1977–78 Pittsburgh Penguins season

1977–78 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division	4th Norris
Conference	7th Wales
1977–78 record	25–37–18
Goals for	254
Goals against	321
Team information
General manager	Baz Bastien
Coach	Johnny Wilson
Captain	Jean Pronovost
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Jean Pronovost (40)
Assists	Greg Malone (43)
Points	Jean Pronovost (65)
Penalty minutes	Dave Schultz (378)
Wins	Denis Herron (20)
Goals against average	Denis 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 Canadiens	80	59	10	11	359	183	129
Detroit Red Wings	80	32	34	14	252	266	78
Los Angeles Kings	80	31	34	15	243	245	77
Pittsburgh Penguins	80	25	37	18	254	321	68
Washington Capitals	80	17	49	14	195	321	48

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

Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Norris Division 1977–78 NHL records Team DET LAK MTL PIT WSH Total Detroit — 3–2–1 1–4–1 3–2–1 4–1–1 11–9–4 Los Angeles 2–3–1 — 1–4–1 3–0–3 4–2 10–9–5 Montreal 4–1–1 4–1–1 — 5–1 5–0–1 18–3–3 Pittsburgh 2–3–1 0–3–3 1–5 — 1–4–1 4–15–5 Washington 1–4–1 2–4 0–5–1 4–1–1 — 7–12–5 Vs. Adams Division 1977–78 NHL records Team BOS BUF CLE TOR Total Detroit 0–4–1 2–2–1 2–2–1 1–2–2 5–10–5 Los Angeles 0–5 0–3–2 3–1–1 3–2 6–11–3 Montreal 4–0–1 2–3 4–1 4–0–1 14–4–2 Pittsburgh 0–5 0–0–5 5–0 3–2 8–7–5 Washington 0–4–1 1–3–1 3–2 0–4–1 4–13–3 Vs. Patrick Division 1977–78 NHL records Team ATL NYI NYR PHI Total Detroit 2–1–1 0–4 1–2–1 1–2–1 4–9–3 Los Angeles 2–1–1 0–2–2 3–1 0–3–1 5–7–4 Montreal 2–0–2 4–0 3–1 2–0–2 11–1–4 Pittsburgh 1–3 1–2–1 2–0–2 0–3–1 4–8–4 Washington 2–1–1 0–4 0–2–2 0–4 2–11–3 Vs. Smythe Division 1977–78 NHL records Team CHI COL MIN STL VAN Total Detroit 1–3 2–1–1 4–0 3–1 2–1–1 12–6–2 Los Angeles 2–2 2–1–1 2–1–1 2–2 2–1–1 10–7–3 Montreal 3–0–1 4–0 2–2 4–0 3–0–1 16–2–2 Pittsburgh 2–1–1 2–1–1 2–2 2–1–1 1–2–1 9–7–4 Washington 0–3–1 2–1–1 1–2–1 1–1–2 0–4 4–11–5

