1978–79 New York Rangers season

1978–79 New York Rangers
Division	3rd Patrick
Conference	3rd Campbell
1978–79 record	40–29–11
Home record	19–13–8
Road record	21–16–3
Goals for	316
Goals against	292
Team information
General manager	Fred Shero
Coach	Fred Shero
Captain	Dave Maloney
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Madison Square Garden
Team leaders
Goals	Phil Esposito (42)
Assists	Anders Hedberg (46)
Points	Anders Hedberg (79)
Penalty minutes	Nick Fotiu (190)
Wins	John Davidson (20)
Goals against average	John Davidson (3.52)
←  1977–78 1979–80  →

The 1978–79 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 53rd season. The highlight of the season was participating in the Stanley Cup Finals, as the Rangers played 12 consecutive playoff games without losing in regulation.

Offseason

The Rangers fired their general manager John Ferguson and head coach Jean-Guy Talbot, replacing them with former Philadelphia Flyers and two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach Fred Shero.

The Rangers signed forwards Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson away from the WHA's Winnipeg Jets.

The Rangers chose Don Maloney with their first pick, in the second-round, 26th over-all. Maloney was the younger brother of Dave Maloney, a defenceman with the Rangers. Don Maloney would get into 28 games for the Rangers that season.

New team colors

New Rangers colors

In 1978 the Ranger's introduced a new color scheme. While the logo and design remained the same, the Rangers changed to a much lighter shade of blue, dispensing with the dark blue that had been used since the team's inception in 1926. ^[1] The Rangers would use the new colors until 1999.

Regular season

Season standings

Patrick Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
New York Islanders	80	51	15	14	358	214	116
Philadelphia Flyers	80	40	25	15	281	248	95
New York Rangers	80	40	29	11	316	292	91
Atlanta Flames	80	41	31	8	327	280	90

Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Patrick Division 1978–79 NHL records Team ATL NYI NYR PHI Total Atlanta — 2–6 4–3–1 4–4 10–13–1 N.Y. Islanders 6–2 — 5–3 5–1–2 16–6–2 N.Y. Rangers 3–4–1 3–5 — 2–3–3 8–12–4 Philadelphia 4–4 1–5–2 3–2–3 — 8–11–5 Vs. Smythe Division 1978–79 NHL records Team CHI COL STL VAN Total Atlanta 2–1–2 4–0 4–1 2–2 12–4–2 N.Y. Islanders 3–2 4–0–1 3–0–2 4–0 14–2–3 N.Y. Rangers 4–0 4–1 3–2 4–0 15–3–0 Philadelphia 1–3 3–0–1 4–1 2–1–1 10–5–2 Vs. Adams Division 1978–79 NHL records Team BOS BUF MIN TOR Total Atlanta 1–3 2–2–1 1–2–1 4–1 8–8–2 N.Y. Islanders 2–1–2 1–2–1 3–1 3–1 9–5–3 N.Y. Rangers 2–3 2–1–1 1–2–1 2–2–1 7–8–3 Philadelphia 3–1–1 3–0–2 2–2 2–2–1 10–5–4 Vs. Norris Division 1978–79 NHL records [2] Team DET LAK MTL PIT WSH Total Atlanta 3–0–1 2–2 1–3 3–0–1 2–1–1 11–6–3 N.Y. Islanders 3–0–1 2–0–2 3–1 1–0–3 3–1 12–2–6 N.Y. Rangers 1–1–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–1–2 10–6–4 Philadelphia 2–0–2 4–0 0–3–1 3–1 3–0–1 12–4–4

