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1978–79 Pittsburgh Penguins season

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NHL team season

1978–79 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division2nd Norris
Conference4th Wales
1978–79 record36-31-13
Goals for281
Goals against279
Team information
General managerBaz Bastien
CoachJohnny Wilson
CaptainOrest Kindrachuk
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
GoalsGreg Malone (35)
AssistsOrest Kindrachuk (42)
PointsGreg Malone (65)
Penalty minutesDave Schultz (157)
WinsDenis Herron (22)
Goals against averageDenis Herron (3.37)
← 1977–781979–80 →

The 1978–79 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their 12th in the National Hockey League. They finished second in the Norris Division, qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 1977. Their regular season was a marked improvement over the previous season, from 68 to 85 points.

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

1978–79 Schedule
October: 1–6–2 (home: 1–3–2; road: 0–3–0), 4 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
1 Oct 11 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 0–1–0 0
2 Oct 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–8 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 0–2–0 0
3 Oct 14 Boston Bruins 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 0–2–1 1
4 Oct 18 New York Islanders 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 0–3–1 1
5 Oct 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 0–4–1 1
6 Oct 21 Washington Capitals 1–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–4–1 3
7 Oct 25 St. Louis Blues 6–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–4–2 4
8 Oct 28 Atlanta Flames 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–5–2 4
9 Oct 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 1–6–2 4
November: 5–7–1 (home: 3–3–0; road: 2–4–1), 11 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
10 Nov 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 1–7–2 4
11 Nov 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–2 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 1–8–2 4
12 Nov 4 Detroit Red Wings 3–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–8–2 6
13 Nov 8 Colorado Rockies 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 3–8–2 8
14 Nov 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 3–8–3 9
15 Nov 11 New York Rangers 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 3–9–3 9
16 Nov 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–3 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 4–9–3 11
17 Nov 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 5–9–3 13
18 Nov 22 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 5–10–3 13
19 Nov 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–8 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 5–11–3 13
20 Nov 25 Philadelphia Flyers 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 5–12–3 13
21 Nov 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–8 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 5–13–3 13
22 Nov 29 Washington Capitals 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 6–13–3 15
December: 9–2–4 (home: 6–0–1; road: 3–2–3), 22 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
23 Dec 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–4 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 7–13–3 17
24 Dec 2 Chicago Black Hawks 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 8–13–3 19
25 Dec 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8–13–4 20
26 Dec 6 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 9–13–4 22
27 Dec 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 9–13–5 23
28 Dec 9 Buffalo Sabres 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 9–13–6 24
29 Dec 13 St. Louis Blues 0–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 10–13–6 26
30 Dec 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 10–14–6 26
31 Dec 16 Vancouver Canucks 5–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 11–14–6 28
32 Dec 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 11–14–7 29
33 Dec 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 12–14–7 31
34 Dec 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 12–15–7 31
35 Dec 27 Los Angeles Kings 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 13–15–7 33
36 Dec 30 Detroit Red Wings 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 14–15–7 35
37 Dec 31 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 15–15–7 37
January: 5–7–1 (home: 4–4–0; road: 1–3–1), 11 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
38 Jan 3 Vancouver Canucks 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–16–7 37
39 Jan 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 15–16–8 38
40 Jan 6 Los Angeles Kings 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–17–8 38
41 Jan 10 Montreal Canadiens 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–17–8 40
42 Jan 13 Boston Bruins 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 17–17–8 42
43 Jan 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 18–17–8 44
44 Jan 16 Minnesota North Stars 0–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 19–17–8 46
45 Jan 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 19–18–8 46
46 Jan 20 Washington Capitals 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 19–19–8 46
47 Jan 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 19–20–8 46
48 Jan 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Colorado Rockies McNichols Sports Arena 19–21–8 46
49 Jan 27 Los Angeles Kings 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 20–21–8 48
50 Jan 31 Montreal Canadiens 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 20–22–8 48
February: 6–3–1 (home: 6–0–0; road: 0–3–1), 13 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
51 Feb 3 Detroit Red Wings 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 21–22–8 50
52 Feb 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–8 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 21–23–8 50
53 Feb 15 Minnesota North Stars 5–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 22–23–8 52
54 Feb 17 Buffalo Sabres 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 23–23–8 54
55 Feb 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–6 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 23–24–8 54
56 Feb 21 Montreal Canadiens 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 24–24–8 56
57 Feb 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–12 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 24–25–8 56
58 Feb 24 Chicago Black Hawks 1–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 25–25–8 58
59 Feb 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 25–25–9 59
60 Feb 28 Colorado Rockies 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 26–25–9 61
March: 8–4–4 (home: 2–1–2; road: 6–3–2), 20 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
61 Mar 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–8 St. Louis Blues The Checkerdome 26–26–9 61
62 Mar 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–2 Colorado Rockies McNichols Sports Arena 27–26–9 63
63 Mar 7 Los Angeles Kings 4–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 27–27–9 63
64 Mar 10 Philadelphia Flyers 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 28–27–9 65
65 Mar 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 28–28–9 65
66 Mar 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 9–3 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 29–28–9 67
67 Mar 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 29–28–10 68
68 Mar 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–2 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 30–28–10 70
69 Mar 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–1 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 31–28–10 72
70 Mar 21 Washington Capitals 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 31–28–11 73
71 Mar 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 32–28–11 75
72 Mar 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 32–28–12 76
73 Mar 25 New York Islanders 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 32–28–13 77
74 Mar 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–1 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 33–28–13 79
75 Mar 28 New York Rangers 1–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 34–28–13 81
76 Mar 31 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 34–29–13 81
April: 2–2–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 1–1–0), 4 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
77 Apr 1 Atlanta Flames 7–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 34–30–13 81
78 Apr 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 St. Louis Blues The Checkerdome 35–30–13 83
79 Apr 7 Detroit Red Wings 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 36–30–13 85
80 Apr 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 36–31–13 85
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

