NHL standings at the end of December 31, 1971
| Eastern Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 New York Rangers |
36 | 25 | 5 | 6 | 56 | 160 | 81 | -0.12 | 2.08 | 15-1-3 | 10-4-3 | 8-1-1 | Won 4 | ||||||
 Boston Bruins |
35 | 24 | 6 | 5 | 53 | 143 | 79 | -0.11 | 1.72 | 14-3-2 | 10-3-3 | 6-1-3 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 Montreal Canadiens |
34 | 21 | 6 | 7 | 49 | 126 | 80 | -0.14 | 1.22 | 13-0-3 | 8-6-4 | 6-3-1 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Toronto Maple Leafs |
37 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 42 | 111 | 103 | -0.07 | 0.15 | 9-6-4 | 8-6-4 | 7-3-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Detroit Red Wings |
37 | 14 | 17 | 6 | 34 | 110 | 118 | -0.12 | -0.33 | 10-5-1 | 4-12-5 | 6-3-1 | Won 3 | ||||||
 Buffalo Sabres |
39 | 8 | 22 | 9 | 25 | 106 | 152 | -0.07 | -1.25 | 6-9-3 | 2-13-6 | 2-5-3 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 Vancouver Canucks |
35 | 9 | 22 | 4 | 22 | 80 | 123 | 0.18 | -1.05 | 7-10-2 | 2-12-2 | 2-8-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||
| Western Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chicago Black Hawks |
36 | 25 | 8 | 3 | 53 | 116 | 64 | -0.19 | 1.25 | 15-1-2 | 10-7-1 | 8-1-1 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Minnesota North Stars |
36 | 20 | 11 | 5 | 45 | 96 | 71 | -0.03 | 0.67 | 11-5-2 | 9-6-3 | 2-6-2 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 California Golden Seals |
38 | 11 | 20 | 7 | 29 | 110 | 150 | 0.16 | -0.89 | 6-8-6 | 5-12-1 | 2-4-4 | Lost 3 | ||||||
 Pittsburgh Penguins |
38 | 11 | 21 | 6 | 28 | 96 | 118 | 0.15 | -0.43 | 7-7-4 | 4-14-2 | 1-6-3 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 Philadelphia Flyers |
34 | 11 | 18 | 5 | 27 | 76 | 105 | 0.21 | -0.64 | 9-7-3 | 2-11-2 | 4-6-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 St. Louis Blues |
37 | 10 | 21 | 6 | 26 | 100 | 124 | 0.04 | -0.61 | 6-8-4 | 4-13-2 | 1-7-2 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Los Angeles Kings |
36 | 9 | 26 | 1 | 19 | 76 | 138 | 0.10 | -1.62 | 5-12-0 | 4-14-1 | 4-6-0 | Won 1 | ||||||