1977–78 New York Rangers season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1977–78 1977 New York Rangers Campbell 5th Patrick 4th 30–37–13 18–15–7 12–22–6 279 280 John Ferguson Jean-Guy Talbot Phil Esposito None Madison Square Garden Pat Hickey (40) Ron Greschner (48) Phil Esposito (81) Carol Vadnais (115) John Davidson (14) John Davidson (3.18) The 1977–78 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 52nd season. The Rangers slipped to last in the Patrick but qualified for the playoffs by having one of the top twelve records in the league. The Rangers lost in the first round of the playoffs. 2 Offseason The Rangers hired Jean-Guy Talbot as their new head coach. It would be his only season as head coach of the Rangers. Regular season Season standings NYR Record vs. opponents NYR Schedule and results background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid; 1977–78 regular season1977-78 New York Rangers Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/1978_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 31, 2025 y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; October: 4–5–1 (home: 3–2–1; road: 1–3–0) Game October Opponent Score Record |- | 1 || 12 || Vancouver Canucks || 6–3 || 1–0–0 |- | 2 || 15 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 5–0 || 1–1–0 |- | 3 || 16 || New York Islanders || 4–2 || 2–1–0 |- | 4 || 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || 2–1–1 |- | 5 || 22 || @ New York Islanders || 7–2 || 2–2–1 |- | 6 || 23 || Montreal Canadiens || 6–2 || 2–3–1 |- | 7 || 25 || @ Cleveland Barons || 5–0 || 3–3–1 |- | 8 || 26 || St. Louis Blues || 6–2 || 4–3–1 |- | 9 || 29 || @ Atlanta Flames || 4–3 || 4–4–1 |- | 10 || 30 || Los Angeles Kings || 5–3 || 4–5–1 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; November: 5–7–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 2–5–1) Game November Opponent Score Record |- | 11 || 2 || @ Colorado Rockies || 6–2 || 4–6–1 |- | 12 || 4 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 5–1 || 5–6–1 |- | 13 || 5 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 3–1 || 5–7–1 |- | 14 || 9 || Buffalo Sabres || 8–4 || 6–7–1 |- | 15 || 12 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 3–1 || 6–8–1 |- | 16 || 13 || Atlanta Flames || 5–2 || 6–9–1 |- | 17 || 16 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–2 || 7–9–1 |- | 18 || 19 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–5 || 7–9–2 |- | 19 || 20 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–0 || 7–10–2 |- | 20 || 23 || Colorado Rockies || 6–3 || 8–10–2 |- | 21 || 26 || @ Boston Bruins || 3–2 || 8–11–2 |- | 22 || 27 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 3–2 || 8–12–2 |- | 23 || 30 || @ St. Louis Blues || 4–0 || 9–12–2 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; December: 3–4–7 (home: 2–2–4; road: 1–2–3) Game December Opponent Score Record |- | 24 || 3 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 4–0 || 10–12–2 |- | 25 || 4 || Minnesota North Stars || 4–4 || 10–12–3 |- | 26 || 7 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–3 || 10–12–4 |- | 27 || 8 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 7–4 || 10–13–4 |- | 28 || 11 || Boston Bruins || 8–2 || 10–14–4 |- | 29 || 14 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 2–2 || 10–14–5 |- | 30 || 15 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 5–5 || 10–14–6 |- | 31 || 17 || @ Cleveland Barons || 4–2 || 10–15–6 |- | 32 || 18 || Detroit Red Wings || 6–2 || 11–15–6 |- | 33 || 21 || Washington Capitals || 5–5 || 11–15–7 |- | 34 || 23 || Cleveland Barons || 5–4 || 12–15–7 |- | 35 || 28 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–3 || 12–16–7 |- | 36 || 30 || @ Washington Capitals || 3–3 || 12–16–8 |- | 37 || 31 || Buffalo Sabres || 2–2 || 12–16–9 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; January: 4–8–0 (home: 0–3–0; road: 4–5–0) Game