NHL standings at the end of December 17, 1971
| Eastern Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 New York Rangers |
30 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 45 | 138 | 73 | -0.16 | 2.01 | 12-1-2 | 8-4-3 | 6-3-1 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Montreal Canadiens |
29 | 19 | 4 | 6 | 44 | 113 | 64 | -0.17 | 1.52 | 11-0-3 | 8-4-3 | 7-2-1 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Boston Bruins |
28 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 42 | 118 | 65 | -0.11 | 1.79 | 12-3-1 | 8-3-1 | 8-1-1 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Toronto Maple Leafs |
30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 34 | 84 | 84 | -0.05 | -0.05 | 7-5-4 | 6-4-4 | 6-3-1 | Won 3 | ||||||
 Detroit Red Wings |
31 | 10 | 15 | 6 | 26 | 84 | 102 | 0.03 | -0.55 | 7-5-1 | 3-10-5 | 5-3-2 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 Vancouver Canucks |
31 | 8 | 19 | 4 | 20 | 72 | 110 | 0.34 | -0.88 | 6-10-2 | 2-9-2 | 3-6-1 | Lost 3 | ||||||
 Buffalo Sabres |
32 | 6 | 20 | 6 | 18 | 80 | 122 | -0.04 | -1.36 | 4-8-2 | 2-12-4 | 2-7-1 | Lost 3 | ||||||
| Western Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chicago Black Hawks |
31 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 45 | 99 | 54 | -0.21 | 1.25 | 13-0-2 | 8-7-1 | 6-2-2 | Won 4 | ||||||
 Minnesota North Stars |
30 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 41 | 87 | 55 | -0.21 | 0.86 | 10-3-1 | 9-5-2 | 6-4-0 | Won 1 | ||||||
 California Golden Seals |
32 | 10 | 16 | 6 | 26 | 96 | 127 | 0.17 | -0.80 | 6-7-5 | 4-9-1 | 3-4-3 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 Philadelphia Flyers |
30 | 10 | 15 | 5 | 25 | 68 | 90 | 0.13 | -0.60 | 8-6-3 | 2-9-2 | 3-6-1 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Pittsburgh Penguins |
31 | 10 | 17 | 4 | 24 | 79 | 93 | 0.02 | -0.43 | 6-5-3 | 4-12-1 | 2-6-2 | Lost 2 | ||||||
 St. Louis Blues |
31 | 9 | 17 | 5 | 23 | 84 | 102 | 0.06 | -0.52 | 6-6-3 | 3-11-2 | 3-5-2 | Lost 3 | ||||||
 Los Angeles Kings |
30 | 6 | 23 | 1 | 13 | 61 | 122 | 0.17 | -1.86 | 3-11-0 | 3-12-1 | 2-8-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||