# 1978–79 Atlanta Flames season

The 1978–79 Atlanta Flames season was the seventh season for the franchise.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Patrick Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 51 | 15 | 14 | 358 | 214 | 116 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 40 | 25 | 15 | 281 | 248 | 95 |
| New York Rangers | 80 | 40 | 29 | 11 | 316 | 292 | 91 |
| Atlanta Flames | 80 | 41 | 31 | 8 | 327 | 280 | 90 |

### Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
Total
Atlanta
—2–64–3–14–410–13–1
N.Y. Islanders
6–2—5–35–1–216–6–2
N.Y. Rangers
3–4–13–5—2–3–38–12–4
Philadelphia
4–41–5–23–2–3—8–11–5
Vs. Smythe Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
STL
VAN
Total
Atlanta
2–1–24–04–12–212–4–2
N.Y. Islanders
3–24–0–13–0–24–014–2–3
N.Y. Rangers
4–04–13–24–015–3–0
Philadelphia
1–33–0–14–12–1–110–5–2
Vs. Adams Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
TOR
Total
Atlanta
1–32–2–11–2–14–18–8–2
N.Y. Islanders
2–1–21–2–13–13–19–5–3
N.Y. Rangers
2–32–1–11–2–12–2–17–8–3
Philadelphia
3–1–13–0–22–22–2–110–5–4
Vs. Norris Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
DET
LAK
MTL
PIT
WSH
Total
Atlanta
3–0–12–21–33–0–12–1–111–6–3
N.Y. Islanders
3–0–12–0–23–11–0–33–112–2–6
N.Y. Rangers
1–1–23–13–12–21–1–210–6–4
Philadelphia
2–0–24–00–3–13–13–0–112–4–4 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record | Record |
| 1 | T | October 11, 1978 | 4–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 0–0–1 | 9,107 |
| 2 | T | October 13, 1978 | 3–3 | Washington Capitals (1978–79) | 0–0–2 | 13,062 |
| 3 | W | October 14, 1978 | 6–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1978–79) | 1–0–2 | 9,243 |
| 4 | W | October 17, 1978 | 8–2 | Colorado Rockies (1978–79) | 2–0–2 | 6,127 |
| 5 | W | October 20, 1978 | 7–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) | 3–0–2 | 12,611 |
| 6 | W | October 22, 1978 | 5–2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 4–0–2 | 17,077 |
| 7 | W | October 24, 1978 | 7–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) | 5–0–2 | 8,526 |
| 8 | W | October 27, 1978 | 8–5 | New York Islanders (1978–79) | 6–0–2 | 15,061 |
| 9 | W | October 28, 1978 | 4–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) | 7–0–2 | 10,504 |
| 10 | W | October 31, 1978 | 5–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 8–0–2 | 9,636 |
| 11 | W | November 1, 1978 | 3–0 | Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 9–0–2 | 13,136 |
| 12 | W | November 3, 1978 | 2–0 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) | 10–0–2 | 14,169 |
| 13 | L | November 4, 1978 | 2–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) | 10–1–2 | 17,230 |
| 14 | W | November 7, 1978 | 4–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 11–1–2 | 9,581 |
| 15 | W | November 10, 1978 | 5–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 12–1–2 | 14,811 |
| 16 | L | November 11, 1978 | 2–4 | @ New York Islanders (1978–79) | 12–2–2 | 14,995 |
| 17 | L | November 14, 1978 | 7–8 | @ Washington Capitals (1978–79) | 12–3–2 | 6,149 |
| 18 | W | November 15, 1978 | 5–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) | 13–3–2 | 9,157 |
| 19 | L | November 17, 1978 | 2–6 | Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 13–4–2 | 15,155 |
| 20 | W | November 19, 1978 | 3–1 | @ New York Rangers (1978–79) | 14–4–2 | 17,409 |
| 21 | L | November 21, 1978 | 3–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 14–5–2 | 9,642 |
| 22 | W | November 24, 1978 | 4–1 | St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 15–5–2 | 15,017 |
| 23 | L | November 26, 1978 | 2–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 15–6–2 | 13,961 |
| 24 | L | November 29, 1978 | 3–5 | New York Rangers (1978–79) | 15–7–2 | 10,247 |
| 25 | L | December 1, 1978 | 3–4 | Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) | 15–8–2 | 9,419 |
| 26 | L | December 2, 1978 | 3–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) | 15–9–2 | 8,561 |
| 27 | L | December 5, 1978 | 0–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 15–10–2 | 14,151 |
| 28 | W | December 8, 1978 | 4–3 | @ Colorado Rockies (1978–79) | 16–10–2 | 4,897 |
| 29 | L | December 9, 1978 | 1–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) | 16–11–2 | 10,009 |
| 30 | T | December 13, 1978 | 5–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) | 16–11–3 | 15,023 |
| 31 | W | December 14, 1978 | 5–3 | Colorado Rockies (1978–79) | 17–11–3 | 7,242 |
| 32 | W | December 16, 1978 | 7–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 18–11–3 | 12,384 |
| 33 | L | December 19, 1978 | 4–7 | @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 18–12–3 | 7,337 |
