1976–77 Winnipeg Jets season

The 1976–77 Winnipeg Jets season was the Jets' 5th season in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Jets finished 2nd in the Western Division and lost in the Avco World Trophy Final to the Quebec Nordiques 4 games to 3.
==Off-season==
The Jets jerseys were the same design as in the 1973-74 season except for the dark blue becoming darker.
==Pre-season==
The Jets had two exhibition games against teams from the NHL, winning both:
September 24, 1976: Winnipeg Jets 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 3 
September 26, 1976: Winnipeg Jets 6, St. Louis Blues 2 
The game against St. Louis proved costly for the Jets as Bobby Hull fractured his wrist and missed 46 games of the regular season.
==Regular Season==
Anders Hedberg started the February 6, 1977 game versus the Calgary Cowboys with 48 goals in 48 games, having scored 4 goals and 2 assists in the February 4, 1977 match against the San Diego Mariners. After the Jets were held scoreless in the first period, Hedberg scored in the second period on a 5 on 3 power play. He missed the rest of the period with strained knee ligaments after being checked by Paul Terbenche. He returned for the third period and became the first player in a major professional league to score 50 goals in less than 50 games when he fired a short side past Cowboys goalie Gary Bromley. He then added an empty net goal in the Jets 6-4 triumph. Wayne Gretzky broke Hedberg's record on December 30, 1981 with his 50th goal in 39 games.
===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 8, 1976 	4–1 	Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	1–0–0
2 	W 	October 10, 1976 	5–2 	New England Whalers (1976–77) 	2–0–0
3 	W 	October 15, 1976 	6–1 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	3–0–0
4 	L 	October 16, 1976 	4–6 	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 	3–1–0
5 	L 	October 17, 1976 	1–3 	@ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 	3–2–0
6 	W 	October 19, 1976 	6–1 	Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	4–2–0
7 	L 	October 22, 1976 	3–4 OT 	Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 	4–3–0
8 	W 	October 24, 1976 	7–1 	Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	5–3–0
9 	W 	October 29, 1976 	11–3 	Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	6–3–0
10 	W 	October 31, 1976 	6–4 	San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 	7–3–0
11 	L 	November 2, 1976 	1–3 	Houston Aeros (1976–77) 	7–4–0
12 	W 	November 5, 1976 	9–2 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) 	8–4–0
13 	L 	November 6, 1976 	3–7 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	8–5–0
14 	W 	November 7, 1976 	5–2 	Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	9–5–0
15 	W 	November 9, 1976 	5–4 OT 	New England Whalers (1976–77) 	10–5–0
16 	L 	November 11, 1976 	5–7 	@ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	10–6–0
17 	W 	November 14, 1976 	2–0 	@ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	11–6–0
18 	W 	November 16, 1976 	8–4 	Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	12–6–0
19 	W 	November 19, 1976 	7–3 	@ New England Whalers (1976–77) 	13–6–0
20 	L 	November 20, 1976 	4–8 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	13–7–0
21 	L 	November 21, 1976 	2–4 	Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	13–8–0
22 	L 	November 23, 1976 	4–7 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	13–9–0
23 	T 	November 26, 1976 	1–1 	@ Houston Aeros (1976–77) 	13–9–1
24 	L 	November 28, 1976 	3–5 	Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 	13–10–1
25 	W 	November 30, 1976 	8–2 	San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 	14–10–1
26 	W 	December 3, 1976 	4–3 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77)	15–10–1
27 	W 	December 4, 1976 	6–2 	@ New England Whalers (1976–77) 	16–10–1
28 	L 	December 5, 1976 	4–6 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	16–11–1
29 	W 	December 7, 1976 	4–2 	Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 	17–11–1
30 	W 	December 8, 1976 	4–2 	@ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	18–11–1
31 	L 	December 10, 1976 	3–5 	Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	18–12–1
32 	L 	December 26, 1976 	3–12 	Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	18–13–1
33 	L 	December 28, 1976 	3–6 	@ Houston Aeros (1976–77) 	18–14–1
34 	L 	December 30, 1976 	3–4 	@ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 	18–15–1
35 	W 	January 2, 1977 	5–2 	Houston Aeros (1976–77) 	19–15–1
36 	W 	January 4, 1977 	2–1 	Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	20–15–1
37 	W 	January 9, 1977 	4–1 	Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	21–15–1
38 	W 	January 11, 1977 	9–2 	Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 	22–15–1
39 	W 	January 14, 1977 	5–3 	@ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	23–15–1
40 	L 	January 16, 1977 	4–6 	Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	23–16–1
41 	W 	January 21, 1977 	6–5 OT 	Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	24–16–1
