1979 WHA playoffs

WHA postseason tournament August 2023 WHA playoffs 1979 April 21 – May 20, 1979 5 Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Jets 3 Edmonton Oilers 1978 Scoring leader(s) Wayne Gretzky (Oilers) 20 points MVP Rich Preston (Jets) The 1979 WHA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the World Hockey Association's 1978–79 WHA season. The seventh and final tournament concluded with five of the surviving six teams competing for the Avco World Trophy; the merger between the WHA and the National Hockey League loomed ahead after the announcement of a merger in late March, with the four teams to move to the NHL already selected.Winnipeg Free Press WHA split jeopardizes plan March 23, 1979 Reyn Davis July 22, 2025 https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-mar-23-1979-p-80/ The playoff format was announced in January 1979.https://newspaperarchive.com/lethbridge-herald-jan-05-1979-p-11/ Lethbridge Herald January 5, 1979 WHA announces 5-team playoff Canadian Press The playoffs were threatened to not be played entirely due to a dispute over the playoff pool in which the league wanted to cut the pool to $88,000 less than last year due to less games being played. It was noted at the time that the original WHA playoff pool was at one point $740,000 but now was considerably less than that; the dispute was tabled to after the playoffs.April 21, 1979 July 22, 2025 WHA $ woes settled Associated Press Lethbridge Herald https://newspaperarchive.com/lethbridge-herald-apr-21-1979-p-36/https://newspaperarchive.com/fairbanks-daily-news-miner-apr-21-1979-p-13/ Payoff cuts dampen WHA playoff spirits April 21, 1979 July 22, 2025 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner The playoff teams and seeding were not fully determined until nearly the final game of the regular season, as Peter Sullivan's overtime goal gave the Winnipeg Jets the victory over Birmingham Bulls on April 15, 1979 that clinched the third seed for Winnipeg and also eliminated the Bulls from having the final seed in the playoffs in favor of the Cincinnati Stingers; the Jets win made the outcome of the game played the following day with the fourth-place New England Whalers moot.Winnipeg Free Press April 16, 1973 Sullivan's goal in overtime puts Bulls in history books Reyn Davis July 22, 2025 https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-apr-16-1979-p-76/ Among the notable events, phenom Wayne Gretzky made his first playoff appearance as a professional player as the Edmonton Oilers raced all the way to the Avco Cup Final. Winnipeg lost the entire "Hot Line" of Bobby Hull (who played a total of four games), Anders Hedberg & Ulf Nilsson (who each left for the NHL), which had scored 146 combined goals the previous season and even replaced their Avco Cup champion coach (Larry Hillman) after 61 games for Tom McVie. Team captain Lars-Erik Sjoberg played just nine games due to a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered in the preseason. The Jets were bolstered by the acquisition of several players from the liquidated Houston Aeros such as Rich Preston, Morris Lukowich, and Terry Ruskowski. Gary Smith was a late addition to the team, having gone from going winless in eleven starts with the extinct Indianapolis Racers to playing 11 games to end the season for the Jets on his way to being tabbed as the goaltender for their playoff run.Foundations of a championship: The unique story of how the '79 Avco Cup-winning Jets came to be June 7, 2019 https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1008488/2019/06/07/foundations-of-a-championship-the-unique-story-of-how-the-79-avco-cup-winning-jets-came-to-be/ 2025-02-15 en Ates Murat The New York Times The New