The 1977–78

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

season was the Bruins' 54th

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

in the

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

. The Bruins advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight season only to be defeated again by their rivals, the

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

. The season featured the memorable moment of John Wensink challenging the entire Minnesota North Stars bench to a fight during a December contest.

Offseason

NHL Draft

Regular season

The 1977–78 Bruins set an NHL record (unbroken as of 2023) by having 11 different skaters score 20 goals or more in a season. The eleven skaters are: * Peter McNab * Terry O'Reilly * Bobby Schmautz *

Stan Jonathan Stanley Carl "Bulldog" Jonathan (born September 5, 1955) is a Canadian former ice hockey left winger, most notably for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League, for whom he played for parts of eight seasons, and featured in two Stanley Cup ...

* Jean Ratelle * Rick Middleton * Wayne Cashman * Gregg Sheppard * Brad Park * Don Marcotte * Bob Miller

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , T, , October 13, 1977, , 2–2 , , align="left", Atlanta Flames ( 1977–78) , , 0–0–1 , - , 2, , L, , October 15, 1977, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

( 1977–78) , , 0–1–1 , - , 3, , L, , October 16, 1977, , 0–2 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 0–2–1 , - , 4, , W, , October 19, 1977, , 7–3 , , align="left", @ St. Louis Blues ( 1977–78) , , 1–2–1 , - , 5, , W, , October 22, 1977, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

( 1977–78) , , 2–2–1 , - , 6, , T, , October 23, 1977, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

( 1977–78) , , 2–2–2 , - , 7, , T, , October 25, 1977, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...

( 1977–78) , , 2–2–3 , - , 8, , L, , October 26, 1977, , 0–3 , , align="left", @ Minnesota North Stars ( 1977–78) , , 2–3–3 , - , 9, , W, , October 29, 1977, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

( 1977–78) , , 3–3–3 , - , - , 10, , L, , November 3, 1977, , 1–4 , , align="left",

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

( 1977–78) , , 3–4–3 , - , 11, , L, , November 5, 1977, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 3–5–3 , - , 12, , W, , November 6, 1977, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 4–5–3 , - , 13, , W, , November 10, 1977, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 5–5–3 , - , 14, , W, , November 12, 1977, , 6–3 , , align="left", @ Atlanta Flames ( 1977–78) , , 6–5–3 , - , 15, , W, , November 13, 1977, , 3–1 , , align="left", Cleveland Barons ( 1977–78) , , 7–5–3 , - , 16, , T, , November 17, 1977, , 4–4 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 7–5–4 , - , 17, , W, , November 19, 1977, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

( 1977–78) , , 8–5–4 , - , 18, , W, , November 20, 1977, , 1–0 , , align="left",

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

( 1977–78) , , 9–5–4 , - , 19, , W, , November 23, 1977, , 2–0 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 10–5–4 , - , 20, , W, , November 24, 1977, , 6–0 , , align="left",

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

( 1977–78) , , 11–5–4 , - , 21, , W, , November 26, 1977, , 3–2 , , align="left",

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 1977–78) , , 12–5–4 , - , 22, , W, , November 27, 1977, , 4–1 , , align="left", St. Louis Blues ( 1977–78) , , 13–5–4 , - , - , 23, , W, , December 1, 1977, , 4–2 , , align="left", Minnesota North Stars ( 1977–78) , , 14–5–4 , - , 24, , T, , December 3, 1977, , 4–4 , , align="left", @ Cleveland Barons ( 1977–78) , , 14–5–5 , - , 25, , W, , December 4, 1977, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 15–5–5 , - , 26, , W, , December 8, 1977, , 6–4 , , align="left",

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

( 1977–78) , , 16–5–5 , - , 27, , W, , December 10, 1977, , 6–2 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 17–5–5 , - , 28, , W, , December 11, 1977, , 8–2 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 18–5–5 , - , 29, , L, , December 15, 1977, , 4–6 , , align="left", @

