1978–79 Pittsburgh Penguins season explained

League:NHL
Season:1978–79
Year:1978
Team:Pittsburgh Penguins
Conferencerank:4th
Divisionrank:2nd
Record:36-31-13
Goalsfor:281
Goalsagainst:279
Altcaptain:None
Goalsleader:Greg Malone (35)
Assistsleader:Orest Kindrachuk (42)
Pointsleader:Greg Malone (65)
Pimleader:Dave Schultz (157)
Winsleader:Denis Herron (22)
Gaaleader:Denis Herron (3.37)

The 1978–79 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their 12th in the National Hockey League. 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.

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|- style="background:#fcf;"| 1 || Oct 11 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 0–1–0 || 0|- style="background:#fcf;"| 2 || Oct 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–8 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden || 0–2–0 || 0|- style="background:#ffc;"| 3 || Oct 14 || Boston Bruins || 4–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 0–2–1 || 1|- style="background:#fcf;"| 4 || Oct 18 || New York Islanders || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 0–3–1 || 1|- style="background:#fcf;"| 5 || Oct 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 0–4–1 || 1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 6 || Oct 21 || Washington Capitals || 1–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 1–4–1 || 3|- style="background:#ffc;"| 7 || Oct 25 || St. Louis Blues || 6–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 1–4–2 || 4|- style="background:#fcf;"| 8 || Oct 28 || Atlanta Flames || 4–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 1–5–2 || 4|- style="background:#fcf;"| 9 || Oct 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 1–6–2 || 4|-|- style="background:#fcf;"| 10 || Nov 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–6 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 1–7–2 || 4|- style="background:#fcf;"| 11 || Nov 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–2 || Atlanta Flames || Omni Coliseum || 1–8–2 || 4|- style="background:#cfc;"| 12 || Nov 4 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 2–8–2 || 6|- style="background:#cfc;"| 13 || Nov 8 || Colorado Rockies || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 3–8–2 || 8|- style="background:#ffc;"| 14 || Nov 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–4 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 3–8–3 || 9|- style="background:#fcf;"| 15 || Nov 11 || New York Rangers || 2–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 3–9–3 || 9|- style="background:#cfc;"| 16 || Nov 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–3 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum || 4–9–3 || 11|- style="background:#cfc;"| 17 || Nov 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 5–9–3 || 13|- style="background:#fcf;"| 18 || Nov 22 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 5–10–3 || 13|- style="background:#fcf;"| 19 || Nov 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–8 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 5–11–3 || 13|- style="background:#fcf;"| 20 || Nov 25 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 5–12–3 || 13|- style="background:#fcf;"| 21 || Nov 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–8 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens || 5–13–3 || 13|- style="background:#cfc;"| 22 || Nov 29 || Washington Capitals || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 6–13–3 || 15|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 23 || Dec 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–4 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 7–13–3 || 17|- style="background:#cfc;"| 24 || Dec 2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 8–13–3 || 19|- style="background:#ffc;"| 25 || Dec 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 8–13–4 || 20|- style="background:#cfc;"| 26 || Dec 6 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 9–13–4 || 22|- style="background:#ffc;"| 27 || Dec 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 9–13–5 || 23|- style="background:#ffc;"| 28 || Dec 9 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 9–13–6 || 24|- style="background:#cfc;"| 29 || Dec 13 || St. Louis Blues || 0–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 10–13–6 || 26|- style="background:#fcf;"| 30 || Dec 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 10–14–6 || 26|- style="background:#cfc;"| 31 || Dec 16 || Vancouver Canucks || 5–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 11–14–6 || 28|- style="background:#ffc;"| 32 || Dec 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium || 11–14–7 || 29|- style="background:#cfc;"| 33 || Dec 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 12–14–7 || 31|- style="background:#fcf;"| 34 || Dec 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center || 12–15–7 || 31|- style="background:#cfc;"| 35 || Dec 27 || Los Angeles Kings || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 13–15–7 || 33|- style="background:#cfc;"| 36 || Dec 30 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 14–15–7 || 35|- style="background:#cfc;"| 37 || Dec 31 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–4 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium || 15–15–7 || 37|-|- style="background:#fcf;"| 38 || Jan 3 || Vancouver Canucks || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 15–16–7 || 37|- style="background:#ffc;"| 39 || Jan 