Preliminary round vs. Buffalo

April 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
April 12 Buffalo Sabres 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena
April 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 OT Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Pittsburgh won series 2–1


Quarterfinals vs. Boston

April 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–6 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
No scoring First period 02:29 – Peter McNab (1)
05:14 – Don Marcotte (1)
15:58 – Mike Milbury (1)
Orest Kindrachuk (2) – 06:07 Second period 04:21 – Don Marcotte (2)
16:02 – pp – Bobby Schmautz (1)
17:27 – sh – Dick Redmond (1)
Gregg Sheppard (1) – pp – 12:14 Third period No scoring
Denis Herron 27 saves / 33 shots Goalie stats Gerry Cheevers 19 saves / 21 shots
April 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–5 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
Jim Hamilton (3) – pp – 14:11 First period 15:10 – pp – Jean Ratelle (1)
16:16 – Dwight Foster (1)
Orest Kindrachuk (3) – 14:52 Second period 14:15 – Peter McNab (2)
Orest Kindrachuck (4) – 19:54 Third period 10:10 – Bob Miller (1)
Denis Herron 21 saves / 25 shots Goalie stats Gerry Cheevers 24 saves / 27 shots
April 21 Boston Bruins 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena
April 22 Boston Bruins 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena
Boston won series 4–0


