NHL standings at the end of December 14, 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 | -0.16 | 1.54 | 11-3-1 | 8-3-1 | 8-1-1 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Montreal Canadiens |
27 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 40 | 104 | 61 | -0.08 | 1.51 | 11-0-3 | 6-4-3 | 5-2-3 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Toronto Maple Leafs |
29 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 32 | 81 | 82 | -0.03 | -0.07 | 6-5-4 | 6-4-4 | 6-3-1 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Detroit Red Wings |
30 | 10 | 15 | 5 | 25 | 81 | 99 | 0.06 | -0.54 | 7-5-1 | 3-10-4 | 5-4-1 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Vancouver Canucks |
30 | 8 | 18 | 4 | 20 | 70 | 104 | 0.30 | -0.83 | 6-9-2 | 2-9-2 | 3-6-1 | Lost 2 | ||||||
 Buffalo Sabres |
30 | 6 | 18 | 6 | 18 | 79 | 115 | -0.06 | -1.26 | 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 | 1.30 | 12-0-2 | 8-7-1 | 5-2-3 | Won 3 | ||||||
 Minnesota North Stars |
29 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 39 | 83 | 54 | -0.19 | 0.81 | 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 | 0.12 | -0.70 | 7-6-3 | 2-8-2 | 2-6-2 | Won 1 | ||||||
 St. Louis Blues |
30 | 9 | 16 | 5 | 23 | 83 | 98 | 0.03 | -0.47 | 6-6-3 | 3-10-2 | 3-5-2 | Lost 2 | ||||||
 Los Angeles Kings |
29 | 6 | 22 | 1 | 13 | 60 | 119 | 0.14 | -1.90 | 3-10-0 | 3-12-1 | 3-7-0 | Won 1 | ||||||