1977–78 Colorado Rockies season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1977–78 1977 Colorado Rockies (NHL)Colorado Rockies 19–40–21 17–14–9 2–26–12 Campbell 6th Smythe 2nd 257 305 Ray Miron Pat Kelly Wilf Paiement None McNichols Sports Arena Wilf Paiement (31) Wilf Paiement (56) Wilf Paiement (87) Wilf Paiement (114) Tom Edur (+10) Doug Favell (13) Doug Favell (3.59) 1976–77 1978–79 The 1977–78 Colorado Rockies season was the fourth season of the franchise, and second as the Rockies. Despite winning only 19 games and finishing 21 games below .500, they finished runners-up in the weak Smythe Division and secured a playoff berth under the format in effect at the time. It was their first playoff appearance in franchise history, and the only one they would make while in Denver. 2 Regular season Final standings COL Record vs. opponents COL Playoffs The Rockies played a best-of-three preliminary round series against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers would sweep the series in two-straight games. Schedule and results Regular season background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid; 1977–78 regular season1977-78 Colorado Rockies Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CLR/1978_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 23, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; October Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |1||October 14, 1977||4–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) ||0–0–1 || 1977020010 T |- |2||October 15, 1977||3–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) ||0–0–2 || 1977020018 T |- |3||October 19, 1977||4–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) ||0–1–2 || 1977020032 L |- |4||October 20, 1977||5–7 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1977–78) ||0–2–2 || 1977020036 L |- |5||October 22, 1977||3–0 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) ||1–2–2 || 1977020043 W |- |6||October 25, 1977||4–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1977–78) ||1–2–3 || 1977020055 T |- |7||October 28, 1977||8–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1977–78) ||2–2–3 || 1977020065 W |- |8||October 29, 1977||6–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) ||3–2–3 || 1977020074 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; November Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |9||November 2, 1977||6–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1977–78) ||4–2–3 || 1977020080 W |- |10||November 5, 1977||2–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) ||4–3–3 || 1977020099 L |- |11||November 8, 1977||6–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) ||5–3–3 || 1977020107 W |- |12||November 11, 1977||1–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1977–78) ||5–4–3 || 1977020119 L |- |13||November 12, 1977||1–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1977–78) ||5–5–3 || 1977020126 L |- |14||November 16, 1977||1–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) ||5–6–3 || 1977020138 L |- |15||November 19, 1977||7–2 || align="left"| Cleveland Barons (1977–78) ||6–6–3 || 1977020153 W |- |16||November 22, 1977||2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1977–78) ||6–7–3 || 1977020159 L |- |17||November 23, 1977||3–6 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1977–78) ||6–8–3 || 1977020162 L |- |18||November 25, 1977||1–5 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) ||6–9–3 || 1977020174 L |- |19||November 26, 1977||4–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) ||6–9–4 || 1977020181 T |- |20||November 30, 1977||3–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1977–78) ||6–9–5 || 1977020193 T |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; December Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |21||December 3, 1977||3–6 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) ||6–10–5 || 1977020204 L |- |22||December 6, 1977||3–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) ||6–10–6 || 1977020218 T |- |23||December 9, 1977||2–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) ||6–11–6 || 1977020231 L |- |24||December 10, 1977||4–6 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1977–78) ||6–12–6 || 1977020239 L |- |25||December 13, 1977||4–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1977–78) ||7–12–6 || 1977020249 W |- |26||December 17, 1977||5–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) ||8–12–6 || 1977020267 W |- |27||December 20, 1977||1–9 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1977–78) ||8–13–6 || 1977020274 L |- |28||December 21, 1977||3–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1977–78) ||8–14–6 || 1977020282 L |- |29||December 23, 1977||2–6 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1977–78) ||8–15–6 || 1977020289 L |- |30||December 27, 1977||2–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) ||8–16–6 || 1977020298 L |- |31||December 29, 