The 1977–78 Philadelphia Flyers season was the

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 ...

' 11th

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

National Hockey League 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 ...

(NHL).

Regular season

The Flyers lost their hold on the

Patrick Division The National Hockey League's Patrick Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Clarence Campbell Conference. The division moved to the Prince of Wales Conference in 1981. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of ...

in 1977–78 and settled for second place. Tom Bladon's 8 points (4 goals and 4 assists) in a game against the Cleveland Barons on December 11 set an NHL record for a defenseman.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Playoffs

After sweeping the

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 ...

in 2 games in the preliminary round, the Flyers moved on and beat Buffalo in five games. They faced Boston in the semifinals for the second consecutive season, and lost again, this time in five games.

Schedule and results

Regular season

, - , 1 , , October 13 , , 5–1 , , 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 ...

, , Stephenson , , 1–0–0 , , 2 , , , - , 2 , , October 15 , , 8–2 , , 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 ...

, , Parent , , 2–0–0 , , 4 , , , - , 3 , , October 16 , , 7–0 , , align="left", St. Louis Blues , , Stephenson , , 3–0–0 , , 6 , , , - , 4 , , October 20 , , 11–0 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 4–0–0 , , 8 , , , - , 5 , , October 22 , , 1–6 , , 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 ...

, , Stephenson , , 4–1–0 , , 8 , , , - , 6 , , October 23 , , 3–6 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 4–2–0 , , 8 , , , - , 7 , , October 26 , , 2–2 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 4–2–1 , , 9 , , , - , 8 , , October 29 , , 7–3 , , align="left", @ St. Louis Blues , , Parent , , 5–2–1 , , 11 , , , - , - , 9 , , November 3 , , 4–1 , , 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 ...

, , Parent , , 6–2–1 , , 13 , , , - , 10 , , November 5 , , 3–1 , , align="left", @

, , Stephenson , , 7–2–1 , , 15 , , , - , 11 , , November 6 , , 3–2 , , 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 ...

, , Parent , , 8–2–1 , , 17 , , , - , 12 , , November 10 , , 2–3 , , 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 ...

, , Stephenson , , 8–3–1 , , 17 , , , - , 13 , , November 12 , , 2–2 , , 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 ...

, , Parent , , 8–3–2 , , 18 , , , - , 14 , , November 13 , , 3–0 , , 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 ...

, , Stephenson , , 9–3–2 , , 20 , , , - , 15 , , November 17 , , 4–4 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 9–3–3 , , 21 , , , - , 16 , , November 19 , , 7–2 , , align="left", @

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

, , Stephenson , , 10–3–3 , , 23 , , , - , 17 , , November 20 , , 4–0 , , align="left",

Atlanta Flames The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta from 1972 until 1980. They played home games in the Omni Coliseum and were members of the West and later Patrick divisions of the National Hockey League (NHL). Along with t ...

, , Parent , , 11–3–3 , , 25 , , , - , 18 , , November 23 , , 1–4 , , align="left", @

, , Stephenson , , 11–4–3 , , 25 , , , - , 19 , , November 25 , , 7–2 , , align="left", Cleveland Barons , , Parent , , 12–4–3 , , 27 , , , - , 20 , , November 27 , , 2–0 , , 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. ...

, , Stephenson , , 13–4–3 , , 29 , , , - , 21 , , November 29 , , 3–0 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 14–4–3 , , 31 , , , - , - , 22 , , December 1 , , 4–2 , , align="left", @

, , Stephenson , , 15–4–3 , , 33 , , , - , 23 , , December 3 , , 6–3 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 16–4–3 , , 35 , , , - , 24 , , December 7 , , 3–3 , , 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 ...

, , Stephenson , , 16–4–4 , , 36 , , , - , 25 , , December 8 , , 7–4 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 17–4–4 , , 38 , , , - , 26 , , December 10 , , 4–2 , , align="left",

, , Stephenson , , 18–4–4 , , 40 , , , - , 27 , , December 11 , , 11–1 , , align="left", Cleveland Barons , , Parent , , 19–4–4 , , 42 , , , - , 28 , , December 15 , , 6–4 , , align="left",

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 ...