Schedule and results

1977–78 Schedule
October: 3–5–1 (Home: 2–3–0 ; Road: 1–2–1), 7 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 1 Oct 12 St. Louis Blues 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins The Checkerdome 1–0–0 2 2 Oct 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 1–1–0 2 3 Oct 15 Philadelphia Flyers 8–2 Pittsburgh Penguins The Spectrum 1–2–0 2 4 Oct 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 1–2–1 3 5 Oct 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–11 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 1–3–1 3 6 Oct 22 Atlanta Flames 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Omni Coliseum 2–3–1 5 7 Oct 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Cleveland Barons Coliseum at Richfield 3–3–1 7 8 Oct 26 Detroit Red Wings 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Olympia Stadium 3–4–1 7 9 Oct 29 Boston Bruins 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Boston Garden 3–5–1 7
November: 4–6–3 (Home: 4–0–1 ; Road: 0–6–2), 11 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 10 Nov 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 3–6–1 7 11 Nov 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 3–7–1 7 12 Nov 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3–8–1 7 13 Nov 9 Cleveland Barons 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Coliseum at Richfield 4–8–1 9 14 Nov 12 Chicago Black Hawks 4–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Chicago Stadium 5–8–1 11 15 Nov 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 5–8–2 12 16 Nov 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–7 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 5–9–2 12 17 Nov 19 New York Rangers 5–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Madison Square Garden (IV) 5–9–3 13 18 Nov 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 5–9–4 14 19 Nov 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 5–10–4 14 20 Nov 26 New York Islanders 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 6–10–4 16 21 Nov 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–9 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 6–11–4 16 22 Nov 30 Detroit Red Wings 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Olympia Stadium 7–11–4 18
December: 4–6–4 (Home: 2–3–2 ; Road: 2–3–2), 12 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 23 Dec 3 Buffalo Sabres 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 7–11–5 19 24 Dec 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 8–11–5 21 25 Dec 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Colorado Rockies McNichols Sports Arena 8–11–6 22 26 Dec 8 Los Angeles Kings 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins The Forum 8–12–6 22 27 Dec 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–6 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 8–13–6 22 28 Dec 11 Atlanta Flames 5–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Omni Coliseum 8–14–6 22 29 Dec 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 St. Louis Blues The Checkerdome 8–15–6 22 30 Dec 17 Montreal Canadiens 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Montreal Forum 9–15–6 24 31 Dec 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 9–15–7 25 32 Dec 23 Toronto Maple Leafs 6–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Maple Leaf Gardens 9–16–7 25 33 Dec 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 10–16–7 27 34 Dec 28 Washington Capitals 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Capital Centre 10–16–8 28 35 Dec 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 10–17–8 28 36 Dec 31 Cleveland Barons 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Coliseum at Richfield 11–17–8 30
January: 5–5–3 (Home: 3–2–2 ; Road: 2–3–1), 13 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 37 Jan 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 11–18–8 30 38 Jan 4 Vancouver Canucks 3–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Pacific Coliseum 12–18–8 32 39 Jan 7 Los Angeles Kings 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins The Forum 12–18–9 33 40 Jan 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–3 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 13–18–9 35 41 Jan 11 Montreal Canadiens 8–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Montreal Forum 13–19–9 35 42 Jan 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 13–19–10 36 43 Jan 14 Cleveland Barons 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Coliseum at Richfield 14–19–10 38 44 Jan 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–1 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 14–20–10 38 45 Jan 21 Washington Capitals 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Capital Centre 14–21–10 38 46 Jan 22 New York Rangers 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Madison Square Garden (IV) 15–21–10 40 47 Jan 28 Buffalo Sabres 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 15–21–11 41 48 Jan 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–8 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 15–22–11 41 49 Jan 31 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–3 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 16–22–11 43
February: 4–2–5 (Home: 2–2–2 ; Road: 2–0–3), 13 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 50 Feb 1 Minnesota North Stars 1–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Met Center 17–22–11 45 51 Feb 4 Boston Bruins 8–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Boston Garden 17–23–11 45 52 Feb 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Colorado Rockies McNichols Sports Arena 18–23–11 47 53 Feb 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 18–23–12 48 54 Feb 14 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Chicago Stadium 19–23–12 50 55 Feb 18 Los Angeles Kings 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins The Forum 19–23–13 51 56 Feb 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 19–23–14 52 57 Feb 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 St. Louis Blues The Checkerdome 20–23–14 54 58 Feb 22 St. Louis Blues 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins The Checkerdome 20–23–15 55 59 Feb 25 Philadelphia Flyers 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins The Spectrum 20–24–15 55 60 Feb 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 20–24–16 56
March: 2–11–2 (Home: 1–4–2 ; Road: 1–7–0), 6 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 61 Mar 1 Montreal Canadiens 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Montreal Forum 20–25–16 56 62 Mar 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 20–26–16 56 63 Mar 5 New York Islanders 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 20–26–17 57 64 Mar 8 Colorado Rockies 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins McNichols Sports Arena 21–26–17 59 65 Mar 11 Vancouver Canucks 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Pacific Coliseum 21–27–17 59 66 Mar 12 Toronto Maple Leafs 7–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Maple Leaf Gardens 21–28–17 59 67 Mar 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 21–29–17 59 68 Mar 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–7 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 21–30–17 59 69 Mar 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 22–30–17 61 70 Mar 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–9 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 22–31–17 61 71 Mar 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–7 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 22–32–17 61 72 Mar 22 Colorado Rockies 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins McNichols Sports Arena 22–33–17 61 73 Mar 25 Detroit Red Wings 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Olympia Stadium 22–33–18 62 74 Mar 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–6 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 22–34–18 62 75 Mar 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 22–35–18 62
April: 3–2–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 1–1–0), 6 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 76 Apr 2 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Maple Leaf Gardens 23–35–18 64 77 Apr 5 Minnesota North Stars 2–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Met Center 24–35–18 66 78 Apr 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 24–36–18 66 79 Apr 8 Washington Capitals 6–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Capital Centre 24–37–18 66 80 Apr 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Cleveland Barons Coliseum at Richfield 25–37–18 68
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

