1977–78 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 1977–78 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' 11th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

1977–78 Philadelphia Flyers
Division	2nd Patrick
Conference	2nd Campbell
1977–78 record	45–20–15
Home record	29–6–5
Road record	16–14–10
Goals for	296 (4th)
Goals against	200 (2nd)
Team information
General manager	Keith Allen
Coach	Fred Shero
Captain	Bobby Clarke
Alternate captains	None[a]
Arena	Spectrum
Average attendance	17,077[1]
Minor league affiliate(s)	Maine Mariners Philadelphia Firebirds
Team leaders
Goals	Bill Barber (41)
Assists	Bobby Clarke (68)
Points	Bobby Clarke (89)
Penalty minutes	André Dupont (225)
Plus/minus	Bobby Clarke (+47)
Wins	Bernie Parent (29)
Goals against average	Bernie Parent (2.22)
← 1976–77 1978–79 →

Regular season

The Flyers lost their hold on the Patrick Division in 1977–78 and settled for second place.

Tom Bladon's 8 points (4 goals and 4 assists) in a game against the Cleveland Barons on December 11 set an NHL record for a defenseman.^[2]

Season standings

Patrick Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
New York Islanders	80	48	17	15	334	210	111
Philadelphia Flyers	80	45	20	15	296	200	105
Atlanta Flames	80	34	27	19	274	252	87
New York Rangers	80	30	37	13	279	280	73

^[3]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Patrick Division 1977–78 NHL records Team ATL NYI NYR PHI Total Atlanta — 1–2–3 6–0 1–4–1 8–6–4 N.Y. Islanders 2–1–3 — 4–2 2–1–3 8–4–6 N.Y. Rangers 0–6 2–4 — 0–4–2 2–14–2 Philadelphia 4–1–1 1–2–3 4–0–2 — 9–3–6 Vs. Smythe Division 1977–78 NHL records Team CHI COL MIN STL VAN Total Atlanta 1–2–2 2–1–2 4–1 4–0–1 2–1–2 13–5–7 N.Y. Islanders 2–1–2 4–0–1 4–1 4–0–1 5–0 19–2–4 N.Y. Rangers 3–1–1 2–2–1 3–0–2 4–0–1 4–1 16–4–5 Philadelphia 2–2–1 3–2 3–2 4–1 5–0 17–7–1 Vs. Adams Division 1977–78 NHL records Team BOS BUF CLE TOR Total Atlanta 1–2–1 1–2–1 2–1–1 3–2 7–7–3 N.Y. Islanders 3–1 2–3 1–1–2 3–1 9–6–2 N.Y. Rangers 1–4 1–2–1 3–1 1–3 6–10–1 Philadelphia 2–1–1 0–3–1 4–0–1 1–3 7–7–3 Vs. Norris Division 1977–78 NHL records[4] Team DET LAK MTL PIT WSH Total Atlanta 1–2–1 1–2–1 0–2–2 3–1 1–2–1 6–9–5 N.Y. Islanders 4–0 2–0–2 0–4 2–1–1 4–0 12–5–3 N.Y. Rangers 2–1–1 1–3 1–3 0–2–2 2–0–2 6–9–5 Philadelphia 2–1–1 3–0–1 0–2–2 3–0–1 4–0 12–3–5

Playoffs

After sweeping the Colorado Rockies in 2 games in the preliminary round, the Flyers moved on and beat Buffalo in five games. They faced Boston in the semifinals for the second consecutive season, and lost again, this time in five games.

