# 1977–78 Washington Capitals season

The 1977–78 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals fourth season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

## Regular season
### Final standings

Norris Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 59 | 10 | 11 | 359 | 183 | 129 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 32 | 34 | 14 | 252 | 266 | 78 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 31 | 34 | 15 | 243 | 245 | 77 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 25 | 37 | 18 | 254 | 321 | 68 |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 17 | 49 | 14 | 195 | 321 | 48 |
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

Norris Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1977–78 NHL records
Team
DET
LAK
MTL
PIT
WSH
Total
Detroit
—3–2–11–4–13–2–14–1–111–9–4
Los Angeles
2–3–1—1–4–13–0–34–210–9–5
Montreal
4–1–14–1–1—5–15–0–118–3–3
Pittsburgh
2–3–10–3–31–5—1–4–14–15–5
Washington
1–4–12–40–5–14–1–1—7–12–5
Vs. Adams Division
1977–78 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
CLE
TOR
Total
Detroit
0–4–12–2–12–2–11–2–25–10–5
Los Angeles
0–50–3–23–1–13–26–11–3
Montreal
4–0–12–34–14–0–114–4–2
Pittsburgh
0–50–0–55–03–28–7–5
Washington
0–4–11–3–13–20–4–14–13–3
Vs. Patrick Division
1977–78 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
Total
Detroit
2–1–10–41–2–11–2–14–9–3
Los Angeles
2–1–10–2–23–10–3–15–7–4
Montreal
2–0–24–03–12–0–211–1–4
Pittsburgh
1–31–2–12–0–20–3–14–8–4
Washington
2–1–10–40–2–20–42–11–3
Vs. Smythe Division
1977–78 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
MIN
STL
VAN
Total
Detroit
1–32–1–14–03–12–1–112–6–2
Los Angeles
2–22–1–12–1–12–22–1–110–7–3
Montreal
3–0–14–02–24–03–0–116–2–2
Pittsburgh
2–1–12–1–12–22–1–11–2–19–7–4
Washington
0–3–12–1–11–2–11–1–20–44–11–5 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 14, 1977 | 2–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 15, 1977 | 2–4 | @ Cleveland Barons (1977–78) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 19, 1977 | 3–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | L | October 24, 1977 | 1–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) | 1–3–0 |
| 5 | W | October 26, 1977 | 6–2 | @ Atlanta Flames (1977–78) | 2–3–0 |
| 6 | L | October 28, 1977 | 1–8 | @ Colorado Rockies (1977–78) | 2–4–0 |
| 7 | L | October 29, 1977 | 4–7 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) | 2–5–0 |
| 8 | T | November 2, 1977 | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) | 2–5–1 |
| 9 | L | November 3, 1977 | 1–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) | 2–6–1 |
| 10 | L | November 5, 1977 | 1–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) | 2–7–1 |
| 11 | L | November 8, 1977 | 1–5 | Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) | 2–8–1 |
| 12 | T | November 9, 1977 | 1–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) | 2–8–2 |
| 13 | L | November 11, 1977 | 1–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) | 2–9–2 |
| 14 | L | November 13, 1977 | 0–6 | New York Islanders (1977–78) | 2–10–2 |
| 15 | T | November 15, 1977 | 2–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1977–78) | 2–10–3 |
| 16 | L | November 16, 1977 | 2–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) | 2–11–3 |
| 17 | L | November 19, 1977 | 6–7 | Buffalo Sabres (1977–78) | 2–12–3 |
| 18 | L | November 20, 1977 | 2–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1977–78) | 2–13–3 |
| 19 | T | November 23, 1977 | 2–2 | Atlanta Flames (1977–78) | 2–13–4 |
| 20 | L | November 24, 1977 | 0–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1977–78) | 2–14–4 |
| 21 | T | November 26, 1977 | 4–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) | 2–14–5 |
| 22 | L | November 29, 1977 | 2–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) | 2–15–5 |
| 23 | L | December 2, 1977 | 2–3 | Cleveland Barons (1977–78) | 2–16–5 |
| 24 | L | December 4, 1977 | 2–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) | 2–17–5 |
| 25 | L | December 6, 1977 | 2–5 | Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) | 2–18–5 |
| 26 | W | December 7, 1977 | 5–3 | @ Cleveland Barons (1977–78) | 3–18–5 |
| 27 | L | December 10, 1977 | 1–5 | @ Atlanta Flames (1977–78) | 3–19–5 |
| 28 | W | December 11, 1977 | 2–1 | St. Louis Blues (1977–78) | 4–19–5 |
| 29 | L | December 13, 1977 | 1–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) | 4–20–5 |
| 30 | W | December 17, 1977 | 2–1 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) | 5–20–5 |
