# 1977–78 Birmingham Bulls season

The 1977–78 Birmingham Bulls season was the Birmingham Bulls second season of operation in the World Hockey Association. The Bulls qualified for the playoffs, losing in the quarter-finals to the Winnipeg Jets.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
| WHA Team | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
| Winnipeg Jets | 50 | 28 | 2 | 102 | 381 | 270 | 988 |
| New England Whalers | 44 | 31 | 5 | 93 | 335 | 269 | 1255 |
| Houston Aeros | 42 | 34 | 4 | 88 | 296 | 302 | 1543 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 40 | 37 | 3 | 83 | 349 | 347 | 1185 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 38 | 39 | 3 | 79 | 309 | 307 | 1296 |
| Birmingham Bulls | 36 | 41 | 3 | 75 | 287 | 314 | 2177 |
| Cincinnati Stingers | 35 | 42 | 3 | 73 | 298 | 332 | 1701 |
| Indianapolis Racers | 24 | 51 | 5 | 53 | 267 | 353 | 1189 |
| Soviet All-Stars | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 27 | 36 | 120 |
| Czechoslovakia All-Stars | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 40 | 87 |

### Game log

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 14, 1977 | 5–3 | Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 15, 1977 | 2–5 | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 22, 1977 | 5–8 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | L | October 23, 1977 | 3–10 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 1–3–0 |
| 5 | L | October 25, 1977 | 4–5 | Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 1–4–0 |
| 6 | L | October 28, 1977 | 2–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 1–5–0 |
| 7 | L | October 29, 1977 | 2–6 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 1–6–0 |
| 8 | L | November 2, 1977 | 3–5 | @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 1–7–0 |
| 9 | L | November 4, 1977 | 2–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 1–8–0 |
| 10 | W | November 5, 1977 | 5–4 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 2–8–0 |
| 11 | L | November 8, 1977 | 3–4 | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 2–9–0 |
| 12 | L | November 9, 1977 | 1–2 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 2–10–0 |
| 13 | T | November 12, 1977 | 1–1 | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 2–10–1 |
| 14 | T | November 16, 1977 | 2–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 2–10–2 |
| 15 | W | November 18, 1977 | 2–1 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 3–10–2 |
| 16 | W | November 19, 1977 | 4–3 | Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 4–10–2 |
| 17 | L | November 23, 1977 | 0–3 | @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 4–11–2 |
| 18 | W | November 24, 1977 | 12–2 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 5–11–2 |
| 19 | L | November 26, 1977 | 2–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 5–12–2 |
| 20 | W | November 27, 1977 | 4–3 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 6–12–2 |
| 21 | L | November 30, 1977 | 2–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 6–13–2 |
| 22 | W | December 2, 1977 | 7–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 7–13–2 |
| 23 | W | December 4, 1977 | 3–0 | Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 8–13–2 |
| 24 | L | December 7, 1977 | 3–6 | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 8–14–2 |
| 25 | L | December 9, 1977 | 1–2 OT | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 8–15–2 |
| 26 | W | December 13, 1977 | 5–3 | @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 9–15–2 |
| 27 | W | December 15, 1977 | 5–3 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 10–15–2 |
| 28 | W | December 18, 1977 | 3–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 11–15–2 |
| 29 | W | December 21, 1977 | 5–0 | Czechoslovakia (1977–78) | 12–15–2 |
| 30 | W | December 26, 1977 | 6–1 | Soviet All-Stars (1977–78) | 13–15–2 |
| 31 | L | December 27, 1977 | 1–8 | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 13–16–2 |
| 32 | W | December 29, 1977 | 7–1 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 14–16–2 |
| 33 | L | December 30, 1977 | 2–6 | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 14–17–2 |
| 34 | L | January 1, 1978 | 2–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 14–18–2 |
| 35 | L | January 4, 1978 | 1–4 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 14–19–2 |
| 36 | W | January 6, 1978 | 6–4 | Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 15–19–2 |
| 37 | W | January 8, 1978 | 5–4 | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 16–19–2 |
| 38 | L | January 10, 1978 | 4–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 16–20–2 |
| 39 | L | January 11, 1978 | 2–11 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 16–21–2 |
| 40 | W | January 14, 1978 | 4–3 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 17–21–2 |
| 41 | W | January 18, 1978 | 3–0 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 18–21–2 |
| 42 | W | January 20, 1978 | 5–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 19–21–2 |
| 43 | L | January 22, 1978 | 2–4 | @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 19–22–2 |
| 44 | W | January 25, 1978 | 6–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 20–22–2 |
| 45 | L | January 27, 1978 | 2–6 | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 20–23–2 |
| 46 | W | January 28, 1978 | 8–5 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 21–23–2 |
| 47 | L | January 31, 1978 | 2–4 | Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 21–24–2 |
| 48 | L | February 2, 1978 | 2–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 21–25–2 |
| 49 | W | February 4, 1978 | 5–2 | Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 22–25–2 |
| 50 | L | February 5, 1978 | 1–6 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 22–26–2 |
| 51 | L | February 7, 1978 | 3–8 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 22–27–2 |
| 52 | L | February 8, 1978 | 0–9 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 22–28–2 |
| 53 | L | February 12, 1978 | 0–7 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 22–29–2 |
| 54 | L | February 14, 1978 | 1–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 22–30–2 |
| 55 | W | February 16, 1978 | 5–2 | @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 23–30–2 |
| 56 | W | February 17, 1978 | 5–4 OT | Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 24–30–2 |
| 57 | L | February 18, 1978 | 2–3 | Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 24–31–2 |
| 58 | L | February 19, 1978 | 3–4 OT | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 24–32–2 |
| 59 | W | February 23, 1978 | 7–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 25–32–2 |
| 60 | W | February 25, 1978 | 7–3 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 26–32–2 |
| 61 | L | February 26, 1978 | 3–6 | Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 26–33–2 |
| 62 | W | March 1, 1978 | 4–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 27–33–2 |
| 63 | W | March 4, 1978 | 5–2 | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 28–33–2 |
| 64 | L | March 5, 1978 | 3–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 28–34–2 |
| 65 | W | March 9, 1978 | 9–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 29–34–2 |
| 66 | L | March 10, 1978 | 4–5 OT | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 29–35–2 |
| 67 | L | March 12, 1978 | 2–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 29–36–2 |
| 68 | L | March 14, 1978 | 0–6 | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 29–37–2 |
| 69 | L | March 15, 1978 | 2–7 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 29–38–2 |
| 70 | W | March 17, 1978 | 3–2 | @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 30–38–2 |
| 71 | T | March 19, 1978 | 3–3 | Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 30–38–3 |
| 72 | W | March 21, 1978 | 5–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 31–38–3 |
| 73 | W | March 22, 1978 | 5–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 32–38–3 |
| 74 | L | March 24, 1978 | 3–4 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 32–39–3 |
| 75 | L | March 25, 1978 | 1–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 32–40–3 |
| 76 | W | March 31, 1978 | 5–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 33–40–3 |
| 77 | W | April 1, 1978 | 5–1 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 34–40–3 |
| 78 | L | April 5, 1978 | 4–5 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 34–41–3 |
| 79 | W | April 7, 1978 | 5–3 | Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 35–41–3 |
| 80 | W | April 9, 1978 | 9–7 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) | 36–41–3 |