England Whalers, still without the services of the Hartford Civic Center, played their last games as "New England" at the Springfield Civic Center while the Cincinnati Stingers played their last games as a franchise. For only the second time in WHA history and first since 1976, the team with the best regular season record failed to win the championship. The Winnipeg Jets completed their WHA dynasty with their third championship in four seasons, doing so over the regular season champion Edmonton Oilers in the Avco Cup Final. Rookie Wayne Gretzky led the playoffs in points with 20 on the strength of ten goals for the Oilers, which was only matched by Willy Lindstrom of the Jets, who had ten goals in ten games. In Game 5 of the Avco Cup Final, Ron Chipperfield scored five goals to set the new WHA record for goals scored in a postseason game as the Oilers forced a Game 6 with a 10–2 victory.Surgent Scott 1990 The Complete World Hockey Association 11th Edition Surgent 377 978-1727753424https://www.surgent.net/wha/year/197273/playoffs.html The Complete World Hockey Association - 1972-73 Playoff Results In Game 6, the Jets scored five goals in the first two periods and dominated their way to a 7–3 win on home ice to complete the WHA. Dave Semenko of the Oilers scored the final goal in WHA history, doing so with twelve seconds left in the third period.Jets beat Oilers to win final WHA Avco Cup title May 21, 1979 https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/edmonton-oilers/jets-beat-oilers-to-win-final-wha-avco-cup-title 2025-02-15 en Matheson JimSurgent Scott 1990 The Complete World Hockey Association 11th Edition Surgent 374-375, 387 978-1727753424https://www.surgent.net/wha/year/197879/playoffs.html The Complete World Hockey Association - 1978-79 Playoff Results Rich Preston of the Jets was the final person awarded the WHA Playoff MVP. Playoff seeds Edmonton Oilers, regular season champions – 98 points Quebec Nordiques – 87 points Winnipeg Jets – 84 points New England Whalers – 83 points Cincinnati Stingers – 72 points Bracket Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals 170 New England Whalers 2 Cincinnati Stingers 1 Edmonton Oilers 4 4 New England Whalers 3 Quebec Nordiques 0 Winnipeg Jets 4 1 Edmonton Oilers 2 3 Winnipeg Jets 4 Quarterfinals In the regular season, Cincinnati had gone 7–6–2 against New England.https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1979-cincinnati-stingers-vs-new-england-whalers-preliminary-round.html 1979 WHA Preliminary Round: CNS vs. NEW July 22, 2025 Hockey Reference In Game 1, Mark Howe led the way for the Whalers with two goals, with his late third-period goal giving New England the go-ahead win. In Game 2, Jamie Hislop tied a WHA playoff record with four assists as the Stingers scored five goals before the second period was even half over, with three of them being from Robbie Ftorek. The Whalers took out John Garrett in the third period for Al Smith and got a few goals in the third.https://newspaperarchive.com/medicine-hat-news-apr-23-1979-p-12/ Ftorek leads Stingers Medicine Hat News The Canadian Press April 23, 1979 July 22, 2025 In Game 3, the two teams traded goals in the first period before Blaine Stoughton gave New England the lead with 17 seconds to play in the second period on his goal. The two teams held firm for a scoreless third period as New England eliminated Cincinnati.https://newspaperarchive.com/european-stars-and-stripes-apr-26-1979-p-24/ Whalers hang on, win 2-1 over Stingers The Stars and Stripes Associated Press April 26, 1979 July 22, 2025 #f0f0f0 April 21 Cincinnati Stingers New England Whalers 3–5 (1–0, 0-2, 2–3) Box score Mike Liut John Garrett 3:57 (1st) – Michel Parizeau1:33 (3rd) – Byron