1978–79 Montreal Canadiens season

NHL hockey team season (22nd Championship) March 2026 June 2013 Montreal Canadiens NHL 1978–79 1978 Wales 1st Norris 1st 52–17–11 29–6–5 23–11–6 337 204 Irving Grundman Scotty Bowman Yvan Cournoyer None Montreal Forum Guy Lafleur (52) Guy Lafleur (77) Guy Lafleur (129) Pierre Mondou (+59) Gilles Lupien (124) Ken Dryden (30) Ken Dryden (2.30) Yes Yes Yes The 1978–79 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 70th season. The franchise won 52 games and had 11 ties for a total of 115 points, but they finished second overall in the league as the New York Islanders finished first overall by one point.The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.234, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, 978-0-385-66325-0 The Canadiens won the Stanley Cup for the fourth consecutive time, the 15th time in the past 24 seasons, and their 22nd overall. The Canadiens won the Stanley Cup on home ice for the first time since 1968. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=feST4K8J0scC&dat=19790522&printsec=frontpage&hl=en Canadiens do it again May 22, 1979 St Petersburg Times (Page 21) June 12, 2013 2 Regular season Season standings MTL Record vs. opponents MTL Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 5px solid; border-bottom:#192168 5px solid; 1978–79 regular season1978-79 Montreal Canadiens Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1979_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 6, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||W||October 11, 1978||5–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) ||1–0–0 |- |2||W||October 14, 1978||5–2 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1978–79) ||2–0–0 |- |3||W||October 15, 1978||3–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) ||3–0–0 |- |4||L||October 17, 1978||1–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1978–79) ||3–1–0 |- |5||L||October 20, 1978||5–7 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1978–79) ||3–2–0 |- |6||W||October 22, 1978||8–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) ||4–2–0 |- |7||T||October 25, 1978||4–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) ||4–2–1 |- |8||L||October 28, 1978||1–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1978–79) ||4–3–1 |- |9||L||October 29, 1978||1–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) ||4–4–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |10||W||November 1, 1978||4–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) ||5–4–1 |- |11||W||November 2, 1978||4–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1978–79) ||6–4–1 |- |12||W||November 4, 1978||4–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1978–79) ||7–4–1 |- |13||T||November 5, 1978||1–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1978–79) ||7–4–2 |- |14||W||November 8, 1978||6–0 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1978–79) ||8–4–2 |- |15||W||November 9, 1978||8–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) ||9–4–2 |- |16||W||November 11, 1978||3–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) ||10–4–2 |- |17||W||November 15, 1978||6–1 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1978–79) ||11–4–2 |- |18||L||November 16, 1978||3–6 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) ||11–5–2 |- |19||W||November 18, 1978||4–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) ||12–5–2 |- |20||W||November 22, 1978||3–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) ||13–5–2 |- |21||W||November 23, 1978||8–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) ||14–5–2 |- |22||L||November 25, 1978||3–8 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) ||14–6–2 |- |23||W||November 28, 1978||3–0 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) ||15–6–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |24||W||December 2, 1978||8–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) ||16–6–2 |- |25||W||December 3, 1978||4–1 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) ||17–6–2 |- |26||T||December 6, 1978||2–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) ||17–6–3 |- |27||T||December 8, 1978||3–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) ||17–6–4 |- |28||W||December 10, 1978||4–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1978–79) ||18–6–4 |- |29||W||December 12, 1978||6–0 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) ||19–6–4 |- |30||W||December 13, 1978||3–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) ||20–6–4 |- |31||W||December 16, 1978||5–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) ||21–6–4 |- |32||W||December 20, 1978||5–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) ||22–6–4 |- |33||W||December 21, 1978||5–1 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) ||23–6–4 |- |34||W||December 23, 1978||3–2 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1978–79) ||24–6–4 |- |35||W||December 27, 1978||5–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) ||25–6–4 |- |36||T||December 28, 1978||3–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) ||25–6–5 |- |37||W||December 30, 1978||6–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1978–79) ||26–6–5 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |38||L||January 3, 1979||2–6 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1978–79) ||26–7–5 |- |39||L||January 4, 1979||4–5 