# 1976–77 Winnipeg Jets season

The 1976–77 Winnipeg Jets season was the Jets' fifth season of operation in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Jets, the defending WHA champions, made it to the Avco Cup final before losing to the Quebec Nordiques.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Western Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS |
| Houston Aeros | 80 | 50 | 24 | 6 | 320 | 241 | 106 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 46 | 32 | 2 | 366 | 291 | 94 |
| San Diego Mariners | 81 | 40 | 37 | 4 | 284 | 283 | 85 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 81 | 34 | 43 | 4 | 243 | 304 | 72 |
| Calgary Cowboys | 81 | 31 | 43 | 7 | 252 | 296 | 69 |
| Phoenix Roadrunners | 80 | 28 | 48 | 4 | 281 | 383 | 60 |

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 8, 1976 | 4–1 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 10, 1976 | 5–2 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | W | October 15, 1976 | 6–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 3–0–0 |
| 4 | L | October 16, 1976 | 4–6 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 3–1–0 |
| 5 | L | October 17, 1976 | 1–3 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 3–2–0 |
| 6 | W | October 19, 1976 | 6–1 | Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 4–2–0 |
| 7 | L | October 22, 1976 | 3–4 OT | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 4–3–0 |
| 8 | W | October 24, 1976 | 7–1 | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 5–3–0 |
| 9 | W | October 29, 1976 | 11–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 6–3–0 |
| 10 | W | October 31, 1976 | 6–4 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 7–3–0 |
| 11 | L | November 2, 1976 | 1–3 | Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 7–4–0 |
| 12 | W | November 5, 1976 | 9–2 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 8–4–0 |
| 13 | L | November 6, 1976 | 3–7 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 8–5–0 |
| 14 | W | November 7, 1976 | 5–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 9–5–0 |
| 15 | W | November 9, 1976 | 5–4 OT | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 10–5–0 |
| 16 | L | November 11, 1976 | 5–7 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 10–6–0 |
| 17 | W | November 14, 1976 | 2–0 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 11–6–0 |
| 18 | W | November 16, 1976 | 8–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 12–6–0 |
| 19 | W | November 19, 1976 | 7–3 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 13–6–0 |
| 20 | L | November 20, 1976 | 4–8 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 13–7–0 |
| 21 | L | November 21, 1976 | 2–4 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 13–8–0 |
| 22 | L | November 23, 1976 | 4–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 13–9–0 |
| 23 | T | November 26, 1976 | 1–1 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 13–9–1 |
| 24 | L | November 28, 1976 | 3–5 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 13–10–1 |
| 25 | W | November 30, 1976 | 8–2 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 14–10–1 |
| 26 | W | December 3, 1976 | 4–3 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 15–10–1 |
| 27 | W | December 4, 1976 | 6–2 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 16–10–1 |
| 28 | L | December 5, 1976 | 4–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 16–11–1 |
| 29 | W | December 7, 1976 | 4–2 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 17–11–1 |
| 30 | W | December 8, 1976 | 4–2 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 18–11–1 |
| 31 | L | December 10, 1976 | 3–5 | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 18–12–1 |
| 32 | L | December 26, 1976 | 3–12 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 18–13–1 |
| 33 | L | December 28, 1976 | 3–6 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 18–14–1 |
| 34 | L | December 30, 1976 | 3–4 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 18–15–1 |
| 35 | W | January 2, 1977 | 5–2 | Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 19–15–1 |
| 36 | W | January 4, 1977 | 2–1 | Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 20–15–1 |
| 37 | W | January 9, 1977 | 4–1 | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 21–15–1 |
| 38 | W | January 11, 1977 | 9–2 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 22–15–1 |
| 39 | W | January 14, 1977 | 5–3 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 23–15–1 |
| 40 | L | January 16, 1977 | 4–6 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 23–16–1 |
| 41 | W | January 21, 1977 | 6–5 OT | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 24–16–1 |
| 42 | W | January 23, 1977 | 10–5 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 25–16–1 |
| 43 | L | January 25, 1977 | 2–5 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 25–17–1 |
| 44 | L | January 27, 1977 | 0–3 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 25–18–1 |
| 45 | L | January 29, 1977 | 3–5 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 25–19–1 |
| 46 | L | January 30, 1977 | 5–8 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 25–20–1 |
| 47 | W | February 1, 1977 | 11–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 26–20–1 |
| 48 | W | February 4, 1977 | 8–2 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 27–20–1 |
| 49 | W | February 6, 1977 | 6–4 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 28–20–1 |
| 50 | W | February 8, 1977 | 7–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 29–20–1 |
| 51 | L | February 10, 1977 | 3–6 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 29–21–1 |
| 52 | L | February 11, 1977 | 0–4 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 29–22–1 |
| 53 | W | February 13, 1977 | 7–5 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 30–22–1 |
| 54 | T | February 15, 1977 | 2–2 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 30–22–2 |
| 55 | W | February 17, 1977 | 4–2 | Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 31–22–2 |
| 56 | L | February 18, 1977 | 2–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 31–23–2 |
| 57 | W | February 20, 1977 | 4–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 32–23–2 |
| 58 | W | February 22, 1977 | 3–2 | Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 33–23–2 |
| 59 | L | February 23, 1977 | 3–6 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 33–24–2 |
| 60 | W | February 26, 1977 | 8–6 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 34–24–2 |
| 61 | L | February 27, 1977 | 2–3 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 34–25–2 |
| 62 | L | March 1, 1977 | 1–6 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 34–26–2 |
| 63 | W | March 2, 1977 | 4–3 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 35–26–2 |
| 64 | L | March 3, 1977 | 4–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 35–27–2 |
| 65 | L | March 5, 1977 | 1–4 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 35–28–2 |
| 66 | W | March 8, 1977 | 5–0 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 36–28–2 |
| 67 | W | March 11, 1977 | 4–1 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 37–28–2 |
| 68 | W | March 13, 1977 | 9–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 38–28–2 |
| 69 | W | March 15, 1977 | 7–0 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 39–28–2 |
| 70 | L | March 17, 1977 | 3–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 39–29–2 |
| 71 | W | March 18, 1977 | 7–5 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 40–29–2 |
| 72 | W | March 20, 1977 | 4–3 OT | @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 41–29–2 |
| 73 | W | March 22, 1977 | 8–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 42–29–2 |
| 74 | W | March 27, 1977 | 5–3 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 43–29–2 |
| 75 | L | March 29, 1977 | 2–5 | Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 43–30–2 |
| 76 | L | March 31, 1977 | 3–4 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 43–31–2 |
| 77 | W | April 2, 1977 | 6–5 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 44–31–2 |
| 78 | W | April 3, 1977 | 6–4 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 45–31–2 |
| 79 | L | April 4, 1977 | 2–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 45–32–2 |
| 80 | W | April 7, 1977 | 6–4 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 46–32–2 |

