1978–79 Pittsburgh Penguins season

NHL team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1978–79 1978 Pittsburgh Penguins Wales 4th Norris 2nd 36–31–13 23–12–5 13–19–8 281 279 Baz Bastien Johnny Wilson Orest Kindrachuk None Pittsburgh Civic Arena Greg Malone (35) Orest Kindrachuk (42) Greg Malone (65) Dave Schultz (157) Denis Herron (22) Denis Herron (3.37) The 1978–79 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their 12th in the National Hockey League (NHL). They finished second in the Norris Division, qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 1977. Their regular season was a marked improvement over the previous season, from 68 to 85 points. 2 Regular season Final standings PIT Record vs. opponents PIT Schedule and results background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 5px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 5px solid; 1978–79 regular season1978-79 Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/PIT/1979_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 27, 2025 y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 2px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 2px solid; October: 1–6–2 (home: 1–3–2; road: 0–3–0), 4 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 1 || Oct 11 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 0–1–0 || 0 |- | 2 || Oct 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–8 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden || 0–2–0 || 0 |- | 3 || Oct 14 || Boston Bruins || 4–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 0–2–1 || 1 |- | 4 || Oct 18 || New York Islanders || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 0–3–1 || 1 |- | 5 || Oct 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 0–4–1 || 1 |- | 6 || Oct 21 || Washington Capitals || 1–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 1–4–1 || 3 |- | 7 || Oct 25 || St. Louis Blues || 6–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 1–4–2 || 4 |- | 8 || Oct 28 || Atlanta Flames || 4–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 1–5–2 || 4 |- | 9 || Oct 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 1–6–2 || 4 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 2px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 2px solid; November: 5–7–1 (home: 3–3–0; road: 2–4–1), 11 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 10 || Nov 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–6 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 1–7–2 || 4 |- | 11 || Nov 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–2 || Atlanta Flames || Omni Coliseum || 1–8–2 || 4 |- | 12 || Nov 4 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 2–8–2 || 6 |- | 13 || Nov 8 || Colorado Rockies || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 3–8–2 || 8 |- | 14 || Nov 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–4 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 3–8–3 || 9 |- | 15 || Nov 11 || New York Rangers || 2–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 3–9–3 || 9 |- | 16 || Nov 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–3 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum || 4–9–3 || 11 |- | 17 || Nov 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 5–9–3 || 13 |- | 18 || Nov 22 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 5–10–3 || 13 |- | 19 || Nov 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–8 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 5–11–3 || 13 |- | 20 || Nov 25 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 5–12–3 || 13 |- | 21 || Nov 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–8 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens || 5–13–3 || 13 |- | 22 || Nov 29 || Washington Capitals || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 6–13–3 || 15 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 2px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 2px solid; December: 9–2–4 (home: 6–0–1; road: 3–2–3), 22 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 23 || Dec 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–4 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 7–13–3 || 17 |- | 24 || Dec 2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 8–13–3 || 19 |- | 25 || Dec 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 8–13–4 || 20 |- | 26 || Dec 6 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 9–13–4 || 22 |- | 27 || Dec 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 9–13–5 || 23 |- | 28 || Dec 9 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 9–13–6 || 24 |- | 29 || Dec 13 || St. Louis Blues || 0–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 10–13–6 || 26 |- | 30 || Dec 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 10–14–6 || 26 |- | 31 || Dec 16 || Vancouver Canucks || 5–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 11–14–6 || 28 |- | 32 || Dec 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium || 11–14–7 || 29 |- | 33 || Dec 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 12–14–7 || 31 |- | 34 || Dec 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center || 12–15–7 || 31 |- | 35 || Dec 27 || Los Angeles Kings || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 13–15–7 || 33 |- | 36 || Dec 30 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 14–15–7 || 35 |- | 37 || Dec 31 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–4 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium || 15–15–7 || 37 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 2px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 2px solid; January: 5–7–1 (home: 4–4–0; road: 1–3–1), 11 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 38 || Jan 3 || Vancouver Canucks || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 15–16–7 || 37 |- | 39 || Jan 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Atlanta Flames || Omni Coliseum || 15–16–8 || 38 |- | 40 || Jan 6 || Los Angeles Kings || 4–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 15–17–8 || 38 |- | 41 || Jan 10 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 16–17–8 || 40 |- | 42 || Jan 13 || Boston Bruins || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 17–17–8 || 42 |- | 43 || Jan 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–4 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 18–17–8 || 44 |- | 44 || Jan 16 || Minnesota North Stars || 0–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 19–17–8 || 46 |- | 45 || Jan 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium || 19–18–8 || 46 |- | 46 || Jan 20 || Washington Capitals || 5–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 19–19–8 || 46 |- | 47 || Jan 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 19–20–8 || 46 |- | 48 || Jan 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Colorado Rockies || McNichols Sports Arena || 19–21–8 || 46 |- | 49 || Jan 27 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 20–21–8 || 48 |- | 50 || Jan 31 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 20–22–8 || 48 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 2px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 2px solid; February: 6–3–1 (home: 6–0–0; road: 0–3–1), 13 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 51 || Feb 3 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 21–22–8 || 50 |- | 52 || Feb 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–8 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium || 21–23–8 || 50 |- | 53 || Feb 15 || Minnesota North Stars || 5–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 22–23–8 || 52 |- | 54 || Feb 17 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 23–23–8 || 54 |- | 55 || Feb 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–6 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium || 23–24–8 || 54 |- | 56 || Feb 21 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 24–24–8 || 56 |- | 57 || Feb 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–12 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 24–25–8 || 56 |- | 58 || Feb 24 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 25–25–8 || 58 |- | 59 || Feb 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium || 25–25–9 || 59 |- | 60 || Feb 28 || Colorado Rockies || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 26–25–9 || 61 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 2px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 2px solid; March: 8–4–4 (home: 2–1–2; road: 6–3–2), 20 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 61 || Mar 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–8 || St. Louis Blues || The Checkerdome || 26–26–9 || 61 |- | 62 || Mar 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–2 || Colorado Rockies || McNichols Sports Arena || 27–26–9 || 63 |- | 63 || Mar 7 || Los Angeles Kings || 4–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 27–27–9 || 63 |- | 64 || Mar 10 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 28–27–9 || 65 |- | 65 || Mar 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens || 28–28–9 || 65 |- | 66 || Mar 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 9–3 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum || 29–28–9 || 67 |- | 67 || Mar 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 29–28–10 || 68 |- | 68 || Mar 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–2 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 30–28–10 || 70 |- | 69 || Mar 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–1 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 31–28–10 || 72 |- | 70 || Mar 21 || Washington Capitals || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 31–28–11 || 73 |- | 71 || Mar 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden || 32–28–11 || 75 |- | 72 || Mar 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 32–28–12 || 76 |- | 73 || Mar 25 || New York Islanders || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 32–28–13 || 77 |- | 74 || Mar 27 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–1 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center || 33–28–13 || 79 |- | 75 || Mar 28 || New York Rangers || 1–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 34–28–13 || 81 |- | 76 || Mar 31 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 34–29–13 || 81 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 2px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 2px solid; April: 2–2–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 1–1–0), 4 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 77 || Apr 1 || Atlanta Flames || 7–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 34–30–13 || 81 |- | 78 || Apr 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || St. Louis Blues || The Checkerdome || 35–30–13 || 83 |- | 79 || Apr 7 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 36–30–13 || 85 |- | 80 || Apr 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 36–31–13 || 85 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs Preliminary round vs. Buffalo Pittsburgh Penguins Buffalo Sabres Civic Arena Buffalo Memorial Auditorium April 10 4–3 1 April 12 3–1 2 2 April 14 4–3 1 1 1 Pittsburgh won series 2–1 Quarterfinals vs. Boston Pittsburgh Penguins Boston Bruins Civic Arena Boston Garden April 16 2–6 2 www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19790013 No scoring 02:29 – Peter McNab (1)05:14 – Don Marcotte (1)15:58 – Mike Milbury (1) Orest Kindrachuk (2) – 06:07 04:21 – Don Marcotte (2)16:02 – pp – Bobby Schmautz (1)17:27 – sh – Dick Redmond (1) Gregg Sheppard (1) – pp – 12:14 No scoring Denis