1978–79 Winnipeg Jets season

The 1978–79 Winnipeg Jets season was the Jets 7th and final season in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Jets finished 3rd in the league and defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4 games to 2 in the Finals to win their 3rd Avco World Trophy.
==Off-season==
The Jets jerseys were the same design as in the 1977-78 season with one modification. The jet inside the logo had been blue against a red circle since the 1973-74 season. The jet's colour was changed to white.
==Regular Season==
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results 	Regular Season Results
No. 	R 	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	W 	October 13, 1978 	5–4 OT 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	1–0–0
2 	W 	October 14, 1978 	6–3 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79)	2–0–0
3 	L 	October 15, 1978 	3–4 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	2–1–0
4 	T 	October 18, 1978 	4–4 	New England Whalers (1978–79) 	2–1–1
5 	L 	October 22, 1978 	2–6 	Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 	2–2–1
6 	W 	October 25, 1978 	7–2 	Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	3–2–1
7 	W 	October 27, 1978 	6–4 	@ New England Whalers (1978–79)	4–2–1
8 	L 	October 28, 1978 	2–3 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79)	4–3–1
9 	T 	October 29, 1978 	3–3 	Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) 	4–3–2
10 	L 	November 3, 1978 	3–4 OT 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 	4–4–2
11 	W 	November 5, 1978 	6–2 	Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) 	5–4–2
12 	W 	November 7, 1978 	2–1 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	6–4–2
13 	L 	November 9, 1978 	5–6 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	6–5–2
14 	L 	November 10, 1978 	2–3 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)	6–6–2
15 	L 	November 12, 1978 	4–6 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	6–7–2
16 	L 	November 15, 1978 	2–5 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	6–8–2
17 	W 	November 17, 1978 	10–6 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	7–8–2
18 	W 	November 19, 1978 	5–2 	Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) 	8–8–2
19 	L 	November 22, 1978 	2–5 	@ New England Whalers (1978–79)	8–9–2
20 	W 	November 23, 1978 	5–1 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79)	9–9–2
21 	T 	November 26, 1978 	2–2 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	9–9–3
22 	W 	November 29, 1978 	4–2 	New England Whalers (1978–79) 	10–9–3
23 	L 	December 1, 1978 	5–6 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	10–10–3
24 	L 	December 3, 1978 	3–5 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	10–11–3
25 	W 	December 7, 1978 	9–4 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79)	11–11–3
26 	T 	December 10, 1978 	4–4 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	11–11–4
27 	L 	December 14, 1978 	3–4 	Soviet All-Stars (1978–79) 	11–12–4
28 	W 	December 17, 1978 	6–3 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	12–12–4
29 	W 	December 22, 1978 	5–4 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 	13–12–4
30 	W 	December 26, 1978 	5–3 	Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 	14–12–4
31 	L 	December 27, 1978 	3–5 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 	14–13–4
32 	T 	January 1, 1979 	3–3 	Czechoslovakia (1978–79) 	14–13–5
33 	W 	January 7, 1979 	3–2 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	15–13–5
34 	W 	January 9, 1979 	4–3 OT 	Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 	16–13–5
35 	W 	January 12, 1979 	3–1 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	17–13–5
36 	W 	January 13, 1979 	3–1 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	18–13–5
