| 1977–78 Washington Capitals | |
|---|---|
| Division | 5th Norris | 
| Conference | Campbell | 
| 1977–78 record | 17–49–14 | 
| Goals for | 195 | 
| Goals against | 321 | 
| Team information | |
| General manager | Max McNab | 
| Coach | Tom McVie | 
| Captain | Yvon Labre | 
| Alternate captains | None | 
The 1977–78 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals fourth season in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Offseason
Regular season
Final standings
| 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 | 
[1]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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Schedule and results
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | W | October 14, 1977 | 2–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) | 1–0–0 | 
| 2 | L | October 15, 1977 | 2–4 | @ Cleveland Barons (1977–78) | 1–1–0 | 
| 3 | L | October 19, 1977 | 3–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) | 1–2–0 | 
| 4 | L | October 24, 1977 | 1–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) | 1–3–0 | 
| 5 | W | October 26, 1977 | 6–2 | @ Atlanta Flames (1977–78) | 2–3–0 | 
| 6 | L | October 28, 1977 | 1–8 | @ Colorado Rockies (1977–78) | 2–4–0 | 
| 7 | L | October 29, 1977 | 4–7 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) | 2–5–0 | 
| 8 | T | November 2, 1977 | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) | 2–5–1 | 
| 9 | L | November 3, 1977 | 1–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) | 2–6–1 | 
| 10 | L | November 5, 1977 | 1–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) | 2–7–1 | 
| 11 | L | November 8, 1977 | 1–5 | Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) | 2–8–1 | 
| 12 | T | November 9, 1977 | 1–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) | 2–8–2 | 
| 13 | L | November 11, 1977 | 1–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) | 2–9–2 | 
| 14 | L | November 13, 1977 | 0–6 | New York Islanders (1977–78) | 2–10–2 | 
| 15 | T | November 15, 1977 | 2–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1977–78) | 2–10–3 | 
| 16 | L | November 16, 1977 | 2–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) | 2–11–3 | 
| 17 | L | November 19, 1977 | 6–7 | Buffalo Sabres (1977–78) | 2–12–3 | 
| 18 | L | November 20, 1977 | 2–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1977–78) | 2–13–3 | 
| 19 | T | November 23, 1977 | 2–2 | Atlanta Flames (1977–78) | 2–13–4 | 
| 20 | L | November 24, 1977 | 0–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1977–78) | 2–14–4 | 
| 21 | T | November 26, 1977 | 4–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) | 2–14–5 | 
| 22 | L | November 29, 1977 | 2–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) | 2–15–5 | 
| 23 | L | December 2, 1977 | 2–3 | Cleveland Barons (1977–78) | 2–16–5 | 
| 24 | L | December 4, 1977 | 2–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) | 2–17–5 | 
| 25 | L | December 6, 1977 | 2–5 | Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) | 2–18–5 | 
| 26 | W | December 7, 1977 | 5–3 | @ Cleveland Barons (1977–78) | 3–18–5 | 
| 27 | L | December 10, 1977 | 1–5 | @ Atlanta Flames (1977–78) | 3–19–5 | 
| 28 | W | December 11, 1977 | 2–1 | St. Louis Blues (1977–78) | 4–19–5 | 
| 29 | L | December 13, 1977 | 1–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) | 4–20–5 | 
| 30 | W | December 17, 1977 | 2–1 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) | 5–20–5 | 
| 31 | T | December 21, 1977 | 5–5 | @ New York Rangers (1977–78) | 5–20–6 | 
| 32 | W | December 23, 1977 | 3–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) | 6–20–6 | 
| 33 | L | December 27, 1977 | 3–6 | Boston Bruins (1977–78) | 6–21–6 | 
| 34 | T | December 28, 1977 | 2–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) | 6–21–7 | 
| 35 | T | December 30, 1977 | 3–3 | New York Rangers (1977–78) | 6–21–8 | 
| 36 | W | January 2, 1978 | 3–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) | 7–21–8 | 
| 37 | W | January 4, 1978 | 4–0 | Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) | 8–21–8 | 
