1977–78 New York Rangers season

NHL hockey team season

1977–78 New York Rangers
Division4th Patrick
Conference5th Campbell
1977–78 record30–37–13
Goals for279
Goals against280
Team information
General managerJohn Ferguson
CoachJean-Guy Talbot
CaptainPhil Esposito
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Team leaders
GoalsPat Hickey (40)
AssistsRon Greschner (48)
PointsPhil Esposito (81)
Penalty minutesCarol Vadnais (115)
WinsJohn Davidson (14)

The 1977–78 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 52nd season. The Rangers slipped to last in the Patrick but qualified for the playoffs by having one of the top twelve records in the league. The Rangers lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Offseason

The Rangers hired Jean-Guy Talbot as their new head coach. It would be his only season as head coach of the Rangers.

Regular season

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

[1]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[2]
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


Schedule and results

1977–78 Game Log
October: 4–5–1 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 1–3–0)
Game October Opponent Score Record
1 12 Vancouver Canucks 6–3 1–0–0
2 15 @ Montreal Canadiens 5–0 1–1–0
3 16 New York Islanders 4–2 2–1–0
4 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 2–1–1
5 22 @ New York Islanders 7–2 2–2–1
6 23 Montreal Canadiens 6–2 2–3–1
7 25 @ Cleveland Barons 5–0 3–3–1
8 26 St. Louis Blues 6–2 4–3–1
9 29 @ Atlanta Flames 4–3 4–4–1
10 30 Los Angeles Kings 5–3 4–5–1
November: 5–7–1 (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 2–5–1)
Game November Opponent Score Record
11 2 @ Colorado Rockies 6–2 4–6–1
12 4 @ Vancouver Canucks 5–1 5–6–1
13 5 @ Los Angeles Kings 3–1 5–7–1
14 9 Buffalo Sabres 8–4 6–7–1
15 12 @ Detroit Red Wings 3–1 6–8–1
16 13 Atlanta Flames 5–2 6–9–1
17 16 Chicago Black Hawks 5–2 7–9–1
18 19 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 5–5 7–9–2
19 20 Vancouver Canucks 3–0 7–10–2
20 23 Colorado Rockies 6–3 8–10–2
21 26 @ Boston Bruins 3–2 8–11–2
22 27 @ Buffalo Sabres 3–2 8–12–2
23 30 @ St. Louis Blues 4–0 9–12–2
December: 3–4–7 (Home: 2–2–4; Road: 1–2–3)
Game December Opponent Score Record
24 3 @ Minnesota North Stars 4–0 10–12–2
25 4 Minnesota North Stars 4–4 10–12–3
26 7 Philadelphia Flyers 3–3 10–12–4
27 8 @ Philadelphia Flyers 7–4 10–13–4
28 11 Boston Bruins 8–2 10–14–4
29 14 @ Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 10–14–5
30 15 @ Detroit Red Wings 5–5 10–14–6
31 17 @ Cleveland Barons 4–2 10–15–6
32 18 Detroit Red Wings 6–2 11–15–6
33 21 Washington Capitals 5–5 11–15–7
34 23 Cleveland Barons 5–4 12–15–7
35 28 Philadelphia Flyers 4–3 12–16–7
36 30 @ Washington Capitals 3–3 12–16–8
37 31 Buffalo Sabres 2–2 12–16–9
January: 4–8–0 (Home: 0–3–0; Road: 4–5–0)
Game January Opponent Score Record
38 4 @ Minnesota North Stars 5–3 13–16–9
39 7 @ Colorado Rockies 3–1 13–17–9
40 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–3 13–18–9
41 10 @ Boston Bruins 3–2 14–18–9
42 14 @ Philadelphia Flyers 4–1 14–19–9
43 17 @ Vancouver Canucks 5–4 15–19–9
44 18 @ Los Angeles Kings 3–0 16–19–9
45 20 @ Atlanta Flames 5–3 16–20–9
46 22 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 16–21–9
47 25 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–3 16–22–9
48 28 @ New York Islanders 6–2 16–23–9
49 29 Los Angeles Kings 4–1 16–24–9
February: 5–6–2 (Home: 4–3–1; Road: 1–3–1)
Game February Opponent Score Record
50 1 New York Islanders 7–6 16–25–9
51 4 @ St. Louis Blues 2–2 16–25–10
52 5 Colorado Rockies 6–3 17–25–10
53 8 Minnesota North Stars 3–0 18–25–10
54 9 @ Buffalo Sabres 2–0 18–26–10
55 11 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 18–27–10
56 12 Montreal Canadiens 5–3 18–28–10
57 15 Vancouver Canucks 6–3 19–28–10
58 19 Colorado Rockies 4–4 19–28–11
59 22 @ Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 19–29–11
60 23 Chicago Black Hawks 6–2 20–29–11
61 25 @ Montreal Canadiens 6–3 21–29–11
62 27 Atlanta Flames 5–3 21–30–11
March: 8–2–2 (Home: 5–2–1; Road: 3–0–1)
Game March Opponent Score Record
63 1 Detroit Red Wings 3–2 22–30–11
64 5 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–1 22–31–11
65 8 Cleveland Barons 6–1 23–31–11
66 12 Washington Capitals 8–2 24–31–11
67 15 Philadelphia Flyers 2–2 24–31–12
68 18 Boston Bruins 6–3 24–32–12
69 19 @ Minnesota North Stars 7–7 24–32–13
70 22 @ St. Louis Blues 6–1 25–32–13
71 24 @ Washington Capitals 11–4 26–32–13
72 25 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 5–2 27–32–13
73 27 St. Louis Blues 5–2 28–32–13
74 29 New York Islanders 5–1 29–32–13
April: 1–5–0 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 0–4–0)
Game April Opponent Score Record
75 1 @ Atlanta Flames 6–0 29–33–13
76 2 @ Boston Bruins 8–3 29–34–13
77 5 Atlanta Flames 4–2 29–35–13
78 6 @ Philadelphia Flyers 3–0 29–36–13
79 8 @ New York Islanders 7–2 29–37–13
80 9 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 30–37–13

