# 1978–79 Colorado Rockies season

The 1978–79 Colorado Rockies season was the Rockies' third season and the fifth season of the franchise. Like three of the previous four seasons, the Rockies did not qualify for the playoffs.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 80 | 29 | 36 | 15 | 244 | 277 | 73 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 25 | 42 | 13 | 217 | 291 | 63 |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 18 | 50 | 12 | 249 | 348 | 48 |
| Colorado Rockies | 80 | 15 | 53 | 12 | 210 | 331 | 42 |

### Record vs. opponents

Smythe Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Smythe Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
STL
VAN
Total
Chicago
—5–2–15–2–11–3–411–7–6
Colorado
2–5–1—4–2–21–6–17–13–4
St. Louis
2–5–12–4–2—1–4–35–13–6
Vancouver
3–1–46–1–14–1–3—13–3–8
Vs. Patrick Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
Total
Chicago
1–2–22–30–43–16–10–2
Colorado
0–40–4–11–40–3–11–15–2
St. Louis
1–40–3–22–31–44–14–2
Vancouver
2–20–40–41–2–13–12–1
Vs. Adams Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
TOR
Total
Chicago
1–3–12–2–12–22–1–17–8–3
Colorado
1–30–3–13–2–11–2–15–10–3
St. Louis
1–30–3–11–2–10–42–12–2
Vancouver
0–41–3–11–4–11–3–13–14–3
Vs. Norris Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
DET
LAK
MTL
PIT
WSH
Total
Chicago
0–3–11–32–20–2–22–1–15–11–4
Colorado
0–3–10–2–20–41–31–32–15–3
St. Louis
3–11–2–10–41–2–12–27–12–1
Vancouver
3–11–30–3–11–31–36–12–2 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 11, 1978 | 2–8 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | L | October 14, 1978 | 2–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) | 0–2–0 |
| 3 | L | October 15, 1978 | 1–4 | @ New York Rangers (1978–79) | 0–3–0 |
| 4 | L | October 17, 1978 | 2–8 | @ Atlanta Flames (1978–79) | 0–4–0 |
| 5 | T | October 20, 1978 | 5–5 | St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 0–4–1 |
| 6 | W | October 21, 1978 | 4–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 1–4–1 |
| 7 | L | October 25, 1978 | 4–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) | 1–5–1 |
| 8 | L | October 27, 1978 | 2–5 | Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) | 1–6–1 |
| 9 | W | October 28, 1978 | 1–0 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) | 2–6–1 |
| 10 | L | October 31, 1978 | 5–8 | @ New York Islanders (1978–79) | 2–7–1 |
| 11 | L | November 2, 1978 | 0–3 | New York Rangers (1978–79) | 2–8–1 |
| 12 | T | November 4, 1978 | 4–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 2–8–2 |
| 13 | L | November 5, 1978 | 4–6 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 2–9–2 |
| 14 | L | November 8, 1978 | 3–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) | 2–10–2 |
| 15 | T | November 10, 1978 | 2–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 2–10–3 |
| 16 | L | November 11, 1978 | 3–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 2–11–3 |
| 17 | T | November 14, 1978 | 2–2 | @ New York Islanders (1978–79) | 2–11–4 |
| 18 | L | November 15, 1978 | 1–6 | Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) | 2–12–4 |
| 19 | W | November 18, 1978 | 8–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 3–12–4 |
| 20 | L | November 21, 1978 | 1–7 | New York Islanders (1978–79) | 3–13–4 |
| 21 | L | November 23, 1978 | 2–7 | Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 3–14–4 |
| 22 | W | November 25, 1978 | 6–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 4–14–4 |
| 23 | L | November 26, 1978 | 1–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 4–15–4 |
| 24 | T | November 29, 1978 | 2–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) | 4–15–5 |
| 25 | L | December 2, 1978 | 2–5 | New York Islanders (1978–79) | 4–16–5 |
| 26 | L | December 3, 1978 | 3–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 4–17–5 |
| 27 | L | December 5, 1978 | 1–4 | Washington Capitals (1978–79) | 4–18–5 |
| 28 | L | December 8, 1978 | 3–4 | Atlanta Flames (1978–79) | 4–19–5 |
| 29 | L | December 9, 1978 | 0–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) | 4–20–5 |
| 30 | W | December 12, 1978 | 4–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1978–79) | 5–20–5 |
| 31 | L | December 14, 1978 | 3–5 | @ Atlanta Flames (1978–79) | 5–21–5 |
| 32 | W | December 16, 1978 | 5–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 6–21–5 |
| 33 | T | December 19, 1978 | 2–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) | 6–21–6 |