| 38 | T | January 7, 1978 | 4–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1977–78) | 8–21–9 | 
| 39 | L | January 8, 1978 | 1–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) | 8–22–9 | 
| 40 | L | January 11, 1978 | 3–6 | Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) | 8–23–9 | 
| 41 | T | January 13, 1978 | 2–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) | 8–23–10 | 
| 42 | L | January 14, 1978 | 0–4 | New York Islanders (1977–78) | 8–24–10 | 
| 43 | L | January 18, 1978 | 2–5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) | 8–25–10 | 
| 44 | L | January 19, 1978 | 1–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1977–78) | 8–26–10 | 
| 45 | W | January 21, 1978 | 5–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) | 9–26–10 | 
| 46 | L | January 22, 1978 | 3–6 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) | 9–27–10 | 
| 47 | T | January 25, 1978 | 3–3 | Colorado Rockies (1977–78) | 9–27–11 | 
| 48 | L | January 27, 1978 | 2–5 | Boston Bruins (1977–78) | 9–28–11 | 
| 49 | L | January 29, 1978 | 0–4 | Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) | 9–29–11 | 
| 50 | L | January 31, 1978 | 2–4 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) | 9–30–11 | 
| 51 | L | February 1, 1978 | 3–8 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) | 9–31–11 | 
| 52 | L | February 4, 1978 | 1–6 | @ New York Islanders (1977–78) | 9–32–11 | 
| 53 | L | February 5, 1978 | 1–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1977–78) | 9–33–11 | 
| 54 | W | February 10, 1978 | 4–1 | @ Cleveland Barons (1977–78) | 10–33–11 | 
| 55 | L | February 12, 1978 | 1–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) | 10–34–11 | 
| 56 | L | February 14, 1978 | 2–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) | 10–35–11 | 
| 57 | L | February 17, 1978 | 2–8 | Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) | 10–36–11 | 
| 58 | W | February 19, 1978 | 2–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) | 11–36–11 | 
| 59 | L | February 21, 1978 | 1–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) | 11–37–11 | 
| 60 | L | February 23, 1978 | 1–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) | 11–38–11 | 
| 61 | L | February 25, 1978 | 0–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) | 11–39–11 | 
| 62 | L | February 26, 1978 | 1–6 | Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) | 11–40–11 | 
| 63 | W | February 28, 1978 | 7–4 | Colorado Rockies (1977–78) | 12–40–11 | 
| 64 | T | March 4, 1978 | 3–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1977–78) | 12–40–12 | 
| 65 | L | March 8, 1978 | 3–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) | 12–41–12 | 
| 66 | L | March 12, 1978 | 2–8 | @ New York Rangers (1977–78) | 12–42–12 | 
| 67 | L | March 15, 1978 | 2–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) | 12–43–12 | 
| 68 | W | March 18, 1978 | 8–3 | Cleveland Barons (1977–78) | 13–43–12 | 
| 69 | L | March 19, 1978 | 2–3 | St. Louis Blues (1977–78) | 13–44–12 | 
| 70 | L | March 22, 1978 | 2–6 | Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) | 13–45–12 | 
| 71 | L | March 24, 1978 | 4–11 | New York Rangers (1977–78) | 13–46–12 | 
| 72 | L | March 25, 1978 | 0–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) | 13–47–12 | 
| 73 | L | March 26, 1978 | 1–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) | 13–48–12 | 
| 74 | T | March 28, 1978 | 4–4 | Boston Bruins (1977–78) | 13–48–13 | 
| 75 | W | March 30, 1978 | 4–3 | @ Colorado Rockies (1977–78) | 14–48–13 | 
| 76 | L | April 1, 1978 | 2–3 | @ New York Islanders (1977–78) | 14–49–13 | 
| 77 | T | April 2, 1978 | 4–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) | 14–49–14 | 
| 78 | W | April 4, 1978 | 4–3 | Buffalo Sabres (1977–78) | 15–49–14 | 
| 79 | W | April 8, 1978 | 6–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) | 16–49–14 | 
| 80 | W | April 9, 1978 | 4–2 | Atlanta Flames (1977–78) | 17–49–14 | 
Playoffs
The Capitals still had several years to go before they would win enough games to qualify for the playoffs. The 1977–78 season was the fourth season in a row that the Capitals missed the playoffs.
