# 1978–79 New England Whalers season

The 1978–79 New England Whalers season was the seventh season of the Whalers' franchise. This was the second of three seasons where the Whalers played at Springfield Civic Center. This was the final season in the World Hockey Association, which ceased operations after the season. The Whalers (along with the Winnipeg Jets, the Edmonton Oilers, and the Quebec Nordiques) were admitted to the National Hockey League as expansion teams. The Whalers (as part of the agreement suggested by the Boston Bruins) changed their name to the Hartford Whalers. The Whalers made the playoffs, with only five teams participating in the postseason. Don Blackburn took over the team as coach before the season ended, and he became the first coach of the team in the NHL.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points
| WHA Team | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 48 | 30 | 2 | 98 | 340 | 266 | 1220 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 41 | 34 | 5 | 87 | 288 | 271 | 1399 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 39 | 35 | 6 | 84 | 307 | 306 | 1342 |
| New England Whalers | 80 | 37 | 34 | 9 | 83 | 298 | 287 | 1090 |
| Cincinnati Stingers | 80 | 33 | 41 | 6 | 72 | 274 | 284 | 1651 |
| Birmingham Bulls | 80 | 32 | 42 | 6 | 70 | 286 | 311 | 1661 |
| xIndianapolis Racers | 25 | 5 | 18 | 2 | 12 | 78 | 130 | 557 |
| #Soviet All-Stars | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 27 | 20 | 77 |
| #Czechoslovakia | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 33 | 107 |
| #Finland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
x-team folded during season #-played limited schedule