| 31 | T | December 21, 1977 | 5–5 | @ New York Rangers (1977–78) | 5–20–6 |
| 32 | W | December 23, 1977 | 3–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) | 6–20–6 |
| 33 | L | December 27, 1977 | 3–6 | Boston Bruins (1977–78) | 6–21–6 |
| 34 | T | December 28, 1977 | 2–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) | 6–21–7 |
| 35 | T | December 30, 1977 | 3–3 | New York Rangers (1977–78) | 6–21–8 |
| 36 | W | January 2, 1978 | 3–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) | 7–21–8 |
| 37 | W | January 4, 1978 | 4–0 | Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) | 8–21–8 |
| 38 | T | January 7, 1978 | 4–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1977–78) | 8–21–9 |
| 39 | L | January 8, 1978 | 1–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) | 8–22–9 |
| 40 | L | January 11, 1978 | 3–6 | Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) | 8–23–9 |
| 41 | T | January 13, 1978 | 2–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) | 8–23–10 |
| 42 | L | January 14, 1978 | 0–4 | New York Islanders (1977–78) | 8–24–10 |
| 43 | L | January 18, 1978 | 2–5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) | 8–25–10 |
| 44 | L | January 19, 1978 | 1–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1977–78) | 8–26–10 |
| 45 | W | January 21, 1978 | 5–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) | 9–26–10 |
| 46 | L | January 22, 1978 | 3–6 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) | 9–27–10 |
| 47 | T | January 25, 1978 | 3–3 | Colorado Rockies (1977–78) | 9–27–11 |
| 48 | L | January 27, 1978 | 2–5 | Boston Bruins (1977–78) | 9–28–11 |
| 49 | L | January 29, 1978 | 0–4 | Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) | 9–29–11 |
| 50 | L | January 31, 1978 | 2–4 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) | 9–30–11 |
| 51 | L | February 1, 1978 | 3–8 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) | 9–31–11 |
| 52 | L | February 4, 1978 | 1–6 | @ New York Islanders (1977–78) | 9–32–11 |
| 53 | L | February 5, 1978 | 1–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1977–78) | 9–33–11 |
| 54 | W | February 10, 1978 | 4–1 | @ Cleveland Barons (1977–78) | 10–33–11 |
| 55 | L | February 12, 1978 | 1–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) | 10–34–11 |
| 56 | L | February 14, 1978 | 2–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) | 10–35–11 |
| 57 | L | February 17, 1978 | 2–8 | Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) | 10–36–11 |
| 58 | W | February 19, 1978 | 2–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) | 11–36–11 |
| 59 | L | February 21, 1978 | 1–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) | 11–37–11 |
| 60 | L | February 23, 1978 | 1–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) | 11–38–11 |
| 61 | L | February 25, 1978 | 0–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) | 11–39–11 |
| 62 | L | February 26, 1978 | 1–6 | Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) | 11–40–11 |
| 63 | W | February 28, 1978 | 7–4 | Colorado Rockies (1977–78) | 12–40–11 |
| 64 | T | March 4, 1978 | 3–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1977–78) | 12–40–12 |
| 65 | L | March 8, 1978 | 3–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) | 12–41–12 |
| 66 | L | March 12, 1978 | 2–8 | @ New York Rangers (1977–78) | 12–42–12 |
| 67 | L | March 15, 1978 | 2–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) | 12–43–12 |
| 68 | W | March 18, 1978 | 8–3 | Cleveland Barons (1977–78) | 13–43–12 |
| 69 | L | March 19, 1978 | 2–3 | St. Louis Blues (1977–78) | 13–44–12 |
| 70 | L | March 22, 1978 | 2–6 | Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) | 13–45–12 |
| 71 | L | March 24, 1978 | 4–11 | New York Rangers (1977–78) | 13–46–12 |
| 72 | L | March 25, 1978 | 0–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) | 13–47–12 |
| 73 | L | March 26, 1978 | 1–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) | 13–48–12 |
| 74 | T | March 28, 1978 | 4–4 | Boston Bruins (1977–78) | 13–48–13 |
| 75 | W | March 30, 1978 | 4–3 | @ Colorado Rockies (1977–78) | 14–48–13 |
| 76 | L | April 1, 1978 | 2–3 | @ New York Islanders (1977–78) | 14–49–13 |
| 77 | T | April 2, 1978 | 4–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) | 14–49–14 |
| 78 | W | April 4, 1978 | 4–3 | Buffalo Sabres (1977–78) | 15–49–14 |
| 79 | W | April 8, 1978 | 6–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) | 16–49–14 |
| 80 | W | April 9, 1978 | 4–2 | Atlanta Flames (1977–78) | 17–49–14 |