| 34 | L | December 21, 1978 | 4–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 18–13–3 | 16,433 |
| 35 | W | December 22, 1978 | 3–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 19–13–3 | 9,422 |
| 36 | L | December 26, 1978 | 3–5 | New York Rangers (1978–79) | 19–14–3 | 10,546 |
| 37 | L | December 28, 1978 | 4–10 | New York Islanders (1978–79) | 19–15–3 | 12,377 |
| 38 | L | December 30, 1978 | 2–4 | @ New York Islanders (1978–79) | 19–16–3 | 14,995 |
| 39 | W | December 31, 1978 | 6–5 | @ New York Rangers (1978–79) | 20–16–3 | 17,390 |
| 40 | W | January 3, 1979 | 4–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 21–16–3 | 16,485 |
| 41 | T | January 5, 1979 | 3–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) | 21–16–4 | 11,463 |
| 42 | W | January 9, 1979 | 5–3 | Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 22–16–4 | 9,062 |
| 43 | L | January 12, 1979 | 1–4 | New York Islanders (1978–79) | 22–17–4 | 13,147 |
| 44 | L | January 14, 1979 | 4–6 | New York Rangers (1978–79) | 22–18–4 | 9,522 |
| 45 | W | January 16, 1979 | 5–0 | Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 23–18–4 | 9,198 |
| 46 | W | January 19, 1979 | 6–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 24–18–4 | 10,389 |
| 47 | W | January 20, 1979 | 4–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) | 25–18–4 | 14,748 |
| 48 | L | January 22, 1979 | 1–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 25–19–4 | 13,064 |
| 49 | L | January 25, 1979 | 0–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) | 25–20–4 | 17,029 |
| 50 | W | January 26, 1979 | 4–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 26–20–4 | 12,042 |
| 51 | W | January 28, 1979 | 7–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) | 27–20–4 | 10,147 |
| 52 | W | January 31, 1979 | 5–2 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 28–20–4 | 16,433 |
| 53 | W | February 1, 1979 | 4–1 | Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 29–20–4 | 8,931 |
| 54 | L | February 3, 1979 | 2–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 29–21–4 | 14,247 |
| 55 | L | February 4, 1979 | 4–7 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 29–22–4 | 17,077 |
| 56 | T | February 14, 1979 | 4–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 29–22–5 | 7,674 |
| 57 | W | February 17, 1979 | 5–1 | @ Colorado Rockies (1978–79) | 30–22–5 | 7,675 |
| 58 | W | February 18, 1979 | 6–4 | @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 31–22–5 | 11,284 |
| 59 | W | February 20, 1979 | 5–3 | Washington Capitals (1978–79) | 32–22–5 | 8,837 |
| 60 | T | February 23, 1979 | 2–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) | 32–22–6 | 13,185 |
| 61 | W | February 24, 1979 | 6–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) | 33–22–6 | 15,086 |
| 62 | W | February 28, 1979 | 6–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 34–22–6 | 16,485 |
| 63 | W | March 2, 1979 | 3–2 | New York Islanders (1978–79) | 35–22–6 | 14,620 |
| 64 | L | March 3, 1979 | 2–4 | @ New York Islanders (1978–79) | 35–23–6 | 14,995 |
| 65 | W | March 8, 1979 | 7–5 | Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 36–23–6 | 11,709 |
| 66 | T | March 10, 1979 | 5–5 | Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 36–23–7 | 13,622 |
| 67 | L | March 11, 1979 | 4–9 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 36–24–7 | 16,433 |
| 68 | W | March 14, 1979 | 6–4 | @ New York Rangers (1978–79) | 37–24–7 | 17,405 |
| 69 | L | March 15, 1979 | 4–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 37–25–7 | 17,077 |
| 70 | L | March 18, 1979 | 1–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 37–26–7 | 12,962 |
| 71 | L | March 20, 1979 | 3–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) | 37–27–7 | 9,792 |
| 72 | L | March 23, 1979 | 1–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 37–28–7 | 15,155 |
| 73 | W | March 25, 1979 | 8–2 | St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 38–28–7 | 9,343 |
| 74 | L | March 27, 1979 | 4–6 | Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) | 38–29–7 | 11,592 |
| 75 | W | March 30, 1979 | 5–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) | 39–29–7 | 10,292 |
| 76 | W | April 1, 1979 | 7–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) | 40–29–7 | 13,798 |
| 77 | L | April 3, 1979 | 2–3 | @ New York Islanders (1978–79) | 40–30–7 | 14,995 |
| 78 | T | April 4, 1979 | 3–3 | @ New York Rangers (1978–79) | 40–30–8 | 17,414 |
| 79 | W | April 6, 1979 | 9–2 | New York Rangers (1978–79) | 41–30–8 | 13,455 |
| 80 | L | April 8, 1979 | 2–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 41–31–8 | 17,077 |