1977||2–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) ||8–16–7 || 1977020309 T |- |32||December 30, 1977||2–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) ||8–16–8 || 1977020311 T |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; January Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |33||January 1, 1978||1–5 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) ||8–17–8 || 1977020320 L |- |34||January 4, 1978||0–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) ||8–18–8 || 1977020331 L |- |35||January 5, 1978||3–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1977–78) ||8–19–8 || 1977020335 L |- |36||January 7, 1978||3–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1977–78) ||9–19–8 || 1977020338 W |- |37||January 10, 1978||4–7 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1977–78) ||9–20–8 || 1977020354 L |- |38||January 11, 1978||2–4 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1977–78) ||9–21–8 || 1977020357 L |- |39||January 13, 1978||1–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1977–78) ||9–22–8 || 1977020367 L |- |40||January 14, 1978||3–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) ||9–22–9 || 1977020375 T |- |41||January 18, 1978||4–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) ||9–22–10 || 1977020386 T |- |42||January 20, 1978||5–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) ||10–22–10 || 1977020394 W |- |43||January 21, 1978||4–9 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Barons (1977–78) ||10–23–10 || 1977020402 L |- |44||January 25, 1978||3–3 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1977–78) ||10–23–11 || 1977020410 T |- |45||January 26, 1978||3–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1977–78) ||10–24–11 || 1977020418 L |- |46||January 28, 1978||6–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) ||11–24–11 || 1977020421 W |- |47||January 31, 1978||3–5 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) ||11–25–11 || 1977020435 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; February Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |48||February 2, 1978||0–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) ||11–26–11 || 1977020445 L |- |49||February 4, 1978||2–2 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1977–78) ||11–26–12 || 1977020451 T |- |50||February 5, 1978||3–6 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1977–78) ||11–27–12 || 1977020457 L |- |51||February 7, 1978||2–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) ||11–28–12 || 1977020464 L |- |52||February 10, 1978||3–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1977–78) ||12–28–12 || 1977020475 W |- |53||February 12, 1978||3–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) ||12–28–13 || 1977020488 T |- |54||February 15, 1978||2–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) ||12–28–14 || 1977020497 T |- |55||February 16, 1978||4–5 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1977–78) ||12–29–14 || 1977020499 L |- |56||February 18, 1978||4–9 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) ||12–30–14 || 1977020507 L |- |57||February 19, 1978||4–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1977–78) ||12–30–15 || 1977020512 T |- |58||February 21, 1978||2–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1977–78) ||12–31–15 || 1977020521 L |- |59||February 24, 1978||3–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) ||13–31–15 || 1977020532 W |- |60||February 25, 1978||5–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1977–78) ||13–31–16 || 1977020540 T |- |61||February 28, 1978||4–7 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1977–78) ||13–32–16 || 1977020550 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; March Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |62||March 2, 1978||2–5 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) ||13–33–16 || 1977020561 L |- |63||March 3, 1978||2–2 || align="left"| Cleveland Barons (1977–78) ||13–33–17 || 1977020563 T |- |64||March 5, 1978||2–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) ||13–33–18 || 1977020577 T |- |65||March 8, 1978||3–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) ||13–34–18 || 1977020585 L |- |66||March 11, 1978||4–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) ||13–35–18 || 1977020596 L |- |67||March 12, 1978||2–6 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) ||13–36–18 || 1977020600 L |- |68||March 14, 1978||4–4 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1977–78) ||13–36–19 || 1977020607 T |- |69||March 15, 1978||2–2 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Barons (1977–78) ||13–36–20 || 1977020614 T |- |70||March 17, 1978||3–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) ||14–36–20 || 1977020618 W |- |71||March 19, 1978||6–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) ||15–36–20 || 1977020631 W |- |72||March 22, 1978||5–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) ||16–36–20 || 1977020642 W |- |73||March 23, 1978||3–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) ||16–37–20 || 1977020645 L |- |74||March 25, 1978||3–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1977–78) ||16–38–20 || 1977020658 L |- |75||March 28, 1978||4–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) ||17–38–20 || 1977020663 W |- |76||March 30, 1978||3–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1977–78) ||17–39–20 || 1977020673 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; April Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |77||April 1, 1978||4–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) ||18–39–20 || 1977020683 W |- |78||April 4, 1978||3–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) ||18–40–20 || 1977020695 L |- |79||April 5, 1978||4–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) ||18–40–21 || 1977020701 T |- |80||April 8, 1978||5–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1977–78) ||19–40–21 || 1977020712 W |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black W #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black L #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black T Playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid; 1978 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; Preliminary Round vs. (4) Philadelphia Flyers – Flyers win 2–0 Game Date Score Opponent Series Recap |- | 1 || April 11, 1978 || 2–3 OT || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers lead 1–0 || 1977030111 L |- | 2 || April 13, 1978 || 1–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers win 2–0 || 1977030112 L |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black W #fcc Loss 1px solid black L Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Wilf Paiement RW 80 31 56 87 114−14721 Barry Beck D 75 22 38 60 89−14604 John Van Boxmeer D 80 12 42 54 87−12500 Paul Gardner Paul Gardner (ice hockey) C 46 30 22 52 29−171303 Andy Spruce LW 74 19 21 40 43−7301 Gary Croteau LW 62 17 22 39 24−15800 Ron Andruff C 78 15 18 33 31−16001 Dave Hudson C 60 10 22 32 12−5100 Dennis Owchar D 60 8 23 31 25−49200 Denis Dupere LW 54 15 15 30 49224 Joe Contini C 37 12 9 21 28−2300 Ron Delorme C 68 10 11 21 47−20000 Nelson Pyatt C 71 9 12 21 8−23100 Randy Pierce ice hockey RW 35 9 10 19 150103 Mark Suzor D 60 4 15 19 56−35200 Mike Kitchen D 61 2 17 19 45−12001 Fred Ahern Fred Ahern (ice hockey) RW 38 5 13 18 19−16100 Bryan Lefley D/LW 71 4 13 17 12−4011 Ralph Klassen C 44 6 9 15 8−19300 Tom Edur D 20 5 7 12 1010100 Chuck Arnason RW 29 4 8 12 10−3200 Mike Christie Mike Christie (ice hockey) D 35 2 8 10 28−6000 Bob Neely LW 22 3 6 9 2−10100 Larry Skinner C 14 3 5 8 02100 Rick Jodzio LW 32 0 5 5 28−5000 Doug Favell G 47 0 2 2 20000 Dennis O'Brien Dennis O'Brien (ice hockey) D 16 0 2 2 12−10000 Roger Lemelin Roger Lemelin (ice hockey) D 3 0 0 0 00000 John McCahill D 1 0 0 0 00000 Jim McElmury D 2 0 0 0 01000 Bill McKenzie Bill McKenzie (ice hockey) G 12 0 0 0 20000 Lou Nistico C 3 0 0 0 00000 Bill Oleschuk G 2 0 0 0 00000 Michel Plasse G 25 0 0 0 120000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SO Doug Favell 2663 47 13 20 11 159 3.58 1 Bill McKenzie Bill McKenzie (ice hockey) 654 12 3 6 2 42 3.85 0 Michel Plasse 1383 25 3 12 8 90 3.90 0 Bill Oleschuk 100 2 0 2 0 9 5.40 0 Team: 4800 80 19 40 21 300 3.75 1 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Dave Hudson C 2 1 1 2 0000 Andy Spruce LW 2 0 2 2 0000 Denis Dupere LW 2 1 0 1 0100 Dennis Owchar D 2 1 0 1 2000 Fred Ahern Fred Ahern (ice hockey) RW 2 0 1 1 2000 Barry Beck D 2 0 1 1 0000 John Van Boxmeer D 2 0 1 1 2000 Ron Andruff C 2 0 0 0 0000 Mike Christie Mike Christie (ice hockey) D 2 0 0 0 0000 Joe Contini C 2 0 0 0 0000 Ron Delorme C 2 0 0 0 10000 Doug Favell G 2 0 0 0 0000 Mike Kitchen D 2 0 0 0 2000 Ralph Klassen C 2 0 0 0 0000 Bryan Lefley D/LW 2 0 0 0 0000 Wilf Paiement RW 2 0 0 0 7000 Randy Pierce ice hockey RW 2 0 0 0 0000 Larry Skinner C 2 0 0 0 0000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LGAGAA SO Doug Favell 120 2 0 2 6 3.00 0 Team: 120 2 0 2 6 3.00 0 hockey-reference.com 2009-06-02 1977-78 Colorado Rockies Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WSH/1978.html 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 Colorado's draft picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal. Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)12Barry Beck Canada New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)338Doug Berry Canada University of Denver (WCHA)347Randy Pierce Canada Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL)574Mike Dwyer Canada Niagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL)692Dan Lempe United States University of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA)7110Rick Doyle Canada London Knights (OMJHL)8126Joe Contini Canada St. Catharines Fincups (OMJHL)9142Jack Hughes United States Harvard University (ECAC) See also 1977–78 NHL season References Category:Colorado Rockies (NHL) seasons Colorado Colorado Colorado