Schedule and results

Regular season

1977–78 regular season[5]
October: 5–2–1, 11 points (home: 3–1–0; road: 2–1–1) Game Date Score Opponent Decision Record Points Recap 1 October 13 5–1 Chicago Black Hawks Stephenson 1–0–0 2 W 2 October 15 8–2 @ Pittsburgh Penguins Parent 2–0–0 4 W 3 October 16 7–0 St. Louis Blues Stephenson 3–0–0 6 W 4 October 20 11–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Parent 4–0–0 8 W 5 October 22 1–6 @ Toronto Maple Leafs Stephenson 4–1–0 8 L 6 October 23 3–6 Toronto Maple Leafs Parent 4–2–0 8 L 7 October 26 2–2 @ Chicago Black Hawks Parent 4–2–1 9 T 8 October 29 7–3 @ St. Louis Blues Parent 5–2–1 11 W
November: 9–2–2, 20 points (home: 6–1–1; road: 3–1–1) Game Date Score Opponent Decision Record Points Recap 9 November 3 4–1 Washington Capitals Parent 6–2–1 13 W 10 November 5 3–1 @ Washington Capitals Stephenson 7–2–1 15 W 11 November 6 3–2 Vancouver Canucks Parent 8–2–1 17 W 12 November 10 2–3 Buffalo Sabres Stephenson 8–3–1 17 L 13 November 12 2–2 @ New York Islanders Parent 8–3–2 18 T 14 November 13 3–0 Detroit Red Wings Stephenson 9–3–2 20 W 15 November 17 4–4 New York Islanders Parent 9–3–3 21 T 16 November 19 7–2 @ Minnesota North Stars Stephenson 10–3–3 23 W 17 November 20 4–0 Atlanta Flames Parent 11–3–3 25 W 18 November 23 1–4 @ Detroit Red Wings Stephenson 11–4–3 25 L 19 November 25 7–2 Cleveland Barons Parent 12–4–3 27 W 20 November 27 2–0 Los Angeles Kings Stephenson 13–4–3 29 W 21 November 29 3–0 @ Vancouver Canucks Parent 14–4–3 31 W
December: 10–3–1, 21 points (home: 5–1–0; road: 5–2–1) Game Date Score Opponent Decision Record Points Recap 22 December 1 4–2 @ Los Angeles Kings Stephenson 15–4–3 33 W 23 December 3 6–3 @ Colorado Rockies Parent 16–4–3 35 W 24 December 7 3–3 @ New York Rangers Stephenson 16–4–4 36 T 25 December 8 7–4 New York Rangers Parent 17–4–4 38 W 26 December 10 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks Stephenson 18–4–4 40 W 27 December 11 11–1 Cleveland Barons Parent 19–4–4 42 W 28 December 15 6–4 Boston Bruins Stephenson 20–4–4 44 W 29 December 17 4–3 @ Atlanta Flames Parent 21–4–4 46 W 30 December 18 0–2 Montreal Canadiens Stephenson 21–5–4 46 L 31 December 21 4–0 @ Cleveland Barons Parent 22–5–4 48 W 32 December 23 1–6 @ Boston Bruins Stephenson 22–6–4 48 L 33 December 28 4–3 @ New York Rangers Parent 23–6–4 50 W 34 December 29 5–2 Minnesota North Stars Stephenson 24–6–4 52 W 35 December 31 2–3 @ St. Louis Blues Parent 24–7–4 52 L
January: 4–4–5, 13 points (home: 3–0–3; road: 1–4–2) Game Date Score Opponent Decision Record Points Recap 36 January 3 5–4 Cleveland Barons Stephenson 25–7–4 54 W 37 January 5 4–4 Los Angeles Kings Parent 25–7–5 55 T 38 January 6 3–5 @ Atlanta Flames Stephenson 25–8–5 55 L 39 January 9 3–3 @ Montreal Canadiens Parent 25–8–6 56 T 40 January 11 4–5 @ Chicago Black Hawks Stephenson 25–9–6 56 L 41 January 12 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Parent 25–9–7 57 T 42 January 14 4–1 New York Rangers Parent 26–9–7 59 W 43 January 16 5–3 Atlanta Flames Parent 27–9–7 61 W 44 January 19 1–1 Montreal Canadiens Parent 27–9–8 62 T 45 January 21 1–6 @ New York Islanders Parent 27–10–8 62 L 46 January 26 6–2 @ Vancouver Canucks Parent 28–10–8 64 W 47 January 28 4–6 @ Colorado Rockies Stephenson 28–11–8 64 L 48 January 29 3–3 @ Detroit Red Wings Parent 28–11–9 65 T
