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
Division2nd Patrick
Conference2nd Campbell
1977–78 record45–20–15
Home record29–6–5
Road record16–14–10
Goals for296 (4th)
Goals against200 (2nd)
Team information
PresidentJoe Scott
General managerKeith Allen
CoachFred Shero
CaptainBobby Clarke
Alternate captainsNone[lower-alpha 1]
ArenaSpectrum
Average attendance17,077[1]
Minor league affiliate(s)Maine Mariners
Philadelphia Firebirds
Team leaders
GoalsBill Barber (41)
AssistsBobby Clarke (68)
PointsBobby Clarke (89)
Penalty minutesAndre Dupont (225)
Plus/minusBobby Clarke (+47)
WinsBernie Parent (29)
Goals against averageBernie Parent (2.22)

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 Islanders80481715334210111
Philadelphia Flyers80452015296200105
Atlanta Flames8034271927425287
New York Rangers8030371327928073

[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.

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

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1978 Stanley Cup playoffs

Legend:   Win   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.
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player Age Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
16Bobby Clarke28C712168894783124711−58
7Bill Barber25LW80413172313412639−22
19Rick MacLeish28LW76313970243312791614
26Orest Kindrachuk27C7317456235128125510313
2Bob Dailey24D76213657456212156−222
27Reggie Leach27RW72242852202412224−30
18Ross Lonsberry30LW78183048414512224−36
10Mel Bridgman22C761632482620312178036
11Don Saleski28RW70271845344411202219
3Tom Bladon25D79112435325712022−411
17Paul Holmgren22RW621618342319012145−726
9Bob Kelly27LW74191332159512358826
29Barry Dean22LW56718251234
5Rick Lapointe22D4741620359112033−319
20Jimmy Watson25D715121733621217846
25Kevin McCarthy20D622151729321001128
14Joe Watson34D65591423221000−10
6Andre Dupont28D69212143122512213413
12Gary Dornhoefer34RW477512−362400007
8Dave Hoyda20LW41134−51199000117
22Harvey Bennett25C210117
32Blake Dunlop24C301110
1Bernie Parent32G49000N/A412000N/A0
35Wayne Stephenson33G26000N/A0
30Rick St. Croix23G7000N/A0
15Al Hill22LW300002
21Frank Bathe23D100000
21Jim Cunningham21LW100014
28Drew Callander21C100000

Goaltending

Regular season Playoffs
No. Player Age GP GS W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP GS W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
1Bernie Parent3249482961312231082.22.91272,918:34121275306332.75.8920719:16
35Wayne Stephenson33262514101648682.76.89531,480:03
30Rick St. Croix2377241165203.05.8790393:53

Awards and records

Awards

Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League (in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Bill Barber [4]
Tom Bladon
Bobby Clarke
Bob Dailey
Fred Shero (Coach)
Wayne Stephenson
Jim Watson
Team Barry Ashbee Trophy Jim Watson [5]
Class Guy Award Joe Watson [5]

Records

  •    NHL record
  •    Tied for NHL record

Individual

Franchise player records set during the 1977–78 season
Record Type Total Player Date(s) Opponent Ref
Most goals scored Game 4[lower-alpha 2] Tom Bladon 12/11/1977 Cleveland Barons [6]
Most points Game 8 Tom Bladon 12/11/1977 Cleveland Barons [6]
Most points by a defenseman Game 8 Tom Bladon 12/11/1977 Cleveland Barons [7]
Best plus-minus Game +10 Tom Bladon 12/11/1977 Cleveland Barons [8]
Games with an assist Streak 12[lower-alpha 3] Bobby Clarke 2/1/1978 – 3/16/1978 [6]

Team

Franchise team records set during the 1977–78 season
Record Type Total Date(s) Opponent Player(s) Refs
Fastest overtime goal, playoffs Game 0:23 4/11/1978 Colorado Rockies Mel Bridgman [9]

Milestones

Individual career milestones[10]
Milestone Player Date
500th game played Bernie Parent December 8, 1977

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.[11]

Trades

Date Details Ref
June 14, 1977 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
June 17, 1977 To Philadelphia Flyers
future considerations[lower-alpha 4]
To Los Angeles Kings
Steve Short
[12]
August 5, 1977 To Philadelphia Flyers
Barry Dean
To Colorado Rockies
Mark Suzor
[13]
October 28, 1977 To Philadelphia Flyers
Blake Dunlop
3rd-round pick in 1978
To Minnesota North Stars
Harvey Bennett
[14]
November 1, 1977 To Philadelphia Flyers
Terry Murray
To Detroit Red Wings
cash
[15]

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency.

Date Player Previous team (league) Term Ref
August 17, 1977Brian BurkeProvidence College (HE)[16]
September 1977Jim CunninghamMichigan State University (CCHA)[17]
September 1977Guy DelparteOklahoma City Blazers (CHL)[18]
September 7, 1977Wayne SchaabVEU Feldkirch (Austria)
September 15, 1977Larry RomanchychAtlanta Flames[19]
September 28, 1977Bernie JohnstonSyracuse Blazers (NAHL)[20]
October 7, 1977Frank BathePort Huron Flags (IHL)[21]
October 23, 1977Mike BusniukNova Scotia Voyageurs (AHL)[22]
October 27, 1977Grant ColeSpringfield Indians (AHL)
November 6, 1977Rudolf TajcnarHC Slovan Bratislava (TCH)[23]

Internal

The following players were either re-signed by the Flyers or, in the case of the team's selections in the NHL Entry Draft, signed to contracts.