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Player | # | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Bob MacMillan | 11 | 79 | 37 | 71 | 108 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Guy Chouinard | 16 | 80 | 50 | 57 | 107 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Eric Vail | 27 | 80 | 35 | 48 | 83 | 53 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Jean Pronovost | 9 | 75 | 28 | 39 | 67 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Tom Lysiak$^‡$ | 12 | 52 | 23 | 35 | 58 | 36 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Bobby Lalonde | 7 | 78 | 24 | 32 | 56 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ken Houston | 6 | 80 | 21 | 31 | 52 | 135 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Willi Plett | 25 | 74 | 23 | 20 | 43 | 213 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 29 |
| Bill Clement | 10 | 65 | 12 | 23 | 35 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red Laurence | 17 | 59 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 6 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Harold Phillipoff$^‡$ | 24 | 51 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 113 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Dave Shand | 8 | 79 | 4 | 22 | 26 | 64 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Ed Kea | 19 | 53 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Ribble$^‡$ | 3 | 66 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 69 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Brad Marsh | 5 | 80 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 101 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Bob Murdoch$^†$ | 20 | 35 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| John Gould | 21 | 61 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Richard Mulhern$^‡$ | 4 | 37 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 22 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Darcy Rota$^†$ | 18 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 26 |
| Ivan Boldirev$^†$ | 12 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Greg Fox$^‡$ | 2 | 64 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 70 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Gene Carr | 14 | 30 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Phil Russell$^†$ | 2 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Rod Seiling$^†$ | 15 | 36 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dan Bouchard | 30 | 64 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Gerry O'Flaherty | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Yves Belanger | 31 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Reggie Lemelin | 1 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
$^†$Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Atlanta. Stats reflect time with the Flames only. $^‡$Traded mid-season.

### Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
| | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Player | # | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Reggie Lemelin | 1 | 18 | 994 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 55 | 0 | 3.32 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Dan Bouchard | 30 | 64 | 3624 | 32 | 21 | 7 | 201 | 3 | 3.33 | 2 | 100 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 5.40 |
| Yves Belanger | 31 | 5 | 182 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 6.92 | – | – | – | – | – | – | -.-- |

## Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1978–79 season.

### Trades

| September 6, 1978 | To Atlanta Flames Gregg Sheppard | To Boston Bruins Dick Redmond |
| September 6, 1978 | To Atlanta Flames Jean Pronovost | To Pittsburgh Penguins Gregg Sheppard |
| October 10, 1978 | To Atlanta Flames Gerry O'Flaherty | To Minnesota North Stars Cash |
| November 4, 1978 | To Atlanta Flames Rod Seiling | To St. Louis Blues Cash |
| January 16, 1979 | To Atlanta Flames Bob Murdoch 2nd round pick in 1980 (Tony Curtale) | To Los Angeles Kings Richard Mulhern 2nd round pick in 1980 (Dave Morrison) |
| March 13, 1979 | To Atlanta Flames Ivan Boldirev Darcy Rota Phil Russell | To Chicago Black Hawks Greg Fox Tom Lysiak Harold Phillipoff Pat Ribble Miles Zaharko |

### Free agents

| Player | Former team |
| C Gene Carr | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| G Reggie Lemelin | Philadelphia Flyers |
| Player | New team |
| C Rey Comeau | Colorado Rockies |
| D Ab DeMarco Jr. | Boston Bruins |

## Draft picks

Bernhardt Engelbrecht was the first German player selected in the NHL Draft. The Flames selected him in the 12th round.
| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/junior/club team |
| 1 | 11. | Brad Marsh (D) | Canada | London Knights (OHA) |
| 3 | 47. | Tim Bernhardt (G) | Canada | Cornwall Royals (OHA) |
| 4 | 64. | Jim MacRae (F) | Canada | London Knights (OHA) |
| 5 | 80. | Gord Wappel (D) | Canada | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
| 6 | 97. | Greg Meredith (D) | Canada | University of Notre Dame (NCAA) |
| 7 | 114. | Dave Hindmarch (C) | Canada | University of Alberta (CIAU) |
| 8 | 131. | Dave Morrison (RW) | Canada | Calgary Wranglers (WCHL) |
| 9 | 148. | Doug Todd (RW) | Canada | University of Michigan (NCAA) |
| 10 | 165. | Mark Green (C) | United States | Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL) |
| 11 | 180. | Bob Sullivan (LW) | Canada | Toledo Goaldiggers (IHL) |
| 12 | 196. | Bernhard Engelbrecht (G) | West Germany | Landshut EV (Bundesliga) |