1978–79 Pittsburgh Penguins season

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.

1978–79 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division	2nd Norris
Conference	4th Wales
1978–79 record	36-31-13
Goals for	281
Goals against	279
Team information
General manager	Baz Bastien
Coach	Johnny Wilson
Captain	Orest Kindrachuk
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Greg Malone (35)
Assists	Orest Kindrachuk (42)
Points	Greg Malone (65)
Penalty minutes	Dave Schultz (157)
Wins	Denis Herron (22)
Goals against average	Denis Herron (3.37)

Regular season

Final standings

Norris Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Montreal Canadiens	80	52	17	11	337	204	115
Pittsburgh Penguins	80	36	31	13	281	279	85
Los Angeles Kings	80	34	34	12	292	286	80
Washington Capitals	80	24	41	15	273	338	63
Detroit Red Wings	80	23	41	16	252	295	62

[1]

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
       Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Schedule and results

1978–79 Schedule
October: 1–6–2 (Home: 1–3–2 ; Road: 0–3–0), 4 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 1 Oct 11 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 0–1–0 0 2 Oct 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–8 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 0–2–0 0 3 Oct 14 Boston Bruins 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 0–2–1 1 4 Oct 18 New York Islanders 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 0–3–1 1 5 Oct 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 0–4–1 1 6 Oct 21 Washington Capitals 1–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–4–1 3 7 Oct 25 St. Louis Blues 6–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–4–2 4 8 Oct 28 Atlanta Flames 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–5–2 4 9 Oct 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 1–6–2 4
November: 5–7–1 (Home: 3–3–0 ; Road: 2–4–1), 11 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 10 Nov 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 1–7–2 4 11 Nov 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–2 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 1–8–2 4 12 Nov 4 Detroit Red Wings 3–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–8–2 6 13 Nov 8 Colorado Rockies 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 3–8–2 8 14 Nov 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 3–8–3 9 15 Nov 11 New York Rangers 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 3–9–3 9 16 Nov 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–3 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 4–9–3 11 17 Nov 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 5–9–3 13 18 Nov 22 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 5–10–3 13 19 Nov 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–8 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 5–11–3 13 20 Nov 25 Philadelphia Flyers 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 5–12–3 13 21 Nov 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–8 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 5–13–3 13 22 Nov 29 Washington Capitals 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 6–13–3 15
December: 9–2–4 (Home: 6–0–1 ; Road: 3–2–3), 22 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 23 Dec 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–4 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 7–13–3 17 24 Dec 2 Chicago Black Hawks 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 8–13–3 19 25 Dec 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8–13–4 20 26 Dec 6 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 9–13–4 22 27 Dec 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 9–13–5 23 28 Dec 9 Buffalo Sabres 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 9–13–6 24 29 Dec 13 St. Louis Blues 0–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 10–13–6 26 30 Dec 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 10–14–6 26 31 Dec 16 Vancouver Canucks 5–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 11–14–6 28 32 Dec 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 11–14–7 29 33 Dec 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 12–14–7 31 34 Dec 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 12–15–7 31 35 Dec 27 Los Angeles Kings 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 13–15–7 33 36 Dec 30 Detroit Red Wings 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 14–15–7 35 37 Dec 31 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 15–15–7 37
January: 5–7–1 (Home: 4–4–0 ; Road: 1–3–1), 11 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 38 Jan 3 Vancouver Canucks 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–16–7 37 39 Jan 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 15–16–8 38 40 Jan 6 Los Angeles Kings 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–17–8 38 41 Jan 10 Montreal Canadiens 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–17–8 40 42 Jan 13 Boston Bruins 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 17–17–8 42 43 Jan 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 18–17–8 44 44 Jan 16 Minnesota North Stars 0–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 19–17–8 46 45 Jan 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 19–18–8 46 46 Jan 20 Washington Capitals 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 19–19–8 46 47 Jan 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 19–20–8 46 48 Jan 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Colorado Rockies McNichols Sports Arena 19–21–8 46 49 Jan 27 Los Angeles Kings 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 20–21–8 48 50 Jan 31 Montreal Canadiens 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 20–22–8 48
February: 6–3–1 (Home: 6–0–0 ; Road: 0–3–1), 13 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 51 Feb 3 Detroit Red Wings 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 21–22–8 50 52 Feb 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–8 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 21–23–8 50 53 Feb 15 Minnesota North Stars 5–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 22–23–8 52 54 Feb 17 Buffalo Sabres 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 23–23–8 54 55 Feb 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–6 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 23–24–8 54 56 Feb 21 Montreal Canadiens 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 24–24–8 56 57 Feb 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–12 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 24–25–8 56 58 Feb 24 Chicago Black Hawks 1–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 25–25–8 58 59 Feb 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 25–25–9 59 60 Feb 28 Colorado Rockies 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 26–25–9 61
March: 8–4–4 (Home: 2–1–2 ; Road: 6–3–2), 20 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 61 Mar 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–8 St. Louis Blues The Checkerdome 26–26–9 61 62 Mar 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–2 Colorado Rockies McNichols Sports Arena 27–26–9 63 63 Mar 7 Los Angeles Kings 4–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 27–27–9 63 64 Mar 10 Philadelphia Flyers 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 28–27–9 65 65 Mar 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 28–28–9 65 66 Mar 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 9–3 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 29–28–9 67 67 Mar 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 29–28–10 68 68 Mar 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–2 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 30–28–10 70 69 Mar 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–1 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 31–28–10 72 70 Mar 21 Washington Capitals 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 31–28–11 73 71 Mar 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 32–28–11 75 72 Mar 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 32–28–12 76 73 Mar 25 New York Islanders 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 32–28–13 77 74 Mar 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–1 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 33–28–13 79 75 Mar 28 New York Rangers 1–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 34–28–13 81 76 Mar 31 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 34–29–13 81
April: 2–2–0 (Home: 1–1–0 ; Road: 1–1–0), 4 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 77 Apr 1 Atlanta Flames 7–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 34–30–13 81 78 Apr 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 St. Louis Blues The Checkerdome 35–30–13 83 79 Apr 7 Detroit Red Wings 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 36–30–13 85 80 Apr 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 36–31–13 85
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