February: 7–4–2, 16 points (home: 5–2–0; road: 2–2–2) Game Date Score Opponent Decision Record Points Recap 49 February 1 1–3 @ Chicago Black Hawks Parent 28–12–9 65 L 50 February 2 3–0 Colorado Rockies Parent 29–12–9 67 W 51 February 4 2–2 @ Cleveland Barons Parent 29–12–10 68 T 52 February 6 2–0 St. Louis Blues Parent 30–12–10 70 W 53 February 9 5–2 Vancouver Canucks Parent 31–12–10 72 W 54 February 12 4–1 Washington Capitals Parent 32–12–10 74 W 55 February 16 2–4 Minnesota North Stars St. Croix 32–13–10 74 L 56 February 18 4–2 Detroit Red Wings Parent 33–13–10 76 W 57 February 19 1–4 New York Islanders Parent 33–14–10 76 L 58 February 23 0–4 @ Buffalo Sabres St. Croix 33–15–10 76 L 59 February 25 3–1 @ Pittsburgh Penguins St. Croix 34–15–10 78 W 60 February 26 6–1 @ Washington Capitals St. Croix 35–15–10 80 W 61 February 28 4–4 @ Boston Bruins St. Croix 35–15–11 81 T
March: 8–4–2, 18 points (home: 6–0–1; road: 2–4–1) Game Date Score Opponent Decision Record Points Recap 62 March 1 2–3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs St. Croix 35–16–11 81 L 63 March 4 1–7 @ Montreal Canadiens St. Croix 35–17–11 81 L 64 March 5 7–1 St. Louis Blues Parent 36–17–11 83 W 65 March 7 5–3 Atlanta Flames Stephenson 37–17–11 85 W 66 March 11 6–2 Boston Bruins Parent 38–17–11 87 W 67 March 12 6–2 Colorado Rockies Stephenson 39–17–11 89 W 68 March 15 2–2 @ New York Rangers Parent 39–17–12 90 T 69 March 16 1–3 @ Buffalo Sabres Stephenson 39–18–12 90 L 70 March 18 2–2 Buffalo Sabres Parent 39–18–13 91 T 71 March 20 4–2 New York Islanders Parent 40–18–13 93 W 72 March 23 4–1 Toronto Maple Leafs Parent 41–18–13 95 W 73 March 25 4–3 @ Minnesota North Stars Parent 42–18–13 97 W 74 March 28 3–4 @ Colorado Rockies Parent 42–19–13 97 L 75 March 31 3–2 @ Vancouver Canucks Stephenson 43–19–13 99 W
April: 2–1–2, 6 points (home: 1–1–0; road: 1–0–2) Game Date Score Opponent Decision Record Points Recap 76 April 1 4–2 @ Los Angeles Kings Parent 44–19–13 101 W 77 April 4 3–3 @ New York Islanders Parent 44–19–14 102 T 78 April 6 3–0 New York Rangers Parent 45–19–14 104 W 79 April 8 1–1 @ Atlanta Flames Parent 45–19–15 105 T 80 April 9 1–3 Minnesota North Stars Stephenson 45–20–15 105 L
Legend: W Win (2 points) L Loss (0 points) T Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1978 Stanley Cup playoffs[5]
Preliminary Round vs. Colorado Rockies – Flyers win 2–0 Game Date Score Opponent Decision Series Recap 1 April 11 3–2 OT Colorado Rockies Parent Flyers lead 1–0 W 2 April 13 3–1 @ Colorado Rockies Parent Flyers win 2–0 W
Quarterfinals vs. Buffalo Sabres – Flyers win 4–1 Game Date Score Opponent Decision Series Recap 1 April 17 2–4 Buffalo Sabres Parent Sabres lead 1–0 W 2 April 19 2–1 OT Buffalo Sabres Parent Series tied 1–1 W 3 April 22 5–2 @ Buffalo Sabres Parent Flyers lead 2–1 L 4 April 23 4–2 @ Buffalo Sabres Parent Flyers lead 3–1 W 5 April 25 6–3 Buffalo Sabres Parent Flyers win 4–1 W
Semifinals vs. Boston Bruins – Bruins win 4–1 Game Date Score Opponent Decision Series Recap 1 May 2 2–3 @ Boston Bruins Parent Bruins lead 1–0 L 2 May 4 5–7 @ Boston Bruins Parent Bruins lead 2–0 L 3 May 7 3–1 Boston Bruins Parent Bruins lead 2–1 W 4 May 9 2–4 Boston Bruins Parent Bruins lead 3–1 L 5 May 11 3–6 @ Boston Bruins Parent Bruins win 4–1 L
Legend: W Win L Loss