Schedule and results

1978–79 regular season [3]
October: 5–1–3 (home: 4–0–2; road: 1–1–1) Game October Opponent Score Record 1 12 Philadelphia Flyers 3 – 3 0–0–1 2 15 Colorado Rockies 4 – 1 1–0–1 3 18 Detroit Red Wings 3 – 3 1–0–2 4 19 @ Detroit Red Wings 2 – 2 1–0–3 5 21 @ New York Islanders 5 – 3 1–1–3 6 22 Toronto Maple Leafs 5 – 2 2–1–3 7 25 Vancouver Canucks 6 – 2 3–1–3 8 28 @ Montreal Canadiens 2 – 1 4–1–3 9 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 3 – 2 5–1–3
November: 8–3–1 (home: 2–3–1; road: 6–0–0) Game November Opponent Score Record 10 2 @ Colorado Rockies 3 – 0 6–1–3 11 4 @ Los Angeles Kings 7 – 3 7–1–3 12 5 @ Vancouver Canucks 5 – 2 8–1–3 13 8 Minnesota North Stars 5 – 3 8–2–3 14 11 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 2 – 1 9–2–3 15 12 New York Islanders 5 – 3 9–3–3 16 15 Chicago Black Hawks 8 – 1 10–3–3 17 18 @ Minnesota North Stars 7 – 2 11–3–3 18 19 Atlanta Flames 3 – 1 11–4–3 19 22 Toronto Maple Leafs 3 – 3 11–4–4 20 26 Washington Capitals 9 – 4 12–4–4 21 29 @ Atlanta Flames 5 – 3 13–4–4
December: 7–9–0 (home: 4–4–0; road: 3–5–0) Game December Opponent Score Record 22 2 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 5 – 2 13–5–4 23 3 Boston Bruins 3 – 2 13–6–4 24 6 St. Louis Blues 7 – 4 14–6–4 25 7 @ Philadelphia Flyers 5 – 2 15–6–4 26 9 @ Detroit Red Wings 5 – 4 15–7–4 27 10 Philadelphia Flyers 4 – 0 15–8–4 28 13 Los Angeles Kings 8 – 7 16–8–4 29 16 @ Boston Bruins 4 – 1 16–9–4 30 17 Boston Bruins 4 – 1 16–10–4 31 20 Buffalo Sabres 6 – 3 17–10–4 32 22 Detroit Red Wings 4 – 2 18–10–4 33 23 @ New York Islanders 9 – 4 18–11–4 34 26 @ Atlanta Flames 5 – 3 19–11–4 35 28 @ Philadelphia Flyers 6 – 5 19–12–4 36 30 @ Chicago Black Hawks 5 – 4 20–12–4 37 31 Atlanta Flames 6 – 5 20–13–4
January: 9–4–1 (home: 3–1–1; road: 6–3–0) Game January Opponent Score Record 38 3 Montreal Canadiens 6 – 2 21–13–4 39 5 Vancouver Canucks 6 – 4 22–13–4 40 9 @ St. Louis Blues 5 – 3 23–13–4 41 10 @ Colorado Rockies 5 – 3 24–13–4 42 14 @ Atlanta Flames 6 – 4 25–13–4 43 15 Minnesota North Stars 8 – 1 25–14–4 44 17 New York Islanders 5 – 3 26–14–4 45 20 @ St. Louis Blues 3 – 2 26–15–4 46 21 Philadelphia Flyers 5 – 5 26–15–5 47 24 @ Washington Capitals 5 – 1 26–16–5 48 25 @ Buffalo Sabres 5 – 4 27–16–5 49 27 @ New York Islanders 7 – 2 28–16–5 50 30 @ Vancouver Canucks 5 – 3 29–16–5 51 31 @ Colorado Rockies 5 – 4 29–17–5
February: 5–3–2 (home: 3–0–1; road: 2–3–1) Game February Opponent Score Record 52 3 @ Los Angeles Kings 4 – 2 29–18–5 53 14 Boston Bruins 5 – 1 30–18–5 54 15 @ Buffalo Sabres 4 – 3 30–19–5 55 17 @ Philadelphia Flyers 4 – 2 31–19–5 56 18 Washington Capitals 6 – 6 31–19–6 57 21 St. Louis Blues 7 – 3 32–19–6 58 24 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 4 – 2 33–19–6 59 25 New York Islanders 3 – 2 34–19–6 60 27 @ St. Louis Blues 4 – 1 34–20–6 61 28 @ Minnesota North Stars 4 – 4 34–20–7
March: 5–6–3 (home: 2–4–2; road: 3–2–1) Game March Opponent Score Record 62 3 Buffalo Sabres 2 – 2 34–20–8 63 4 Toronto Maple Leafs 4 – 2 34–21–8 64 7 Colorado Rockies 5 – 3 35–21–8 65 10 @ Montreal Canadiens 6 – 3 36–21–8 66 11 Chicago Black Hawks 5 – 2 37–21–8 67 14 Atlanta Flames 6 – 4 37–22–8 68 15 @ Boston Bruins 7 – 4 38–22–8 69 17 @ New York Islanders 5 – 2 38–23–8 70 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 5 – 1 38–24–8 71 20 @ Washington Capitals 2 – 2 38–24–9 72 21 @ Chicago Black Hawks 7 – 6 39–24–9 73 25 Montreal Canadiens 1 – 0 39–25–9 74 27 Philadelphia Flyers 4 – 4 39–25–10 75 28 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 7 – 1 39–26–10
April: 1–3–1 (home: 1–1–1; road: 0–2–0) Game April Opponent Score Record 76 1 @ Philadelphia Flyers 7 – 3 39–27–10 77 2 Los Angeles Kings 5 – 4 40–27–10 78 4 Atlanta Flames 3 – 3 40–27–11 79 6 @ Atlanta Flames 9 – 2 40–28–11 80 8 New York Islanders 5 – 2 40–29–11
Legend:   Win (2 points)  Loss (0 points)  Tie (1 point)

