# 1977–78 Philadelphia Flyers season

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

## 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.

### 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 |
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
—1–2–36–01–4–18–6–4
N.Y. Islanders
2–1–3—4–22–1–38–4–6
N.Y. Rangers
0–62–4—0–4–22–14–2
Philadelphia
4–1–11–2–34–0–2—9–3–6
Vs. Smythe Division
1977–78 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
MIN
STL
VAN
Total
Atlanta
1–2–22–1–24–14–0–12–1–213–5–7
N.Y. Islanders
2–1–24–0–14–14–0–15–019–2–4
N.Y. Rangers
3–1–12–2–13–0–24–0–14–116–4–5
Philadelphia
2–2–13–23–24–15–017–7–1
Vs. Adams Division
1977–78 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
CLE
TOR
Total
Atlanta
1–2–11–2–12–1–13–27–7–3
N.Y. Islanders
3–12–31–1–23–19–6–2
N.Y. Rangers
1–41–2–13–11–36–10–1
Philadelphia
2–1–10–3–14–0–11–37–7–3
Vs. Norris Division
1977–78 NHL records
Team
DET
LAK
MTL
PIT
WSH
Total
Atlanta
1–2–11–2–10–2–23–11–2–16–9–5
N.Y. Islanders
4–02–0–20–42–1–14–012–5–3
N.Y. Rangers
2–1–11–31–30–2–22–0–26–9–5
Philadelphia
2–1–13–0–10–2–23–0–14–012–3–5 :

## 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 :
October: 5–2–1, 11 points (home: 3–1–0; road: 2–1–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
1October 13Chicago Black Hawks5–11–0–02Recap
2October 15@ Pittsburgh Penguins8–22–0–04Recap
3October 16St. Louis Blues7–03–0–06Recap
4October 20Pittsburgh Penguins11–04–0–08Recap
5October 22@ Toronto Maple Leafs1–64–1–08Recap
6October 23Toronto Maple Leafs3–64–2–08Recap
7October 26@ Chicago Black Hawks2–24–2–19Recap
8October 29@ St. Louis Blues7–35–2–111Recap :
November: 9–2–2, 20 points (home: 6–1–1; road: 3–1–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
9November 3Washington Capitals4–16–2–113Recap
10November 5@ Washington Capitals3–17–2–115Recap
11November 6Vancouver Canucks3–28–2–117Recap
12November 10Buffalo Sabres2–38–3–117Recap
13November 12@ New York Islanders2–28–3–218Recap
14November 13Detroit Red Wings3–09–3–220Recap
15November 17New York Islanders4–49–3–321Recap
16November 19@ Minnesota North Stars7–210–3–323Recap
17November 20Atlanta Flames4–011–3–325Recap
18November 23@ Detroit Red Wings1–411–4–325Recap
19November 25Cleveland Barons7–212–4–327Recap
20November 27Los Angeles Kings2–013–4–329Recap
21November 29@ Vancouver Canucks3–014–4–331Recap :
December: 10–3–1, 21 points (home: 5–1–0; road: 5–2–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
22December 1@ Los Angeles Kings4–215–4–333Recap
23December 3@ Colorado Rockies6–316–4–335Recap
24December 7@ New York Rangers3–316–4–436Recap
25December 8New York Rangers7–417–4–438Recap
26December 10Chicago Black Hawks4–218–4–440Recap
27December 11Cleveland Barons11–119–4–442Recap
28December 15Boston Bruins6–420–4–444Recap
29December 17@ Atlanta Flames4–321–4–446Recap
30December 18Montreal Canadiens0–221–5–446Recap
31December 21@ Cleveland Barons4–022–5–448Recap
32December 23@ Boston Bruins1–622–6–448Recap
33December 28@ New York Rangers4–323–6–450Recap
34December 29Minnesota North Stars5–224–6–452Recap
35December 31@ St. Louis Blues2–324–7–452Recap :
January: 4–4–5, 13 points (home: 3–0–3; road: 1–4–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
36January 3Cleveland Barons5–425–7–454Recap
37January 5Los Angeles Kings4–425–7–555Recap
38January 6@ Atlanta Flames3–525–8–555Recap
39January 9@ Montreal Canadiens3–325–8–656Recap
40January 11@ Chicago Black Hawks4–525–9–656Recap
41January 12Pittsburgh Penguins4–425–9–757Recap
42January 14New York Rangers4–126–9–759Recap
43January 16Atlanta Flames5–327–9–761Recap
44January 19Montreal Canadiens1–127–9–862Recap
45January 21@ New York Islanders1–627–10–862Recap
46January 26@ Vancouver Canucks6–228–10–864Recap
47January 28@ Colorado Rockies4–628–11–864Recap
48January 29@ Detroit Red Wings3–328–11–965Recap :
February: 7–4–2, 16 points (home: 5–2–0; road: 2–2–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
49February 1@ Chicago Black Hawks1–328–12–965Recap
50February 2Colorado Rockies3–029–12–967Recap
51February 4@ Cleveland Barons2–229–12–1068Recap
52February 6St. Louis Blues2–030–12–1070Recap
53February 9Vancouver Canucks5–231–12–1072Recap
54February 12Washington Capitals4–132–12–1074Recap
55February 16Minnesota North Stars2–432–13–1074Recap
56February 18Detroit Red Wings4–233–13–1076Recap
57February 19New York Islanders1–433–14–1076Recap
58February 23@ Buffalo Sabres0–433–15–1076Recap
59February 25@ Pittsburgh Penguins3–134–15–1078Recap
60February 26@ Washington Capitals6–135–15–1080Recap
61February 28@ Boston Bruins4–435–15–1181Recap :
March: 8–4–2, 18 points (home: 6–0–1; road: 2–4–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
62March 1@ Toronto Maple Leafs2–335–16–1181Recap
63March 4@ Montreal Canadiens1–735–17–1181Recap
64March 5St. Louis Blues7–136–17–1183Recap
65March 7Atlanta Flames5–337–17–1185Recap
66March 11Boston Bruins6–238–17–1187Recap
67March 12Colorado Rockies6–239–17–1189Recap
68March 15@ New York Rangers2–239–17–1290Recap
69March 16@ Buffalo Sabres1–339–18–1290Recap
70March 18Buffalo Sabres2–239–18–1391Recap
71March 20New York Islanders4–240–18–1393Recap
72March 23Toronto Maple Leafs4–141–18–1395Recap
73March 25@ Minnesota North Stars4–342–18–1397Recap
74March 28@ Colorado Rockies3–442–19–1397Recap
75March 31@ Vancouver Canucks3–243–19–1399Recap :
April: 2–1–2, 6 points (home: 1–1–0; road: 1–0–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
76April 1@ Los Angeles Kings4–244–19–13101Recap
77April 4@ New York Islanders3–344–19–14102Recap
78April 6New York Rangers3–045–19–14104Recap
79April 8@ Atlanta Flames1–145–19–15105Recap
80April 9Minnesota North Stars1–345–20–15105Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1978 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Preliminary Round vs. Colorado Rockies – Flyers win 2–0
GameDateOpponentScoreSeriesRecap
1April 11Colorado Rockies3–2 OTFlyers lead 1–0Recap
2April 13@ Colorado Rockies3–1Flyers win 2–0Recap :
Quarterfinals vs. Buffalo Sabres – Flyers win 4–1
GameDateOpponentScoreSeriesRecap
1April 17Buffalo Sabres2–4Sabres lead 1–0Recap
2April 19Buffalo Sabres2–1 OTSeries tied 1–1Recap
3April 22@ Buffalo Sabres5–2Flyers lead 2–1Recap
4April 23@ Buffalo Sabres4–2Flyers lead 3–1Recap
5April 25Buffalo Sabres6–3Flyers win 4–1Recap :
Semifinals vs. Boston Bruins – Bruins win 4–1
GameDateOpponentScoreSeriesRecap
1May 2@ Boston Bruins2–3Bruins lead 1–0Recap
2May 4@ Boston Bruins5–7Bruins lead 2–0Recap
3May 7Boston Bruins3–1Bruins lead 2–1Recap
4May 9Boston Bruins2–4Bruins lead 3–1Recap
5May 11@ Boston Bruins3–6Bruins win 4–1Recap :
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.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | Pos | 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 | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | 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 |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Bill Barber |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Tom Bladon |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Bobby Clarke |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Bob Dailey |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Fred Shero (Coach) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Wayne Stephenson |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Jim Watson |
| Team | Barry Ashbee Trophy | Jim Watson |
| Team | Class Guy Award | Joe Watson |