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 15, 1978 | 6–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 17, 1978 | 2–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | T | October 18, 1978 | 4–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) | 2–0–1 |
| 4 | W | October 21, 1978 | 7–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 3–0–1 |
| 5 | W | October 22, 1978 | 6–3 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) | 4–0–1 |
| 6 | W | October 24, 1978 | 2–1 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 5–0–1 |
| 7 | L | October 26, 1978 | 5–8 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 5–1–1 |
| 8 | L | October 27, 1978 | 4–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) | 5–2–1 |
| 9 | L | October 29, 1978 | 4–7 | Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 5–3–1 |
| 10 | W | November 3, 1978 | 6–3 | Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) | 6–3–1 |
| 11 | T | November 4, 1978 | 6–6 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) | 6–3–2 |
| 12 | L | November 5, 1978 | 4–5 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 6–4–2 |
| 13 | W | November 9, 1978 | 6–1 | Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) | 7–4–2 |
| 14 | W | November 11, 1978 | 2–1 | Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 8–4–2 |
| 15 | T | November 14, 1978 | 5–5 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 8–4–3 |
| 16 | T | November 15, 1978 | 4–4 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 8–4–4 |
| 17 | L | November 17, 1978 | 1–7 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 8–5–4 |
| 18 | L | November 18, 1978 | 2–3 | Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 8–6–4 |
| 19 | W | November 22, 1978 | 5–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) | 9–6–4 |
| 20 | W | November 25, 1978 | 5–2 | Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 10–6–4 |
| 21 | W | November 26, 1978 | 9–3 | Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 11–6–4 |
| 22 | L | November 29, 1978 | 2–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) | 11–7–4 |
| 23 | L | December 1, 1978 | 2–8 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) | 11–8–4 |
| 24 | W | December 3, 1978 | 7–0 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) | 12–8–4 |
| 25 | T | December 5, 1978 | 2–2 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 12–8–5 |
| 26 | W | December 7, 1978 | 5–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) | 13–8–5 |
| 27 | L | December 9, 1978 | 4–7 | Soviet All-Stars (1978–79) | 13–9–5 |
| 28 | W | December 12, 1978 | 7–4 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) | 14–9–5 |
| 29 | W | December 16, 1978 | 2–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 15–9–5 |
| 30 | T | December 17, 1978 | 4–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 15–9–6 |
| 31 | W | December 23, 1978 | 4–3 | Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 16–9–6 |
| 32 | W | December 27, 1978 | 10–4 | Czechoslovakia (1978–79) | 17–9–6 |
| 33 | W | December 29, 1978 | 5–0 | Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 18–9–6 |
| 34 | L | December 30, 1978 | 1–2 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 18–10–6 |
| 35 | W | January 7, 1979 | 5–4 | Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 19–10–6 |
| 36 | L | January 13, 1979 | 0–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) | 19–11–6 |
| 37 | L | January 14, 1979 | 2–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) | 19–12–6 |
| 38 | L | January 18, 1979 | 2–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 19–13–6 |
| 39 | W | January 20, 1979 | 3–1 | Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 20–13–6 |
| 40 | L | January 23, 1979 | 1–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) | 20–14–6 |
| 41 | L | January 26, 1979 | 4–5 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 20–15–6 |
| 42 | W | January 28, 1979 | 8–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) | 21–15–6 |
| 43 | W | January 30, 1979 | 5–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) | 22–15–6 |
| 44 | W | February 2, 1979 | 4–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 23–15–6 |
| 45 | T | February 3, 1979 | 2–2 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 23–15–7 |
| 46 | W | February 6, 1979 | 5–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 24–15–7 |
| 47 | W | February 10, 1979 | 7–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) | 25–15–7 |
| 48 | L | February 11, 1979 | 2–5 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 25–16–7 |
| 49 | L | February 14, 1979 | 4–7 | Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 25–17–7 |
| 50 | L | February 16, 1979 | 2–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) | 25–18–7 |
| 51 | W | February 17, 1979 | 4–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 26–18–7 |
| 52 | W | February 18, 1979 | 7–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) | 27–18–7 |
| 53 | L | February 20, 1979 | 2–8 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) | 27–19–7 |
| 54 | L | February 21, 1979 | 2–5 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) | 27–20–7 |
| 55 | W | February 23, 1979 | 5–4 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 28–20–7 |
| 56 | L | February 24, 1979 | 0–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 28–21–7 |
| 57 | L | February 25, 1979 | 5–7 | Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) | 28–22–7 |
| 58 | T | February 27, 1979 | 1–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) | 28–22–8 |
| 59 | W | March 2, 1979 | 4–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) | 29–22–8 |
| 60 | L | March 4, 1979 | 3–4 OT | Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 29–23–8 |
| 61 | L | March 9, 1979 | 1–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 29–24–8 |
| 62 | W | March 11, 1979 | 2–1 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 30–24–8 |
| 63 | W | March 13, 1979 | 4–3 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 31–24–8 |
| 64 | L | March 15, 1979 | 3–4 OT | Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 31–25–8 |
| 65 | T | March 16, 1979 | 5–5 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 31–25–9 |
| 66 | L | March 18, 1979 | 1–4 | Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 31–26–9 |
| 67 | W | March 20, 1979 | 7–6 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 32–26–9 |
| 68 | W | March 23, 1979 | 5–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 33–26–9 |
| 69 | L | March 24, 1979 | 3–4 | Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 33–27–9 |
| 70 | L | March 27, 1979 | 1–3 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) | 33–28–9 |
| 71 | L | March 30, 1979 | 1–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) | 33–29–9 |
| 72 | L | April 1, 1979 | 3–5 | Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) | 33–30–9 |
| 73 | W | April 4, 1979 | 4–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) | 34–30–9 |
| 74 | L | April 6, 1979 | 2–7 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) | 34–31–9 |
| 75 | L | April 8, 1979 | 4–6 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) | 34–32–9 |
| 76 | W | April 10, 1979 | 5–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 35–32–9 |
| 77 | W | April 12, 1979 | 4–0 | Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 36–32–9 |
| 78 | L | April 14, 1979 | 0–4 | Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) | 36–33–9 |
| 79 | L | April 15, 1979 | 1–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) | 36–34–9 |
| 80 | W | April 17, 1979 | 3–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) | 37–34–9 |

