1978–79 Washington Capitals season

1978–79 Washington Capitals
Division	4th Norris
Conference	Campbell
1978–79 record	24–41–15
Goals for	273
Goals against	338
Team information
General manager	Max McNab
Coach	Danny Belisle
Captain	Guy Charron
Alternate captains	None

The 1978–79 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals fifth season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Regular season

Final standings

Norris Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Montreal Canadiens	80	52	17	11	337	204	115
Pittsburgh Penguins	80	36	31	13	281	279	85
Los Angeles Kings	80	34	34	12	292	286	80
Washington Capitals	80	24	41	15	273	338	63
Detroit Red Wings	80	23	41	16	252	295	62

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.

Record vs. opponents

Norris Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Norris Division 1978–79 NHL records Team DET LAK MTL PIT WSH Total Detroit — 1–5–2 2–4–2 3–5 3–2–3 9–16–7 Los Angeles 5–1–2 — 3–3–2 3–4–1 3–4–1 14–12–6 Montreal 4–2–2 3–3–2 — 5–2–1 7–0–1 19–7–6 Pittsburgh 5–3 4–3–1 2–5–1 — 4–3–1 15–14–3 Washington 2–3–3 4–3–1 0–7–1 3–4–1 — 9–17–6 Vs. Adams Division 1978–79 NHL records Team BOS BUF MIN TOR Total Detroit 1–3 1–3 1–2–1 2–2 5–10–1 Los Angeles 3–1 1–2–1 3–1 0–4 7–8–1 Montreal 2–0–2 4–0 3–1 3–0–1 12–1–3 Pittsburgh 2–1–1 2–0–2 3–1 1–3 8–5–3 Washington 0–3–1 0–3–1 2–2 1–1–2 3–9–4 Vs. Patrick Division 1978–79 NHL records Team ATL NYI NYR PHI Total Detroit 0–3–1 0–3–1 1–1–2 0–2–2 1–9–6 Los Angeles 2–2 0–2–2 1–3 0–4 3–11–2 Montreal 3–1 1–3 1–3 3–0–1 8–7–1 Pittsburgh 0–3–1 0–1–3 2–2 1–3 3–9–4 Washington 1–2–1 1–3 1–1–2 0–3–1 3–9–4 Vs. Smythe Division 1978–79 NHL records Team CHI COL STL VAN Total Detroit 3–0–1 3–0–1 1–3 1–3 8–6–2 Los Angeles 3–1 2–0–2 2–1–1 3–1 10–3–3 Montreal 2–2 4–0 4–0 3–0–1 13–2–1 Pittsburgh 2–0–2 3–1 2–1–1 3–1 10–3–3 Washington 1–2–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 9–6–1