## Playoffs

The Capitals still had several years to go before they would win enough games to qualify for the playoffs. The 1977–78 season was the fourth season in a row that the Capitals missed the playoffs.

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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Guy Charron | C | 80 | 38 | 35 | 73 | 12 | −25 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Bob Sirois | RW | 72 | 24 | 37 | 61 | 6 | −11 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Gerry Meehan | C | 78 | 19 | 24 | 43 | 10 | −41 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| Robert Picard | D | 75 | 10 | 27 | 37 | 101 | −26 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Bill Riley | RW | 57 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 125 | −15 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Girard | LW | 52 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 6 | −3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Dave Forbes | LW | 77 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 119 | −34 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Rowe | RW | 63 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 82 | −18 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Collins | RW | 74 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 18 | −32 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Garnet Bailey | LW | 40 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 28 | −12 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Rick Green | D | 60 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 67 | −35 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Rick Bragnalo | C | 44 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 22 | −6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Watson | D | 79 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 167 | −12 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Gord Smith | D | 80 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 78 | −20 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Larry Bolonchuk | D | 49 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 79 | −19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gord Lane | D | 69 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 195 | −19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean Lemieux | D | 16 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 | −12 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Lynch | D | 29 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 4 | −13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Marson | LW | 46 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 101 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Patrick | RW | 44 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 | −8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Yvon Labre | D | 22 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eddy Godin | RW | 18 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | −14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Lalonde | C | 67 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 16 | −18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Walt McKechnie | C | 16 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | −14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Gibson | C | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Lofthouse | RW/C | 18 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Bedard | G | 43 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nelson Burton | LW | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Patey | RW | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blair Stewart | C | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Smith | G | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tony White | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bernie Wolfe | G | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Jim Bedard | 2492 | 43 | 11 | 23 | 7 | 152 | 3.66 | 1 |
| Bernie Wolfe | 1328 | 25 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 94 | 4.25 | 0 |
| Gary Smith | 980 | 17 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 68 | 4.16 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 17 | 49 | 14 | 314 | 3.92 | 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

Washington's draft picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 3 | Robert Picard | Canada | Montreal Juniors (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 21 | Mark Lofthouse | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 3 | 39 | Eddy Godin | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 57 | Nelson Burton | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 75 | Denis Turcotte | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 93 | Perry Schnarr | Canada | University of Denver (WCHA) |
| 7 | 111 | Rollie Boutin | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WCHL) |
| 8 | 127 | Brent Tremblay | Canada | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 143 | Don Micheletti | United States | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 10 | 156 | Archie Henderson | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) |