, , Stephenson , , 20–4–4 , , 44 , , , - , 29 , , December 17 , , 4–3 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 21–4–4 , , 46 , , , - , 30 , , December 18 , , 0–2 , , align="left",

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 ...

, , Stephenson , , 21–5–4 , , 46 , , , - , 31 , , December 21 , , 4–0 , , align="left", @ Cleveland Barons , , Parent , , 22–5–4 , , 48 , , , - , 32 , , December 23 , , 1–6 , , align="left", @

, , Stephenson , , 22–6–4 , , 48 , , , - , 33 , , December 28 , , 4–3 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 23–6–4 , , 50 , , , - , 34 , , December 29 , , 5–2 , , align="left",

, , Stephenson , , 24–6–4 , , 52 , , , - , 35 , , December 31 , , 2–3 , , align="left", @ St. Louis Blues , , Parent , , 24–7–4 , , 52 , , , - , - , 36 , , January 3 , , 5–4 , , align="left", Cleveland Barons , , Stephenson , , 25–7–4 , , 54 , , , - , 37 , , January 5 , , 4–4 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 25–7–5 , , 55 , , , - , 38 , , January 6 , , 3–5 , , align="left", @

, , Stephenson , , 25–8–5 , , 55 , , , - , 39 , , January 9 , , 3–3 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 25–8–6 , , 56 , , , - , 40 , , January 11 , , 4–5 , , align="left", @

, , Stephenson , , 25–9–6 , , 56 , , , - , 41 , , January 12 , , 4–4 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 25–9–7 , , 57 , , , - , 42 , , January 14 , , 4–1 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 26–9–7 , , 59 , , , - , 43 , , January 16 , , 5–3 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 27–9–7 , , 61 , , , - , 44 , , January 19 , , 1–1 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 27–9–8 , , 62 , , , - , 45 , , January 21 , , 1–6 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 27–10–8 , , 62 , , , - , 46 , , January 26 , , 6–2 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 28–10–8 , , 64 , , , - , 47 , , January 28 , , 4–6 , , align="left", @

, , Stephenson , , 28–11–8 , , 64 , , , - , 48 , , January 29 , , 3–3 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 28–11–9 , , 65 , , , - , - , 49 , , February 1 , , 1–3 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 28–12–9 , , 65 , , , - , 50 , , February 2 , , 3–0 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 29–12–9 , , 67 , , , - , 51 , , February 4 , , 2–2 , , align="left", @ Cleveland Barons , , Parent , , 29–12–10 , , 68 , , , - , 52 , , February 6 , , 2–0 , , align="left", St. Louis Blues , , Parent , , 30–12–10 , , 70 , , , - , 53 , , February 9 , , 5–2 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 31–12–10 , , 72 , , , - , 54 , , February 12 , , 4–1 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 32–12–10 , , 74 , , , - , 55 , , February 16 , , 2–4 , , align="left",

, , St. Croix , , 32–13–10 , , 74 , , , - , 56 , , February 18 , , 4–2 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 33–13–10 , , 76 , , , - , 57 , , February 19 , , 1–4 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 33–14–10 , , 76 , , , - , 58 , , February 23 , , 0–4 , , align="left", @

, , St. Croix , , 33–15–10 , , 76 , , , - , 59 , , February 25 , , 3–1 , , align="left", @

, , St. Croix , , 34–15–10 , , 78 , , , - , 60 , , February 26 , , 6–1 , , align="left", @

, , St. Croix , , 35–15–10 , , 80 , , , - , 61 , , February 28 , , 4–4 , , align="left", @

, , St. Croix , , 35–15–11 , , 81 , , , - , - , 62 , , March 1 , , 2–3 , , align="left", @

, , St. Croix , , 35–16–11 , , 81 , , , - , 63 , , March 4 , , 1–7 , , align="left", @

, , St. Croix , , 35–17–11 , , 81 , , , - , 64 , , March 5 , , 7–1 , , align="left", St. Louis Blues , , Parent , , 36–17–11 , , 83 , , , - , 65 , , March 7 , , 5–3 , , align="left",

, , Stephenson , , 37–17–11 , , 85 , , , - , 66 , , March 11 , , 6–2 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 38–17–11 , , 87 , , , - , 67 , , March 12 , , 6–2 , , align="left",

