1977–78 Pittsburgh Penguins season

NHL team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1977–78 1977 Pittsburgh Penguins Wales 7th Norris 4th 25–37–18 16–15–9 9–22–9 254 321 Baz Bastien Johnny Wilson Jean Pronovost None Pittsburgh Civic Arena Jean Pronovost (40) Greg Malone (43) Jean Pronovost (65) Dave Schultz (378) Denis Herron (20) Denis Herron (3.57) The 1977–78 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their 11th in the National Hockey League (NHL). They finished fourth in the Norris Division, thus did not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. This was their worst regular season since 1974, with only 68 points, and the first time since 1974 that the Penguins did not qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 1973–74 season. 2 Off-season In the off-season head coach Ken Schinkel was replaced by former Kings, Red Wings and Rockies head coach Johnny Wilson. Veterans Vic Hadfield and Ed Van Impe retired. Defensive forward J. Bob Kelly's contract ended and he took his services to Chicago, while Captain Ron Schock was traded to the Sabres (Jean Pronovost was named captain in his place). Regular season In an attempt to replace Kelly general manager Baz Bastien acquired former Flyer enforcer Dave Schultz early in the season, but the price was high: Syl Apps Jr., one of the team's all-time leading scorers. Schultz was traded the following season. Frustrated with the performance of talented winger Pierre Larouche, Bastien dealt the 22-year-old to the Montreal Canadiens for veteran Pete Mahovlich and prospect Peter Lee on November 29, 1977. Larouche would go on to win two Stanley Cup championships with the Canadiens, while Mahovlich was traded to the Red Wings less than two years later. Lee would fail to live up to his promise, scoring an average of only 0.57 points per game over the course of six seasons with the Penguins. The high roster turnover, particularly from three of the previous season's top five scorers, contributed to the Penguins missing the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. Division standings PIT Record vs. opponents PIT Schedule and results background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 5px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 5px solid; 1977–78 regular season1977-78 Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/PIT/1978_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 27, 2025 y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 2px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 2px solid; October: 3–5–1 (home: 2–3–0; road: 1–2–1), 7 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 1 || Oct 12 || St. Louis Blues || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || The Checkerdome || 1–0–0 || 2 |- | 2 || Oct 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 1–1–0 || 2 |- | 3 || Oct 15 || Philadelphia Flyers || 8–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || The Spectrum || 1–2–0 || 2 |- | 4 || Oct 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 1–2–1 || 3 |- | 5 || Oct 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–11 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 1–3–1 || 3 |- | 6 || Oct 22 || Atlanta Flames || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Omni Coliseum || 2–3–1 || 5 |- | 7 || Oct 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || Cleveland Barons || Coliseum at Richfield || 3–3–1 || 7 |- | 8 || Oct 26 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Olympia Stadium || 3–4–1 || 7 |- | 9 || Oct 29 || Boston Bruins || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Boston Garden || 3–5–1 || 7 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 2px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 2px solid; November: 4–6–3 (home: 4–0–1; road: 0–6–2), 11 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 10 || Nov 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium || 3–6–1 || 7 |- | 11 || Nov 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || Atlanta Flames || Omni Coliseum || 3–7–1 || 7 |- | 12 || Nov 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 3–8–1 || 7 |- | 13 || Nov 9 || Cleveland Barons || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Coliseum at Richfield || 4–8–1 || 9 |- | 14 || Nov 12 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Chicago Stadium || 5–8–1 || 11 |- | 15 || Nov 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 5–8–2 || 12 |- | 16 || Nov 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–7 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center || 5–9–2 || 12 |- | 17 || Nov 19 || New York Rangers || 5–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 5–9–3 || 13 |- | 18 || Nov 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum || 5–9–4 || 14 |- | 19 || Nov 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 5–10–4 || 14 |- | 20 || Nov 26 || New York Islanders || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 6–10–4 || 16 |- | 21 || Nov 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–9 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 6–11–4 || 16 |- | 22 || Nov 30 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Olympia Stadium || 7–11–4 || 18 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 2px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 2px solid; December: 4–6–4 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–3–2), 12 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 23 || Dec 3 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 7–11–5 || 19 |- | 24 || Dec 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 8–11–5 || 21 |- | 25 || Dec 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Colorado Rockies || McNichols Sports Arena || 8–11–6 || 22 |- | 26 || Dec 8 || Los Angeles Kings || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || The Forum || 8–12–6 || 22 |- | 27 || Dec 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–6 