# 1978–79 Los Angeles Kings season

The 1978–79 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' 12th season in the National Hockey League.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Norris Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 52 | 17 | 11 | 337 | 204 | 115 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 36 | 31 | 13 | 281 | 279 | 85 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 292 | 286 | 80 |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 24 | 41 | 15 | 273 | 338 | 63 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 23 | 41 | 16 | 252 | 295 | 62 |
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points 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
1978–79 NHL records
Team
DET
LAK
MTL
PIT
WSH
Total
Detroit
—1–5–22–4–23–53–2–39–16–7
Los Angeles
5–1–2—3–3–23–4–13–4–114–12–6
Montreal
4–2–23–3–2—5–2–17–0–119–7–6
Pittsburgh
5–34–3–12–5–1—4–3–115–14–3
Washington
2–3–34–3–10–7–13–4–1—9–17–6
Vs. Adams Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
TOR
Total
Detroit
1–31–31–2–12–25–10–1
Los Angeles
3–11–2–13–10–47–8–1
Montreal
2–0–24–03–13–0–112–1–3
Pittsburgh
2–1–12–0–23–11–38–5–3
Washington
0–3–10–3–12–21–1–23–9–4
Vs. Patrick Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
Total
Detroit
0–3–10–3–11–1–20–2–21–9–6
Los Angeles
2–20–2–21–30–43–11–2
Montreal
3–11–31–33–0–18–7–1
Pittsburgh
0–3–10–1–32–21–33–9–4
Washington
1–2–11–31–1–20–3–13–9–4
Vs. Smythe Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
STL
VAN
Total
Detroit
3–0–13–0–11–31–38–6–2
Los Angeles
3–12–0–22–1–13–110–3–3
Montreal
2–24–04–03–0–113–2–1
Pittsburgh
2–0–23–12–1–13–110–3–3
Washington
1–2–13–12–23–19–6–1 :

## Schedule and results

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

## Playoffs

NYI Vs LAK 4-5 OT3 1-0
NYI Vs LAK 6-2 2-0
LAK Vs NYI 4-1 2-1
LAK Vs NYI 4-3 OT 2-2
NYI Vs LAK 3-2 OT 3-2
NYI Vs LAK 4-5 3-3
LAK Vs NYI 3-5 3-4
NY Islanders Wins Series 4-3

## Transactions

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

### Trades

| June 14, 1978 | To Los Angeles KingsBrian Glennie Kurt Walker Scott Garland 2nd round pick in 1979 – Mark Hardy | To Toronto Maple LeafsDave Hutchison Lorne Stamler |
| June 15, 1978 | To Los Angeles KingsCash | To St. Louis Blues13th round pick in 1978 – Terry Kitching 14th round pick in 1978 – Jim Farrell |
| September 18, 1978 | To Los Angeles KingsDoug Halward | To Boston BruinsFuture considerations |
| October 5, 1978 | To Los Angeles KingsMurray Wilson 1st round pick in 1979 – Jay Wells | To Montreal Canadiens1st round pick in 1981 – Gilbert Delorme |
| October 9, 1978 | To Los Angeles KingsRon Grahame | To Boston Bruins1st round pick in 1979 – Ray Bourque |
| November 18, 1978 | To Los Angeles Kings4th round pick in 1982 – Dave Gans | To Colorado RockiesNick Beverley |
| December 6, 1978 | To Los Angeles KingsSteve Carlson | To Detroit Red WingsSteve Short |
| December 31, 1978 | To Los Angeles KingsRandy Holt | To Vancouver CanucksDon Kozak |
| January 16, 1979 | To Los Angeles KingsRichard Mulhern 2nd round pick in 1980 – Dave Morrison | To Atlanta FlamesBob Murdoch 2nd round pick in 1980 – Tony Curtale |

### Free agent signings

| June 14, 1978 | From New York RangersMark Heaslip |
| August 7, 1978 | From Fort Wayne Komets (IHL)Dan Bonar |

### Free agents lost

| June 30, 1978 | To Minnesota North StarsGary Sargent |
| August 8, 1978 | To Detroit Red WingsRogie Vachon (5 years, $1.9 million) |

### Free agent compensation

Dale McCourt refused to report to Los Angeles and sued the NHL. He played the 1978–79 season with the Red Wings.
| July 15, 1978 | To Los Angeles KingsDave Gardner Rick Hampton Steve Jensen | To Minnesota North StarsGary Sargent |
| August 22, 1978 | To Los Angeles KingsDale McCourt | To Detroit Red WingsRogie Vachon |

### Waivers

| September 5, 1978 | From Minnesota North StarsNick Beverley |

## Draft picks

Los Angeles'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) |
| 5 | 77 | Paul Mancini | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |
| 6 | 94 | Doug Keans | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OMJHL) |
| 7 | 111 | Don Waddell | United States | Northern Michigan University (CCHA) |
| 8 | 128 | Rob Mierkalns | Canada | Hamilton Fincups (OMJHL) |
| 9 | 145 | Rick Scully | Canada | Brown University (ECAC) |
| 10 | 162 | Brad Thiessen | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
| 11 | 177 | Jim Armstrong | United States | Clarkson University (ECAC) |
| 12 | 193 | Claude Larochelle | Canada | Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) |