Shutt13:30 (3rd) – Jamie Hislop 4:36 (2nd) – Mark Howe15:52 (2nd) – Blaine Stoughton2:38 (3rd) – Andre Lacroix3:09 (3rd) – Mark Howe15:57 (3rd) – Mike Rogers Springfield Civic Center 5,922 26 39 Game summaryCincinnati shots on goal: 26 (8–9–9); New England shots on goal: 39 (13–15–11) #d0d0d0 April 22 New England Whalers Cincinnati Stingers 3–6 (0–3, 1–2, 2–1) John Garrett / Al Smith Mike Liut 17:31 (2nd) – Mike Rogers9:08 (3rd) – Gordie Howe9:47 (3rd) – Mike Antonovich 6:14 (1st) – Reg Thomas7:34 (1st) – Peter Marsh10:05 (1st) – Robbie Ftorek1:19 (2nd) – Robbie Ftorek17:47 (3rd) – Bill Gilligan Riverfront Coliseum Box score 5,131 32(7–9–16) 28(13–7–8) Game summaryNew England shots on goal: 32 (7–9–16); Cincinnati shots on goal: 28 (13–7–8) #f0f0f0 April 24 Cincinnati Stingers New England Whalers 1–2 (1–1, 0–1, 0–0) 5,492 Box score Mike Liut Al Smith 5:16 (1st) – Jamie Hislop 9:26 (1st) – John McKenzie19:43 (2nd) – Blaine Stoughton Springfield Civic Center 33 34 Game summaryCincinnati shots on goal: 33 (10–11–12) New England shots on goal: 34 (7–18–9) Semifinals (2) Winnipeg Jets vs. (3) Quebec Nordiques In the fourteen regular season contests, the teams went 6–6–2 against each other.https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1979-quebec-nordiques-vs-winnipeg-jets-semi-finals.html 1979 WHA Semi-Finals: QBN vs. WNJ July 22, 2025 Hockey Reference In Game 1, each team scored in the final three minutes of the period, with Lyle Moffat's tip-in goal for Winnipeg being followed by Marc Tardif scoring 29 seconds later for Quebec. But Winnipeg scored five goals in the second period (with Bobby Guindon scoring two of them) before Quebec could even get one on the board. Quebec scored a goal in the third period but were stymied in the third period to just five shots as Jets goaltender Gary Smith stopped 28 of 31 shots. The last couple of minutes saw a commotion as Gilles Bilodeau (nicknamed "Bad News") was deployed on the ice and quickly went out on the ice and put his stick onto Winnipeg players, even hitting Scott Campbell in the mouth that saw the latter lose his temper. Nordiques head coach Jacques Demers stated that he didn't send Bilodeau out there to hit players but merely because he was missing three forwards, citing a sore back for Real Cloutier, an aggravated knee for Serge Bernier and a hurt shoulder for Paulin Bordeleau.Winnipeg Free Press Bad News ruins Guindon's show April 24, 1979 Reyn Davis July 22, 2025 https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-apr-24-1979-p-74/ With 7:09 remaining in the third period, Willy Lindstrom scored to close out the scoring for Winnipeg and also set a record for most points in a four-game series, having collected six goals and four assists (the previous record was shared by Gordie Howe, Ulf Nilsson, and Reg Thomas. The Jets also set a record for most goals in a four-game sweep with 30.Winnipeg Free Press Jets flash championship form Reyn Davis April 30, 1979 July 22, 2025 https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-apr-30-1979-p-73/ #f0f0f0 April 23 Winnipeg Jets Quebec Nordiques 6–3 (1–1, 5–1, 0–1) Box score Gary Smith Richard Brodeur / Jim Corsi 17:10 (1st) – Lyle Moffat2:25 (2nd) – Rich Preston4:16 (2nd) – Bobby Guindon11:06 (2nd) – Morris Lukowich13:53 (2nd) – Bobby Guindon18:12 (2nd) – Willy Lindstrom 17:39 (1st) – Marc Tardif16:44 (2nd) – Marc Tardif18:16 (3rd) – Bob Fitchner Colisée de Québec 8,539 30(8–12–10) 31(14–12–5) #d0d0d0 April 25 Winnipeg Jets Quebec Nordiques 9–2 (3–0, 3–1, 3–1) Box score Gary Smith / Joe Daley Jim Corsi / Richard Brodeur 7:24 (1st) – Rich Preston16:17 (1st) – Steve West18:45 (1st) – Lars-Erik Sjoberg11:38 (2nd) – Peter Sullivan12:50 (2nd) – Morris Lukowich15:07 (2nd) – Paul