Player statistics

Scoring

• Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
• † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
• ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.

No.	Player	Pos	Regular season						Playoffs
			GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
16	Bobby Clarke	C	71	21	68	89	47	83	12	4	7	11	−5	8
7	Bill Barber	LW	80	41	31	72	31	34	12	6	3	9	−2	2
19	Rick MacLeish	LW	76	31	39	70	24	33	12	7	9	16	1	4
26	Orest Kindrachuk	C	73	17	45	62	35	128	12	5	5	10	3	13
2	Bob Dailey	D	76	21	36	57	45	62	12	1	5	6	−2	22
27	Reggie Leach	RW	72	24	28	52	20	24	12	2	2	4	−3	0
18	Ross Lonsberry	LW	78	18	30	48	41	45	12	2	2	4	−3	6
10	Mel Bridgman	C	76	16	32	48	26	203	12	1	7	8	0	36
11	Don Saleski	RW	70	27	18	45	34	44	11	2	0	2	2	19
3	Tom Bladon	D	79	11	24	35	32	57	12	0	2	2	−4	11
17	Paul Holmgren	RW	62	16	18	34	23	190	12	1	4	5	−7	26
9	Bob Kelly	LW	74	19	13	32	15	95	12	3	5	8	8	26
29	Barry Dean	LW	56	7	18	25	12	34	—	—	—	—	—	—
5	Rick Lapointe	D	47	4	16	20	35	91	12	0	3	3	−3	19
20	Jimmy Watson	D	71	5	12	17	33	62	12	1	7	8	4	6
25	Kevin McCarthy	D	62	2	15	17	29	32	10	0	1	1	2	8
14	Joe Watson	D	65	5	9	14	23	22	1	0	0	0	−1	0
6	Andre Dupont	D	69	2	12	14	31	225	12	2	1	3	4	13
12	Gary Dornhoefer	RW	47	7	5	12	−3	62	4	0	0	0	0	7
8	Dave Hoyda	LW	41	1	3	4	−5	119	9	0	0	0	1	17
22	Harvey Bennett‡	C	2	1	0	1	1	7	—	—	—	—	—	—
32	Blake Dunlop†	C	3	0	1	1	1	0	—	—	—	—	—	—
21	Frank Bathe	D	1	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—
28	Drew Callander	C	1	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—
21	Jim Cunningham	LW	1	0	0	0	1	4	—	—	—	—	—	—
15	Al Hill	LW	3	0	0	0	0	2	—	—	—	—	—	—
1	Bernie Parent	G	49	0	0	0		4	12	0	0	0		0
30	Rick St. Croix	G	7	0	0	0		0	—	—	—	—	—	—
35	Wayne Stephenson	G	26	0	0	0		0	—	—	—	—	—	—

Goaltending

No.	Player	Regular season											Playoffs
		GP	GS	W	L	T	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI	GP	GS	W	L	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI
1	Bernie Parent	49	48	29	6	13	1223	108	2.22	.912	7	2,919	12	12	7	5	306	33	2.75	.892	0	719
35	Wayne Stephenson	26	25	14	10	1	648	68	2.76	.895	3	1,480	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
30	Rick St. Croix	7	7	2	4	1	165	20	3.05	.879	0	394	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Bill Barber	[6]
		Tom Bladon
		Bobby Clarke
		Bob Dailey
		Fred Shero (Coach)
		Wayne Stephenson
		Jim Watson
Team	Barry Ashbee Trophy	Jim Watson	[7]
	Class Guy Award	Joe Watson	[7]

Records

See also: List of Philadelphia Flyers records

On December 11, 1977, defenseman Tom Bladon had a record-breaking game against the Cleveland Barons. He scored four goals, tying a team record, and picked up four assists for a total of eight points, a team record and tied for the NHL record among defenseman.^[8][9][10] His plus/minus of +10 in the game is an NHL single game record.^[11] Goaltender Bernie Parent won a team record ten consecutive games from November 20 to December 28.^[12] On April 1, Bill Barber tied a team record by scoring two shorthanded goals in a single game.^[13]

During the playoffs, Mel Bridgman scored the fastest playoff overtime goal in team history (23 seconds) to end game one of the team's preliminary round series against the Colorado Rockies.^[14] The three goals they allowed to Colorado in two games is the fewest goals the Flyers have allowed in any playoff series.^[15] On May 11, Orest Kindrachuk scored the two fastest goals by a single player in team playoff history, scoring eleven seconds apart.^[16]

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
First game	Kevin McCarthy	October 13, 1977	[17]
	Dave Hoyda	October 15, 1977
	Rick St. Croix	February 16, 1978
	Jim Cunningham	February 28, 1978
500th game played	Bernie Parent	December 8, 1977	[18]

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 15, 1977, the day after the deciding game of the 1977 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 25, 1978, the day of the deciding game of the 1978 Stanley Cup Finals.^[19]

Trades

Date	Details		Ref
June 14, 1977 (1977-06-14)	To Philadelphia Flyers 8th-round pick in 1977 9th-round pick in 1977 10th-round pick in 1977 11th-round pick in 1977	To Buffalo Sabres cash	[20]
June 20, 1977 (1977-06-20)	To Philadelphia Flyers Future considerations[b]	To Los Angeles Kings Steve Short	[22]
August 4, 1977 (1977-08-04)	To Philadelphia Flyers Barry Dean	To Colorado Rockies Mark Suzor	[23]
October 28, 1977 (1977-10-28)	To Philadelphia Flyers Blake Dunlop 3rd-round pick in 1978	To Minnesota North Stars Harvey Bennett	[24]
November 1, 1977 (1977-11-01)	To Philadelphia Flyers Terry Murray	To Detroit Red Wings cash	[25]