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) ||26–8–5 |- |40||W||January 6, 1979||2–0 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) ||27–8–5 |- |41||W||January 8, 1979||3–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) ||28–8–5 |- |42||L||January 10, 1979||2–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) ||28–9–5 |- |43||W||January 13, 1979||5–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) ||29–9–5 |- |44||T||January 16, 1979||2–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) ||29–9–6 |- |45||W||January 17, 1979||7–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) ||30–9–6 |- |46||T||January 20, 1979||5–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) ||30–9–7 |- |47||W||January 23, 1979||6–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) ||31–9–7 |- |48||W||January 25, 1979||6–0 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1978–79) ||32–9–7 |- |49||W||January 27, 1979||3–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1978–79) ||33–9–7 |- |50||W||January 29, 1979||7–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) ||34–9–7 |- |51||W||January 31, 1979||4–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) ||35–9–7 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |52||W||February 3, 1979||6–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) ||36–9–7 |- |53||W||February 4, 1979||8–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1978–79) ||37–9–7 |- |54||T||February 15, 1979||2–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) ||37–9–8 |- |55||W||February 17, 1979||2–0 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1978–79) ||38–9–8 |- |56||W||February 18, 1979||5–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) ||39–9–8 |- |57||L||February 21, 1979||1–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) ||39–10–8 |- |58||W||February 22, 1979||12–0 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) ||40–10–8 |- |59||W||February 24, 1979||6–4 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1978–79) ||41–10–8 |- |60||W||February 25, 1979||8–5 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1978–79) ||42–10–8 |- |61||L||February 27, 1979||3–7 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1978–79) ||42–11–8 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |62||W||March 1, 1979||2–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) ||43–11–8 |- |63||L||March 3, 1979||3–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) ||43–12–8 |- |64||T||March 5, 1979||2–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1978–79) ||43–12–9 |- |65||W||March 8, 1979||11–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) ||44–12–9 |- |66||L||March 10, 1979||3–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1978–79) ||44–13–9 |- |67||T||March 12, 1979||3–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) ||44–13–10 |- |68||L||March 14, 1979||3–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) ||44–14–10 |- |69||L||March 17, 1979||1–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) ||44–15–10 |- |70||W||March 18, 1979||3–1 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1978–79) ||45–15–10 |- |71||L||March 22, 1979||3–5 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1978–79) ||45–16–10 |- |72||W||March 24, 1979||3–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1978–79) ||46–16–10 |- |73||W||March 25, 1979||1–0 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1978–79) ||47–16–10 |- |74||W||March 27, 1979||6–4 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1978–79) ||48–16–10 |- |75||W||March 29, 1979||5–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1978–79) ||49–16–10 |- |76||W||March 31, 1979||5–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) ||50–16–10 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |77||T||April 1, 1979||3–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1978–79) ||50–16–11 |- |78||W||April 4, 1979||4–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) ||51–16–11 |- |79||W||April 7, 1979||10–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1978–79) ||52–16–11 |- |80||L||April 8, 1979||0–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) ||52–17–11 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs 1979 Stanley Cup playoffs 1979 Stanley Cup Final background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 5px solid; border-bottom:#192168 5px solid; 1979 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; Quarterfinals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (4–0) # Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Series |- | 1 || April 16 || Maple Leafs || 5–2 || Montreal Forum || MTL 1–0 |- | 2 || April 18 || Maple Leafs || 5–1 || Montreal Forum || MTL 2–0 |- | 3 || April 21 || @Maple Leafs || 4–3 (2OT) || Maple Leaf Gardens || MTL 3–0 |- | 4 || April 22 || @Maple Leafs || 5–4 (OT) || Maple Leaf Gardens || MTL 4–0 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; Semifinals vs. Boston Bruins (4–3) # Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Series |- | 1 || April 26 || Bruins || 4–2 || Montreal Forum || MTL 1–0 |- | 2 || April 28 || Bruins || 5–2 || Montreal Forum || MTL 2–0 |- | 3 || May 1 || @Bruins || 1–2 || Boston Garden || MTL 2–1 |- | 4 || May 3 || @Bruins || 3–4 || Boston Garden || Tie 2–2 |- | 5 || May 5 || Bruins || 5–1 || Montreal Forum || MTL 3–2 |- | 6 || May 8 || @Bruins || 