MacKinnon11:33 (3rd) – Willy Lindstrom15:06 (3rd) – Glenn Hicks 19:33 (3rd) – Willy Lindstrom 5:09 (2nd) – Marc Tardif13:20 (3rd) – Marc Tardif Colisée de Québec 9,125 32(14–9–9) 23(3–8–12) #f0f0f0 April 27 Quebec Nordiques Winnipeg Jets 5–9 (1–2, 3–2, 1–5) Box score Jean-Louis Levasseur Gary Smith 3:16 (1st) – Real Cloutier4:52 (2nd) – Curt Brackenbury6:00 (2nd) – Danny Geoffrion18:44 (2nd) – Paulin Bordeleau17:00 (3rd) – Marc Tardif 6:21 (1st) – Rich Preston19:14 (1st) – Steve West12:02 (2nd) – Paul Terbenche13:38 (2nd) – Peter Sullivan0:49 (3rd) – Rich Preston13:45 (3rd) – Peter Sullivan14:15 (3rd) – Roland Eriksson14:33 (3rd) – Morris Lukowich18:07 (3rd) – Willy Lindstrom Winnipeg Arena 8,209 30(9–11–10) 39(17–11–11) #d0d0d0 April 29 Quebec Nordiques Winnipeg Jets 2–6 (1–1, 0–3, 1–2) Box score Richard Brodeur Gary Smith 15:04 (1st) – Marc Tardif15:59 (3rd) – Real Cloutier 16:17 (1st) – Morris Lukowich0:37 (2nd) – Willy Lindstrom 1:39 (2nd) – Terry Ruskowski11:18 (2nd) – Kent Nilsson2:25 (3rd) – Peter Sullivan12:51 (3rd) – Willy Lindstrom Winnipeg Arena 10,168 14(4–4–6) 50(17–16–17) (1) Edmonton Oilers vs. (4) New England Whalers The favored Oilers had gone 9–4–1 against the Whalers in the regular season (while winning eight of the last nine).https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1979-edmonton-oilers-vs-new-england-whalers-semi-finals.html 1979 WHA Semi-Finals: EDO vs. NEW July 22, 2025 Hockey Reference However, the home team wound up winning each game in a tight series that went the distance. Wayne Gretzky had 15 points in the series, a record for a seven-game playoff and the most for a WHA semifinal in history. Edmonton scored 34 goals in the series and New England scored 30 to combine for 64, also a record for a seven-game series that topped the previous mark of the 1974 Semifinal.WHA will close with an Oiler-Jet final May 9, 1979 July 22, 2025 Walter Krevenchuk Brandon Sun https://newspaperarchive.com/brandon-sun-may-09-1979-p-20/ #f0f0f0 April 26 New England Whalers Edmonton Oilers 2–6 (1–0, 0-3, 1-3) Box score Al Smith Dave Dryden 17:27 (1st) – Gordie Howe14:58 (3rd) – Larry Pleau 5:21 (2nd) – Blair MacDonald11:44 (2nd) – Steve Carlson12:08 (2nd) – Dennis Sobchuk3:38 (3rd) – Blair MacDonald11:05 (3rd) – Stan Weir17:06 (3rd) – Blair MacDonald Northlands Coliseum 11,102 21(5–7–9) 29(9–11–9) #d0d0d0 April 27 New England Whalers Edmonton Oilers 5–9 (2–4, 1–2, 2–3) Box score 13,349 Al Smith / John Garrett Dave Dryden 0:32 (1st) – Mike Antonovich12:51 (1st) – Gordie Howe3:42 (2nd) – Al Hangsleben8:24 (3rd) – Larry Pleau8:43 (3rd) – Mark Howe 4:18 (1st) – Wayne Gretzky4:26 (1st) – Dave Semenko6:55 (1st) – Bill Flett9:17 (1st) – Blair MacDonald9:03 (2nd) – Brett Callighen12:35 (2nd) – Brett Callighen3:50 (3rd) – Al Hamilton4:33 (3rd) – Dave Semenko9:31 (3rd) – Brett Callighen Northlands Coliseum 27(9–11–7) 39(15–11–13) #f0f0f0 April 29 Edmonton Oilers New England Whalers 1–4 (1–2, 0–0, 0–2) Box score Dave Dryden John Garrett 3:49 (1st) – Wayne Gretzky 14:32 (1st) – Mark Howe15:56 (1st) – George Lyle 16:15 (3rd) – George Lyle19:24 (3rd) – Dave Keon Springfield Civic Center 5,571 23(10–7–6) 17(10–0–7) #d0d0d0 May 1 Edmonton Oilers New England Whalers 4–5 (1–0, 1–4, 2–1) Box score Dave Dryden John Garrett 5:44 (1st) – Wayne Gretzky1:31 (2nd) – Ron Chipperfield0:36 (3rd) – Bill Flett6:36 (3rd) – Blair MacDonald 0:39 (2nd) – Jordy Douglas6:57 (2nd) – Jordy Douglas11:12 (2nd) – George Lyle17:22 (2nd) – Andre Lacroix17:48 (3rd) – John McKenzie Springfield Civic Center 5,492 27(3–14–10) 30(13–10–7) #f0f0f0 May 3 Edmonton Oilers New England Whalers 2–5 (0–2, 0–1, 2–2) Box score John Garrett Dave Dryden 2:03 (3rd) – John McKenzie13:12 (3rd) – Jordy Douglas 14:57 (1st) – Wayne