Players acquired

Date	Player	Former team	Via	Ref
August 16, 1977 (1977-08-16)	Guy Delparte	Oklahoma City Blazers (CHL)	Free agency	[26]
August 17, 1977 (1977-08-17)	Brian Burke	Providence College (HE)	Free agency	[27]
September 1977 (1977-09)	Jim Cunningham	Michigan State University (CCHA)	Free agency	[28]
September 15, 1977 (1977-09-15)	Larry Romanchych	Atlanta Flames	Free agency	[29]
September 28, 1977 (1977-09-28)	Bernie Johnston	Syracuse Blazers (NAHL)	Free agency	[30]
October 7, 1977 (1977-10-07)	Frank Bathe	Port Huron Flags (IHL)	Free agency	[31]
October 23, 1977 (1977-10-23)	Mike Busniuk	Nova Scotia Voyageurs (AHL)	Free agency	[32]
November 6, 1977 (1977-11-06)	Rudolf Tajcnar	HC Slovan Bratislava (TCH)	Free agency	[33]

Players lost

Date	Player	New team	Via	Ref
June 17, 1977 (1977-06-17)	Terry Crisp		Retirement[c]	[34]
September 14, 1977 (1977-09-14)	Gary Inness	Indianapolis Racers (WHA)	Free agency	[35]
April 1978 (1978-04)	Gary Dornhoefer		Retirement[d]	[36]

Signings

Date	Player	Term	Ref
June 30, 1977 (1977-06-30)	Kevin McCarthy	3-year	[37]
August 2, 1977 (1977-08-02)	Tom Gorence		[38]
	Dave Hoyda		[38]

Draft picks

See also: List of Philadelphia Flyers draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft, which was held at the NHL's office in Montreal, on June 14, 1977.^[39]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	Team (league)	Notes
1	17	Kevin McCarthy	Defense	Canada	Winnipeg Monarchs (WCHL)
2	35	Tom Gorence	Right wing	United States	University of Minnesota (CCHA)
3	53	Dave Hoyda	Left wing	Canada	Portland Winter Hawks (WCHL)
4	67	Yves Guillemette	Goaltender	Canada	Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL)	[e]
4	71	Rene Hamelin	Right wing	Canada	Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL)
5	89	Dan Clark	Defense	Canada	Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL)
6	107	Alain Chaput	Center	Canada	Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
7	123	Richard Dalpe	Center	Canada	Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
8	135	Pete Peeters	Goaltender	Canada	Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)	[f]
8	136	Clint Eccles	Center	Canada	Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL)	[g]
8	139	Mike Greeder	Defense	United States	St. Paul Vulcans (MJHL)
9	150	Tom Bauer	Wing	United States	Providence College (HE)	[f]
9	151	Michael Bauman	Defense	Canada	Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)	[g]
9	153	Bruce Crowder	Forward	Canada	University of New Hampshire (HE)
10	158	Rob Nicholson	Defense	United States	St. Paul Vulcans (MJHL)	[f]
10	159	Dave Isherwood	Center	Canada	Winnipeg Monarchs (WCHL)	[g]
10	161	Steve Jones	Goaltender	Canada	Ohio State University (CCHA)
11	165	Jim Trainor	Defense	United States	Harvard University (ECAC)	[f]
11	166	Barry Duench	Center	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OHA)	[g]
11	168	Rod McNair	Defense	Canada	Ohio State University (CCHA)
12	172	Mike Laycock	Goaltender	Canada	Brown University (ECAC)	[f]

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Maine Mariners of the AHL^[41][42] and the Philadelphia Firebirds of the NAHL.^[43]

Notes

1. The alternate captain position was abolished from the 1975–76 season through the 1984–85 season.
2. The Kings sent Paul Evans to the Flyers on November 3, 1977, to complete trade.^[21]
3. Crisp was named an assistant coach.
4. Effective at the end of the season.
5. The Flyers traded Dave Schultz to the Los Angeles Kings for the Kings' fourth-round pick, 67th overall, and the Kings' 1978 second-round pick on September 29, 1976.^[40]
6. The Flyers traded Bobby Taylor and Ed Van Impe to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Gary Inness and future considerations (the Penguins' eighth through twelfth-round picks) on March 9, 1976.^[40]
7. The Flyers traded cash to the Buffalo Sabres for the Sabres' eighth through eleventh-round picks on June 14, 1977.^[40]