1977–78 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division4th Norris
Conference7th Wales
1977–78 record25–37–18
Goals for254
Goals against321
Team information
General managerBaz Bastien
CoachJohnny Wilson
CaptainJean Pronovost
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
GoalsJean Pronovost (40)
AssistsGreg Malone (43)
PointsJean Pronovost (65)
Penalty minutesDave Schultz (378)
WinsDenis Herron (20)
Goals against averageDenis Herron (3.57)

The 1977–78 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their 11th in the National Hockey League. They finished fourth in the Norris Division, thus did not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. This was their worst regular season since 1974, with only 68 points, and the first time since 1974 that the Penguins did not qualify for the playoffs.

Off-season

In the off-season head coach Ken Schinkel was replaced by former Kings, Red Wings and Rockies head coach Johnny Wilson. Veterans Vic Hadfield and Ed Van Impe retired. Defensive forward J. Bob Kelly's contract ended and he took his services to Chicago, while Captain Ron Schock was traded to the Sabres (Jean Pronovost was named captain in his place).

Regular season

In an attempt to replace Kelly general manager Baz Bastien acquired former Flyer enforcer Dave Schultz early in the season, but the price was high: Syl Apps, Jr., one of the team's all-time leading scorers. Schultz was traded the following season.

Frustrated with the performance of talented winger Pierre Larouche, Bastien dealt the 22-year-old to the Montreal Canadiens for veteran Pete Mahovlich and prospect Peter Lee on November 29, 1977. Larouche would go on to win two Stanley Cup championships with the Canadiens, while Mahovlich was traded to the Red Wings less than two years later. Lee would fail to live up to his promise, scoring an average of only 0.57 points per game over the course of six seasons with the Penguins.

The high roster turnover, particularly from three of the previous season's top five scorers, contributed to the Penguins missing the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.

Division standings

Norris Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Montreal Canadiens80591011359183129
Detroit Red Wings8032341425226678
Los Angeles Kings8031341524324577
Pittsburgh Penguins8025371825432168
Washington Capitals8017491419532148

[1]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Norris Division record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