Date Player Term Ref
June 30, 1977Kevin McCarthy (DP)3-year[24]
August 2, 1977Tom Gorence (DP)[25]
August 2, 1977Dave Hoyda (DP)[25]

Waivers

The Flyers were not involved in any waivers transactions. The 1977 NHL Waiver Draft was held on October 10, 1977.[26] The Flyers protected the following players: goaltenders Bernie Parent and Wayne Stephenson, and skaters Bill Barber, Tom Bladon, Mel Bridgman, Bobby Clarke, Bob Dailey, Barry Dean, Gary Dornhoefer, Paul Holmgren, Bob Kelly, Orest Kindrachuk, Rick Lapointe, Reggie Leach, Ross Lonsberry, Rick MacLeish, Don Saleski, Jimmy Watson, and Joe Watson.[26]

Departures

The following players left the team via free agency, release, or retirement. Players who were under contract and left the team during the season are marked with an asterisk (*).

Date Player New team (league) Via Ref
September 1977Gary InnessIndianapolis Racers (WHA)Free agency[27]

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft, which was held at the NHL's office in Montreal, Quebec, on June 14, 1977.[28]

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) [lower-alpha 5]
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) [lower-alpha 6]
8 136 Clint Eccles Center  Canada Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL) [lower-alpha 7]
8 139 Mike Greeder Defense  United States St. Paul Vulcans (MJHL)
9 150 Tom Bauer Wing  United States Providence College (HE) [lower-alpha 6]
9 151 Michael Bauman Defense  Canada Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) [lower-alpha 7]
9 153 Bruce Crowder Forward  Canada University of New Hampshire (HE)
10 158 Rob Nicholson Defense  United States St. Paul Vulcans (MJHL) [lower-alpha 6]
10 159 Dave Isherwood Center  Canada Winnipeg Monarchs (WCHL) [lower-alpha 7]
10 161 Steve Jones Goaltender  Canada Ohio State University (CCHA)
11 165 Jim Trainor Defense  United States Harvard University (ECAC) [lower-alpha 6]
11 166 Barry Duench Center  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHA) [lower-alpha 7]
11 168 Rod McNair Defense  Canada Ohio State University (CCHA)
12 172 Mike Laycock Goaltender  Canada Brown University (ECAC) [lower-alpha 6]

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Maine Mariners of the AHL[30][31] and the Philadelphia Firebirds of the NAHL.[32]

Notes

  1. The alternate captain position was abolished from the 1975–76 season through the 1984–85 season.
  2. Tied fifteen times by eight different players. See List of Philadelphia Flyers records.
  3. Clarke tied his mark set during the 1975–76 season.
  4. The Kings sent Paul Evans to the Flyers on November 3, 1977, to complete trade.[12]
  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.[29]
  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.[29]
  7. The Flyers traded cash to the Buffalo Sabres for the Sabres' eighth through eleventh-round picks on June 14, 1977.[29]

References

General
Specific
  1. "All Time Team Attendance". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  2. Hockey's Book of Firsts, p.27, James Duplacey, JG Press, ISBN 978-1-57215-037-9
  3. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
  4. "31st NHL All-Star Game". NHL.com. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  5. "Flyers History – Team Awards". P.Anson. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  6. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 263
  7. National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2017, p. 168
  8. "Flyers History - NHL Records Held/Shared By Flyers". P.Anson. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  9. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 351
  10. "Flyers History – All-Time Milestone Award Winners". P.Anson. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  11. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  12. "Steven Short – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  13. "Barry Dean – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  14. "Blake Dunlop – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  15. "Terry Murray – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  16. Meltzer, Bill (August 17, 2014). "Meltzer's Musings: Kerr vs. LeClair, Quick Hits". HockeyBuzz.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  17. "James Cunningham – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  18. "Guy Delparte – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  19. "Sports Transactions". The Cumberland News. September 16, 1977. Retrieved December 17, 2014 via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Bernard Johnston – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  21. "Francis Bathe – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  22. "Michael Busniuk – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  23. Meltzer, Bill (October 2, 2019). "CZECH US OUT: Part 1, the beginnings". Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  24. "'Confident' Kevin McCarthy never thought he'd be a Flyer". AP. Pottstown Mercury. July 1, 1977. Retrieved December 17, 2014 via Newspapers.com.
  25. "Sports Moves". Indiana Gazette. August 3, 1977. Retrieved December 17, 2014 via Newspapers.com.
  26. Parsons, Mark (November 8, 2013). "1977 NHL Waiver Draft". Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  27. "Gary Inness – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  28. "1977 NHL amateur draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  29. "1977 NHL amateur draft Pick Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  30. "AHL Franchise Statistics". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  31. "AHL Season Overview: 1977–78". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  32. "Non-AHL Affiliates". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
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