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Atlanta Flames || Omni Coliseum || 15–16–8 || 38|- style="background:#fcf;"| 40 || Jan 6 || Los Angeles Kings || 4–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 15–17–8 || 38|- style="background:#cfc;"| 41 || Jan 10 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 16–17–8 || 40|- style="background:#cfc;"| 42 || Jan 13 || Boston Bruins || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 17–17–8 || 42|- style="background:#cfc;"| 43 || Jan 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–4 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 18–17–8 || 44|- style="background:#cfc;"| 44 || Jan 16 || Minnesota North Stars || 0–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 19–17–8 || 46|- style="background:#fcf;"| 45 || Jan 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium || 19–18–8 || 46|- style="background:#fcf;"| 46 || Jan 20 || Washington Capitals || 5–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 19–19–8 || 46|- style="background:#fcf;"| 47 || Jan 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 19–20–8 || 46|- style="background:#fcf;"| 48 || Jan 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Colorado Rockies || McNichols Sports Arena || 19–21–8 || 46|- style="background:#cfc;"| 49 || Jan 27 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 20–21–8 || 48|- style="background:#fcf;"| 50 || Jan 31 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 20–22–8 || 48|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 51 || Feb 3 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 21–22–8 || 50|- style="background:#fcf;"| 52 || Feb 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–8 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium || 21–23–8 || 50|- style="background:#cfc;"| 53 || Feb 15 || Minnesota North Stars || 5–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 22–23–8 || 52|- style="background:#cfc;"| 54 || Feb 17 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 23–23–8 || 54|- style="background:#fcf;"| 55 || Feb 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–6 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium || 23–24–8 || 54|- style="background:#cfc;"| 56 || Feb 21 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 24–24–8 || 56|- style="background:#fcf;"| 57 || Feb 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–12 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 24–25–8 || 56|- style="background:#cfc;"| 58 || Feb 24 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 25–25–8 || 58|- style="background:#ffc;"| 59 || Feb 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium || 25–25–9 || 59|- style="background:#cfc;"| 60 || Feb 28 || Colorado Rockies || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 26–25–9 || 61|-|- style="background:#fcf;"| 61 || Mar 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–8 || St. Louis Blues || The Checkerdome || 26–26–9 || 61|- style="background:#cfc;"| 62 || Mar 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–2 || Colorado Rockies || McNichols Sports Arena || 27–26–9 || 63|- style="background:#fcf;"| 63 || Mar 7 || Los Angeles Kings || 4–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 27–27–9 || 63|- style="background:#cfc;"| 64 || Mar 10 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 28–27–9 || 65|- style="background:#fcf;"| 65 || Mar 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens || 28–28–9 || 65|- style="background:#cfc;"| 66 || Mar 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 9–3 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum || 29–28–9 || 67|- style="background:#ffc;"| 67 || Mar 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 29–28–10 || 68|- style="background:#cfc;"| 68 || Mar 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–2 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 30–28–10 || 70|- style="background:#cfc;"| 69 || Mar 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–1 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 31–28–10 || 72|- style="background:#ffc;"| 70 || Mar 21 || Washington Capitals || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 31–28–11 || 73|- style="background:#cfc;"| 71 || Mar 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden || 32–28–11 || 75|- style="background:#ffc;"| 72 || Mar 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 32–28–12 || 76|- style="background:#ffc;"| 73 || Mar 25 || New York Islanders || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 32–28–13 || 77|- style="background:#cfc;"| 74 || Mar 27 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–1 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center || 33–28–13 || 79|- style="background:#cfc;"| 75 || Mar 28 || New York Rangers || 1–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 34–28–13 || 81|- style="background:#fcf;"| 76 || Mar 31 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 34–29–13 || 81|-|- style="background:#fcf;"| 77 || Apr 1 || Atlanta Flames || 7–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 34–30–13 || 81|- style="background:#cfc;"| 78 || Apr 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || St. Louis Blues || The Checkerdome || 35–30–13 || 83|- style="background:#cfc;"| 79 || Apr 7 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 36–30–13 || 85|- style="background:#fcf;"| 80 || Apr 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 36–31–13 || 85|-|- style="text-align:center;"| Legend:      = Win      = Loss      = Tie