Season summary

• February 25: During a win against the Islanders, Ulf Nilsson was injured on a hip check by Denis Potvin of the New York Islanders. He suffered a broken ankle when his skate blade got caught in a crevice in the Madison Square Garden ice as he was hit by Potvin, which resulted in Nilsson bearing the entire force of the hit on only one leg. Although Nilsson has never characterized the hit as dirty and, in 2009, said, "He [Potvin] was always fair. But the ice was never great in the Garden, because they had basketball and other events. My foot got caught. It was a freak thing." Nevertheless the incident is still commemorated by the "Potvin Sucks" chant that takes place during every Rangers home game, and to this day, this would serve as the origin to this infamous "Potvin Sucks" chant at Madison Square Garden.

Playoffs

Main articles: 1979 Stanley Cup playoffs and 1979 Stanley Cup Finals

Stanley Cup Finals

The Rangers faced the defending champion Montreal Canadiens, who were making their fourth straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance. It was the Rangers' first appearance in the finals since the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals. The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series four games to one, to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup.

1979 Stanley Cup playoffs [3]
Preliminary round vs. (10) Los Angeles Kings – Rangers win 2–0 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series 1 April 10 Los Angeles Kings 1 – 7 New York Rangers New York Rangers lead series 1-0 2 April 12 New York Rangers 2 – 1 Los Angeles Kings OT New York Rangers win series 2-0
Quarterfinals vs. (4) Philadelphia Flyers – Rangers win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series 1 April 16 New York Rangers 2 – 3 Philadelphia Flyers OT Philadelphia leads series 1-0 2 April 18 New York Rangers 7 – 1 Philadelphia Flyers Series tied 1-1 3 April 20 Philadelphia Flyers 1 – 5 New York Rangers New York Rangers lead series 2-1 4 April 22 Philadelphia Flyers 0 – 6 New York Rangers New York Rangers lead series 3-1 5 April 24 New York Rangers 8 – 3 Philadelphia Flyers New York Rangers win series 4-1
Semifinals vs. (1) New York Islanders – Rangers win 4–2 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series 1 April 26 New York Rangers 4 – 1 New York Islanders New York Rangers lead series 1-0 2 April 28 New York Rangers 3 – 4 New York Islanders OT Series tied 1-1 3 May 1 New York Islanders 1 – 3 New York Rangers New York Rangers lead series 2-1 4 May 3 New York Islanders 3 – 2 New York Rangers OT Series tied 2-2 5 May 5 New York Rangers 4 – 3 New York Islanders New York Rangers lead series 3-2 6 May 8 New York Islanders 1 – 2 New York Rangers New York Rangers win series 4-2
Stnaley Cup Finals vs. (2) Montreal Canadiens – Canadiens win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series 1 May 13 New York Rangers 4 – 1 Montreal Canadiens New York Rangers lead series 1-0 2 May 15 New York Rangers 2 – 6 Montreal Canadiens Series tied 1-1 3 May 17 Montreal Canadiens 4 – 1 New York Rangers Montreal leads series 2-1 4 May 19 Montreal Canadiens 4 – 3 New York Rangers OT Montreal leads series 3-1 5 May 21 New York Rangers 1 – 4 Montreal Canadiens Montreal wins series 4-1
Legend:   Win  Loss