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 11, 1978	4–2	@ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79)	1–0–0
2	T	October 13, 1978	3–3	@ Atlanta Flames (1978–79)	1–0–1
3	L	October 14, 1978	3–6	Atlanta Flames (1978–79)	1–1–1
4	L	October 18, 1978	2–4	Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79)	1–2–1
5	L	October 20, 1978	4–6	Los Angeles Kings (1978–79)	1–3–1
6	L	October 21, 1978	1–5	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79)	1–4–1
7	T	October 25, 1978	2–2	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79)	1–4–2
8	L	October 28, 1978	1–5	@ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79)	1–5–2
9	W	November 1, 1978	6–4	Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79)	2–5–2
10	L	November 2, 1978	2–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79)	2–6–2
11	L	November 4, 1978	1–4	@ New York Islanders (1978–79)	2–7–2
12	T	November 5, 1978	3–3	Detroit Red Wings (1978–79)	2–7–3
13	L	November 8, 1978	0–6	Montreal Canadiens (1978–79)	2–8–3
14	L	November 9, 1978	2–6	@ Boston Bruins (1978–79)	2–9–3
15	L	November 11, 1978	0–2	Buffalo Sabres (1978–79)	2–10–3
16	W	November 14, 1978	8–7	Atlanta Flames (1978–79)	3–10–3
17	W	November 15, 1978	3–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79)	4–10–3
18	L	November 17, 1978	2–4	New York Islanders (1978–79)	4–11–3
19	W	November 21, 1978	4–3	@ St. Louis Blues (1978–79)	5–11–3
20	L	November 22, 1978	1–3	St. Louis Blues (1978–79)	5–12–3
21	T	November 25, 1978	5–5	Boston Bruins (1978–79)	5–12–4
22	L	November 26, 1978	4–9	@ New York Rangers (1978–79)	5–13–4
23	L	November 29, 1978	3–5	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79)	5–14–4
24	L	December 1, 1978	4–7	Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79)	5–15–4
25	L	December 2, 1978	2–5	@ St. Louis Blues (1978–79)	5–16–4
26	L	December 4, 1978	2–10	@ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79)	5–17–4
27	W	December 5, 1978	4–1	@ Colorado Rockies (1978–79)	6–17–4
28	W	December 9, 1978	7–5	@ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79)	7–17–4
29	L	December 12, 1978	3–4	Colorado Rockies (1978–79)	7–18–4
30	L	December 14, 1978	2–5	@ Boston Bruins (1978–79)	7–19–4
31	L	December 15, 1978	1–6	Minnesota North Stars (1978–79)	7–20–4
32	W	December 17, 1978	7–6	Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79)	8–20–4
33	T	December 19, 1978	4–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79)	8–20–5
34	L	December 21, 1978	2–5	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79)	8–21–5
35	T	December 23, 1978	2–2	@ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79)	8–21–6
36	L	December 27, 1978	1–6	@ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79)	8–22–6
37	T	December 30, 1978	5–5	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79)	8–22–7
38	W	January 3, 1979	8–3	Los Angeles Kings (1978–79)	9–22–7
39	W	January 6, 1979	4–1	@ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79)	10–22–7
40	L	January 7, 1979	3–5	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79)	10–23–7
41	L	January 9, 1979	2–5	Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79)	10–24–7
42	L	January 11, 1979	2–6	@ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79)	10–25–7
43	W	January 12, 1979	8–1	Colorado Rockies (1978–79)	11–25–7
44	W	January 14, 1979	5–3	Vancouver Canucks (1978–79)	12–25–7
45	L	January 16, 1979	2–6	@ New York Islanders (1978–79)	12–26–7
46	W	January 19, 1979	5–1	Detroit Red Wings (1978–79)	13–26–7
47	W	January 20, 1979	5–2	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79)	14–26–7
48	W	January 24, 1979	5–1	New York Rangers (1978–79)	15–26–7
49	W	January 27, 1979	4–1	Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79)	16–26–7
50	T	January 28, 1979	2–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79)	16–26–8
51	L	January 30, 1979	4–7	@ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79)	16–27–8
52	W	January 31, 1979	5–3	Los Angeles Kings (1978–79)	17–27–8
53	L	February 3, 1979	1–5	Vancouver Canucks (1978–79)	17–28–8
54	L	February 4, 1979	4–8	Montreal Canadiens (1978–79)	17–29–8
55	W	February 15, 1979	9–3	@ Colorado Rockies (1978–79)	18–29–8
56	L	February 17, 1979	0–2	@ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79)	18–30–8
57	T	February 18, 1979	6–6	@ New York Rangers (1978–79)	18–30–9
58	L	February 20, 1979	3–5	@ Atlanta Flames (1978–79)	18–31–9
59	L	February 21, 1979	3–4	Detroit Red Wings (1978–79)	18–32–9
60	L	February 24, 1979	4–6	Buffalo Sabres (1978–79)	18–33–9
61	L	February 25, 1979	5–8	Montreal Canadiens (1978–79)	18–34–9
62	T	February 28, 1979	3–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79)	18–34–10
63	W	March 2, 1979	6–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79)	19–34–10
64	W	March 4, 1979	5–4	Minnesota North Stars (1978–79)	20–34–10
65	T	March 5, 1979	2–2	Montreal Canadiens (1978–79)	20–34–11
66	W	March 10, 1979	7–5	St. Louis Blues (1978–79)	21–34–11
67	T	March 11, 1979	3–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79)	21–34–12
68	L	March 14, 1979	1–4	Detroit Red Wings (1978–79)	21–35–12
69	L	March 17, 1979	2–5	Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79)	21–36–12
70	T	March 18, 1979	3–3	@ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79)	21–36–13
71	T	March 20, 1979	2–2	New York Rangers (1978–79)	21–36–14
72	T	March 21, 1979	2–2	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79)	21–36–15
73	L	March 24, 1979	1–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79)	21–37–15
74	L	March 25, 1979	4–7	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79)	21–38–15
75	L	March 28, 1979	2–6	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79)	21–39–15
76	L	March 31, 1979	1–4	Boston Bruins (1978–79)	21–40–15
77	W	April 1, 1979	6–4	New York Islanders (1978–79)	22–40–15
78	W	April 3, 1979	6–2	Los Angeles Kings (1978–79)	23–40–15
79	L	April 7, 1979	3–10	@ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79)	23–41–15
80	W	April 8, 1979	5–2	Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79)	24–41–15

Playoffs

The Capitals once again failed to make the playoffs.