### 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. His plus/minus of +10 in the game is an NHL single game record. Goaltender Bernie Parent won a team record ten consecutive games from November 20 to December 28. On April 1, Bill Barber tied a team record by scoring two shorthanded goals in a single game.
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. The three goals they allowed to Colorado in two games is the fewest goals the Flyers have allowed in any playoff series. On May 11, Orest Kindrachuk scored the two fastest goals by a single player in team playoff history, scoring eleven seconds apart.

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Kevin McCarthy | October 13, 1977 |
| First game | Dave Hoyda | October 15, 1977 |
| First game | Rick St. Croix | February 16, 1978 |
| First game | Jim Cunningham | February 28, 1978 |
| 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.

### Trades

| Date | Details | Details |
| June 14, 1977 (1977-06-14) | To Philadelphia Flyers 8th-round pick in 19779th-round pick in 197710th-round pick in 197711th-round pick in 1977 | To Buffalo Sabres cash |
| June 17, 1977 (1977-06-17) | To Philadelphia Flyers Future considerations | To Los Angeles Kings Steve Short |
| August 5, 1977 (1977-08-05) | To Philadelphia Flyers Barry Dean | To Colorado Rockies Mark Suzor |
| October 28, 1977 (1977-10-28) | To Philadelphia Flyers Blake Dunlop3rd-round pick in 1978 | To Minnesota North Stars Harvey Bennett |
| November 1, 1977 (1977-11-01) | To Philadelphia Flyers Terry Murray | To Detroit Red Wings cash |

### Players acquired

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

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via | Ref |
| September 14, 1977 (1977-09-14) | Gary Inness | Indianapolis Racers (WHA) | Free agency | |
| April 1978 (1978-04) | Gary Dornhoefer | | Retirement | |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term |
| June 30, 1977 (1977-06-30) | Kevin McCarthy | 3-year |
| August 2, 1977 (1977-08-02) | Tom Gorence | |
| August 2, 1977 (1977-08-02) | Dave Hoyda | |

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

## Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Maine Mariners of the AHL and the Philadelphia Firebirds of the NAHL.