2–5 || Boston Garden || Tie 3–3 |- | 7 || May 10 || Bruins || 5–4 (OT) || Montreal Forum || MTL 4–3 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; Stanley Cup Final vs. New York Rangers (4–1) # Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Series |- | 1 || May 13 || Rangers || 1–4 || Montreal Forum || NYR 1–0 |- | 2 || May 15 || Rangers || 6–2 || Montreal Forum || Tie 1–1 |- | 3 || May 17 || @Rangers || 4–1 || Madison Square Garden || MTL 2–1 |- | 4 || May 19 || @Rangers || 4–3 (OT) || Madison Square Garden || MTL 3–1 |- | 5 || May 21 || Rangers || 4–1 || Montreal Forum || MTL 4–1 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Guy Lafleur RW 80 52 77 129 285613012 Steve Shutt LW 72 37 40 77 31371006 Pierre Mondou C 77 31 41 72 2659617 Yvon Lambert LW 79 26 40 66 2630517 Larry Robinson D 67 16 45 61 3350401 Mario Tremblay RW 76 30 29 59 7423304 Jacques Lemaire C 50 24 31 55 109614 Guy Lapointe D 69 13 42 55 4327601 Rejean Houle W 66 17 34 51 4316604 Bob Gainey LW 79 20 18 38 4411111 Serge Savard D 80 7 26 33 3046120 Mark Napier Mark Napier (ice hockey) RW 54 11 20 31 1117200 Doug Risebrough C 48 10 15 25 6222002 Doug Jarvis C 80 10 13 23 165011 Pierre Larouche C 36 9 13 22 43400 Pat Hughes Pat Hughes (ice hockey) RW 41 9 8 17 227101 Rick Chartraw D/RW 62 5 11 16 2914001 Brian Engblom D 62 3 11 14 6021000 Gilles Lupien D 72 1 9 10 12433000 Rod Langway D 45 3 4 7 305000 Yvan Cournoyer RW 15 2 5 7 25000 Cam Connor RW 23 1 3 4 392000 Ken Dryden G 47 0 3 3 40000 Michel Larocque Michel Larocque (ice hockey, born 1952) G 34 0 3 3 20000 Dan Newman ice hockey LW 16 0 2 2 4-1000 Dave Lumley RW 3 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SO Ken Dryden 2814 47 30 10 7 108 2.30 5 Michel Larocque Michel Larocque (ice hockey, born 1952) 1986 34 22 7 4 94 2.84 3 Team: 4800 80 52 17 11 202 2.52 8 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Jacques Lemaire C 16 11 12 23 6602 Guy Lafleur RW 16 10 13 23 0202 Bob Gainey LW 16 6 10 16 10001 Larry Robinson D 16 6 9 15 8101 Yvon Lambert LW 16 5 6 11 16201 Steve Shutt LW 11 4 7 11 6100 Pierre Mondou C 16 3 6 9 4100 Serge Savard D 16 2 7 9 6101 Guy Lapointe D 10 2 6 8 10100 Mario Tremblay RW 13 3 4 7 13001 Doug Risebrough C 15 1 6 7 32001 Rejean Houle W 7 1 5 6 2000 Mark Napier Mark Napier (ice hockey) RW 12 3 2 5 2000 Doug Jarvis C 12 1 3 4 4000 Pierre Larouche C 6 1 3 4 0001 Rick Chartraw D/RW 16 2 1 3 24000 Pat Hughes Pat Hughes (ice hockey) RW 8 1 2 3 4000 Ken Dryden G 16 0 3 3 2000 Cam Connor RW 8 1 0 1 0001 Brian Engblom D 16 0 1 1 11000 Rod Langway D 8 0 0 0 16000 Michel Larocque Michel Larocque (ice hockey, born 1952) G 1 0 0 0 0000 Gilles Lupien D 13 0 0 0 2000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LGAGAA SO Ken Dryden 990 16 12 4 41 2.48 0 Michel Larocque Michel Larocque (ice hockey, born 1952) 20 1 0 0 0 0.00 0 Team: 1010 16 12 4 41 2.44 0 hockey-reference.com May 28, 2009 1978-79 Montreal Canadiens Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1979.html Awards and records Prince of Wales Trophy Ken Dryden and Michel Larocque, Vezina Trophy Bob Gainey, Conn Smythe Trophy Bob Gainey, Selke Trophy Serge Savard, Bill Masterton Memorial TrophyNational Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p.220, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 0-920445-98-5 Draft picks Montreal'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)18Dan Geoffrion Canada Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)117Dave Hunter Canada Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL)230Dale Yakiwchuk Canada Portland Winterhawks (WCHL)236Ron Carter Canada Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)342Richard David Canada Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)469Kevin Reeves Canada Montreal Juniors (QMJHL)586Mike Boyd Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL)6103Keith Acton Canada Peterborough Petes (OMJHL)7120Jim Lawson Canada Brown University (ECAC)8137Larry Landon Canada Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC)9154Kevin Constantine United States Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC)10171John Swan Canada McGill University (CIAU)11186Daniel Metivier Canada Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)12201Viacheslav Fetisov USSR CSKA Moscow (Russia)13212Jeff Mars United States University of Michigan (WCHA)14222Greg Tignanelli United States Northern Michigan University (CCHA)15225George Goulakos Canada St. Lawrence University (ECAC)16227Ken Moodie Canada Colgate University (ECAC)17229Serge LeBlanc Canada University of Vermont (ECAC)18230Bob Magnuson United States Merrimack College (ECAC)19231Chris Nilan United States Northeastern University (ECAC)20232Rick Wilson Canada St. Lawrence University (ECAC)21233Louis Sleigher Canada Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)22234Doug Robb Canada Billings Bighorns (WCHL) See also 1978–79 NHL season 1979 Stanley Cup Final The Game References Canadiens on Hockey Database Canadiens on NHL Reference Montreal Canadiens1978 New York Islanders1980 Montreal CanadiensStanley Cup Champions 1979 Category:Stanley Cup championship seasons Category:Norris Division champion seasons Category:Montreal Canadiens seasons Montreal Canadiens season, 1978-79 Category:Eastern Conference (NHL) championship seasons Montreal Category:1978 in sports in Quebec Category:1979 in sports in Quebec Category:1978 in Montreal Category:1979 in Montreal