1977–78 Schedule
October: 3–5–1 (Home: 2–3–0 ; Road: 1–2–1), 7 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
1Oct 12St. Louis Blues2–4Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Checkerdome1–0–02
2Oct 14Pittsburgh Penguins1–2Washington CapitalsCapital Centre1–1–02
3Oct 15Philadelphia Flyers8–2Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Spectrum1–2–02
4Oct 19Pittsburgh Penguins3–3New York RangersMadison Square Garden (IV)1–2–13
5Oct 20Pittsburgh Penguins0–11Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum1–3–13
6Oct 22Atlanta Flames2–5Pittsburgh PenguinsOmni Coliseum2–3–15
7Oct 23Pittsburgh Penguins3–2Cleveland BaronsColiseum at Richfield3–3–17
8Oct 26Detroit Red Wings4–3Pittsburgh PenguinsOlympia Stadium3–4–17
9Oct 29Boston Bruins5–3Pittsburgh PenguinsBoston Garden3–5–17
November: 4–6–3 (Home: 4–0–1 ; Road: 0–6–2), 11 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
10Nov 2Pittsburgh Penguins1–3Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium3–6–17
11Nov 4Pittsburgh Penguins2–5Atlanta FlamesOmni Coliseum3–7–17
12Nov 5Pittsburgh Penguins3–4New York IslandersNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum3–8–17
13Nov 9Cleveland Barons3–5Pittsburgh PenguinsColiseum at Richfield4–8–19
14Nov 12Chicago Black Hawks4–7Pittsburgh PenguinsChicago Stadium5–8–111
15Nov 13Pittsburgh Penguins3–3Buffalo SabresBuffalo Memorial Auditorium5–8–212
16Nov 16Pittsburgh Penguins4–7Minnesota North StarsMet Center5–9–212
17Nov 19New York Rangers5–5Pittsburgh PenguinsMadison Square Garden (IV)5–9–313
18Nov 22Pittsburgh Penguins3–3Vancouver CanucksPacific Coliseum5–9–414
19Nov 24Pittsburgh Penguins3–5Los Angeles KingsThe Forum5–10–414
20Nov 26New York Islanders2–5Pittsburgh PenguinsNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum6–10–416
21Nov 29Pittsburgh Penguins1–9Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum6–11–416
22Nov 30Detroit Red Wings4–6Pittsburgh PenguinsOlympia Stadium7–11–418
December: 4–6–4 (Home: 2–3–2 ; Road: 2–3–2), 12 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
23Dec 3Buffalo Sabres4–4Pittsburgh PenguinsBuffalo Memorial Auditorium7–11–519
24Dec 4Pittsburgh Penguins4–2Washington CapitalsCapital Centre8–11–521
25Dec 6Pittsburgh Penguins3–3Colorado RockiesMcNichols Sports Arena8–11–622
26Dec 8Los Angeles Kings5–3Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Forum8–12–622
27Dec 10Pittsburgh Penguins2–6Boston BruinsBoston Garden8–13–622
28Dec 11Atlanta Flames5–1Pittsburgh PenguinsOmni Coliseum8–14–622
29Dec 14Pittsburgh Penguins2–3St. Louis BluesThe Checkerdome8–15–622
30Dec 17Montreal Canadiens3–5Pittsburgh PenguinsMontreal Forum9–15–624
31Dec 22Pittsburgh Penguins3–3Buffalo SabresBuffalo Memorial Auditorium9–15–725
32Dec 23Toronto Maple Leafs6–2Pittsburgh PenguinsMaple Leaf Gardens9–16–725
33Dec 26Pittsburgh Penguins5–4Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens10–16–727
34Dec 28Washington Capitals2–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCapital Centre10–16–828
35Dec 29Pittsburgh Penguins3–4Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum10–17–828
36Dec 31Cleveland Barons3–6Pittsburgh PenguinsColiseum at Richfield11–17–830
January: 5–5–3 (Home: 3–2–2 ; Road: 2–3–1), 13 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
37Jan 2Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Washington CapitalsCapital Centre11–18–830
38Jan 4Vancouver Canucks3–8Pittsburgh PenguinsPacific Coliseum12–18–832
39Jan 7Los Angeles Kings3–3Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Forum12–18–933
40Jan 9Pittsburgh Penguins5–3New York RangersMadison Square Garden (IV)13–18–935
41Jan 11Montreal Canadiens8–6Pittsburgh PenguinsMontreal Forum13–19–935
42Jan 12Pittsburgh Penguins4–4Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum13–19–1036
43Jan 14Cleveland Barons2–4Pittsburgh PenguinsColiseum at Richfield14–19–1038
44Jan 18Pittsburgh Penguins0–1Atlanta FlamesOmni Coliseum14–20–1038
45Jan 21Washington Capitals5–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCapital Centre14–21–1038
46Jan 22New York Rangers1–3Pittsburgh PenguinsMadison Square Garden (IV)15–21–1040
47Jan 28Buffalo Sabres3–3Pittsburgh PenguinsBuffalo Memorial Auditorium15–21–1141
48Jan 29Pittsburgh Penguins2–8Boston BruinsBoston Garden15–22–1141
49Jan 31Pittsburgh Penguins5–3Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium16–22–1143
February: 4–2–5 (Home: 2–2–2 ; Road: 2–0–3), 13 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
50Feb 1Minnesota North Stars1–6Pittsburgh PenguinsMet Center17–22–1145
51Feb 4Boston Bruins8–1Pittsburgh PenguinsBoston Garden17–23–1145
52Feb 7Pittsburgh Penguins4–2Colorado RockiesMcNichols Sports Arena18–23–1147
53Feb 11Pittsburgh Penguins3–3Los Angeles KingsThe Forum18–23–1248
54Feb 14Chicago Black Hawks1–2Pittsburgh PenguinsChicago Stadium19–23–1250
55Feb 18Los Angeles Kings1–1Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Forum19–23–1351
56Feb 19Pittsburgh Penguins2–2Chicago Black HawksChicago Stadium19–23–1452
57Feb 21Pittsburgh Penguins5–4St. Louis BluesThe Checkerdome20–23–1454
58Feb 22St. Louis Blues2–2Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Checkerdome20–23–1555
59Feb 25Philadelphia Flyers3–1Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Spectrum20–24–1555
60Feb 26Pittsburgh Penguins4–4Buffalo SabresBuffalo Memorial Auditorium20–24–1656
March: 2–11–2 (Home: 1–4–2 ; Road: 1–7–0), 6 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
61Mar 1Montreal Canadiens5–2Pittsburgh PenguinsMontreal Forum20–25–1656
62Mar 4Pittsburgh Penguins3–6New York IslandersNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum20–26–1656
63Mar 5New York Islanders3–3Pittsburgh PenguinsNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum20–26–1757
64Mar 8Colorado Rockies3–5Pittsburgh PenguinsMcNichols Sports Arena21–26–1759
65Mar 11Vancouver Canucks3–1Pittsburgh PenguinsPacific Coliseum21–27–1759
66Mar 12Toronto Maple Leafs7–1Pittsburgh PenguinsMaple Leaf Gardens21–28–1759
67Mar 14Pittsburgh Penguins2–4Los Angeles KingsThe Forum21–29–1759
68Mar 15Pittsburgh Penguins4–7Vancouver CanucksPacific Coliseum21–30–1759
69Mar 18Pittsburgh Penguins3–2Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens22–30–1761
70Mar 19Pittsburgh Penguins1–9Chicago Black HawksChicago Stadium22–31–1761
71Mar 21Pittsburgh Penguins1–7Minnesota North StarsMet Center22–32–1761
72Mar 22Colorado Rockies5–2Pittsburgh PenguinsMcNichols Sports Arena22–33–1761
73Mar 25Detroit Red Wings2–2Pittsburgh PenguinsOlympia Stadium22–33–1862
74Mar 29Pittsburgh Penguins2–6Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum22–34–1862
75Mar 30Pittsburgh Penguins3–6Boston BruinsBoston Garden22–35–1862
April: 3–2–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 1–1–0), 6 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocationRecordPoints
76Apr 2Toronto Maple Leafs3–6Pittsburgh PenguinsMaple Leaf Gardens23–35–1864
77Apr 5Minnesota North Stars2–7Pittsburgh PenguinsMet Center24–35–1866
78Apr 6Pittsburgh Penguins4–6Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium24–36–1866
79Apr 8Washington Capitals6–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCapital Centre24–37–1866
80Apr 9Pittsburgh Penguins3–2Cleveland BaronsColiseum at Richfield25–37–1868
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

