1978–79 Boston Bruins season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1978–79
Year:	1978
Team:	Boston Bruins
Conferencerank:	2nd
Divisionrank:	1st
Record:	43–23–14
Goalsfor:	316
Goalsagainst:	270
Altcaptain:	None
Goalsleader:	Rick Middleton (38)
Assistsleader:	Terry O'Reilly (51)
Pointsleader:	Rick Middleton (86)
Pimleader:	Terry O'Reilly (205)
Winsleader:	Gerry Cheevers (23)
Gaaleader:	Gerry Cheevers (3.16)
Divisionwin:	Yes

The 1978–79 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 55th season. 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.

Offseason

NHL Draft

See also: 1978 NHL Amateur Draft.

Round	Overall	Player	Nationality	Position
1	16	Al Secord		Left Wing
2	35	Graeme Nicolson		Defenseman
3	52	Brad Knelson		Defenseman
4	68	George Buat		Right Wing
5	85	Daryl MacLeod		Left Wing
6	102	Jeff Brubaker		Left Wing
7	119	Murray Skinner		Goalie
8	136	Bobby Hehir		Center
9	153	Craig MacTavish		Center

Regular season

• Al Secord made his NHL debut with the Bruins during the 1978–79 season.

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Regular season schedule

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 12, 1978	8–2	Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79)	1–0–0
2	T	October 14, 1978	4–4	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79)	1–0–1
3	W	October 15, 1978	4–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79)	2–0–1
4	W	October 18, 1978	3–2	@ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79)	3–0–1
5	W	October 20, 1978	5–1	@ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79)	4–0–1
6	L	October 22, 1978	5–6	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79)	4–1–1
7	W	October 24, 1978	7–2	@ St. Louis Blues (1978–79)	5–1–1
8	T	October 25, 1978	2–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79)	5–1–2
9	W	October 28, 1978	5–3	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79)	6–1–2
10	W	November 2, 1978	4–1	New York Islanders (1978–79)	7–1–2
11	L	November 4, 1978	3–7	Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79)	7–2–2
12	T	November 5, 1978	1–1	Montreal Canadiens (1978–79)	7–2–3
13	W	November 9, 1978	6–2	Washington Capitals (1978–79)	8–2–3
14	L	November 11, 1978	1–7	@ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79)	8–3–3
15	T	November 12, 1978	4–4	@ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79)	8–3–4
16	L	November 16, 1978	4–6	Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79)	8–4–4
17	W	November 17, 1978	6–2	@ Atlanta Flames (1978–79)	9–4–4
18	W	November 19, 1978	5–2	St. Louis Blues (1978–79)	10–4–4
19	W	November 23, 1978	5–2	Buffalo Sabres (1978–79)	11–4–4
20	T	November 25, 1978	5–5	@ Washington Capitals (1978–79)	11–4–5
21	W	November 26, 1978	4–2	Atlanta Flames (1978–79)	12–4–5
22	W	November 30, 1978	4–3	@ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79)	13–4–5
23	W	December 2, 1978	5–3	Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79)	14–4–5
24	W	December 3, 1978	3–2	@ New York Rangers (1978–79)	15–4–5
25	W	December 5, 1978	5–1	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79)	16–4–5
26	W	December 7, 1978	6–5	Detroit Red Wings (1978–79)	17–4–5
27	L	December 9, 1978	2–9	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79)	17–5–5
28	T	December 10, 1978	4–4	Minnesota North Stars (1978–79)	17–5–6
29	W	December 12, 1978	7–3	Vancouver Canucks (1978–79)	18–5–6
30	W	December 14, 1978	5–2	Washington Capitals (1978–79)	19–5–6
31	W	December 16, 1978	4–1	New York Rangers (1978–79)	20–5–6
32	W	December 17, 1978	4–1	@ New York Rangers (1978–79)	21–5–6
33	W	December 21, 1978	4–2	Colorado Rockies (1978–79)	22–5–6
34	W	December 23, 1978	6–4	Buffalo Sabres (1978–79)	23–5–6
35	T	December 27, 1978	1–1	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79)	23–5–7
36	L	December 30, 1978	1–6	@ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79)	23–6–7
37	W	December 31, 1978	7–3	@ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79)	24–6–7
38	W	January 3, 1979	6–3	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79)	25–6–7
39	W	January 5, 1979	5–3	@ Colorado Rockies (1978–79)	26–6–7
40	W	January 6, 1979	5–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79)	27–6–7
41	W	January 11, 1979	6–4	Minnesota North Stars (1978–79)	28–6–7
42	L	January 13, 1979	3–5	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79)	28–7–7
43	L	January 14, 1979	3–6	Los Angeles Kings (1978–79)	28–8–7
44	L	January 16, 1979	2–5	@ St. Louis Blues (1978–79)	28–9–7
45	W	January 18, 1979	4–0	St. Louis Blues (1978–79)	29–9–7
46	L	January 20, 1979	1–2	Buffalo Sabres (1978–79)	29–10–7
47	W	January 22, 1979	3–1	Atlanta Flames (1978–79)	30–10–7
48	L	January 25, 1979	2–4	New York Islanders (1978–79)	30–11–7
49	L	January 27, 1979	1–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79)	30–12–7
50	L	January 28, 1979	3–5	Los Angeles Kings (1978–79)	30–13–7
51	T	January 31, 1979	2–2	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79)	30–13–8
52	W	February 1, 1979	6–1	Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79)	31–13–8
53	T	February 3, 1979	4–4	@ New York Islanders (1978–79)	31–13–9
54	W	February 4, 1979	6–1	Vancouver Canucks (1978–79)	32–13–9
55	L	February 14, 1979	1–5	@ New York Rangers (1978–79)	32–14–9
56	L	February 15, 1979	3–5	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79)	32–15–9
57	T	February 17, 1979	3–3	@ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79)	32–15–10
58	W	February 20, 1979	5–3	@ Colorado Rockies (1978–79)	33–15–10
59	L	February 21, 1979	1–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79)	33–16–10
60	W	February 24, 1979	4–3	@ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79)	34–16–10
61	L	February 27, 1979	2–4	Colorado Rockies (1978–79)	34–17–10
62	T	March 1, 1979	4–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79)	34–17–11
63	W	March 3, 1979	5–0	Minnesota North Stars (1978–79)	35–17–11
64	W	March 4, 1979	6–4	@ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79)	36–17–11
65	L	March 8, 1979	5–7	@ Atlanta Flames (1978–79)	36–18–11
66	W	March 10, 1979	4–3	@ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79)	37–18–11
67	T	March 11, 1979	4–4	New York Islanders (1978–79)	37–18–12
68	L	March 13, 1979	2–7	@ New York Islanders (1978–79)	37–19–12
69	L	March 15, 1979	4–7	New York Rangers (1978–79)	37–20–12
70	W	March 17, 1979	4–2	Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79)	38–20–12
71	W	March 19, 1979	4–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79)	39–20–12
72	L	March 22, 1979	1–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79)	39–21–12
73	W	March 24, 1979	5–2	Detroit Red Wings (1978–79)	40–21–12
74	L	March 28, 1979	2–9	@ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79)	40–22–12
75	W	March 29, 1979	7–4	Minnesota North Stars (1978–79)	41–22–12
76	W	March 31, 1979	4–1	@ Washington Capitals (1978–79)	42–22–12
77	T	April 1, 1979	3–3	Montreal Canadiens (1978–79)	42–22–13
78	T	April 4, 1979	3–3	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79)	42–22–14
79	L	April 5, 1979	3–9	Buffalo Sabres (1978–79)	42–23–14
80	W	April 8, 1979	6–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79)	43–23–14

