1978–79 Boston Bruins season

NHL team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1978–79 1978 Boston Bruins Wales 2nd Adams 1st 43–23–14 25–10–5 18–13–9 316 270 Harry Sinden Don Cherry Wayne Cashman None Boston Garden Rick Middleton (38) Terry O'Reilly (51) Rick Middleton (86) Terry O'Reilly (205) Gerry Cheevers (23) Gerry Cheevers (3.16) Yes The 1978–79 Boston Bruins season was the team's 55th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Bruins captured their fourth straight division title but were defeated in the postseason in heartbreaking fashion in seven games to their hated rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, and denied an opportunity to play for the Stanley Cup. Don Cherry was subsequently let go as head coach following this defeat. 2 Offseason NHL draft 1978 NHL amateur draft Round Overall Player Nationality Position 1 16 Al Secord Canada Left wing 2 35 Graeme Nicolson Canada Defenseman 3 52 Brad Knelson Canada Defenseman 4 68 George Buat Canada Right wing 5 85 Daryl MacLeod United States Left wing 6 102 Jeff Brubaker United States Left wing 7 119 Murray Skinner Canada Goalie 8 136 Bobby Hehir United States Center 9 153 Craig MacTavish Canada Center Regular season Al Secord made his NHL debut with the Bruins during the 1978–79 season. Season standings BOS Record vs. opponents BOS Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#010101 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 5px solid; 1978–79 regular season1978-79 Boston Bruins Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1979_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 3, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||W||October 12, 1978||8–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) ||1–0–0 |- |2||T||October 14, 1978||4–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) ||1–0–1 |- |3||W||October 15, 1978||4–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) ||2–0–1 |- |4||W||October 18, 1978||3–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) ||3–0–1 |- |5||W||October 20, 1978||5–1 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) ||4–0–1 |- |6||L||October 22, 1978||5–6 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) ||4–1–1 |- |7||W||October 24, 1978||7–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) ||5–1–1 |- |8||T||October 25, 1978||2–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) ||5–1–2 |- |9||W||October 28, 1978||5–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) ||6–1–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |10||W||November 2, 1978||4–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1978–79) ||7–1–2 |- |11||L||November 4, 1978||3–7 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) ||7–2–2 |- |12||T||November 5, 1978||1–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) ||7–2–3 |- |13||W||November 9, 1978||6–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1978–79) ||8–2–3 |- |14||L||November 11, 1978||1–7 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) ||8–3–3 |- |15||T||November 12, 1978||4–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) ||8–3–4 |- |16||L||November 16, 1978||4–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) ||8–4–4 |- |17||W||November 17, 1978||6–2 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1978–79) ||9–4–4 |- |18||W||November 19, 1978||5–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1978–79) ||10–4–4 |- |19||W||November 23, 1978||5–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) ||11–4–4 |- |20||T||November 25, 1978||5–5 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1978–79) ||11–4–5 |- |21||W||November 26, 1978||4–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1978–79) ||12–4–5 |- |22||W||November 30, 1978||4–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) ||13–4–5 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |23||W||December 2, 1978||5–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) ||14–4–5 |- |24||W||December 3, 1978||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1978–79) ||15–4–5 |- |25||W||December 5, 1978||5–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) ||16–4–5 |- |26||W||December 7, 1978||6–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) ||17–4–5 |- |27||L||December 9, 1978||2–9 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) ||17–5–5 |- |28||T||December 10, 1978||4–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) ||17–5–6 |- |29||W||December 12, 1978||7–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) ||18–5–6 |- |30||W||December 14, 1978||5–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1978–79) ||19–5–6 |- |31||W||December 16, 1978||4–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1978–79) ||20–5–6 |- |32||W||December 17, 1978||4–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1978–79) ||21–5–6 |- |33||W||December 21, 1978||4–2 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1978–79) ||22–5–6 |- |34||W||December 23, 1978||6–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) ||23–5–6 |- |35||T||December 27, 1978||1–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) ||23–5–7 |- |36||L||December 30, 1978||1–6 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) ||23–6–7 |- |37||W||December 31, 1978||7–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) ||24–6–7 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |38||W||January 3, 1979||6–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) ||25–6–7 |- |39||W||January 5, 1979||5–3 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1978–79) ||26–6–7 |- |40||W||January 6, 1979||5–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) ||27–6–7 |- |41||W||January 11, 1979||6–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) ||28–6–7 |- |42||L||January 13, 1979||3–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) ||28–7–7 |- |43||L||January 14, 1979||3–6 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) ||28–8–7 |- |44||L||January 16, 1979||2–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) ||28–9–7 |- |45||W||January 18, 1979||4–0 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1978–79) ||29–9–7 |- |46||L||January 20, 1979||1–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) ||29–10–7 |- |47||W||January 22, 1979||3–1 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1978–79) ||30–10–7 |- |48||L||January 25, 1979||2–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1978–79) ||30–11–7 |- |49||L||January 27, 1979||1–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) ||30–12–7 |- |50||L||January 28, 1979||3–5 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) ||30–13–7 |- |51||T||January 31, 1979||2–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) ||30–13–8 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |52||W||February 1, 1979||6–1 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) ||31–13–8 |- |53||T||February 3, 1979||4–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1978–79) ||31–13–9 |- |54||W||February 4, 1979||6–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) ||32–13–9 |- |55||L||February 14, 1979||1–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1978–79) ||32–14–9 |- |56||L||February 15, 1979||3–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) ||32–15–9 |- |57||T||February 17, 1979||3–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) ||32–15–10 |- |58||W||February 20, 1979||5–3 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1978–79) ||33–15–10 |- |59||L||February 21, 1979||1–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) ||33–16–10 |- |60||W||February 24, 1979||4–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) ||34–16–10 |- |61||L||February 27, 1979||2–4 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1978–79) ||34–17–10 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |62||T||March 1, 1979||4–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) ||34–17–11 |- |63||W||March 3, 1979||5–0 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) ||35–17–11 |- |64||W||March 4, 1979||6–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) ||36–17–11 |- |65||L||March 8, 1979||5–7 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1978–79) ||36–18–11 |- |66||W||March 10, 1979||4–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) ||37–18–11 |- |67||T||March 11, 1979||4–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1978–79) ||37–18–12 |- |68||L||March 13, 1979||2–7 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1978–79) ||37–19–12 |- |69||L||March 15, 1979||4–7 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1978–79) ||37–20–12 |- |70||W||March 17, 1979||4–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) ||38–20–12 |- |71||W||March 19, 1979||4–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) ||39–20–12 |- |72||L||March 22, 1979||1–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) ||39–21–12 |- |73||W||March 24, 1979||5–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) ||40–21–12 |- |74||L||March 28, 1979||2–9 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) ||40–22–12 |- |75||W||March 29, 1979||7–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) ||41–22–12 |- |76||W||March 31, 