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 1977–78) , , 18–6–5 , - , 30, , L, , December 17, 1977, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 18–7–5 , - , 31, , W, , December 18, 1977, , 2–1 , , align="left", Cleveland Barons ( 1977–78) , , 19–7–5 , - , 32, , W, , December 21, 1977, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 20–7–5 , - , 33, , W, , December 23, 1977, , 6–1 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 21–7–5 , - , 34, , W, , December 27, 1977, , 6–3 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 22–7–5 , - , 35, , T, , December 28, 1977, , 5–5 , , align="left", @ Cleveland Barons ( 1977–78) , , 22–7–6 , - , 36, , W, , December 31, 1977, , 7–0 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 23–7–6 , - , - , 37, , W, , January 4, 1978, , 3–0 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 24–7–6 , - , 38, , W, , January 7, 1978, , 3–1 , , align="left", @ Minnesota North Stars ( 1977–78) , , 25–7–6 , - , 39, , L, , January 8, 1978, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 25–8–6 , - , 40, , L, , January 10, 1978, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 25–9–6 , - , 41, , W, , January 12, 1978, , 6–1 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 26–9–6 , - , 42, , L, , January 14, 1978, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 26–10–6 , - , 43, , W, , January 19, 1978, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 27–10–6 , - , 44, , W, , January 21, 1978, , 7–1 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 28–10–6 , - , 45, , L, , January 22, 1978, , 2–3 , , align="left", Cleveland Barons ( 1977–78) , , 28–11–6 , - , 46, , W, , January 26, 1978, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 29–11–6 , - , 47, , W, , January 27, 1978, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 30–11–6 , - , 48, , W, , January 29, 1978, , 8–2 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 31–11–6 , - , - , 49, , W, , February 1, 1978, , 5–3 , , align="left", @ St. Louis Blues ( 1977–78) , , 32–11–6 , - , 50, , L, , February 2, 1978, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 32–12–6 , - , 51, , W, , February 4, 1978, , 8–1 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 33–12–6 , - , 52, , T, , February 5, 1978, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 33–12–7 , - , 53, , W, , February 9, 1978, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 34–12–7 , - , 54, , W, , February 15, 1978, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 35–12–7 , - , 55, , L, , February 18, 1978, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 35–13–7 , - , 56, , W, , February 21, 1978, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 36–13–7 , - , 57, , W, , February 22, 1978, , 6–4 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 37–13–7 , - , 58, , W, , February 25, 1978, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 38–13–7 , - , 59, , T, , February 28, 1978, , 4–4 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 38–13–8 , - , - , 60, , W, , March 2, 1978, , 4–3 , , align="left", Atlanta Flames ( 1977–78) , , 39–13–8 , - , 61, , W, , March 4, 1978, , 7–3 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 40–13–8 , - , 62, , W, , March 5, 1978, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 41–13–8 , - , 63, , W, , March 7, 1978, , 7–2 , , align="left", St. Louis Blues ( 1977–78) , , 42–13–8 , - , 64, , T, , March 9, 1978, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 42–13–9 , - , 65, , L, , March 11, 1978, , 2–6 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 42–14–9 , - , 66, , W, , March 12, 1978, , 9–3 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 43–14–9 , - , 67, , W, , March 16, 1978, , 7–2 , , align="left", Minnesota North Stars ( 1977–78) , , 44–14–9 , - , 68, , W, , March 18, 1978, , 6–3 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 45–14–9 , - , 69, , W, , March 19, 1978, , 6–4 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 46–14–9 , - , 70, , W, , March 21, 1978, , 5–3 , , align="left", @ Cleveland Barons ( 1977–78) , , 47–14–9 , - , 71, , W, , March 23, 1978, , 7–0 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 48–14–9 , - , 72, , L, , March 25, 1978, , 3–6 , , align="left", @ Atlanta Flames ( 1977–78) , , 48–15–9 , - , 73, , T, , March 26, 1978, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 48–15–10 , - , 74, , T, , March 28, 1978, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 48–15–11 , - , 75, , W, , March 30, 1978, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 49–15–11 , - , - , 76, , L, , April 1, 1978, , 1–7 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 49–16–11 , - , 77, , W, , April 2, 1978, , 8–3 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 50–16–11 , - , 78, , L, , April 6, 1978, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 50–17–11 , - , 79, , W, , April 8, 1978, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1977–78) , , 51–17–11 , - , 80, , L, , April 9, 1978, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1977–78) , , 51–18–11 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Season summary

*December 1: Following a fight with Alex Pirus, John Wensink skates over to the

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

bench and challenges the entire team but no player responds.

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring ;Goaltending

Playoffs

;Scoring ;Goaltending

Playoffs

Stanley Cup finals

''Montreal wins the series 4–2.'' '' Larry Robinson won the

Conn Smythe Trophy The Conn Smythe Trophy () is awarded annually to the most valuable player (MVP) of his team during the National Hockey League's (NHL) Stanley Cup playoffs. It is named after Conn Smythe, the longtime owner, general manager, and head coach of the ...

as playoff MVP.''

Awards and records

* Don Cherry, Runner-Up, Jack Adams TrophyNational Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 222, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, * Brad Park, Defenceman, NHL First Team All-Star

References

Bruins on Hockey Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:1977-78 Boston Bruins season Boston Bruins seasons

Adams Division champion seasons

Bruins Bruins