Player statistics

Skaters
Regular Season
Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM
Greg Malone 80 35 30 65 6 52
Orest Kindrachuk 79 18 42 60 3 84
Peter Lee 80 32 26 58 –13 24
Peter Mahovlich 60 14 39 53 –11 39
George Ferguson 80 21 29 50 10 37
Randy Carlyle 70 13 34 47 4 78
Ross Lonsberry 80 24 22 46 7 38
Rick Kehoe 57 27 18 45 14 2
Rod Schutt 74 24 21 45 –9 33
Ron Stackhouse 75 10 33 43 21 54
Gregg Sheppard 60 15 22 37 8 9
Dale Tallon 63 5 24 29 –15 35
Tom Bladon 78 4 23 27 –17 64
Colin Campbell 65 2 18 20 14 137
Blair Chapman 71 10 8 18 –12 18
Russ Anderson 72 3 13 16 1 93
Gary McAdam 28 5 9 14 4 2
Dave Schultz 47 4 9 13 –2 157
Wayne Bianchin 40 7 4 11 –2 20
Jacques Cossette 38 7 2 9 –1 16
Bob Paradise 14 0 1 1 –4 4
Kim Davis 1 1 0 1 0 0
Tom Price 2 0 0 0 –2 4
Jim Hamilton 2 0 0 0 0 0
Mike Meeker 4 0 0 0 –1 5
Brian Spencer 7 0 0 0 0 0
Lex Hudson 2 0 0 0 0 0
Total 281 427 708 — 1,005
Playoffs
Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM
Colin Campbell 7 1 4 5 0 30
Orest Kindrachuk 7 4 1 5 0 7
Tom Bladon 7 0 4 4 0 2
George Ferguson 7 2 1 3 0 0
Jim Hamilton 5 3 0 3 0 0
Gregg Sheppard 7 1 2 3 0 0
Peter Lee 7 0 3 3 0 0
Gary McAdam 7 2 1 3 0 0
Ross Lonsberry 7 0 2 2 0 9
Rick Kehoe 7 0 2 2 0 0
Rod Schutt 7 2 0 2 0 4
Blair Chapman 7 1 0 1 0 2
Greg Malone 7 0 1 1 0 10
Peter Mahovlich 2 0 1 1 0 0
Jacques Cossette 3 0 1 1 0 4
Bob Paradise 2 0 0 0 0 0
Ron Stackhouse 7 0 0 0 0 4
Randy Carlyle 7 0 0 0 0 12
Lex Hudson 2 0 0 0 0 0
Russ Anderson 2 0 0 0 0 0
Total 16 23 39 — 84

Goaltenders
Regular Season
Player GP W L T GA SO
Denis Herron 56 22 19 12 180 0
Gregory Millen 28 14 11 1 86 2
Gordon Laxton 1 0 1 0 8 0
Total 36 31 13 274 2
Playoffs
Player GP W L T GA SO
Denis Herron 7 2 5 0 24 0
Total 2 5 0 24 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.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1978–79 season:

Trades

September 6, 1978 To Boston Bruins

Jean Pronovost

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Gregg Sheppard

October 9, 1978 To Chicago Blackhawks

1980 2nd round pick

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Dale Tallon

October 18, 1978 To Montreal Canadiens

1981 1st round pick

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Rod Schutt

November 17, 1978 To Vancouver Canucks

Dunc Wilson

To Pittsburgh Penguins

cash

February 6, 1979 To Buffalo Sabres

Dave Schultz

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Gary McAdam

June 9, 1979 To Winnipeg Jets

1980 7th round pick

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Jets promise not to claim Kim Clackson as a priority selection from its WHA franchise

August 3, 1979 To Detroit Red Wings

Pete Mahovlich

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Nick Libett

Additions and subtractions

Additions
Player Former team Via
Subtractions
Player New team Via
Gene Carr Atlanta Flames free agency (1978-06-06)
Ed Gilbert Cincinnati Stingers (WHA) free agency (1978-10)

Draft picks

See also: List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks

The 1978 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 15, 1978, in Montreal.

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
2 25 Michael Meeker Right wing  Canada Peterborough Petes (OHA)
4 61 Shane Pearsall Left wing  Canada Ottawa 67's (OHA)
5 75 Robert Garner Center  Canada Toronto Marlboros (OHA)

References

  1. National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 163, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5
  2. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  3. "1978–1979 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  4. "1978–1979 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  5. "1978–1979 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  6. "1978–1979 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  7. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.
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