Preliminary Round vs. Buffalo

April 10

Pittsburgh Penguins

4–3

Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo Memorial Auditorium

April 12

Buffalo Sabres

3–1

Pittsburgh Penguins

Civic Arena

April 14

Pittsburgh Penguins

4–3

OT

Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo Memorial Auditorium

Pittsburgh won series 2–1

Quarterfinals vs. Boston

April 16	Pittsburgh Penguins		2–6		Boston Bruins	Boston Garden	Recap
No scoring		First period			02:29 – Peter McNab (1) 05:14 – Don Marcotte (1) 15:58 – Mike Milbury (1)
Orest Kindrachuk (2) – 06:07		Second period			04:21 – Don Marcotte (2) 16:02 – pp – Bobby Schmautz (1) 17:27 – sh – Dick Redmond (1)
Gregg Sheppard (1) – pp – 12:14		Third period			No scoring
Denis Herron 27 saves / 33 shots		Goalie stats			Gerry Cheevers 19 saves / 21 shots

April 18	Pittsburgh Penguins		1–5		Boston Bruins	Boston Garden	Recap
Jim Hamilton (3) – pp – 14:11		First period			15:10 – pp – Jean Ratelle (1) 16:16 – Dwight Foster (1)
Orest Kindrachuk (3) – 14:52		Second period			14:15 – Peter McNab (2)
Orest Kindrachuck (4) – 19:54		Third period			10:10 – Bob Miller (1)
Denis Herron 21 saves / 25 shots		Goalie stats			Gerry Cheevers 24 saves / 27 shots

April 21

Boston Bruins

2–1

Pittsburgh Penguins

Civic Arena

April 22

Boston Bruins

4–1

Pittsburgh Penguins

Civic Arena

Boston won series 4–0

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season[2] Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Greg Malone 80 35 30 65 6 52 Orest Kindrachuk 79 18 42 60 3 84 Peter Lee 80 32 26 58 –13 24 Peter Mahovlich 60 14 39 53 –11 39 George Ferguson 80 21 29 50 10 37 Randy Carlyle 70 13 34 47 4 78 Ross Lonsberry 80 24 22 46 7 38 Rick Kehoe 57 27 18 45 14 2 Rod Schutt 74 24 21 45 –9 33 Ron Stackhouse 75 10 33 43 21 54 Gregg Sheppard 60 15 22 37 8 9 Dale Tallon 63 5 24 29 –15 35 Tom Bladon 78 4 23 27 –17 64 Colin Campbell 65 2 18 20 14 137 Blair Chapman 71 10 8 18 –12 18 Russ Anderson 72 3 13 16 1 93 Gary McAdam^† 28 5 9 14 4 2 Dave Schultz^‡ 47 4 9 13 –2 157 Wayne Bianchin 40 7 4 11 –2 20 Jacques Cossette 38 7 2 9 –1 16 Bob Paradise 14 0 1 1 –4 4 Kim Davis 1 1 0 1 0 0 Tom Price 2 0 0 0 –2 4 Jim Hamilton 2 0 0 0 0 0 Mike Meeker 4 0 0 0 –1 5 Brian Spencer 7 0 0 0 0 0 Lex Hudson 2 0 0 0 0 0 Total 281 427 708 — 1,005