## Playoffs

The Jets lost in the Avco Cup Finals.

### Winnipeg Jets 4, San Diego Mariners 3

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 10 | San Diego Mariners | 1–5 | Winnipeg Jets | 1–0 |
| 2 | April 12 | San Diego Mariners | 1–4 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–0 |
| 3 | April 16 | Winnipeg Jets | 4–5 | San Diego Mariners | 2–1 |
| 4 | April 17 | Winnipeg Jets | 4–6 | San Diego Mariners | 2–2 |
| 5 | April 20 | San Diego Mariners | 0–3 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–3 |
| 6 | April 22 | Winnipeg Jets | 1–3 | San Diego Mariners | 3–3 |
| 7 | April 24 | San Diego Mariners | 3–7 | Winnipeg Jets | 3–4 |

### Winnipeg Jets 4, Houston Aeros 2

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 26 | Winnipeg Jets | 4–3 OT | Houston Aeros | 1–0 |
| 2 | April 28 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–7 | Houston Aeros | 1–1 |
| 3 | April 30 | Houston Aeros | 3–4 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–1 |
| 4 | May 1 | Houston Aeros | 4–6 | Winnipeg Jets | 3–1 |
| 5 | May 3 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–3 | Houston Aeros | 3–2 |
| 6 | May 5 | Houston Aeros | 3–6 | Winnipeg Jets | 4–2 |

### Quebec Nordiques 4, Winnipeg Jets 3 – Avco Cup Finals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | May 11 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–1 | Quebec Nordiques | 1–0 |
| 2 | May 15 | Winnipeg Jets | 1–6 | Quebec Nordiques | 1–1 |
| 3 | May 18 | Quebec Nordiques | 1–6 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–1 |
| 4 | May 20 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–2 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–2 |
| 5 | May 22 | Winnipeg Jets | 3–8 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–3 |
| 6 | May 24 | Quebec Nordiques | 3–12 | Winnipeg Jets | 3–3 |
| 7 | May 26 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–8 | Quebec Nordiques | 3–4 |

