# 1977–78 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1977–78 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's 69th season. The Canadiens won their third straight Stanley Cup, and 21st overall.

## Regular season
### Season 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

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

## Playoffs
### Stanley Cup
#### Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens

| Date | Visitors | Score | Home | Score | Notes |
| May 13 | Boston | 1 | Montreal | 4 | |
| May 16 | Boston | 2 | Montreal | 3 | OT |
| May 18 | Montreal | 0 | Boston | 4 | |
| May 21 | Montreal | 3 | Boston | 4 | OT |
| May 23 | Boston | 1 | Montreal | 4 | |
| May 25 | Montreal | 4 | Boston | 1 | |
Montreal wins the series 4–2.

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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Guy Lafleur | RW | 78 | 60 | 72 | 132 | 26 | 73 | 15 | 0 | 12 |
| Jacques Lemaire | C | 76 | 36 | 61 | 97 | 14 | 54 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| Steve Shutt | LW | 80 | 49 | 37 | 86 | 24 | 56 | 16 | 0 | 7 |
| Larry Robinson | D | 80 | 13 | 52 | 65 | 39 | 71 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Rejean Houle | W | 76 | 30 | 28 | 58 | 50 | 39 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Yvan Cournoyer | RW | 68 | 24 | 29 | 53 | 12 | 39 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| Pierre Mondou | C | 71 | 19 | 30 | 49 | 8 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Pierre Larouche | C | 44 | 17 | 32 | 49 | 11 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Guy Lapointe | D | 49 | 13 | 29 | 42 | 19 | 46 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Serge Savard | D | 77 | 8 | 34 | 42 | 24 | 62 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Doug Risebrough | C | 72 | 18 | 23 | 41 | 97 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Yvon Lambert | LW | 77 | 18 | 22 | 40 | 20 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| Doug Jarvis | C | 80 | 11 | 28 | 39 | 23 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Bob Gainey | LW | 66 | 15 | 16 | 31 | 57 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Bill Nyrop | D | 72 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 37 | 56 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Mario Tremblay | RW | 56 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 44 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Rick Chartraw | D/RW | 68 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 64 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Pierre Bouchard | D | 59 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 29 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Pete Mahovlich | C | 17 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Gilles Lupien | D | 46 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 108 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Larocque | G | 30 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Engblom | D | 28 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Dryden | G | 52 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Murray Wilson | LW | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Hughes | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Polich | C/LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rod Schutt | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Ken Dryden | 3071 | 52 | 37 | 7 | 7 | 105 | 2.05 | 5 |
| Michel Larocque | 1729 | 30 | 22 | 3 | 4 | 77 | 2.67 | 1 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 59 | 10 | 11 | 182 | 2.27 | 6 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Guy Lafleur | RW | 15 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Larry Robinson | D | 15 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Shutt | LW | 15 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacques Lemaire | C | 15 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Yvan Cournoyer | RW | 15 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Rejean Houle | W | 15 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pierre Mondou | C | 15 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Bob Gainey | LW | 15 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Doug Jarvis | C | 15 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Serge Savard | D | 15 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Guy Lapointe | D | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Yvon Lambert | LW | 15 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Doug Risebrough | C | 15 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bill Nyrop | D | 12 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pierre Larouche | C | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Mario Tremblay | RW | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Rick Chartraw | D/RW | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Pierre Bouchard | D | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Dryden | G | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Engblom | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gilles Lupien | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Ken Dryden | 919 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 29 | 1.89 | 2 |
| Team: | 919 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 29 | 1.89 | 2 |
    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;

## Awards and records

* Prince of Wales Trophy
* Ken Dryden and Michel Larocque, Vezina Trophy
* Bob Gainey, Frank J. Selke Trophy
* Guy Lafleur, Art Ross Trophy
* Guy Lafleur, Hart Memorial Trophy
* Larry Robinson, Conn Smythe Trophy

## Draft picks

| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/junior/club team (League) |
| 1 | 10 | Mark Napier | Right Wing | Canada | Birmingham Bulls (WHA) |
| 1 | 18 | Norm Dupont | Left Wing | Canada | Montreal Jr. Canadiens (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 36 | Rod Langway | Defence | United States | University of New Hampshire (ECAC) |
| 3 | 43 | Alain Cote | Defence | Canada | Chicoutimi (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 46 | Pierre Lagace | Left Wing | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 49 | Moe Robinson | Defence | Canada | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
| 3 | 54 | Gordie Roberts | Defence | United States | New England Whalers (WHA) |
| 4 | 64 | Robert Holland | Goaltender | Canada | Montreal Juniors (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 90 | Gaetan Rochette | Left Wing | Canada | Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 108 | Bill Himmelright | Defence | United States | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
| 7 | 124 | Richard Sevigny | Goaltender | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 137 | Keith Hendrickson | Defence | United States | University of Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA) |
| 8 | 140 | Morgan Reilly | Right Wing | United States | Colorado College (WCHA) |
| 9 | 152 | Barry Borrett | Goaltender | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 154 | Sid Tanchak | Centre | Canada | Clarkson University (ECAC) |
| 10 | 160 | Mark Holden | Goaltender | United States | Brown University (ECAC) |
| 10 | 162 | Craig Laughlin | Right Wing | Canada | Clarkson University (ECAC) |
| 11 | 167 | Dan Poulin | Defence | Canada | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) |
| 11 | 169 | Tom McDonell | Centre | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) |
| 12 | 173 | Cary Farelli | Right Wing | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
| 12 | 174 | Carey Walker | Goaltender | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 13 | 176 | Mark Wells | Centre | United States | Bowling Green University (CCHA) |
| 13 | 177 | Stan Palmer | Defence | United States | University of Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA) |
| 14 | 179 | Jean Belisle | Goaltender | Canada | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) |
| 14 | 180 | Bob Daly | Goaltender | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) |
| 15 | 182 | Bob Boileau | Right Wing | Canada | Boston University (ECAC) |
| 15 | 183 | John Costello | Centre | United States | University of Massachusetts Lowell (ECAC) |