37 	W 	January 14, 1979 	4–2 	@ New England Whalers (1978–79)	19–13–5
38 	L 	January 16, 1979 	1–3 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 	19–14–5
39 	L 	January 17, 1979 	3–6 	Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 	19–15–5
40 	L 	January 19, 1979 	2–7 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	19–16–5
41 	L 	January 20, 1979 	1–10 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	19–17–5
42 	W 	January 21, 1979 	3–1 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	20–17–5
43 	T 	January 24, 1979 	5–5 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)	20–17–6
44 	W 	January 27, 1979 	4–2 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	21–17–6
45 	L 	January 28, 1979 	6–8 	@ New England Whalers (1978–79)	21–18–6
46 	L 	January 30, 1979 	2–5 	@ New England Whalers (1978–79)	21–19–6
47 	W 	January 31, 1979 	6–3 	Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 	22–19–6
48 	W 	February 2, 1979 	4–2 	Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 	23–19–6
49 	W 	February 4, 1979 	8–1 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	24–19–6
50 	W 	February 7, 1979 	3–2 	Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	25–19–6
51 	L 	February 9, 1979 	0–4 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)	25–20–6
52 	L 	February 10, 1979 	2–7 	@ New England Whalers (1978–79)	25–21–6
53 	W 	February 14, 1979 	5–1 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)	26–21–6
54 	L 	February 16, 1979 	1–2 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	26–22–6
55 	L 	February 17, 1979 	4–6 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)	26–23–6
56 	L 	February 18, 1979 	1–7 	New England Whalers (1978–79) 	26–24–6
57 	L 	February 20, 1979 	2–5 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)	26–25–6
58 	W 	February 21, 1979 	5–2 	New England Whalers (1978–79) 	27–25–6
59 	L 	February 23, 1979 	1–9 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	27–26–6
60 	W 	February 25, 1979 	7–5 	@ New England Whalers (1978–79)	28–26–6
61 	L 	February 27, 1979 	2–5 	Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	28–27–6
62 	L 	March 2, 1979 	1–4 	New England Whalers (1978–79) 	28–28–6
63 	L 	March 6, 1979 	4–5 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	28–29–6
64 	W 	March 7, 1979 	5–3 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)	29–29–6
65 	W 	March 11, 1979 	7–2 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	30–29–6
66 	L 	March 14, 1979 	2–4 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	30–30–6
67 	W 	March 16, 1979 	5–3 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	31–30–6
68 	W 	March 18, 1979 	4–2 	Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	32–30–6
69 	L 	March 21, 1979 	4–7 	Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 	32–31–6
70 	W 	March 23, 1979 	6–4 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 	33–31–6
71 	W 	March 28, 1979 	6–3 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	34–31–6
72 	L 	March 30, 1979 	0–2 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	34–32–6
73 	W 	April 1, 1979 	7–3 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	35–32–6
74 	L 	April 4, 1979 	2–4 	New England Whalers (1978–79) 	35–33–6
75 	L 	April 6, 1979 	1–2 	Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	35–34–6
76 	W 	April 8, 1979 	6–4 	New England Whalers (1978–79) 	36–34–6
77 	W 	April 10, 1979 	6–4 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 	37–34–6
78 	W 	April 11, 1979 	2–1 	Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	38–34–6
79 	W 	April 15, 1979 	5–4 OT 	Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	39–34–6
80 	L 	April 18, 1979 	3–9 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 	39–35–6
