins |
27 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 40 | 110 | 64 | -0.17 | 1.54 | 11-3-1 | 8-3-1 | 8-1-1 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Montreal Canadiens |
27 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 40 | 104 | 61 | -0.09 | 1.51 | 11-0-3 | 6-4-3 | 5-2-3 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Toronto Maple Leafs |
28 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 30 | 77 | 80 | -0.02 | -0.13 | 6-5-4 | 5-4-4 | 6-3-1 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Detroit Red Wings |
29 | 9 | 15 | 5 | 23 | 77 | 96 | 0.09 | -0.57 | 7-5-1 | 2-10-4 | 4-4-2 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Vancouver Canucks |
29 | 8 | 17 | 4 | 20 | 67 | 100 | 0.32 | -0.81 | 6-8-2 | 2-9-2 | 3-6-1 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Buffalo Sabres |
30 | 6 | 18 | 6 | 18 | 79 | 115 | -0.07 | -1.27 | 4-8-2 | 2-10-4 | 2-7-1 | Lost 1 | ||||||
| Western Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chicago Black Hawks |
30 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 43 | 97 | 53 | -0.17 | 1.29 | 12-0-2 | 8-7-1 | 5-2-3 | Won 3 | ||||||
 Minnesota North Stars |
29 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 39 | 83 | 54 | -0.20 | 0.80 | 9-3-1 | 9-5-2 | 5-4-1 | Lost 4 | ||||||
 California Golden Seals |
31 | 10 | 16 | 5 | 25 | 93 | 124 | 0.18 | -0.82 | 6-7-4 | 4-9-1 | 4-4-2 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Pittsburgh Penguins |
30 | 10 | 16 | 4 | 24 | 77 | 90 | 0.05 | -0.39 | 6-5-3 | 4-11-1 | 2-6-2 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Philadelphia Flyers |
28 | 9 | 14 | 5 | 23 | 61 | 84 | 0.11 | -0.71 | 7-6-3 | 2-8-2 | 2-6-2 | Won 1 | ||||||
 St. Louis Blues |
29 | 9 | 15 | 5 | 23 | 81 | 94 | 0.02 | -0.43 | 6-5-3 | 3-10-2 | 4-4-2 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Los Angeles Kings |
29 | 6 | 22 | 1 | 13 | 60 | 119 | 0.13 | -1.90 | 3-10-0 | 3-12-1 | 3-7-0 | Won 1 | ||||||