NHL standings at the end of December 18, 1971
| Eastern Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 New York Rangers |
31 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 47 | 143 | 75 | -0.17 | 2.02 | 12-1-2 | 9-4-3 | 7-2-1 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Boston Bruins |
29 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 44 | 122 | 68 | -0.11 | 1.75 | 12-3-1 | 9-3-1 | 8-1-1 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Montreal Canadiens |
29 | 19 | 4 | 6 | 44 | 113 | 64 | -0.18 | 1.51 | 11-0-3 | 8-4-3 | 7-2-1 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Toronto Maple Leafs |
31 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 36 | 92 | 85 | -0.12 | 0.11 | 8-5-4 | 6-4-4 | 6-3-1 | Won 4 | ||||||
 Detroit Red Wings |
32 | 10 | 16 | 6 | 26 | 86 | 106 | -0.03 | -0.65 | 7-5-1 | 3-11-5 | 4-4-2 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Vancouver Canucks |
31 | 8 | 19 | 4 | 20 | 72 | 110 | 0.35 | -0.88 | 6-10-2 | 2-9-2 | 3-6-1 | Lost 3 | ||||||
 Buffalo Sabres |
33 | 6 | 21 | 6 | 18 | 81 | 130 | -0.02 | -1.51 | 4-8-2 | 2-13-4 | 2-7-1 | Lost 4 | ||||||
| Western Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chicago Black Hawks |
32 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 47 | 103 | 55 | -0.18 | 1.32 | 13-0-2 | 9-7-1 | 7-2-1 | Won 5 | ||||||
 Minnesota North Stars |
31 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 41 | 88 | 59 | -0.16 | 0.78 | 10-4-1 | 9-5-2 | 5-5-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 California Golden Seals |
32 | 10 | 16 | 6 | 26 | 96 | 127 | 0.16 | -0.81 | 6-7-5 | 4-9-1 | 3-4-3 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 Philadelphia Flyers |
30 | 10 | 15 | 5 | 25 | 68 | 90 | 0.13 | -0.61 | 8-6-3 | 2-9-2 | 3-6-1 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Pittsburgh Penguins |
32 | 10 | 18 | 4 | 24 | 82 | 97 | 0.08 | -0.39 | 6-6-3 | 4-12-1 | 2-6-2 | Lost 3 | ||||||
 St. Louis Blues |
32 | 9 | 18 | 5 | 23 | 86 | 107 | 0.10 | -0.55 | 6-7-3 | 3-11-2 | 3-6-1 | Lost 4 | ||||||
 Los Angeles Kings |
31 | 7 | 23 | 1 | 15 | 65 | 124 | 0.13 | -1.77 | 4-11-0 | 3-12-1 | 3-7-0 | Won 1 | ||||||