Trisha Shetty (Editor)

1978–79 New York Rangers season

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Division
  
3rd Patrick

1978–79 record
  
40–29–11

Goals against
  
292

Conference
  
3rd Campbell

Goals for
  
316

General Manager
  
Fred Shero

The 1978–79 New York Rangers season was the 53rd season for the franchise. The highlight of the season was participating in the Stanley Cup Finals, as the Rangers played 12 consecutive playoff games without losing in regulation.

Contents

Offseason

The Rangers fired their general manager John Ferguson and head coach Jean-Guy Talbot, replacing them with former Philadelphia Flyers and two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach Fred Shero.

The Rangers chose Don Maloney with their first pick, in the second-round, 26th over-all. Maloney was the younger brother of Dave Maloney, a defenceman with the Rangers. Don Maloney would get into 28 games for the Rangers that season.

Season Summary

  • February 25: During a win against the Islanders, Ulf Nilsson was injured on a hip check by Denis Potvin. In the years to come, this would serve as the origin to the infamous "Potvin Sucks" chant at Madison Square Garden.
  • Stanley Cup Finals

    The Rangers faced the defending champion Montreal Canadiens, who were making their fourth straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance. It was the Rangers' first appearance in the finals since the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals. The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series four games to one, to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup.

    Key:      Win      Loss

    Player statistics

    Skaters
    Goaltenders

    Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
    Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.

    Note:

    Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
    Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

    Draft picks

    New York's picks at the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

    References

    1978–79 New York Rangers season Wikipedia