Playoffs

Quarterfinals vs. Boston

Player statistics

Skaters
Regular Season[1]
Player
80 35 30 65 6 52
79 18 42 60 3 84
80 32 26 58 24
60 14 39 53 39
80 21 29 50 10 37
70 13 34 47 4 78
80 24 22 46 7 38
57 27 18 45 14 2
74 24 21 45 33
75 10 33 43 21 54
60 15 22 37 8 9
63 5 24 29 35
78 4 23 27 64
65 2 18 20 14 137
71 10 8 18 18
72 3 13 16 1 93
† 28 5 9 14 4 2
‡ 47 4 9 13 157
40 7 4 11 20
38 7 2 9 16
14 0 1 1 4
1 1 0 1 0 0
2 0 0 0 4
2 0 0 0 0 0
4 0 0 0 5
7 0 0 0 0 0
2 0 0 0 0 0
Total 281 427 708 — 1,005
Playoffs[2]
Player
7 1 4 5 0 30
7 4 1 5 0 7
7 0 4 4 0 2
7 2 1 3 0 0
5 3 0 3 0 0
7 1 2 3 0 0
7 0 3 3 0 0
7 2 1 3 0 0
7 0 2 2 0 9
7 0 2 2 0 0
7 2 0 2 0 4
7 1 0 1 0 2
7 0 1 1 0 10
2 0 1 1 0 0
3 0 1 1 0 4
2 0 0 0 0 0
7 0 0 0 0 4
7 0 0 0 0 12
2 0 0 0 0 0
2 0 0 0 0 0
Total 16 23 39 — 84
Goaltenders
Regular Season[3]
Player
56 22 19 12 180 0
28 14 11 1 86 2
1 0 1 0 8 0
Total 36 31 13 274 2
Playoffs[4]
Player
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, 1978To Boston Bruins----Jean PronovostTo Pittsburgh Penguins----Gregg Sheppard
October 9, 1978To Chicago Blackhawks----1980 2nd round pickTo Pittsburgh Penguins----Dale Tallon
October 18, 1978To Montreal Canadiens----1981 1st round pickTo Pittsburgh Penguins----Rod Schutt
November 17, 1978To Vancouver Canucks----Dunc WilsonTo Pittsburgh Penguins----cash
February 6, 1979To Buffalo Sabres----Dave SchultzTo Pittsburgh Penguins----Gary McAdam
June 9, 1979To Winnipeg Jets----1980 7th round pickTo Pittsburgh Penguins----Jets promise not to claim Kim Clackson as a priority selection from its WHA franchise
August 3, 1979To Detroit Red Wings----Pete MahovlichTo Pittsburgh Penguins----Nick Libett

Additions and subtractions

Additions
Player Former team Via
Subtractions
Player New team Via
free agency (1978-06-06)
Cincinnati Stingers (WHA) free agency (1978-10)

Draft picks

See also: List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks.

The 1978 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 15, 1978, in Montreal.[5]

RoundPlayerPosNationalityCollege/Junior/Club team (League)
align=center 2align=center 25Michael MeekerRight wingPeterborough Petes (OHA)
align=center 4align=center 61Shane PearsallLeft wingOttawa 67's (OHA)
align=center 5align=center 75Robert GarnerCenterToronto Marlboros (OHA)

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1978–1979 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
  2. Web site: 1978–1979 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
  3. Web site: 1978–1979 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
  4. Web site: 1978–1979 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
  5. Web site: NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results. NHL.

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