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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Anders Hedberg | RW | 68 | 70 | 61 | 131 | 48 | 48 | 22 | 0 | 10 |
| Ulf Nilsson | C | 71 | 39 | 85 | 124 | 89 | 57 | 8 | 3 | 6 |
| Peter Sullivan | C | 78 | 31 | 52 | 83 | 18 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Willy Lindstrom | RW | 79 | 44 | 36 | 80 | 37 | −2 | 11 | 0 | 6 |
| Veli-Pekka Ketola | C | 64 | 25 | 29 | 54 | 59 | −13 | 6 | 0 | |
| Bobby Hull | LW | 34 | 21 | 32 | 53 | 14 | 16 | 7 | 0 | |
| Dan Labraaten | LW | 64 | 24 | 27 | 51 | 21 | −11 | 8 | 0 | |
| Barry Long | D | 71 | 9 | 38 | 47 | 54 | −1 | 4 | 0 | |
| Perry Miller | D | 74 | 14 | 31 | 45 | 124 | 27 | 5 | 1 | |
| Bill Lesuk | LW | 78 | 14 | 27 | 41 | 85 | 23 | 2 | 0 | |
| Lars-Erik Sjoberg | D | 52 | 2 | 38 | 40 | 31 | 9 | 1 | 1 | |
| Mats Lindh | C | 73 | 14 | 17 | 31 | 2 | −13 | 1 | 2 | |
| Bobby Guindon | LW | 69 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 19 | −12 | 3 | 0 | |
| Thommie Bergman | D | 42 | 2 | 24 | 26 | 37 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ted Green | D | 70 | 4 | 21 | 25 | 45 | 12 | 2 | 0 | |
| Lyle Moffat | LW | 74 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 90 | −7 | 2 | 0 | |
| Kent Ruhnke | RW | 51 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 2 | −12 | 0 | 0 | |
| Mike Ford | D | 22 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 14 | 0 | 0 | |
| Heikki Riihiranta | D | 53 | 1 | 16 | 17 | 28 | −1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Dave Dunn | D | 40 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 129 | −1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Danny Lawson | RW | 14 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Ron Ward | C | 14 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 2 | −2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Fran Huck | C | 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | −1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Joe Daley | G | 65 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Cole | LW | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Curt Larsson | G | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Morris Mott | RW | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Joe Daley | 3818 | 65 | 39 | 23 | 2 | 206 | 3.24 | 3 |
| Curt Larsson | 1019 | 19 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 82 | 4.83 | 0 |
| Team: | 4837 | 80 | 46 | 32 | 2 | 288 | 3.57 | 3 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Anders Hedberg | RW | 20 | 13 | 16 | 29 | 13 | | | 2 |
| Ulf Nilsson | C | 20 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 33 | | | 0 |
| Dan Labraaten | LW | 20 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 15 | | | 1 |
| Bobby Hull | LW | 20 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 2 | | | 2 |
| Peter Sullivan | C | 20 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 2 | | | 2 |
| Mike Ford | D | 20 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 12 | | | 0 |
| Willy Lindstrom | RW | 20 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 22 | | | 1 |
| Perry Miller | D | 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 27 | | | 0 |
| Mats Lindh | C | 20 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 2 | | | 1 |
| Dave Dunn | D | 20 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 23 | | | 1 |
| Bobby Guindon | LW | 20 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 | | | 1 |
| Danny Lawson | RW | 13 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | 0 |
| Barry Long | D | 20 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 10 | | | 0 |
| Lars-Erik Sjoberg | D | 20 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ted Green | D | 20 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | | | 0 |
| Bill Lesuk | LW | 18 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 22 | | | 0 |
| Lyle Moffat | LW | 17 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | | | 0 |
| Fran Huck | C | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Daley | G | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Curt Larsson | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Joe Daley | 1186 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 71 | 3.59 | 1 |
| Curt Larsson | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3.00 | 0 |
| Team: | 1206 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 72 | 3.58 | 1 |
    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;

## Draft picks

Winnipeg's draft picks at the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 9 | Thomas Gradin (F) | Sweden | MoDo AIK (Elitserien) |
| 2 | 17 | Clayton Pachal (C) | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 2 | 20 | Tom Rowe (RW) | United States | London Knights (OHA) |
| 3 | 33 | Steve Clippingdale (LW) | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 4 | 45 | Goran Lindblom (D) | Sweden | Skelleftea AIK (Elitserien) |
| 5 | 57 | Doug Johnston (D) | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WCHL) |
| 6 | 69 | Fred Berry (C) | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 7 | 81 | Greg Craig (C) | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 8 | 92 | Brian Granfield (D) | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) |
| 9 | 103 | Anders Hakansson (F) | Sweden | AIK IF (Elitserien) |
| 10 | 115 | Jorgen Pettersson (F) | Sweden | Vastra Frolunda (Elitserien) |