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden || 8–13–6 || 22 |- | 28 || Dec 11 || Atlanta Flames || 5–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Omni Coliseum || 8–14–6 || 22 |- | 29 || Dec 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || St. Louis Blues || The Checkerdome || 8–15–6 || 22 |- | 30 || Dec 17 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Montreal Forum || 9–15–6 || 24 |- | 31 || Dec 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 9–15–7 || 25 |- | 32 || Dec 23 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Maple Leaf Gardens || 9–16–7 || 25 |- | 33 || Dec 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens || 10–16–7 || 27 |- | 34 || Dec 28 || Washington Capitals || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Capital Centre || 10–16–8 || 28 |- | 35 || Dec 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 10–17–8 || 28 |- | 36 || Dec 31 || Cleveland Barons || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Coliseum at Richfield || 11–17–8 || 30 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 2px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 2px solid; January: 5–5–3 (home: 3–2–2; road: 2–3–1), 13 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 37 || Jan 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 11–18–8 || 30 |- | 38 || Jan 4 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Pacific Coliseum || 12–18–8 || 32 |- | 39 || Jan 7 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || The Forum || 12–18–9 || 33 |- | 40 || Jan 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 13–18–9 || 35 |- | 41 || Jan 11 || Montreal Canadiens || 8–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Montreal Forum || 13–19–9 || 35 |- | 42 || Jan 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–4 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 13–19–10 || 36 |- | 43 || Jan 14 || Cleveland Barons || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Coliseum at Richfield || 14–19–10 || 38 |- | 44 || Jan 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–1 || Atlanta Flames || Omni Coliseum || 14–20–10 || 38 |- | 45 || Jan 21 || Washington Capitals || 5–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Capital Centre || 14–21–10 || 38 |- | 46 || Jan 22 || New York Rangers || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 15–21–10 || 40 |- | 47 || Jan 28 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 15–21–11 || 41 |- | 48 || Jan 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–8 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden || 15–22–11 || 41 |- | 49 || Jan 31 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium || 16–22–11 || 43 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 2px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 2px solid; February: 4–2–5 (home: 2–2–2; road: 2–0–3), 13 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 50 || Feb 1 || Minnesota North Stars || 1–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Met Center || 17–22–11 || 45 |- | 51 || Feb 4 || Boston Bruins || 8–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Boston Garden || 17–23–11 || 45 |- | 52 || Feb 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || Colorado Rockies || McNichols Sports Arena || 18–23–11 || 47 |- | 53 || Feb 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 18–23–12 || 48 |- | 54 || Feb 14 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Chicago Stadium || 19–23–12 || 50 |- | 55 || Feb 18 || Los Angeles Kings || 1–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || The Forum || 19–23–13 || 51 |- | 56 || Feb 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium || 19–23–14 || 52 |- | 57 || Feb 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–4 || St. Louis Blues || The Checkerdome || 20–23–14 || 54 |- | 58 || Feb 22 || St. Louis Blues || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || The Checkerdome || 20–23–15 || 55 |- | 59 || Feb 25 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || The Spectrum || 20–24–15 || 55 |- | 60 || Feb 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–4 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 20–24–16 || 56 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 2px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 2px solid; March: 2–11–2 (home: 1–4–2; road: 1–7–0), 6 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 61 || Mar 1 || Montreal Canadiens || 5–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Montreal Forum || 20–25–16 || 56 |- | 62 || Mar 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 20–26–16 || 56 |- | 63 || Mar 5 || New York Islanders || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 20–26–17 || 57 |- | 64 || Mar 8 || Colorado Rockies || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || McNichols Sports Arena || 21–26–17 || 59 |- | 65 || Mar 11 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Pacific Coliseum || 21–27–17 || 59 |- | 66 || Mar 12 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 7–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Maple Leaf Gardens || 21–28–17 || 59 |- | 67 || Mar 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 21–29–17 || 59 |- | 68 || Mar 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–7 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum || 21–30–17 || 59 |- | 69 || Mar 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens || 22–30–17 || 61 |- | 70 || Mar 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–9 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium || 22–31–17 || 61 |- | 71 || Mar 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–7 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center || 22–32–17 || 61 |- | 72 || Mar 22 || Colorado Rockies || 5–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || McNichols Sports Arena || 22–33–17 || 61 |- | 73 || Mar 25 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Olympia Stadium || 22–33–18 || 62 |- | 74 || Mar 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–6 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 22–34–18 || 62 |- | 75 || Mar 30 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden || 22–35–18 || 62 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#4A5391 2px solid; border-bottom:#80A0FF 2px solid; April: 3–2–0 (home: 2–1–0; road: 1–1–0), 6 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 76 || Apr 2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Maple Leaf Gardens || 23–35–18 || 64 |- | 77 || Apr 5 || Minnesota North Stars || 2–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Met Center || 24–35–18 || 66 |- | 78 || Apr 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–6 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium || 24–36–18 || 66 |- | 79 || Apr 8 || Washington Capitals || 6–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Capital Centre || 24–37–18 || 66 |- | 80 || Apr 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || Cleveland Barons || Coliseum at Richfield || 25–37–18 || 68 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Player statistics Skaters + Regular season1977–1978 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=19771978&gameType=2&sort=points&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=S NHL September 28, 2016 October 2, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161002031839/http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=19771978&gameType=2&sort=points&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=S dead Player GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/− Plus/minus PIM Penalty minutes Jean Pronovost 79 40 25 65 -16 –16 50 Peter Mahovlich† 57 25 36 61 4 37 Greg Malone Greg Malone (ice hockey) 78 18 43 61 -16 –16 80 Gene Carr Gene Carr (ice hockey)† 70 17 37 54 -15 –15 76 Rick Kehoe 70 29 21 50 -18 –18 10 Blair Chapman 75 24 20 44 -11 –11 37 Tom Edur† 58 5 38 43 -9 –9 18 Dave Schultz Dave Schultz (ice hockey)† 66 9 25 34 -9 –9 378 Wayne Bianchin 61 20 13 33 -14 –14 40 Mike Corrigan 25 8 12 20 -7 –7 10 Ron Stackhouse 50 5 15 20 -16 –16 36 Brian Spencer 79 9 11 20 -18 –18 81 Dave Burrows 67 4 15 19 -30 –30 24 Russ Anderson 74 2 16 18 -5 –5 150 Peter Lee Peter Lee (ice hockey) 60 5 13 18 -11 –11 19 Lowell MacDonald 19 5 8 13 0 2 Bob Paradise 64 2 10 12 -30 –30 53 John Flesch 29 7 5 12 -7 –7 19 Pierre Larouche‡ 20 6 5 11 -13 –13 0 Dennis Owchar‡ 22 2 8 10 -12 –12 23 Colin Campbell Colin Campbell (ice hockey, born 1953) 55 1 9 10 -19 –19 103 Tom Cassidy 26 3 4 7 -4 –4 15 Syl Apps Jr.‡ 9 0 7 7 0 0 Mario Faubert 18 0 6 6 2 11 James Hamilton Jim Hamilton (ice hockey) 25 2 4 6 -3 –3 2 Derek Sanderson 13 3 1 4 -6 –6 0 Jacques Cossette 19 1 2 3 -5 –5 4 Lew Morrison 8 0 2 2 3 0 Hartland Monahan‡ 7 2 0 2 -7 –7 2 Thomas Price Tom Price (ice hockey) 10 0 0 0 -4 –4 0 Kim Davis Kim Davis (ice hockey) 1 0 0 0 0 0 Total 254 411 665 — 1,280 Goaltenders + Regular Season1977–1978 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats https://www.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=goaliesummary&season=19771978&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 60 20 25 15 210 0 Dunc Wilson 21 5 11 3 95 0 Greg Redquest 1 0 0 0 3 0 Gordon Laxton 2 0 1 0 9 0 Total 25 37 18 317 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. Awards and records Jean Pronovost established a career franchise record for games (753), goals (316) and points (603). He had led in goals since 1972 and games and points since 1973. Syl Apps Jr. established a career franchise record for assists (349). He had led the category since 1972. Dave Schultz established a franchise record for penalty minutes in a season with 378. He was also the first to record 300 PIMs in a season, beating the previous high of 212 held by Bryan Watson. Transactions The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1977–78 season: Trades September 20, 1977 To Buffalo Sabres Ron Schock To Pittsburgh Penguins Brian Spencer October 1, 1977 To Washington Capitals rights to Don Awrey To Pittsburgh Penguins Bob Paradise October 16, 1977 To Washington Capitals 1979 1st round pick (Tom McCarthy) To Pittsburgh Penguins Hartland Monahan November 2, 1977 To Los Angeles Kings Syl Apps Jr.Hartland Monahan To Pittsburgh Penguins Gene CarrDave Schultz1978 4th round pick (Shane Pearsall) November 29, 1977 To Montreal Canadiens Pierre Larouchefuture considerations (rights to Peter Marsh) To Pittsburgh Penguins Peter LeePete Mahovlich December 2, 1977 To Colorado Rockies Dennis Owchar To Pittsburgh Penguins Tom Edur June 13, 1978 To Toronto Maple Leafs Dave Burrows1978 6th round pick (Mel Hewitt) To Pittsburgh Penguins Randy CarlyleGeorge Ferguson Additions and subtractions Additions Player Former team Via Tom Cassidy Boston Bruins free agency (1977-10-11) John Flesch Minnesota North Stars free agency (1978-02-04) Derek Sanderson Vancouver Canucks free agency (1978-03-14) Subtractions Player New team Via J. Bob Kelly Chicago Black Hawks free agency (1977-08-17) Peter Marsh Montreal Canadiens to complete trade that sent Pierre Larouche to Canadiens (1977-12-15) Draft picks List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks The 1977 NHL amateur draft was held in Montreal.NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=1977&team=PIT&position=&round= https://web.archive.org/web/20231111123219/https://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=1977&team=PIT&position=&round= dead November 11, 2023 NHL Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League) 2 30 James Hamilton Right wing Canada London Knights (OHA) 3 48 Kim Davis Center Canada Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) 4 66 Mark Johnson Center United States U. of Wisconsin (NCAA) 6 102 Gregory Millen Goaltender Canada Peterborough Petes (OHA) References Penguins on Hockey Database Category:Pittsburgh Penguins seasons Pittsburgh Pitts Pitts Category:1977 in Pittsburgh Category:1970s in Pittsburgh