Gretzky15:31 (1st) – Paul Shmyr2:12 (1st) – Wayne Gretzky14:56 (3rd) – Dave Hunter19:19 (3rd) – Wayne Gretzky Northlands Coliseum 11,401 21(3–8–10) 30(8–10–12) #d0d0d0 May 6 Edmonton Oilers New England Whalers 4–8 (0–4, 2–2, 2–2) Box score Dave Dryden / Eddie Mio John Garrett 13:36 (2nd) – Al Hamilton19:33 (2nd) – Dennis Sobchuk5:48 (3rd) – Blair MacDonald12:46 (3rd) – Dave Semenko 2:07 (1st) – Ron Plumb12:50 (1st) – Blaine Stoughton13:57 (1st) – Jordy Douglas18:32 (1st) – Mike Antonovich5:10 (2nd) – Dave Keon19:54 (2nd) – Dave Keon5:00 (3rd) – Andre Lacroix19:49 (3rd) – Mike Antonovich Springfield Civic Center 7,320 32(9–12–11) 35(13–13–9) #f0f0f0 May 8 New England Whalers Edmonton Oilers 3–6 (1–2, 0–4, 2–0) Box score John Garrett Dave Dryden 8:37 (1st) – Andre Lacroix9:09 (3rd) – Blaine Stoughton18:43 (3rd) – Mike Antonovich 6:27 (1st) – Blair MacDonald13:27 (1st) – Dennis Sobchuk6:20 (2nd) – Ron Chipperfield10:14 (2nd) – Bill Flett12:44 (2nd) – Wayne Gretzky15:51 (2nd) – Wayne Gretzky Northlands Coliseum 13,385 25(8–3–14) 29(11–14–4) Avco Cup Final (1) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3) Winnipeg Jets The series matched the Edmonton Oilers, as coached by Glen Sather against the Winnipeg Jets, as coached by Tom McVie. In fourteen regular season matchups, each team won seven times.https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1979-edmonton-oilers-vs-winnipeg-jets-stanley-cup-final.html 1979 WHA Avco Cup Final: EDO vs. WNJ July 22, 2025 Hockey Reference With the layoff between playoff series, Winnipeg formulated a potential game plan for Gretzky by Lars-Erik Sjöberg and McVie to try and chase him out as often as possible so he would have to pass the puck on his backhand rather than his forehand, which is where Sjöberg would meet him.https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1118231/2019/08/08/how-to-win-a-championship-in-winnipeg-according-to-the-last-jets-who-did-it/ The Athletic August 8, 2019 How to win a championship in Winnipeg — according to the last Jets who did it Murat Ates Winnipeg prevailed in the first two games in Edmonton with tight battles. 11,871 fans watched the first Avco Cup championship game in Edmonton. In Game 1, Rich Preston gave them the lead three minutes into Game 1 on his goal before Bill Lesuk gave the Jets a 2–0 lead on his goal eleven minutes later. Bill Flett scored for Edmonton with 2:12 remaining in the first period on a shot from the corner that bounced of the heel of Gary Smith's stick and into the net. Preston added in a second goal with 3:36 remaining in the third period.Winnipeg Free Press Preston puts skids under Oilers May 12, 1979 July 22, 2025 Reyn Davis https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-may-12-1979-p-102/ In Game 2 (with 11,405 attending fans), the Oilers led in the second period on a Dennis Sobchuk goal, but the Jets scored three goals, with Willy Lindstrom breaking the 2–2 tie with 4:36 remaining in regulation.Winnipeg Free Press Oilers have tough terrier by the tail May 14, 1979 July 22, 2025 Reyn Davis https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-may-14-1979-p-74/ For the next two games in Winnipeg, the two teams split victories. The road team won again with Game 3, now in Winnipeg (with 9,130 attending fans) that saw eight different players score for the Oilers in an 8–3 victory; it was the first time Winnipeg had lost a playoff game since Game 3 of the 1978 WHA Quarterfinals, a streak of 12 games.Winnipeg Free Press Angry Oilers are far from drained May 16, 1979 July 22, 2025 https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-may-16-1979-p-99/first=Reyn Davis On the day of Game 4, Oilers goaltender Dave Dryden was named the final recipient of