The Penguins failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the 1973–74 season, ending their three season playoff streak.

Player statistics

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[4]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Denis Herron602025152100
Dunc Wilson215113950
Greg Redquest100030
Gordon Laxton201090
Total2537183170

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Awards and records

  • Jean Pronovost established a career franchise record for games (753), goals (316) and points (603). He had led in goals since 1972 and games and points since 1973.
  • Syl Apps, Jr. established a career franchise record for assists (349). He had led the category since 1972.
  • Dave Schultz established a franchise record for penalty minutes in a season with 378. He was also the first to record 300 PIMs in a season, beating the previous high of 212 held by Bryan Watson.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1977–78 season:

Trades

September 20, 1977 To Buffalo Sabres

Ron Schock

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Brian Spencer

October 1, 1977 To Washington Capitals

rights to Don Awrey

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Bob Paradise

October 16, 1977 To Washington Capitals

1979 1st round pick

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Hartland Monahan

November 2, 1977 To Los Angeles Kings

Syl Apps Jr.
Hartland Monahan

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Gene Carr
Dave Schultz
1978 4th round pick

November 29, 1977 To Montreal Canadiens

Pierre Larouche
future considerations (rights to Peter Marsh)

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Peter Lee
Pete Mahovlich

December 2, 1977 To Colorado Rockies

Dennis Owchar

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Tom Edur

June 13, 1978 To Toronto Maple Leafs

Dave Burrows
1978 6th round pick

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Randy Carlyle
George Ferguson

Additions and subtractions

Additions
PlayerFormer teamVia
Tom CassidyBoston Bruinsfree agency (1977-10-11)
John FleschMinnesota North Starsfree agency (1978-02-04)
Derek SandersonVancouver Canucksfree agency (1978-03-14)
Subtractions
PlayerNew teamVia
J. Bob KellyChicago Black Hawksfree agency (1977-08-17)
Peter MarshMontreal Canadiensto complete trade that sent Pierre Larouche to Canadiens (1977-12-15)

Draft picks

The 1977 NHL amateur draft was held in Montreal, Quebec.[5]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
2 30 James Hamilton Right Wing  Canada London Knights (OHA)
3 48 Kim Davis Center  Canada Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)
4 66 Mark Johnson Center  United States U. of Wisconsin (NCAA)
6 102 Gregory Millen Goaltender  Canada Peterborough Petes (OHA)

References

  1. ↑ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
  2. ↑ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  3. ↑ "1977–1978 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  4. ↑ "1977–1978 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  5. ↑ "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.
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