## Playoffs
### New England Whalers 3, Cincinnati Stingers 0 - Preliminary Round

| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Series |
| 1 | April 21 | Cincinnati Stingers | 3 – 5 | New England Whalers | 1–0 |
| 2 | April 22 | New England Whalers | 3 – 6 | Cincinnati Stingers | 1–1 |
| 3 | April 24 | New England Whalers | 2 – 1 | Cincinnati Stingers | 2–1 |

### Edmonton Oilers 4, New England Whalers 3 - Semifinals

| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Series |
| 1 | April 26 | New England Whalers | 2 – 6 | Edmonton Oilers | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 27 | New England Whalers | 5 – 9 | Edmonton Oilers | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 29 | Edmonton Oilers | 1 – 4 | New England Whalers | 1–2 |
| 4 | May 1 | Edmonton Oilers | 4 – 5 | New England Whalers | 2–2 |
| 5 | May 3 | New England Whalers | 2 – 5 | Edmonton Oilers | 2–3 |
| 6 | May 6 | Edmonton Oilers | 8 – 4 | New England Whalers | 3–3 |
| 7 | May 8 | New England Whalers | 3 – 6 | Edmonton Oilers | 3–4 |

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Mark Howe | 77 | 42 | 65 | 107 | 32 |
| Andre Lacroix | 78 | 32 | 56 | 88 | 34 |
| Mike Rogers | 80 | 27 | 45 | 72 | 31 |
| Dave Keon | 79 | 22 | 43 | 65 | 2 |
| Gordie Roberts | 79 | 11 | 46 | 57 | 113 |
| Warren Miller | 77 | 26 | 23 | 49 | 44 |
| Mike Antonovich | 69 | 20 | 27 | 47 | 35 |
| John McKenzie | 76 | 19 | 28 | 47 | 115 |
| Gordie Howe | 58 | 19 | 24 | 43 | 51 |
| George Lyle | 59 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 54 |
| Alan Hangsleben | 77 | 10 | 19 | 29 | 148 |
| Rick Ley | 73 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 135 |
| Marty Howe | 66 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 31 |
| Ron Plumb | 78 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 33 |
| Jordy Douglas | 51 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 15 |
| Brad Selwood | 42 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 47 |
| Jim Warner | 41 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 20 |
| Blaine Stoughton | 36 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 2 |
| Larry Pleau | 28 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 6 |
| Jack Carlson | 34 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 61 |
| Dave Inkpen | 41 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 15 |
| Al Smith | 40 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 35 |
| Jeff Brubaker | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| John Garrett | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Pierre Roy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SA | SV | SV% | SO |
| John Garrett | 2496 | 41 | 20 | 17 | 4 | 149 | 3.58 | 1180 | 1031 | .874 | 2 |
| Al Smith | 2396 | 40 | 17 | 17 | 5 | 132 | 3.31 | 1124 | 992 | .883 | 1 |
| Team: | 4892 | 80 | 37 | 34 | 9 | 281 | 3.45 | 2304 | 2023 | .878 | 3 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Dave Keon | 10 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 2 |
| John McKenzie | 10 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 10 |
| Mike Antonovich | 10 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 14 |
| Andre Lacroix | 10 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
| George Lyle | 9 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 25 |
| Mike Rogers | 10 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 |
| Warren Miller | 10 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 28 |
| Blaine Stoughton | 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Mark Howe | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Jordy Douglas | 10 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 23 |
| Gordie Howe | 10 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Ron Plumb | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Rick Ley | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| Gordie Roberts | 10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| Larry Pleau | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Al Hangsleben | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
| Marty Howe | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Dave Inkpen | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Jeff Brubaker | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| John Garrett | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Smith | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Warner | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| John Garrett | 447 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 32 | 4.30 | 0 |
| Al Smith | 153 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 4.71 | 0 |
| Team: | 600 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 44 | 4.40 | 0 |