1978–79 NHL season

The 1978–79 NHL season was the 62ndseason of the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens beat the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Final four games to one for their fourth consecutive Cup; two "Original Six" teams did not meet again in the Final for the next 34 years, when the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins in the 2013 Final. The Bruins faced the Canadiens in the 1979 semifinals, marking the last appearance by three Original Six teams in the final four for the next 35 years, when the Blackhawks, Canadiens and Rangers reached the semifinals of the 2014 playoffs.

The Cleveland Barons merged with the Minnesota North Stars (continuing as the North Stars), reducing the NHL membership to 17 teams, the last time that a league in the "big four" major professional sports league contracted.