## Playoffs
### Winnipeg Jets 4, Birmingham Bulls 1 – Quarterfinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 14 | Birmingham Bulls | 3–9 | Winnipeg Jets | 1–0 |
| 2 | April 16 | Birmingham Bulls | 3–8 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–0 |
| 3 | April 19 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–3 | Birmingham Bulls | 2–1 |
| 4 | April 21 | Winnipeg Jets | 5–1 | Birmingham Bulls | 3–1 |
| 5 | April 23 | Birmingham Bulls | 2–5 | Winnipeg Jets | 4–1 |

## Player statistics

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Ken Linseman | C | 71 | 38 | 38 | 76 | 126 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Peter Marrin | C | 80 | 28 | 43 | 71 | 53 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Paul Henderson | RW | 80 | 37 | 29 | 66 | 22 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Mark Napier | RW | 79 | 33 | 32 | 65 | 90 | −11 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Brent Hughes | D | 80 | 9 | 35 | 44 | 48 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tony Cassolato | RW | 77 | 18 | 25 | 43 | 59 | −3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Gorman | RW | 63 | 19 | 21 | 40 | 93 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| John Stewart | C | 48 | 13 | 26 | 39 | 52 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Frank Mahovlich | LW | 72 | 14 | 24 | 38 | 22 | −5 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Serge Beaudoin | D | 64 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 105 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Noris | C/D | 45 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 6 | −9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Phil Roberto | RW | 53 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 91 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Turkiewicz | D | 78 | 3 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Hanson | D | 42 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 241 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rod Langway | D | 52 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 52 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Alley | LW | 27 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 11 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Beaton | LW | 56 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 279 | −8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Bob Stephenson | RW | 39 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 33 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dale Hoganson | D | 43 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 29 | −6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Westrum | D | 77 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 97 | −7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Durbano | D | 45 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 284 | −12 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim Sheehy | RW | 13 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 | −14 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vaclav Nedomansky | RW | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | −9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Gilles Bilodeau | LW | 59 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 258 | −14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Evans | D | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Garrett | G | 58 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Wood | G | 32 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Terbenche | D | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Danny Arndt | LW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| John Garrett | 3306 | 58 | 24 | 31 | 1 | 210 | 3.81 | 2 |
| Wayne Wood | 1551 | 32 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 99 | 3.83 | 1 |
| Team: | 4857 | 80 | 36 | 41 | 3 | 309 | 3.82 | 3 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Ken Linseman | C | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter Marrin | C | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Beaton | LW | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Gorman | RW | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Henderson | RW | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Mahovlich | LW | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Stewart | C | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jim Turkiewicz | D | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Durbano | D | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Napier | RW | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Alley | LW | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Serge Beaudoin | D | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Phil Roberto | RW | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Hanson | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Westrum | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gilles Bilodeau | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tony Cassolato | RW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Garrett | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dale Hoganson | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brent Hughes | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rod Langway | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Wood | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| John Garrett | 271 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 26 | 5.76 | 0 |
| Wayne Wood | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6.21 | 0 |
| Team: | 300 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 29 | 5.80 | 0 |
Note: Pos = Position; 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

Birmingham's draft picks at the 1977 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 6 | Rod Langway (D) | United States | University of New Hampshire (ECAC) |
| 2 | 12 | Brad Maxwell (D) | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 3 | 22 | Mark Johnson (F) | United States | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
| 4 | 31 | Norm Dupont (LW) | Canada | Montreal Juniors (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 40 | Steve Baker (G) | United States | Union College (ECAC-2) |
| 6 | 49 | Greg Tebbutt (D) | Canada | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
| 7 | 58 | Bob Suter (D) | United States | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
| 8 | 67 | Curt Christopherson (D) | United States | Colorado College (WCHA) |
| 9 | 75 | Jean Savard (F) | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 10 | 83 | Ken Linseman (F) | Canada | Kingston Canadians (OHA) |