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season Player GP G A Pts PIM Anders Hedberg 80 33 46 79 33 Phil Esposito 80 42 36 78 37 Pat Hickey 80 34 41 75 56 Ulf Nilsson 59 27 39 66 21 Ron Duguay 79 27 36 63 35 Mike McEwen 80 20 38 58 35 Ron Greschner 60 17 36 53 66 Steve Vickers 66 13 34 47 24 Carol Vadnais 77 8 37 45 86 Walt Tkaczuk 77 15 27 42 38 Don Murdoch 40 15 21 36 6 Pierre Plante 70 6 25 31 37 Mario Marois 71 5 26 31 153 Dean Talafous 68 13 16 29 29 Lucien DeBlois 62 11 17 28 26 Dave Maloney 76 11 17 28 151 Don Maloney 28 9 17 26 39 Dave Farrish 71 1 19 20 61 Ed Johnstone 30 5 3 8 27 Nick Fotiu 71 3 5 8 190 Greg Polis ‡ 6 1 1 2 8 Dan Clark 4 0 1 1 6 Mike Korney 18 0 1 1 18 Tim Bothwell 1 0 0 0 2 Mike McDougall 1 0 0 0 0 Dean Turner 1 0 0 0 0 Frank Beaton 2 0 0 0 0 Andre Dore 2 0 0 0 0

Playoffs Player GP G A Pts PIM Don Maloney 18 7 13 20 19 Phil Esposito 18 8 12 20 20 Mike McEwen 18 2 11 13 8 Don Murdoch 18 7 5 12 12 Ron Greschner 18 7 5 12 16 Walt Tkaczuk 18 4 7 11 10 Carol Vadnais 18 2 9 11 13 Ron Duguay 18 5 4 9 11 Anders Hedberg 18 4 5 9 12 Steve Vickers 18 5 3 8 13 Pat Hickey 18 1 7 8 6 Bobby Sheehan 15 4 3 7 8 Dave Maloney 17 3 4 7 45 Mario Marois 18 0 6 6 29 Pierre Plante 18 0 6 6 20 Ed Johnstone 17 5 0 5 10 Dave Farrish 7 0 2 2 14 Lucien DeBlois 9 2 0 2 4 Nick Fotiu 4 0 0 0 6 Ulf Nilsson 2 0 0 0 2

Goaltenders

Regular Season

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
John Davidson	39	2232	20	12	5	131	3.52	0
Wayne Thomas	31	1668	15	10	3	101	3.63	1
Doug Soetaert	17	900	5	7	3	57	3.80	0

Playoffs

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	GAA	SO
John Davidson	18	1106	11	7	42	2.28	1

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
^‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.

^[4]

Note:

Pos = Position;GP = Games played; G =  Goals; A =  Assists; Pts =  Points; PIM =  Penalty minutes; +/- =  Plus/minus; PPG =  Power-play goals; SHG =  Short-handed goals; GWG =  Game-winning goals

Pos = Position;GP = Games played; 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;

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1978 NHL amateur draft in Montreal, Canada.

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
2	26	Don Maloney	LW	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OHA)
3	43	Ray Markham	C	Canada	Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)
3	44	Dean Turner	D	United States	University of Michigan (NCAA)
4	59	Dave Silk	RW	United States	Boston University (NCAA)
4	60	Andre Dore	D	Canada	Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
5	76	Mike MacDougall	RW	United States	Port Huron Flags (IHL)
6	93	Tom Laidlaw	D	Canada	Northern Michigan University (NCAA)
7	110	Dan Clark	D	Canada	Milwaukee Admirals (IHL)
8	127	Greg Kostenko	D	Canada	Ohio State University (NCAA)
9	144	Brian McDavid	D	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OHA)
10	161	Mark Rodrigues	G	United States	Yale University (NCAA)
11	176	Steve Weeks	G	Canada	Northern Michigan University (NCAA)
12	192	Pierre Daigneault	LW	Canada	Montreal Juniors (QMJHL)
13	206	Chris McLaughlin	D	United States	Dartmouth College (NCAA)
14	217	Todd Johnson	C	United States	Boston University (NCAA)
15	223	Dan McCarthy	C	Canada	Sudbury Wolves (OHA)

References

1. "NEW YORK RANGERS LOGO". 1000 Logos. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
2. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
3. "1978–79 New York Rangers Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
4. "1978-79 New York Rangers". hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 8, 2010.

External links

• Rangers on Hockey Database