Regular Season

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/−	PIM
Jean Pronovost	79	40	25	65	–16	50
Peter Mahovlich†	57	25	36	61	4	37
Greg Malone	78	18	43	61	–16	80
Gene Carr†	70	17	37	54	–15	76
Rick Kehoe	70	29	21	50	–18	10
Blair Chapman	75	24	20	44	–11	37
Tom Edur†	58	5	38	43	–9	18
Dave Schultz†	66	9	25	34	–9	378
Wayne Bianchin	61	20	13	33	–14	40
Mike Corrigan	25	8	12	20	–7	10
Ron Stackhouse	50	5	15	20	–16	36
Brian Spencer	79	9	11	20	–18	81
Dave Burrows	67	4	15	19	–30	24
Russ Anderson	74	2	16	18	–5	150
Peter Lee	60	5	13	18	–11	19
Lowell MacDonald	19	5	8	13	0	2
Bob Paradise	64	2	10	12	–30	53
John Flesch	29	7	5	12	–7	19
Pierre Larouche‡	20	6	5	11	–13	0
Dennis Owchar‡	22	2	8	10	–12	23
Colin Campbell	55	1	9	10	–19	103
Tom Cassidy	26	3	4	7	–4	15
Syl Apps Jr.‡	9	0	7	7	0	0
Mario Faubert	18	0	6	6	2	11
James Hamilton	25	2	4	6	–3	2
Derek Sanderson	13	3	1	4	–6	0
Jacques Cossette	19	1	2	3	–5	4
Lew Morrison	8	0	2	2	3	0
Hartland Monahan‡	7	2	0	2	–7	2
Thomas Price	10	0	0	0	–4	0
Kim Davis	1	0	0	0	0	0
Total		254	411	665	—	1,280

Goaltenders

Regular Season

Player	GP	W	L	T	GA	SO
Denis Herron	60	20	25	15	210	0
Dunc Wilson	21	5	11	3	95	0
Greg Redquest	1	0	0	0	3	0
Gordon Laxton	2	0	1	0	9	0
Total		25	37	18	317	0

^†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 Player Former team Via Tom Cassidy Boston Bruins free agency (1977-10-11) John Flesch Minnesota North Stars free agency (1978-02-04) Derek Sanderson Vancouver Canucks free agency (1978-03-14)

Subtractions Player New team Via J. Bob Kelly Chicago Black Hawks free agency (1977-08-17) Peter Marsh Montreal Canadiens to complete trade that sent Pierre Larouche to Canadiens (1977-12-15)

Draft picks

See also: List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks

The 1977 NHL amateur draft was held in Montreal.

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

• Penguins on Hockey Database