1979||4–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1978–79) ||42–22–12 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |77||T||April 1, 1979||3–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) ||42–22–13 |- |78||T||April 4, 1979||3–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) ||42–22–14 |- |79||L||April 5, 1979||3–9 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) ||42–23–14 |- |80||W||April 8, 1979||6–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) ||43–23–14 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Rick Middleton RW 71 38 48 86 7331215 Peter McNab C 76 35 45 80 1029404 Terry O'Reilly RW 80 26 51 77 2057305 Jean Ratelle C 80 27 45 72 12171105 Wayne Cashman LW 75 27 40 67 63161004 Bob Miller Bob Miller (ice hockey) C 77 15 33 48 3020001 Don Marcotte LW 79 20 27 47 106245 John Wensink LW 76 28 18 46 10620004 Bobby Schmautz RW 65 20 22 42 77-1614 Brad Park D 40 7 32 39 1028300 Mike Milbury D 74 1 34 35 14923000 Dick Redmond D 64 7 26 33 210401 Al Sims D 67 9 20 29 2822002 Rick Smith Rick Smith (ice hockey) D 65 7 18 25 4620001 Dwight Foster Dwight Foster (ice hockey) RW 44 11 13 24 14-1200 Al Secord LW 71 16 7 23 1257000 Gary Doak D 63 6 11 17 2812100 Stan Jonathan LW 33 6 9 15 968001 Dennis O'Brien Dennis O'Brien (ice hockey) D 64 2 8 10 10716000 Mike Walton C 14 4 2 6 0-1001 Bill Bennett Bill Bennett (ice hockey) LW 7 1 4 5 24000 Tom Songin RW 17 3 1 4 0-3100 Gerry Cheevers G 43 0 2 2 230000 Ab DeMarco Jr. D 3 0 0 0 00000 Gilles Gilbert G 23 0 0 0 160000 Graeme Nicolson D 1 0 0 0 00000 Jim Pettie G 19 0 0 0 170000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO Gerry Cheevers 2509 43 23 9 10 132 3.16 1 Gilles Gilbert 1254 23 12 8 2 74 3.54 0 Jim Pettie 1037 19 8 6 2 62 3.59 1 Team: 4800 80 43 23 14 268 3.35 2 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Jean Ratelle C 11 7 6 13 2202 Rick Middleton RW 11 4 8 12 0201 Wayne Cashman LW 10 4 5 9 8101 Don Marcotte LW 11 5 3 8 10000 Peter McNab C 11 5 3 8 0000 Mike Milbury D 11 1 7 8 7001 Terry O'Reilly RW 11 0 6 6 25000 Stan Jonathan LW 11 4 1 5 12000 Brad Park D 11 1 4 5 8001 Bobby Schmautz RW 11 2 2 4 6100 Dwight Foster Dwight Foster (ice hockey) RW 11 1 3 4 0000 Dick Redmond D 11 1 3 4 2010 Rick Smith Rick Smith (ice hockey) D 11 0 4 4 12000 Bob Miller Bob Miller (ice hockey) C 11 1 1 2 8000 Gary Doak D 7 0 2 2 4000 Al Sims D 11 0 2 2 0000 John Wensink LW 8 0 1 1 19000 Gerry Cheevers G 6 0 0 0 0000 Gilles Gilbert G 5 0 0 0 0000 Al Secord LW 4 0 0 0 4000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO Gerry Cheevers 360 6 4 2 15 2.50 0 Gilles Gilbert 314 5 3 2 16 3.06 0 Team: 674 11 7 4 31 2.76 0 hockey-reference.com 2009-06-09 1978-79 Boston Bruins Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1979.html Playoffs Quarterfinals Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Boston Bruins Date Away Score Home Score Notes April 16 Pittsburgh 2 Boston 6 April 18 Pittsburgh 3 Boston 4 April 21 Boston 2 Pittsburgh 1 April 22 Boston 4 Pittsburgh 1 Boston wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 0 Semifinals Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens In game seven of the Montreal-Boston semi-final, Boston's Rick Middleton scored with four minutes remaining in the third period to give the Bruins a 4–3 lead. Just over a minute later, linesman John D'Amico called a bench minor for too many men on the ice against the Bruins. Montreal's Guy Lafleur scored on the ensuing power play, sending the game to overtime, where Yvon Lambert gave the Canadiens the win and a trip to their fourth straight Stanley Cup Final. Date Away Score Home Score Notes April 26 Boston 2 Montreal 4 April 28 Boston 2 Montreal 5 May 1 Montreal 1 Boston 2 May 3 Montreal 3 Boston 4 (OT) May 5 Boston 1 Montreal 5 May 8 Montreal 2 Boston 5 May 10 Boston 4 Montreal 5 (OT) Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 3 The 1979 NHL Playoffs would mark the end of Don Cherry's tenure with the Bruins. Cherry, who had an uneasy relationship with Bruins General Manager Harry Sinden, was fired by the Bruins after a critical coaching mistake during a 1979 semi-final playoff series against the Canadiens. Up by a goal with less than two minutes left in the seventh game, the Bruins were penalized for having too many men on the ice. The Canadiens' Guy Lafleur scored the tying goal on the subsequent powerplay and ultimately won the game in overtime. Montreal went on to defeat the New York Rangers for their fourth straight Cup title. References Bruins on Hockey Database Category:Boston Bruins seasons Boston Bruins Category:Adams Division champion seasons Boston Bruins Boston Bruins Bruins Bruins