the Gordie Howe Trophy for most valuable player in the season. Also announced was the First and Second Team honors, which saw the Jets have one player receive honors with Morris Lukowich as Second Team for left wing while Edmonton had Dryden for First Team and four players on the Second Team with Paul Shmyr (D), Dave Langevin (D), Wayne Gretzky (C), and Blair MacDonald (RW). Later that day to 10,295 fans in Winnipeg, the two teams each scored a goal in the first period before Oilers took a 2–1 lead into the third period on a goal by Brett Callighen. Morris Lukowich tied the game for the Jets nine minutes into the third period on a power-play goal before Lyle Moffat scored the go-ahead goal with 6:26 remaining in the game. Winnipeg Free Press Fired-up fans Ignite Jets win May 17, 1979 July 22, 2025 https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-may-17-1979-p-93/first=Reyn Davis Now trailing 3–1 in the series, the Oilers returned to Edmonton to a crowd of 13,308 and rocked the Jets early with four goals in the first period on their way to a 10–2 victory, which notably saw Ron Chipperfield score five goals while Winnipeg's Terry Ruskowski injured his shoulder. Winnipeg took out goaltender Gary Smith 10:45 into the second period for Joe Daley. 32 total penalties (26 minors) were issued during the game.Winnipeg Free Press Chipperfield a slick Oiler May 19, 1979 July 22, 2025 https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-may-19-1979-p-103/first=Reyn Davis 10,195 people saw what would end up being the final WHA game when the Jets played the Oilers in Game 6 on May 20, 1979. The Oilers would miss the services of Dennis Sobchuk, who contracted food poisoning when eating a steak sandwich at a Winnipeg restaurant, while Ruskowski returned from his one-game absence, later crediting team trainer Bill Bozak for his aid. The Jets held court from the get-go, with Willy Lindstrom giving the Jets an early lead two minutes into the game on a goal. After being up 2–0 in the first period, the Jets then scored three goals in the span of four minutes to rocket up to a 5–0 lead, with Lyle Moffat having the series-clinching goal at 6:35 in the period. Three players led the Jets in goals for the series with four by Rich Preston, Morris Lukowich, and Willy Lindstrom. This was the first and only time that the Avco World Trophy was won by a team that did not finish first or second for points in the league.https://www.nytimes.com/1979/05/22/archives/jets-win-final-wha-series.html Jets Win Final W.H.A. Series The New York Times May 22, 1979 A parade was held on May 22 in downtown Winnipeg.https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2020/03/22/forever-champions Forever champions: It's been more than 40 years since 1979 Winnipeg Jets beat the odds to capture the final WHA championship Declan Schroeder Winnipeg Free Press March 22, 2020 July 22, 2025Winnipeg Free Press Jets' Long saved best shots for WHA finale Reyn Davis July 22, 2025 https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-may-22-1979-p-71/Winnipeg Free Press Joe's last hurrah suits garb May 23, 1979 Reyn Davis July 22, 2025 https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-may-23-1979-p-99/ Edmonton Oilers Winnipeg Jets Northlands Coliseum Winnipeg Arena yes May 11 3–1 2 archive.is/OvHox 3:29 – Rich Preston (Sullivan)15:23 – Bill Lesuk (Eriksson, Moffat) 17:48 – Bill Flett (Shmyr) No scoring No scoring 16:24 – Rich Preston (Nilsson) No scoring Gary Smith 23 saves / 24 shots Dave Dryden 25 saves / 28 shots May 13 3–2 2 archive.is/IPpZZ No scoring No scoring No scoring 6:12 – Dennis Sobchuk (Driscoll) 1:17 – Peter Sullivan (Terbenche)11:53 – Morris Lukowich (Campbell, Ruskowski)15:24 – Willy Lindstrom (Long, Lukowich) 4:10 – Al Hamilton Gary Smith 19 saves / 21 shots Dave Dryden 24 saves / 27 shots May 15 8–3 1 archive.ph/aibcR 4:54 – Morris Lukowich (Ruskowski, Nilsson)15:53 – Willy Lindstrom 9:03 – Al Hamilton (Gretzky)9:44 – Peter Driscoll (Goldsworthy)12:45 – Ron Chipperfield (Shymr, Driscoll)16:01 – Bill Goldsworthy (Hamilton, Chipperfield) 11:56 – Morris Lukowich (MacKinnon, Eriksson) No scoring 1:42 – Blair MacDonald (Risto Siltanen)4:14 – Brett Callighen (MacDonald, Gretzky)9:52 – Bengt Gustafsson (Hunter, Weir)11:00 – Dave Hunter (Gustafsson, Hamilton) No scoring Gary Smith 17 saves / 25 shots Joe Daley 2 saves / 2 shots Dave Dryden 23 saves / 26 shots May 16 2–3 2 archive.ph/6Rs6q 12:54 – Rich Preston (Sullivan) 7:41 – Wayne Gretzky (MacDonald, Callighen) No scoring 13:42 – Brett Callighen (Gretzky, Gustafsson) No scoring 9:24 – pp – Morris Lukowich (Nilsson, Lindstrom)13:34 – Lyle Moffat (Lesuk, Eriksson) Gary Smith 20 saves / 22 shots Dave Dryden 24 saves / 27 shots May 18 2–10 1 archive.ph/ppWDQ No scoring 4:23 – Dennis Sobchuk (Chipperfield, Shmyr)16:28 – Wayne Gretzky (Callighen, Chipperfield)17:29 – Stan Weir (Micheletti, Sobchuk)18:01 – Ron Chipperfield (Dave Langevin) 2:58 – Dennis Sobchuk (Shmyr, Weir)4:51 – Ron Chipperfield (Siltanen, Micheletti)10:45 – Ron Chipperfield (Driscoll, Semenko) 14:23 - John Hughes (Sobchuk) 0:22 - Rich Preston (Lukowich, Nilsson) 3:14 – Kent Nilsson 7:45 – Ron Chipperfield (Semenko)14:31 – Ron Chipperfield (Micheletti, Siltanen) Gary Smith / Joe Daley 32 saves / 42 shots Dave Dryden / Eddie Mio 19 saves / 21 shots May 20 3–7 2 archive.ph/ckjPU 2:14 – pp – Willy Lindstrom (Ruskowski, Lukowich) 15:42 – Barry Long (Ruskowski, Lukowich) No scoring 5:22 – pp – Paul MacKinnon (Sullivan, Hicks)6:35 – Lyle Moffat (Eriksson, Lukowich)9:23 – Barry Long (Ruskowski, MacKinnon) 18:45 – Ron Chipperfield (Driscoll, Siltanen) 1:48 – Bill Flett (Hamilton)19:48 – pp – Dave Semenko (Chipperfield, Siltanen) 2:09 – Kent Nilsson (Sullivan)13:38 – Willy Lindstrom (Ruskowski) Dave Dryden 13 saves / 18 shotsEddie Mio 14 saves / 16 shots Gary Smith 27 saves / 30 shots Winnipeg won series 4–2 Player statistics These were the top ten skaters based on points.https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/WHA_1979_skaters.html#stats::points 1979 WHA Playoffs Skater Statistics Player Team GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/– Plus/minus PIM Penalties in minutesWayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers 13 10 10 20 6 2 Ron Chipperfield Edmonton Oilers 13 9 10 19 1 8 Blair MacDonald Edmonton Oilers 13 8 10 18 1 6 Brett Callighen Edmonton Oilers 13 5 10 15 5 15 Willy Lindstrom Willy LindströmWinnipeg Jets 10 10 5 15 7 9 Morris LukowichWinnipeg Jets 10 8 7 15 9 21 Kent NilssonWinnipeg Jets 10 3 11 14 -1 4 Peter Sullivan Peter Sullivan (ice hockey)Winnipeg Jets 10 5 9 14 2 2 Rich PrestonWinnipeg Jets 10 8 5 13 3 15 Terry RuskowskiWinnipeg Jets 8 112 13 10 23 Championship roster thumb|Rich Preston of Winnipeg won the fifth and final WHA Playoff MVP awarded by the league 1978–79 Winnipeg Jets Scott Campbell Paul Terbenche Lars-Erik Sjoberg (Captain) Kim Clackson Barry Long Paul MacKinnon Mike Amodeo (did not play in playoffs) Glenn Hicks Bob Guindon Lyle Moffat Bill Lesuk Morris Lukowich John Gray Rich Preston Willy Lindstrom Roland Eriksson Steve West Terry Ruskowski Peter Sullivan Kent Nilsson Rich Gosselin (did not play) Gary Smith Joe Daley Markus Mattsson (did not play in playoffs) Tom McVie Al Sankowhttps://www.classicauctions.net/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=109423 Dave Mann Jack Neaman References External links Playoffs Category:1978–79 WHA season Category:World Hockey Association playoffs