January Opponent Score Record |- | 38 || 4 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 5–3 || 13–16–9 |- | 39 || 7 || @ Colorado Rockies || 3–1 || 13–17–9 |- | 40 || 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || 13–18–9 |- | 41 || 10 || @ Boston Bruins || 3–2 || 14–18–9 |- | 42 || 14 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 4–1 || 14–19–9 |- | 43 || 17 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 5–4 || 15–19–9 |- | 44 || 18 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 3–0 || 16–19–9 |- | 45 || 20 || @ Atlanta Flames || 5–3 || 16–20–9 |- | 46 || 22 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || 16–21–9 |- | 47 || 25 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–3 || 16–22–9 |- | 48 || 28 || @ New York Islanders || 6–2 || 16–23–9 |- | 49 || 29 || Los Angeles Kings || 4–1 || 16–24–9 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; February: 5–6–2 (home: 4–3–1; road: 1–3–1) Game February Opponent Score Record |- | 50 || 1 || New York Islanders || 7–6 || 16–25–9 |- | 51 || 4 || @ St. Louis Blues || 2–2 || 16–25–10 |- | 52 || 5 || Colorado Rockies || 6–3 || 17–25–10 |- | 53 || 8 || Minnesota North Stars || 3–0 || 18–25–10 |- | 54 || 9 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 2–0 || 18–26–10 |- | 55 || 11 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–2 || 18–27–10 |- | 56 || 12 || Montreal Canadiens || 5–3 || 18–28–10 |- | 57 || 15 || Vancouver Canucks || 6–3 || 19–28–10 |- | 58 || 19 || Colorado Rockies || 4–4 || 19–28–11 |- | 59 || 22 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 3–2 || 19–29–11 |- | 60 || 23 || Chicago Black Hawks || 6–2 || 20–29–11 |- | 61 || 25 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 6–3 || 21–29–11 |- | 62 || 27 || Atlanta Flames || 5–3 || 21–30–11 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; March: 8–2–2 (home: 5–2–1; road: 3–0–1) Game March Opponent Score Record |- | 63 || 1 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–2 || 22–30–11 |- | 64 || 5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–1 || 22–31–11 |- | 65 || 8 || Cleveland Barons || 6–1 || 23–31–11 |- | 66 || 12 || Washington Capitals || 8–2 || 24–31–11 |- | 67 || 15 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–2 || 24–31–12 |- | 68 || 18 || Boston Bruins || 6–3 || 24–32–12 |- | 69 || 19 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 7–7 || 24–32–13 |- | 70 || 22 || @ St. Louis Blues || 6–1 || 25–32–13 |- | 71 || 24 || @ Washington Capitals || 11–4 || 26–32–13 |- | 72 || 25 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–2 || 27–32–13 |- | 73 || 27 || St. Louis Blues || 5–2 || 28–32–13 |- | 74 || 29 || New York Islanders || 5–1 || 29–32–13 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; April: 1–5–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 0–4–0) Game April Opponent Score Record |- | 75 || 1 || @ Atlanta Flames || 6–0 || 29–33–13 |- | 76 || 2 || @ Boston Bruins || 8–3 || 29–34–13 |- | 77 || 5 || Atlanta Flames || 4–2 || 29–35–13 |- | 78 || 6 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 3–0 || 29–36–13 |- | 79 || 8 || @ New York Islanders || 7–2 || 29–37–13 |- | 80 || 9 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–2 || 30–37–13 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs 1978 Stanley Cup playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid; 1978 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; Preliminary round vs. (5) Buffalo Sabres – Sabres win 2–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series |- | 1 || April 11 || New York Rangers || 1–4 || Buffalo Sabres || || Buffalo leads series 1–0 |- | 2 || April 13 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–4 || New York Rangers || OT || Series tied 1–1 |- | 3 || April 15 || New York Rangers || 1–4 || Buffalo Sabres || || Buffalo wins series 2–1 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Skaters