, , Stephenson , , 39–17–11 , , 89 , , , - , 68 , , March 15 , , 2–2 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 39–17–12 , , 90 , , , - , 69 , , March 16 , , 1–3 , , align="left", @

, , Stephenson , , 39–18–12 , , 90 , , , - , 70 , , March 18 , , 2–2 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 39–18–13 , , 91 , , , - , 71 , , March 20 , , 4–2 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 40–18–13 , , 93 , , , - , 72 , , March 23 , , 4–1 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 41–18–13 , , 95 , , , - , 73 , , March 25 , , 4–3 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 42–18–13 , , 97 , , , - , 74 , , March 28 , , 3–4 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 42–19–13 , , 97 , , , - , 75 , , March 31 , , 3–2 , , align="left", @

, , Stephenson , , 43–19–13 , , 99 , , , - , - , 76 , , April 1 , , 4–2 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 44–19–13 , , 101 , , , - , 77 , , April 4 , , 3–3 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 44–19–14 , , 102 , , , - , 78 , , April 6 , , 3–0 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , 45–19–14 , , 104 , , , - , 79 , , April 8 , , 1–1 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , 45–19–15 , , 105 , , , - , 80 , , April 9 , , 1–3 , , align="left",

, , Stephenson , , 45–20–15 , , 105 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

, - , 1 , , April 11 , , 3–2 OT , , align="left",

, , Parent , , Flyers lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , April 13 , , 3–1 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , Flyers win 2–0 , , , - , - , 1 , , April 17 , , 2–4 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , Sabres lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , April 19 , , 2–1 OT , , align="left",

, , Parent , , Series tied 1–1 , , , - , 3 , , April 22 , , 5–2 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , Flyers lead 2–1 , , , - , 4 , , April 23 , , 4–2 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , Flyers lead 3–1 , , , - , 5 , , April 25 , , 6–3 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , Flyers win 4–1 , , , - , - , 1 , , May 2 , , 2–3 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , Bruins lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , May 4 , , 5–7 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , Bruins lead 2–0 , , , - , 3 , , May 7 , , 3–1 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , Bruins lead 2–1 , , , - , 4 , , May 9 , , 2–4 , , align="left",

, , Parent , , Bruins lead 3–1 , , , - , 5 , , May 11 , , 3–6 , , align="left", @

, , Parent , , Bruins win 4–1 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Scoring

* ''Position abbreviations: C = Center; D =

Defense Defense or defence may refer to: Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups * Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare * Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks * Defense industr ...

; G =

Goaltender In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as goalie or netminder) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their own team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays ...

; LW = Left wing; RW =

Right wing Right-wing politics is the range of Ideology#Political ideologies, political ideologies that view certain social orders and Social stratification, hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position b ...

'' * '' = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.'' * '' = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.''

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Records

On December 11, 1977, defenseman Tom Bladon had a record-breaking game against the Cleveland Barons. He scored four goals, tying a team record, and picked up four assists for a total of eight points, a team record and tied for the NHL record among defenseman. His plus/minus of +10 in the game is an NHL single game record. Goaltender Bernie Parent won a team record ten consecutive games from November 20 to December 28. On April 1, Bill Barber tied a team record by scoring two shorthanded goals in a single game. During the playoffs, Mel Bridgman scored the fastest playoff overtime goal in team history (23 seconds) to end game one of the team's preliminary round series against the

.2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 351 The three goals they allowed to Colorado in two games is the fewest goals the Flyers have allowed in any playoff series. On May 11, Orest Kindrachuk scored the two fastest goals by a single player in team playoff history, scoring eleven seconds apart.

Milestones

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 15, 1977, the day after the deciding game of the 1977 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 25, 1978, the day of the deciding game of the

1978 Stanley Cup Finals The 1978 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1977–78 season, and the culmination of the 1978 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Boston Bruins and the defending champion Montre ...

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft, which was held at the NHL's office in

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

, on June 14, 1977.

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Maine Mariners of the AHL and the Philadelphia Firebirds of the NAHL.

Notes

References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:1977-78 Philadelphia Flyers season Philadelphia Flyers seasons

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

Philad Philad