==Playoffs==
===Winnipeg Jets 4, Quebec Nordiques 0===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 23	Winnipeg Jets 	6–3 	Quebec Nordiques	1-0
2	April 25	Winnipeg Jets 	9–2 	Quebec Nordiques	2-0
3	April 27	Quebec Nordiques	5–9 	Winnipeg Jets 	3-0
4	April 29	Quebec Nordiques	2–6 	Winnipeg Jets 	4-0
===Winnipeg Jets 4, Edmonton Oilers 2===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	May 11	Winnipeg Jets 	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers	1-0
2	May 13	Winnipeg Jets 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers	2-0
3	May 15	Edmonton Oilers	8–3 	Winnipeg Jets 	2-1
4	May 16	Edmonton Oilers	2–3 	Winnipeg Jets 	3-1
5	May 18	Winnipeg Jets 	2–10 	Edmonton Oilers	3-2
6	May 20	Edmonton Oilers	3–7 	Winnipeg Jets 	4-2
==Player Stats==
===Regular Season===
;Scoring
Player	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	C 	78	39	68	107	8 	1 	8 	0 	
 	LW 	80	65	34	99 	119	26 	16 	0 	
 	C 	80	46	40	86 	24 	-6 	9 	2 	
 	C 	75	20	66	86 	211	13 	6 	1 	
 	RW 	79	26	36	62 	22 	7 	11 	0 	
 	RW 	80	28	32	60 	88 	-5 	6 	1 	
 	D 	80	5 	36	41 	42 	-2 	0 	0 	
 	LW 	79	17	15	32 	44 	-14	0 	0 	
 	LW 	70	14	18	32 	38 	-14	0 	1 	
 	LW 	71	8 	18	26 	21 	-12	0 	0 	
 	RW 	57	10	15	25 	51 	-7 	6 	0 	
 	D 	68	3 	22	25 	12 	-1 	0 	0 	
 	D 	64	4 	18	22 	29 	-1 	0 	0 	
 	D 	74	3 	15	18 	248	5 	0 	0 	
 	D 	73	2 	15	17 	70 	-3 	0 	0 	
 	LW 	69	6 	10	16 	48 	-2 	0 	0 	
 	C 	33	5 	10	15 	2 	-5 	3 	0 	
 	C 	18	3 	11	14 	6 	6 	1 	0 	
 	D 	71	0 	12	12 	210	-6 	0 	0 	
 	LW 	4 	2 	3 	5 	0 	1 	1 	0 	
 	D 	5 	1 	2 	3 	0 	-2 	0 	0 	
 	D 	9 	0 	3 	3 	2 	-1 	0 	0 	
 	G 	11	0 	3 	3 	2 	0 	0 	0 	
 	D 	20	0 	2 	2 	16 	-7 	0 	0 	
 	D 	9 	0 	1 	1 	5 	1 	0 	0 	
 	G 	23	0 	1 	1 	2 	0 	0 	0 	
 	G 	52	0 	1 	1 	4 	0 	0 	0 	
 	C 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	-1 	0 	0 	
 	C 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0 	1 	0 	0 	
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L 	T	GA 	GAA 	SO
 	2990	52	25	21	3	181	3.63	0
 	1256	23	7 	11	3	90 	4.30	0
 	626 	11	7 	3 	0	31 	2.97	0
Team: 	4872	80	39	35	6	302	3.72	0
===Playoffs===
;Scoring
Player	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	RW 	10	10	5 	15 	9 	 	 	1
 	LW 	10	8 	7 	15 	21 	 	 	1
 	C 	10	5 	9 	14 	2 	 	 	1
 	C 	10	3 	11	14 	4 	 	 	0
 	RW 	10	8 	5 	13 	15 	 	 	0
 	C 	8 	1 	12	13 	23 	 	 	1
 	D 	10	2 	5 	7 	4 	 	 	0
 	D 	10	2 	3 	5 	0 	 	 	0
 	C 	6 	2 	3 	5 	2 	 	 	0
 	C 	10	1 	4 	5 	0 	 	 	0
 	D 	9 	0 	5 	5 	28 	 	 	0
 	LW 	10	3 	1 	4 	22 	 	 	2
 	LW 	10	1 	3 	4 	6 	 	 	1
 	LW 	7 	2 	1 	3 	0 	 	 	0
 	D 	10	1 	2 	3 	4 	 	 	1
 	LW 	7 	1 	1 	2 	4 	 	 	0
 	D 	10	1 	1 	2 	4 	 	 	0
 	D 	10	0 	2 	2 	25 	 	 	0
 	G 	10	0 	1 	1 	4 	 	 	0
 	RW 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	 	0
 	G 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA 	SO
 	563	10	8	2	35	3.73	0
 	37 	3 	0	0	3 	4.86	0
Team: 	600	10	8	2	38	3.80	0
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 
==Awards and Records==
*Avco World Trophy: Winnipeg Jets
*Paul Deneau Trophy (Most Gentlemenly): Kent Nilsson
*WHA Playoff MVP: Rich Preston
*Morris Lukowich, Left Wing, WHA Second Team All-Star
==Transactions==
==Draft Picks==
==Farm Teams==
==Gallery==
1979-Apr18-Gretzky goal.gif|Wayne Gretzky scores his last WHA regular season goal, April 18, 1979.
1979_WHA_Champs_Winnipeg_Jets.jpg|Jets captain Lars-Erik Sjoberg carrying the Avco World Trophy.
==Video==
Whalers-Jet game from January 30, 1979.
1979 WHA New England Whalers Winnipeg Jets
Game 6 of the 1979 Avco World Trophy Finals, last game in WHA history, May 20, 1979.
1979 Avco Cup - Edmonton Oilers At Winnipeg Jets (WHA)
==See Also==
*1978–79 WHA season
==References==
* 
Winnipeg Jets season, 1978–79
Winnipeg Jets season, 1978–79
category:Winnipeg Jets seasons