42 	W 	January 23, 1977 	10–5 	Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	25–16–1
43 	L 	January 25, 1977 	2–5 	@ Houston Aeros (1976–77) 	25–17–1
44 	L 	January 27, 1977 	0–3 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	25–18–1
45 	L 	January 29, 1977 	3–5 	@ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 	25–19–1
46 	L 	January 30, 1977 	5–8 	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 	25–20–1
47 	W 	February 1, 1977 	11–1 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	26–20–1
48 	W 	February 4, 1977 	8–2 	San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 	27–20–1
49 	W 	February 6, 1977 	6–4 	Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	28–20–1
50 	W 	February 8, 1977 	7–2 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	29–20–1
51 	L 	February 10, 1977 	3–6 	@ New England Whalers (1976–77) 	29–21–1
52 	L 	February 11, 1977 	0–4 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	29–22–1
53 	W 	February 13, 1977 	7–5 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	30–22–1
54 	T 	February 15, 1977 	2–2 	Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	30–22–2
55 	W 	February 17, 1977 	4–2 	Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	31–22–2
56 	L 	February 18, 1977 	2–3 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	31–23–2
57 	W 	February 20, 1977 	4–2 	Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	32–23–2
58 	W 	February 22, 1977 	3–2 	Houston Aeros (1976–77) 	33–23–2
59 	L 	February 23, 1977 	3–6 	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 	33–24–2
60 	W 	February 26, 1977 	8–6 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	34–24–2
61 	L 	February 27, 1977 	2–3 	New England Whalers (1976–77) 	34–25–2
62 	L 	March 1, 1977 	1–6 	@ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	34–26–2
63 	W 	March 2, 1977 	4–3 OT 	Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	35–26–2
64 	L 	March 3, 1977 	4–5 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	35–27–2
65 	L 	March 5, 1977 	1–4 	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 	35–28–2
66 	W 	March 8, 1977 	5–0 	San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 	36–28–2
67 	W 	March 11, 1977 	4–1 	Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	37–28–2
68 	W 	March 13, 1977 	9–3 	Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	38–28–2
69 	W 	March 15, 1977 	7–0 	Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	39–28–2
70 	L 	March 17, 1977 	3–4 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	39–29–2
71 	W 	March 18, 1977 	7–5 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	40–29–2
72 	W 	March 20, 1977 	4–3 OT 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	41–29–2
73 	W 	March 22, 1977 	8–3 	Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	42–29–2
74 	W 	March 27, 1977 	5–3 	@ Houston Aeros (1976–77) 	43–29–2
75 	L 	March 29, 1977 	2–5 	Houston Aeros (1976–77) 	43–30–2
76 	L 	March 31, 1977 	3–4 	@ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 	43–31–2
77 	W 	April 2, 1977 	6–5 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	44–31–2
78 	W 	April 3, 1977 	6–4 	Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	45–31–2
79 	L 	April 4, 1977 	2–6 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	45–32–2
80 	W 	April 7, 1977 	6–4 	@ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	46–32–2
==Playoffs==
===Winnipeg Jets 4, San Diego Mariners 3===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 10	San Diego Mariners	1–5 	Winnipeg Jets 	1–0
2	April 12	San Diego Mariners	1–4 	Winnipeg Jets 	2–0
3	April 16	Winnipeg Jets 	4–5 	San Diego Mariners	2–1
4	April 17	Winnipeg Jets 	4–6 	San Diego Mariners	2–2
5	April 20	San Diego Mariners	0–3 	Winnipeg Jets 	2–3
6	April 22	Winnipeg Jets 	1–3 	San Diego Mariners	3–3
7	April 24	San Diego Mariners	3–7 	Winnipeg Jets 	3–4
===Winnipeg Jets 4, Houston Aeros 2===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	Record
1	April 26	Winnipeg Jets	4–3 OT	Houston Aeros	1–0
2	April 28	Winnipeg Jets	2–7 	Houston Aeros	1–1
3	April 30	Houston Aeros	3–4 	Winnipeg Jets	2–1
4	May 1 	Houston Aeros	4–6 	Winnipeg Jets	3–1
5	May 3 	Winnipeg Jets	2–3 	Houston Aeros	3–2
6	May 5 	Houston Aeros	3–6 	Winnipeg Jets	4–2
===Quebec Nordiques 4, Winnipeg Jets 3===
The Finals pitted the 1976 AVCO World Trophy winning Winnipeg Jets against the Quebec Nordiques. The series was characterized by wild swings in scoring with each team winning games by lopsided margins. 
The deciding Game 7 was initially a tight, close-checking game with no scoring in the first period. The Nordiques scored two quick goals to start the second period and then added a third at 6:29. The Jets Dan Labraaten cut into the Nordiques lead at 8:39 to make it 3-1. Less than a minute later, J.C. Tremblay fired a shot from center ice that beat Jets goalie Joe Daley. Totally deflated, the Jets surrendered four more goals before scoring a consolation marker, losing 8-2. Serge Bernier won the WHA Playoff MVP trophy, as he scored 36 points for the Nordiques in 17 post season games.