Playoffs

Key:   Win   Loss

1978 Stanley Cup playoffs
Preliminary round: vs. Buffalo Sabres – Buffalo wins series 2–1
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Series
1 April 11 New York Rangers 1–4 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo leads series 1–0
2 April 13 Buffalo Sabres 3–4 New York Rangers OT Series tied 1–1
3 April 15 New York Rangers 1–4 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo wins series 2–1

Player statistics

Skaters
Regular Season
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Phil Esposito 79 38 43 81 53
Pat Hickey 80 40 33 73 47
Ron Greschner 78 24 48 72 100
Walt Tkaczuk 80 26 40 66 30
Steve Vickers 79 19 44 63 30
Don Murdoch 66 27 28 55 41
Carol Vadnais 80 6 40 46 115
Ron Duguay 71 20 20 40 43
Lucien DeBlois 71 22 8 30 27
Ed Johnstone 53 13 13 26 44
Greg Polis 37 7 16 23 12
Dave Maloney 56 2 19 21 63
Mike McEwen 57 5 13 18 52
Wayne Dillon 59 5 13 18 15
Dan Newman 59 5 13 18 22
Mark Heaslip 29 5 10 15 34
Don Awrey 78 2 8 10 38
Rod Gilbert 19 2 7 9 6
Nick Fotiu 59 2 7 9 105
Dave Farrish 66 3 5 8 62
Ken Hodge 18 2 4 6 8
Dallas Smith 29 1 4 5 23
Jerry Byers 7 2 1 3 0
Mario Marois 8 1 1 2 15
Bill Goldsworthy 7 0 1 1 12
Mike Keating 1 0 0 0 0
Bud Stefanski 1 0 0 0 0
Greg Hickey 1 0 0 0 0
Greg Holst 4 0 0 0 0
Benoit Gosselin 7 0 0 0 33
Playoffs
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Don Murdoch 3 1 3 4 4
Steve Vickers 3 2 1 3 0
Ron Duguay 3 1 1 2 2
Carol Vadnais 3 0 2 2 16
Walt Tkaczuk 3 0 2 2 0
Pat Hickey 3 2 0 2 0
Dallas Smith 1 0 1 1 0
Wayne Dillon 3 0 1 1 0
Phil Esposito 3 0 1 1 5
Mario Marois 1 0 0 0 5
Dave Farrish 3 0 0 0 0
Nick Fotiu 3 0 0 0 5
Don Awrey 3 0 0 0 6
Mark Heaslip 3 0 0 0 0
Dan Newman 3 0 0 0 4
Dave Maloney 3 0 0 0 11
Lucien DeBlois 3 0 0 0 2
Ron Greschner 3 0 0 0 2

Goaltenders
Regular Season
Player GP TOI W L T GA GAA SO
Wayne Thomas 41 2352 12 20 7 141 3.60 4
John Davidson 34 1848 14 13 4 98 3.18 1
Doug Soetaert 6 360 2 2 2 20 3.33 0
Hardy Astrom 4 240 2 2 0 14 3.50 0
Playoffs
Player GP TOI W L GA GAA SO
John Davidson 2 122 1 1 7 3.44 0
Wayne Thomas 1 60 0 1 4 4.00 0

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.

[3]

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft in Montreal, Canada.

Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 8 Lucien DeBlois RW  Canada Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
1 13 Ron Duguay C  Canada Sudbury Wolves (OHA)
2 26 Mike Keating LW  Canada St. Catharines Fincups (OHA)
3 44 Steve Baker G  United States Union College (NCAA)
4 62 Mario Marois D  Canada Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
5 80 Benoit Gosselin LW  Canada Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
6 98 John Bethel LW  Canada Boston University (NCAA)
7 116 Bob Sullivan LW  Canada Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
8 131 Lance Nethery C  Canada Cornell University (NCAA)
9 146 Alex Jeans C  Canada University of Toronto (CIAU)
10 157 Pete Raps LW  Canada Western Michigan University (NCAA)
11 164 Mike Brown RW  United States Western Michigan University (NCAA)
12 171 Mark Miller LW  Canada University of Michigan (NCAA)

Farm teams

See also

References

  1. ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
  2. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  3. ^ "1977–78 New York Rangers". hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  4. ^ Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009–10, p.425, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6

External links

  • Rangers on Hockey Database
  • v
  • t
  • e
1920s
1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Highlighted seasons indicate Stanley Cup championship