Player statistics
Regular season
- Scoring
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guy Charron | C | 80 | 38 | 35 | 73 | 12 | −25 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 
| Bob Sirois | RW | 72 | 24 | 37 | 61 | 6 | −11 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 
| Gerry Meehan | C | 78 | 19 | 24 | 43 | 10 | −41 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 
| Robert Picard | D | 75 | 10 | 27 | 37 | 101 | −26 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 
| Bill Riley | RW | 57 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 125 | −15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 
| Bob Girard | LW | 52 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 6 | −3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 
| Dave Forbes | LW | 77 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 119 | −34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Tom Rowe | RW | 63 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 82 | −18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 
| Bill Collins | RW | 74 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 18 | −32 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 
| Garnet Bailey | LW | 40 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 28 | −12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 
| Rick Green | D | 60 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 67 | −35 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 
| Rick Bragnalo | C | 44 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 22 | −6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Bryan Watson | D | 79 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 167 | −12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 
| Gord Smith | D | 80 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 78 | −20 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 
| Larry Bolonchuk | D | 49 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 79 | −19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Gord Lane | D | 69 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 195 | −19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Jean Lemieux | D | 16 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 | −12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 
| Jack Lynch | D | 29 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 4 | −13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Mike Marson | LW | 46 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 101 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Craig Patrick | RW | 44 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 | −8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 
| Yvon Labre | D | 22 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Eddy Godin | RW | 18 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | −14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Ron Lalonde | C | 67 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 16 | −18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Walt McKechnie | C | 16 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | −14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 
| Doug Gibson | C | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Mark Lofthouse | RW/C | 18 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Jim Bedard | G | 43 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Nelson Burton | LW | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Doug Patey | RW | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Blair Stewart | C | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Gary Smith | G | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Tony White | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| Bernie Wolfe | G | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
- Goaltending
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Bedard | 2492 | 43 | 11 | 23 | 7 | 152 | 3.66 | 1 | 
| Bernie Wolfe | 1328 | 25 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 94 | 4.25 | 0 | 
| Gary Smith | 980 | 17 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 68 | 4.16 | 0 | 
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 17 | 49 | 14 | 314 | 3.92 | 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
Transactions
Draft picks
Washington's draft picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Robert Picard | .svg.png.webp) Canada | Montreal Juniors (QMJHL) | 
| 2 | 21 | Mark Lofthouse | .svg.png.webp) Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) | 
| 3 | 39 | Eddy Godin | .svg.png.webp) Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) | 
| 4 | 57 | Nelson Burton | .svg.png.webp) Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) | 
| 5 | 75 | Denis Turcotte | .svg.png.webp) Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) | 
| 6 | 93 | Perry Schnarr | .svg.png.webp) Canada | University of Denver (WCHA) | 
| 7 | 111 | Rollie Boutin | .svg.png.webp) Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WCHL) | 
| 8 | 127 | Brent Tremblay | .svg.png.webp) Canada | Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (QMJHL) | 
| 9 | 143 | Don Micheletti |  United States | University of Minnesota (WCHA) | 
| 10 | 156 | Archie Henderson | .svg.png.webp) Canada | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) | 
Farm teams
See also
References
- ↑ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
- ↑ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ↑ "1977-78 Washington Capitals Statistics – Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
External links
- "1977–78 Washington Capitals Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2009.