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	May 11	Winnipeg Jets 	2–1 	Quebec Nordiques	1–0
2	May 15	Winnipeg Jets 	1–6 	Quebec Nordiques	1–1
3	May 18	Quebec Nordiques	1–6 	Winnipeg Jets 	1-2
4	May 20	Quebec Nordiques	4–2 	Winnipeg Jets 	2–2
5	May 22	Winnipeg Jets 	3–8 	Quebec Nordiques	2–3
6	May 24	Quebec Nordiques	3–12 	Winnipeg Jets 	3–3
7	May 26	Winnipeg Jets 	2–8 	Quebec Nordiques	3–4
==Player Stats==
===Regular Season===
;Scoring
# 	Player	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
15	 	RW 	68	70	61	131	48 	48 	22 	0 	10
14	 	C 	71	39	85	124	89 	57 	8 	3 	6
10	 	C 	78	31	52	83 	18 	11 	6 	0 	3
20	 	RW 	79	44	36	80 	37 	-2 	11 	0 	6
12	 	C 	64	25	29	54 	59 	-13	6 	0 	
9 	 	LW 	34	21	32	53 	14 	16 	7 	0 	
21	 	LW 	64	24	27	51 	21 	-11	8 	0 	
3 	 	D 	71	9 	38	47 	54 	-1 	4 	0 	
25	 	D 	74	14	31	45 	124	27 	5 	1 	
17	 	LW 	78	14	27	41 	85 	23 	2 	0 	
4 	 	D 	52	2 	38	40 	31 	9 	1 	1 	
19	 	C 	73	14	17	31 	2 	-13	1 	2 	
18	 	LW 	69	10	17	27 	19 	-12	3 	0 	
2 	 	D 	42	2 	24	26 	37 	3 	0 	0 	
6 	 	D 	70	4 	21	25 	45 	12 	2 	0 	
22	 	LW 	74	13	11	24 	90 	-7 	2 	0 	
23	 	RW 	51	11	11	22 	2 	-12	0 	0 	
 	 	D 	22	3 	14	17 	20 	14 	0 	0 	
5 	 	D 	53	1 	16	17 	28 	-1 	0 	0 	
8 	 	D 	40	3 	11	14 	129	-1 	0 	0 	
 	 	RW 	14	6 	7 	13 	2 	0 	2 	0 	
 	 	C 	14	4 	7 	11 	2 	-2 	2 	0 	
 	 	C 	12	2 	2 	4 	10 	-1 	0 	0 	
1 	 	G 	65	0 	4 	4 	6 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	 	LW 	2 	0 	1 	1 	0 	-1 	0 	0 	0
 	 	RW 	2 	0 	1 	1 	5 	1 	0 	0 	0
30	 	G 	19	0 	1 	1 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L 	T	GA 	GAA 	SO
 	3818	65	39	23	2	206	3.24	3
 	1019	19	7 	9 	0	82 	4.83	0
Team: 	4837	80	46	32	2	288	3.57	3
===Playoffs===
;Scoring
Player	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	RW 	20	13	16	29 	13 	 	 	2
 	C 	20	6 	21	27 	33 	 	 	0
 	LW 	20	7 	17	24 	15 	 	 	1
 	LW 	20	13	9 	22 	2 	 	 	2
 	C 	20	7 	12	19 	2 	 	 	2
 	D 	20	3 	13	16 	12 	 	 	0
 	RW 	20	9 	6 	15 	22 	 	 	1
 	D 	20	4 	6 	10 	27 	 	 	0
 	C 	20	2 	7 	9 	2 	 	 	1
 	D 	20	4 	4 	8 	23 	 	 	1
 	LW 	20	4 	4 	8 	9 	 	 	1
 	RW 	13	2 	4 	6 	6 	 	 	0
 	D 	20	1 	5 	6 	10 	 	 	0
 	D 	20	0 	6 	6 	22 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	20	1 	3 	4 	12 	 	 	0
 	LW 	18	2 	1 	3 	22 	 	 	0
 	LW 	17	2 	0 	2 	6 	 	 	0
 	C 	7 	0 	2 	2 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	20	0 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L	GA	GAA 	SO
 	1186	20	11	9	71	3.59	1
 	20 	1 	0 	0	1 	3.00	0
Team: 	1206	20	11	9	72	3.58	1
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==
*Anders Hedberg, Right Wing, WHA First Team All-Star
*Ulf Nilsson, Center, WHA Second Team All-Star
*Joe Daley, Goalie, WHA Second Team All-Star
==Transactions==
==Draft Picks==
==Farm Teams==
==Video==
Game 7 of the 1977 Avco World Trophy Finals, May 26, 1977
1977 WHA AVCO Cup Finals G 7 Winnipeg @ Quebec 5 26 1977
==See Also==
*1976–77 WHA season
==References==
Winnipeg Jets season, 1976–77
Winnipeg Jets season, 1976–77
category:Winnipeg Jets seasons