Regular season Player GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points PIM Penalty minutes Phil Esposito 79 38 43 81 53 Pat Hickey Pat Hickey (ice hockey) 80 40 33 73 47 Ron Greschner 78 24 48 72 100 Walt Tkaczuk 80 26 40 66 30 Steve Vickers Steve Vickers (ice hockey) 79 19 44 63 30 Don Murdoch 66 27 28 55 41 Carol Vadnais 80 6 40 46 115 Ron Duguay 71 20 20 40 43 Lucien DeBlois 71 22 8 30 27 Ed Johnstone 53 13 13 26 44 Greg Polis 37 7 16 23 12 Dave Maloney 56 2 19 21 63 Mike McEwen Mike McEwen (ice hockey) 57 5 13 18 52 Wayne Dillon 59 5 13 18 15 Dan Newman Dan Newman (ice hockey) 59 5 13 18 22 Mark Heaslip 29 5 10 15 34 Don Awrey 78 2 8 10 38 Rod Gilbert 19 2 7 9 6 Nick Fotiu 59 2 7 9 105 Dave Farrish 66 3 5 8 62 Ken Hodge 18 2 4 6 8 Dallas Smith Dallas Smith (ice hockey) 29 1 4 5 23 Jerry Byers 7 2 1 3 0 Mario Marois 8 1 1 2 15 Bill Goldsworthy 7 0 1 1 12 Mike Keating Mike Keating (ice hockey) 1 0 0 0 0 Bud Stefanski 1 0 0 0 0 Greg Hickey Pat Hickey (ice hockey) 1 0 0 0 0 Greg Holst 4 0 0 0 0 Benoit Gosselin 7 0 0 0 33 Playoffs Player GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points PIM Penalty minutes Don Murdoch 3 1 3 4 4 Steve Vickers Steve Vickers (ice hockey) 3 2 1 3 0 Ron Duguay 3 1 1 2 2 Carol Vadnais 3 0 2 2 16 Walt Tkaczuk 3 0 2 2 0 Pat Hickey Pat Hickey (ice hockey) 3 2 0 2 0 Dallas Smith Dallas Smith (ice hockey) 1 0 1 1 0 Wayne Dillon 3 0 1 1 0 Phil Esposito 3 0 1 1 5 Mario Marois 1 0 0 0 5 Dave Farrish 3 0 0 0 0 Nick Fotiu 3 0 0 0 5 Don Awrey 3 0 0 0 6 Mark Heaslip 3 0 0 0 0 Dan Newman Dan Newman (ice hockey) 3 0 0 0 4 Dave Maloney 3 0 0 0 11 Lucien DeBlois 3 0 0 0 2 Ron Greschner 3 0 0 0 2 Goaltenders Regular season Player GP Games played TOI Time on ice W Win L Loss T Tie GA Goals against GAA Goals against average SO Shutouts Wayne Thomas Wayne Thomas (ice hockey) 41 2352 12 20 7 141 3.60 4 John Davidson John Davidson (ice hockey) 34 1848 14 13 4 98 3.18 1 Doug Soetaert 6 360 2 2 2 20 3.33 0 Hardy Astrom 4 240 2 2 0 14 3.50 0 Playoffs Player GP Games played TOI Time on ice W Win L Loss GA Goals against GAA Goals against average SO Shutouts John Davidson John Davidson (ice hockey) 2 122 1 1 7 3.44 0 Wayne Thomas Wayne Thomas (ice hockey) 1 60 0 1 4 4.00 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only. ‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only. hockeydb.com 2010-08-08 1977–78 New York Rangers http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000481978.html Awards and records Phil Esposito, Lester Patrick TrophyCollins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009–10, p.425, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 978-1-55468-621-6 Draft picks New York's picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft in Montreal, Canada. Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League) 1 8 Lucien DeBlois RW Canada Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL) 1 13 Ron Duguay C Canada Sudbury Wolves (OHA) 2 26 Mike Keating LW Canada St. Catharines Fincups (OHA) 3 44 Steve Baker G United States Union College (NCAA) 4 62 Mario Marois D Canada Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) 5 80 Benoit Gosselin LW Canada Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) 6 98 John Bethel LW Canada Boston University (NCAA) 7 116 Bob Sullivan LW Canada Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) 8 131 Lance Nethery C Canada Cornell University (NCAA) 9 146 Alex Jeans C Canada University of Toronto (CIAU) 10 157 Pete Raps LW Canada Western Michigan University (NCAA) 11 164 Mike Brown RW United States Western Michigan University (NCAA) 12 171 Mark Miller LW Canada University of Michigan (NCAA) See also 1977–78 NHL season References External links Rangers on Hockey Database 1977-78 Category:1977–78 NHL season by team Category:1977 in sports in New York City Category:1978 in sports in New York City 1977-78 New York Rangers season