| 34 | L | December 21, 1978 | 2–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 6–22–6 |
| 35 | L | December 23, 1978 | 2–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) | 6–23–6 |
| 36 | L | December 27, 1978 | 2–5 | Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 6–24–6 |
| 37 | W | December 30, 1978 | 7–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) | 7–24–6 |
| 38 | L | January 1, 1979 | 3–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) | 7–25–6 |
| 39 | W | January 2, 1979 | 4–2 | St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 8–25–6 |
| 40 | L | January 5, 1979 | 3–5 | Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 8–26–6 |
| 41 | W | January 6, 1979 | 4–1 | @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 9–26–6 |
| 42 | L | January 10, 1979 | 3–5 | New York Rangers (1978–79) | 9–27–6 |
| 43 | L | January 12, 1979 | 1–8 | @ Washington Capitals (1978–79) | 9–28–6 |
| 44 | L | January 13, 1979 | 2–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 9–29–6 |
| 45 | L | January 16, 1979 | 2–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 9–30–6 |
| 46 | L | January 17, 1979 | 1–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 9–31–6 |
| 47 | W | January 19, 1979 | 5–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) | 10–31–6 |
| 48 | T | January 20, 1979 | 3–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) | 10–31–7 |
| 49 | W | January 25, 1979 | 5–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) | 11–31–7 |
| 50 | T | January 27, 1979 | 2–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 11–31–8 |
| 51 | W | January 31, 1979 | 5–4 | New York Rangers (1978–79) | 12–31–8 |
| 52 | L | February 3, 1979 | 3–6 | @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 12–32–8 |
| 53 | L | February 4, 1979 | 1–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) | 12–33–8 |
| 54 | L | February 13, 1979 | 1–6 | @ New York Islanders (1978–79) | 12–34–8 |
| 55 | L | February 15, 1979 | 3–9 | Washington Capitals (1978–79) | 12–35–8 |
| 56 | L | February 17, 1979 | 1–5 | Atlanta Flames (1978–79) | 12–36–8 |
| 57 | L | February 18, 1979 | 3–5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 12–37–8 |
| 58 | L | February 20, 1979 | 3–5 | Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 12–38–8 |
| 59 | L | February 22, 1979 | 0–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 12–39–8 |
| 60 | L | February 23, 1979 | 3–5 | Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 12–40–8 |
| 61 | L | February 25, 1979 | 1–8 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) | 12–41–8 |
| 62 | W | February 27, 1979 | 4–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 13–41–8 |
| 63 | L | February 28, 1979 | 3–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) | 13–42–8 |
| 64 | L | March 2, 1979 | 0–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 13–43–8 |
| 65 | L | March 4, 1979 | 2–7 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) | 13–44–8 |
| 66 | L | March 6, 1979 | 0–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 13–45–8 |
| 67 | L | March 7, 1979 | 3–5 | @ New York Rangers (1978–79) | 13–46–8 |
| 68 | W | March 10, 1979 | 3–1 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 14–46–8 |
| 69 | T | March 13, 1979 | 5–5 | St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 14–46–9 |
| 70 | L | March 16, 1979 | 1–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 14–47–9 |
| 71 | L | March 18, 1979 | 1–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) | 14–48–9 |
| 72 | L | March 21, 1979 | 2–3 | Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 14–49–9 |
| 73 | L | March 24, 1979 | 1–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) | 14–50–9 |
| 74 | L | March 25, 1979 | 0–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 14–51–9 |
| 75 | T | March 27, 1979 | 1–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 14–51–10 |
| 76 | L | March 31, 1979 | 0–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 14–52–10 |
| 77 | W | April 1, 1979 | 9–5 | St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 15–52–10 |
| 78 | L | April 3, 1979 | 1–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 15–53–10 |
| 79 | T | April 5, 1979 | 4–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) | 15–53–11 |
| 80 | T | April 8, 1979 | 5–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 15–53–12 |