Herron 27 saves / 33 shots Gerry Cheevers 19 saves / 21 shots April 18 1–5 2 www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19790017 Jim Hamilton (3) – pp – 14:11 15:10 – pp – Jean Ratelle (1)16:16 – Dwight Foster (1) Orest Kindrachuk (3) – 14:52 14:15 – Peter McNab (2) Orest Kindrachuck (4) – 19:54 10:10 – Bob Miller (1) Denis Herron 21 saves / 25 shots Gerry Cheevers 24 saves / 27 shots April 21 2–1 2 April 22 4–1 2 Boston won series 4–0 Player statistics Skaters + Regular season1978–1979 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=19781979&gameType=2&sort=points&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=S https://web.archive.org/web/20161002030356/http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=19781979&gameType=2&sort=points&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=S dead October 2, 2016 NHL Player GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/− Plus/minus PIM Penalty minutes Greg Malone Greg Malone (ice hockey) 80 35 30 65 6 52 Orest Kindrachuk 79 18 42 60 3 84 Peter Lee Peter Lee (ice hockey) 80 32 26 58 -13 –13 24 Peter Mahovlich 60 14 39 53 -11 –11 39 George Ferguson George Ferguson (ice hockey) 80 21 29 50 10 37 Randy Carlyle 70 13 34 47 4 78 Ross Lonsberry 80 24 22 46 7 38 Rick Kehoe 57 27 18 45 14 2 Rod Schutt 74 24 21 45 -9 –9 33 Ron Stackhouse 75 10 33 43 21 54 Gregg Sheppard 60 15 22 37 8 9 Dale Tallon 63 5 24 29 -15 –15 35 Tom Bladon 78 4 23 27 -17 –17 64 Colin Campbell Colin Campbell (ice hockey, born 1953) 65 2 18 20 14 137 Blair Chapman 71 10 8 18 -12 –12 18 Russ Anderson 72 3 13 16 1 93 Gary McAdam† 28 5 9 14 4 2 Dave Schultz Dave Schultz (ice hockey)‡ 47 4 9 13 -2 –2 157 Wayne Bianchin 40 7 4 11 -2 –2 20 Jacques Cossette 38 7 2 9 -1 –1 16 Bob Paradise 14 0 1 1 -4 –4 4 Kim Davis Kim Davis (ice hockey) 1 1 0 1 0 0 Tom Price Tom Price (ice hockey) 2 0 0 0 -2 –2 4 Jim Hamilton Jim Hamilton (ice hockey) 2 0 0 0 0 0 Mike Meeker 4 0 0 0 -1 –1 5 Brian Spencer 7 0 0 0 0 0 Lex Hudson 2 0 0 0 0 0 Total 281 427 708 — 1,005 + Playoffs1978–1979 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=19781979&gameType=3&sort=points&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=S https://web.archive.org/web/20161002024527/http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=19781979&gameType=3&sort=points&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=S dead October 2, 2016 NHL Player GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/− Plus/minus PIM Penalty minutes Colin Campbell Colin Campbell (ice hockey, born 1953) 7 1 4 5 0 30 Orest Kindrachuk 7 4 1 5 0 7 Tom Bladon 7 0 4 4 0 2 George Ferguson George Ferguson (ice hockey) 7 2 1 3 0 0 Jim Hamilton Jim Hamilton (ice hockey) 5 3 0 3 0 0 Gregg Sheppard 7 1 2 3 0 0 Peter Lee Peter Lee (ice hockey) 7 0 3 3 0 0 Gary McAdam 7 2 1 3 0 0 Ross Lonsberry 7 0 2 2 0 9 Rick Kehoe 7 0 2 2 0 0 Rod Schutt 7 2 0 2 0 4 Blair Chapman 7 1 0 1 0 2 Greg Malone Greg Malone (ice hockey) 7 0 1 1 0 10 Peter Mahovlich 2 0 1 1 0 0 Jacques Cossette 3 0 1 1 0 4 Bob Paradise 2 0 0 0 0 0 Ron Stackhouse 7 0 0 0 0 4 Randy Carlyle 7 0 0 0 0 12 Lex Hudson 2 0 0 0 0 0 Russ Anderson 2 0 0 0 0 0 Total 16 23 39 — 84 Goaltenders + Regular Season1978–1979 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats https://www.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=goaliesummary&season=19781979&gameType=2&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=G NHL Player GP Games played W Win L Loss T Tie GA Goals against SO Shutouts Denis Herron 56 22 19 12 180 0 Gregory Millen Greg Millen 28 14 11 1 86 2 Gordon Laxton 1 0 1 0 8 0 Total 36 31 13 274 2 + Playoffs1978–1979 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=goaliesummary&season=19781979&gameType=3&sort=wins&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=G https://web.archive.org/web/20161002014942/http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=goaliesummary&season=19781979&gameType=3&sort=wins&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=G dead October 2, 2016 NHL Player GP Games played W Win L Loss T Tie GA Goals against SO Shutouts Denis Herron 7 2 5 0 24 0 Total 2 5 0 24 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only. Transactions The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1978–79 season: Trades September 6, 1978 To Boston Bruins Jean Pronovost To Pittsburgh Penguins Gregg Sheppard October 9, 1978 To Chicago Blackhawks 1980 2nd round pick (Ken Solheim) To Pittsburgh Penguins Dale Tallon October 18, 1978 To Montreal Canadiens 1981 1st round pick (Mark Hunter) To Pittsburgh Penguins Rod Schutt November 17, 1978 To Vancouver Canucks Dunc Wilson To Pittsburgh Penguins cash February 6, 1979 To Buffalo Sabres Dave Schultz To Pittsburgh Penguins Gary McAdam June 9, 1979 To Winnipeg Jets 1980 7th round pick (Michael Lauen) To Pittsburgh Penguins Jets promise not to claim Kim Clackson as a priority selection from its WHA franchise August 3, 1979 To Detroit Red Wings Pete Mahovlich To Pittsburgh Penguins Nick Libett Additions and subtractions Additions Player Former team Via Subtractions Player New team Via Gene Carr Atlanta Flames free agency (1978-06-06) Ed Gilbert Cincinnati Stingers (WHA) free agency (1978-10) Draft picks List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks The 1978 NHL entry draft was held on June 15, 1978, in Montreal.NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=1978&team=PIT&position=&round= NHLJuly 2026 medicmedic Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League) 2 25 Michael Meeker Right wing Canada Peterborough Petes (OHA) 4 61 Shane Pearsall Left wing Canada Ottawa 67's (OHA) 5 75 Robert Garner Center Canada Toronto Marlboros (OHA) References Penguins on Hockey Database Category:Pittsburgh Penguins seasons Pittsburgh Pitts Pitts Category:Long stubs with short prose Category:1970s in Pittsburgh