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
	RW	71	38	48	86	7	33	12	1	5
	C	76	35	45	80	10	29	4	0	4
	RW	80	26	51	77	205	7	3	0	5
	C	80	27	45	72	12	17	11	0	5
	LW	75	27	40	67	63	16	10	0	4
	C	77	15	33	48	30	20	0	0	1
	LW	79	20	27	47	10	6	2	4	5
	LW	76	28	18	46	106	20	0	0	4
	RW	65	20	22	42	77	-1	6	1	4
	D	40	7	32	39	10	28	3	0	0
	D	74	1	34	35	149	23	0	0	0
	D	64	7	26	33	21	0	4	0	1
	D	67	9	20	29	28	22	0	0	2
	D	65	7	18	25	46	20	0	0	1
	RW	44	11	13	24	14	-1	2	0	0
	LW	71	16	7	23	125	7	0	0	0
	D	63	6	11	17	28	12	1	0	0
	LW	33	6	9	15	96	8	0	0	1
	D	64	2	8	10	107	16	0	0	0
	C	14	4	2	6	0	-1	0	0	1
	LW	7	1	4	5	2	4	0	0	0
	RW	17	3	1	4	0	-3	1	0	0
	G	43	0	2	2	23	0	0	0	0
	D	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	G	23	0	0	0	16	0	0	0	0
	D	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	G	19	0	0	0	17	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
	2509	43	23	9	10	132	3.16	1
	1254	23	12	8	2	74	3.54	0
	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
	C	11	7	6	13	2	2	0	2
	RW	11	4	8	12	0	2	0	1
	LW	10	4	5	9	8	1	0	1
	LW	11	5	3	8	10	0	0	0
	C	11	5	3	8	0	0	0	0
	D	11	1	7	8	7	0	0	1
	RW	11	0	6	6	25	0	0	0
	LW	11	4	1	5	12	0	0	0
	D	11	1	4	5	8	0	0	1
	RW	11	2	2	4	6	1	0	0
	RW	11	1	3	4	0	0	0	0
	D	11	1	3	4	2	0	1	0
	D	11	0	4	4	12	0	0	0
	C	11	1	1	2	8	0	0	0
	D	7	0	2	2	4	0	0	0
	D	11	0	2	2	0	0	0	0
	LW	8	0	1	1	19	0	0	0
	G	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	G	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	LW	4	0	0	0	4	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA	SO
	360	6	4	2	15	2.50	0
	314	5	3	2	16	3.06	0
Team:	674	11	7	4	31	2.76	0

^[1]

Playoffs

Quarter-finals

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

Semi-finals

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 Finals.

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: hockey-reference.com . 2009-06-09 . 1978-79 Boston Bruins Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com.