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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Wilf Paiement | RW | 65 | 24 | 36 | 60 | 80 | -30 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Jack Valiquette | C | 76 | 23 | 34 | 57 | 12 | -42 | 8 | 2 | 3 |
| Paul Gardner | C | 64 | 23 | 26 | 49 | 32 | -25 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| John Van Boxmeer | D | 76 | 9 | 34 | 43 | 46 | -26 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Barry Beck | D | 63 | 14 | 28 | 42 | 91 | -30 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Croteau | LW | 79 | 23 | 18 | 41 | 18 | -28 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| Randy Pierce | RW | 70 | 19 | 17 | 36 | 35 | -21 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Ron Delorme | C | 77 | 20 | 8 | 28 | 68 | -30 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Merlin Malinowski | C | 54 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 10 | -17 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ralph Klassen | C | 64 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 12 | -25 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Rey Comeau | C | 70 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 16 | -20 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Andy Spruce | LW | 47 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 31 | -18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Contini | C | 30 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 6 | -19 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Dennis Owchar | D | 50 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 27 | -33 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Christie | D | 68 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 88 | -44 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Gillis | LW | 30 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | -18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Lochead | LW | 27 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 14 | -15 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Nick Beverley | D | 52 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | -16 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Larry Skinner | C | 12 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | -5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Ashby | C | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | -3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Dwyer | LW | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clayton Pachal | C/LW | 24 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 69 | -11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Awrey | D | 56 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 18 | -33 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Kitchen | D | 53 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 28 | -19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nelson Pyatt | C | 28 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | -17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trevor Johansen | D | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 16 | -8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Lachance | D | 21 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 22 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Saleski | RW | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Plasse | G | 41 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Watson | D | 16 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | -13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Favell | G | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Andruff | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Krook | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Messier | C | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Oleschuk | G | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Michel Plasse | 2302 | 41 | 9 | 29 | 2 | 152 | 3.96 | 0 |
| Bill Oleschuk | 2118 | 40 | 6 | 19 | 8 | 136 | 3.85 | 1 |
| Doug Favell | 380 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 34 | 5.37 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 15 | 53 | 12 | 322 | 4.02 | 1 |
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals  MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SO = Shutouts;

## Draft picks

Colorado's draft picks at the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 5 | Mike Gillis | Canada | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
| 2 | 27 | Merlin Malinowski | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) |
| 3 | 41 | Paul Messier | Canada | University of Denver (WCHA) |
| 4 | 58 | Dave Watson | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |
| 5 | 73 | Tim Thomlison | Canada | Billings Bighorns (WCHL) |
| 5 | 74 | Rod Guimont | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WCHL) |
| 6 | 91 | John Hynes | United States | Harvard University (ECAC) |
| 7 | 108 | Andy Clark | Canada | Lake Superior State University (CCHA) |
| 8 | 125 | John Olver | Canada | University of Michigan (WCHA) |
| 9 | 142 | Kevin Krook | Canada | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
| 10 | 159 | Jeff Jensen | United States | Lake Superior State University (CCHA) |
| 11 | 174 | Bo Ericson | Sweden | AIK (Sweden) |
| 12 | 190 | Jari Viitala | Finland | Ilves (Finland) |
| 13 | 204 | Ulf Zetterstrom | Sweden | Kiruna (Sweden) |