Playoffs[3] Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Colin Campbell 7 1 4 5 0 30 Orest Kindrachuk 7 4 1 5 0 7 Tom Bladon 7 0 4 4 0 2 George Ferguson 7 2 1 3 0 0 Jim Hamilton 5 3 0 3 0 0 Gregg Sheppard 7 1 2 3 0 0 Peter Lee 7 0 3 3 0 0 Gary McAdam 7 2 1 3 0 0 Ross Lonsberry 7 0 2 2 0 9 Rick Kehoe 7 0 2 2 0 0 Rod Schutt 7 2 0 2 0 4 Blair Chapman 7 1 0 1 0 2 Greg Malone 7 0 1 1 0 10 Peter Mahovlich 2 0 1 1 0 0 Jacques Cossette 3 0 1 1 0 4 Bob Paradise 2 0 0 0 0 0 Ron Stackhouse 7 0 0 0 0 4 Randy Carlyle 7 0 0 0 0 12 Lex Hudson 2 0 0 0 0 0 Russ Anderson 2 0 0 0 0 0 Total 16 23 39 — 84

Goaltenders

Regular Season[4]

Player	GP	W	L	T	GA	SO
Denis Herron	56	22	19	12	180	0
Gregory Millen	28	14	11	1	86	2
Gordon Laxton	1	0	1	0	8	0
Total		36	31	13	274	2

Playoffs[5]

Player	GP	W	L	T	GA	SO
Denis Herron	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, 1978	To Boston Bruins Jean Pronovost	To Pittsburgh Penguins Gregg Sheppard
October 9, 1978	To Chicago Blackhawks 1980 2nd round pick	To Pittsburgh Penguins Dale Tallon
October 18, 1978	To Montreal Canadiens 1981 1st round pick	To Pittsburgh Penguins Rod Schutt
November 17, 1978	To Vancouver Canucks Dunc Wilson	To Pittsburgh Penguins cash
February 6, 1979	To Buffalo Sabres Dave Schultz	To Pittsburgh Penguins Gary McAdam
June 9, 1979	To Winnipeg Jets 1980 7th round pick	To Pittsburgh Penguins Jets promise not to claim Kim Clackson as a priority selection from its WHA franchise
August 3, 1979	To Detroit Red Wings Pete Mahovlich	To Pittsburgh Penguins Nick Libett

Additions and subtractions

Additions Player Former team Via

Subtractions Player New team Via Gene Carr Atlanta Flames free agency (1978-06-06) Ed Gilbert Cincinnati Stingers (WHA) free agency (1978-10)

Roster

#	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	NHL Draft	Birthplace
7		Russell Anderson	D	L	24	1975	Minneapolis, Minnesota
14		Wayne Bianchin	RW	L	25	1973	Nanaimo, British Columbia
2		Thomas Bladon	D	R	26	1972	Edmonton, Alberta
6		Colin Campbell	D	L	26	1973	Toronto, Ontario
25		Randy Carlyle	D	L	23	1976	Sudbury, Ontario
9		Blair Chapman	RW	R	22	1976	Lloydminster, Saskatchewan
27		Jacques Cossette	RW	R	24	1974	Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec
16		Kim Davis	C	L	21	1977	Flin Flon, Manitoba
11		George Ferguson	C	R	26	1972	Trenton, Ontario
13		James Hamilton	RW	L	22	1977	Barrie, Ontario
1		Denis Herron	G	L	26	1972	Chambly, Quebec
5		Alexander Hudson	D	L	23	1975	Winnipeg, Manitoba
17		Rick Kehoe	RW	R	27	1971	Windsor, Ontario
26		Orest Kindrachuk (C)	C	L	28	Undrafted	Nanton, Alberta
30		Gordon Laxton	G	L	24	1975	Montreal, Quebec
10		Peter Lee	RW	R	23	1976	Ellesmere, Great Britain
18		David Lonsberry	LW	L	32	Undrafted	Humboldt, Saskatchewan
20		Peter Mahovlich	C	L	32	1963	Timmins, Ontario
12		William Malone	C	L	23	1976	Fredericton, New Brunswick
16		Gary McAdam	RW	L	23	1975	Smiths Falls, Ontario
16		Michael Meeker	RW	—	21	1978	Kingston, Ontario
29		Gregory Millen	G	R	21	1977	Toronto, Ontario
24		Robert Paradise	D	L	35	Undrafted	St. Paul, Minnesota
28		Thomas Price	D	—	24	1974	Toronto, Ontario
23		Rodney Schutt	LW	L	22	1976	Bancroft, Ontario
19		Gregory Sheppard	C	L	30	Undrafted	North Battleford, Saskatchewan
22		Brian Spencer	LW	L	29	1969	Fort St. James, British Columbia
3		Ronald Stackhouse	D	R	29	1969	Haliburton, Ontario
4		Dale Tallon	D	L	28	1970	Noranda, Quebec

Draft picks

The 1978 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 15, 1978 in Montreal, Quebec.[6]

Round	#	Player	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
2	25	Michael Meeker	Right Wing	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OHA)
4	61	Shane Pearsall	Left Wing	Canada	Ottawa 67's (OHA)
5	75	Robert Garner	Center	Canada	Toronto Marlboros (OHA)

References

• Penguins on Hockey Database

1. National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 163, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5
2. "1978–1979 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
3. "1978–1979 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
4. "1978–1979 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
5. "1978–1979 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
6. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.