Number of games 80 | Start date 1978 Number of teams 17 | |
Duration October 11, 1978 – May 21, 1979 Playoffs Playoffs MVP | ||
The 1978–79 NHL season was the 62nd season of the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens beat the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup finals four games to one for their fourth Cup in a row. This was the last time that two of the "Original Six" teams met in the Finals until 2013. With the Boston Bruins joining the Canadiens and Rangers in the semifinals, this was the last time that three of the final four teams were Original six teams until 2014.
Contents
League business
This season saw the first reduction in the total number of teams since the Brooklyn Americans folded following the 1941–42 season. Fearing that two teams were on the verge of folding, the league approved the merger of the financially unstable Cleveland Barons and Minnesota North Stars franchises, reducing the number of teams to 17. The merged team continued as the Minnesota North Stars, but assumed the Barons' place in the Adams Division.
This reduction would only be temporary, however, as negotiations continued toward an agreement with the World Hockey Association that would see it fold following this season, with four of its teams joining the NHL as expansion franchises for 1979–80.
For the first time since the NHL All-Star Game became an annual tradition, it was not played. In its stead was the 1979 Challenge Cup, which saw Soviet Union players come over to North America to play against NHL players. The Soviets won the series two games to one.
This was the last season until the 2005-06 season that the St. Louis Blues missed the playoffs.
Regular season
For the past three seasons, the Montreal Canadiens had dominated the regular season, but times were changing. The New York Islanders had been steadily improving over the past few seasons and this season saw them beat out the Canadiens by one point for the best record in the league.
Final standings
GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalties In Minutes
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
Playoff seeds
The twelve teams that qualified for the playoffs are ranked 1–12 based on regular season points.
Note: Only teams that qualified for the playoffs are listed here.
- New York Islanders, Patrick Division champions, Clarence Campbell Conference regular season champions – 116 points
- Montreal Canadiens, Norris Division champions, Prince of Wales Conference regular season champions – 115 points
- Boston Bruins, Adams Division champions – 100 points
- Philadelphia Flyers – 95 points
- New York Rangers – 91 points
- Atlanta Flames – 90 points
- Buffalo Sabres – 88 points
- Pittsburgh Penguins – 85 points
- Toronto Maple Leafs – 81 points
- Los Angeles Kings – 80 points
- Chicago Black Hawks, Smythe Division champions – 73 points
- Vancouver Canucks – 63 points
Playoff bracket
Stanley Cup Finals
Prior to 2013, this was the last time two Original Six clubs met in the finals. Both teams would next appear in the Stanley Cup Finals: Canadiens winning in 1986, Rangers winning in 1994.
Scoring leaders
GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties In Minutes
Source: NHL.
Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; Min - Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts
Other statistics
Debuts
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1978–79 (listed with their first team, asterisk (*) marks debut in playoffs):
Players marked with § began their major professional career in the World Hockey Association.
Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1978–79 (listed with their last team):