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Dennis Maruk	C	76	31	59	90	71	-14	6	2	3
Guy Charron	C	80	28	42	70	24	-14	9	0	4
Robert Picard	D	77	21	44	65	85	3	8	0	2
Tom Rowe	RW	69	31	30	61	137	-6	4	0	4
Ryan Walter	C/LW	69	28	28	56	70	-1	6	0	1
Bob Sirois	RW	73	29	25	54	6	-6	9	0	3
Rolf Edberg	C	76	14	27	41	6	11	1	0	2
Rick Green	D	71	8	33	41	62	-45	2	1	0
Leif Svensson	D	74	2	29	31	28	-3	0	0	0
Bob Girard	LW	79	9	15	24	36	-15	0	0	0
Mark Lofthouse	RW/C	52	13	10	23	10	-11	1	0	0
Blair Stewart	C	45	7	12	19	48	1	0	0	0
Greg Polis	LW	19	12	6	18	6	3	6	0	1
Gord Lane	D	64	3	15	18	147	-15	0	0	0
Yvon Labre	D	51	1	13	14	80	7	0	0	0
Michel Bergeron	RW	30	7	6	13	7	-18	1	0	1
Paul Mulvey	LW	55	7	4	11	81	-18	1	0	1
Greg Carroll	C	24	5	6	11	12	-2	0	0	0
Dennis Hextall	LW	26	2	9	11	43	-13	0	0	0
Peter Scamurra	D	30	3	5	8	12	-13	0	1	0
Jack Lynch	D	30	2	6	8	14	2	1	0	0
Gary Rissling	LW	26	3	3	6	127	-5	1	0	1
Gerry Meehan	C	18	2	4	6	0	-3	1	0	1
Bill Riley	RW	24	2	2	4	64	-6	0	0	0
Ron Lalonde	C	18	1	3	4	4	-1	0	1	0
Eddy Godin	RW	9	0	3	3	6	-2	0	0	0
Craig Patrick	RW	3	1	1	2	0	-1	0	0	0
Chuck Arnason	RW	13	0	2	2	4	-1	0	0	0
Gary Inness	G	37	0	2	2	6	0	0	0	0
Doug Patey	RW	6	1	0	1	2	-2	0	0	0
Dave Forbes	LW	2	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0
Gord Smith	D	39	0	1	1	22	-7	0	0	0
Bryan Watson	D	20	0	1	1	36	-7	0	0	0
Jim Bedard	G	30	0	0	0	6	0	0	0	0
Pierre Bouchard	D	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Rollie Boutin	G	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Rick Bragnalo	C	2	0	0	0	0	-1	0	0	0
Nelson Burton	LW	3	0	0	0	13	-2	0	0	0
Mike Marson	LW	4	0	0	0	0	-3	0	0	0
Brent Tremblay	D	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bernie Wolfe	G	18	0	0	0	15	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
Gary Inness	2107	37	14	14	8	130	3.70	0
Jim Bedard	1740	30	6	17	6	126	4.34	0
Bernie Wolfe	863	18	4	9	1	68	4.73	0
Rollie Boutin	90	2	0	1	0	10	6.67	0
Team:	4800	80	24	41	15	334	4.17	0

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals
      MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SO = Shutouts;

Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	2	Ryan Walter	Canada	Seattle Breakers (WCHL)
1	18	Tim Coulis	Canada	Hamilton Fincups (OMJHL)
2	20	Paul Mulvey	Canada	Portland Winterhawks (WCHL)
2	23	Paul MacKinnon	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OMJHL)
3	38	Glen Currie	Canada	Laval National (QMJHL)
3	45	Jay Johnston	Canada	Hamilton Fincups (OMJHL)
4	55	Bengt-Ake Gustafsson	Sweden	Färjestad BK Karlstad (SEL)
5	71	Lou Franceschetti	Canada	Niagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL)
6	88	Vince Magnan	Canada	University of Denver (WCHA)
7	105	Mats Hallin	Sweden	Södertälje SK (Sweden)
8	122	Rich Sirois	Canada	Milwaukee Admirals (IHL)
9	139	Denis Pomerleau	Canada	Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
10	156	Barry Heard	Canada	London Knights (OMJHL)
11	172	Mark Toffolo	United States	Port Huron Flags (IHL)
12	187	Paul Hogan	Canada	Regina Pats (WCHL)
12	189	Steve Barger	United States	Boston College (ECAC)
13	202	Rod Pacholzuk	Canada	University of Michigan (WCHA)
14	213	Wes Jarvis	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL)
14	215	Ray Irwin	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OMJHL)

See also

• 1978–79 NHL season

External links

• "1978–79 Washington Capitals Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2009.