1977–78 New York Islanders season

The 1977–78 New York Islanders season was the sixth season for the franchise in the National Hockey League.

1977–78 New York Islanders
Campbell Conference champions
Patrick Division champions
Division	1st Patrick
Conference	1st Campbell
1977–78 record	48–17–15
Goals for	334
Goals against	210
Team information
General Manager	Bill Torrey
Coach	Al Arbour
Captain	Clark Gillies
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Nassau Coliseum
Team leaders
Goals	Mike Bossy (53)
Assists	Bryan Trottier (77)
Points	Bryan Trottier (123)
Penalty minutes	Garry Howatt (146)
Wins	Chico Resch (28)
Goals against average	Chico Resch (2.55)

Offseason

NHL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	School/Club Team
1	15	Mike Bossy	Right Wing	Laval National (QMJHL)
2	33	John Tonelli	Center	Houston Aeros (WHA)
3	50	Hector Marini	Right Wing	Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL)
3	51	Bruce Andres	Right Wing	New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
4	69	Steve Stoyanovich	Center	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC)
5	87	Markus Mattsson	Goaltender	Tampere Ilves (Finland)
6	105	Steve Letzgus	Defense	Michigan Tech University (WCHA)
7	121	Harald Luckner	Center	Karlstad (Sweden)

Regular season

Season Standings

Patrick Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
New York Islanders	80	48	17	15	334	210	111
Philadelphia Flyers	80	45	20	15	296	200	105
Atlanta Flames	80	34	27	19	274	252	87
New York Rangers	80	30	37	13	279	280	73

[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.

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 13, 1977	2–3	@ Buffalo Sabres (1977–78)	0–1–0
2	W	October 15, 1977	3–1	Boston Bruins (1977–78)	1–1–0
3	L	October 16, 1977	2–4	@ New York Rangers (1977–78)	1–2–0
4	T	October 18, 1977	0–0	Los Angeles Kings (1977–78)	1–2–1
5	T	October 21, 1977	3–3	@ Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	1–2–2
6	W	October 22, 1977	7–2	New York Rangers (1977–78)	2–2–2
7	T	October 26, 1977	2–2	@ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78)	2–2–3
8	W	October 27, 1977	3–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	3–2–3
9	W	October 29, 1977	4–2	Buffalo Sabres (1977–78)	4–2–3
10	W	November 1, 1977	9–0	Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	5–2–3
11	L	November 2, 1977	2–3	@ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	5–3–3
12	W	November 5, 1977	4–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	6–3–3
13	L	November 6, 1977	3–5	@ Boston Bruins (1977–78)	6–4–3
14	L	November 10, 1977	1–5	Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	6–5–3
15	T	November 12, 1977	2–2	Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	6–5–4
16	W	November 13, 1977	6–0	@ Washington Capitals (1977–78)	7–5–4
17	T	November 15, 1977	1–1	Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	7–5–5
18	T	November 17, 1977	4–4	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	7–5–6
19	W	November 19, 1977	9–2	Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	8–5–6
20	W	November 22, 1977	4–2	Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	9–5–6
21	W	November 23, 1977	9–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	10–5–6
22	L	November 26, 1977	2–5	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	10–6–6
23	W	November 27, 1977	4–1	@ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	11–6–6
24	T	November 30, 1977	3–3	@ Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	11–6–7
25	W	December 3, 1977	7–2	@ St. Louis Blues (1977–78)	12–6–7
26	W	December 6, 1977	4–2	Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	13–6–7
27	W	December 7, 1977	4–0	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	14–6–7
28	W	December 10, 1977	7–4	Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	15–6–7
29	T	December 13, 1977	2–2	Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	15–6–8
30	L	December 14, 1977	2–3	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	15–7–8
31	W	December 17, 1977	4–1	Boston Bruins (1977–78)	16–7–8
32	W	December 20, 1977	9–1	Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	17–7–8
33	W	December 22, 1977	6–3	St. Louis Blues (1977–78)	18–7–8
34	L	December 23, 1977	5–7	@ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	18–8–8
35	W	December 27, 1977	4–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	19–8–8
36	W	December 28, 1977	4–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78)	20–8–8
37	L	December 31, 1977	2–4	Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	20–9–8
38	W	January 3, 1978	4–1	Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	21–9–8
39	W	January 7, 1978	5–3	Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	22–9–8
40	W	January 10, 1978	7–4	Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	23–9–8
41	L	January 11, 1978	3–5	@ Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	23–10–8
42	W	January 14, 1978	4–0	@ Washington Capitals (1977–78)	24–10–8
43	W	January 18, 1978	5–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	25–10–8
44	W	January 19, 1978	3–0	@ St. Louis Blues (1977–78)	26–10–8
45	W	January 21, 1978	6–1	Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	27–10–8
46	W	January 26, 1978	4–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	28–10–8
47	W	January 28, 1978	6–2	New York Rangers (1977–78)	29–10–8
48	L	January 30, 1978	2–3	@ Buffalo Sabres (1977–78)	29–11–8
49	W	February 1, 1978	7–6	@ New York Rangers (1977–78)	30–11–8
50	W	February 2, 1978	5–2	@ Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	31–11–8
51	W	February 4, 1978	6–1	Washington Capitals (1977–78)	32–11–8
52	L	February 8, 1978	4–5	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	32–12–8
53	W	February 11, 1978	8–5	Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	33–12–8
54	T	February 12, 1978	2–2	@ Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	33–12–9
55	W	February 14, 1978	3–2	Los Angeles Kings (1977–78)	34–12–9
56	W	February 16, 1978	5–4	@ Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	35–12–9
57	T	February 18, 1978	3–3	Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	35–12–10
58	W	February 19, 1978	4–1	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	36–12–10
59	T	February 22, 1978	3–3	@ Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	36–12–11
60	W	February 25, 1978	7–1	Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	37–12–11
61	L	February 26, 1978	1–2	@ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	37–13–11
62	W	February 28, 1978	4–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	38–13–11
63	L	March 2, 1978	3–6	@ Buffalo Sabres (1977–78)	38–14–11
64	W	March 4, 1978	6–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	39–14–11
65	T	March 5, 1978	3–3	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	39–14–12
66	W	March 7, 1978	5–2	Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	40–14–12
67	W	March 9, 1978	6–3	@ St. Louis Blues (1977–78)	41–14–12
68	W	March 11, 1978	4–2	Buffalo Sabres (1977–78)	42–14–12
69	T	March 14, 1978	3–3	St. Louis Blues (1977–78)	42–14–13
70	L	March 18, 1978	2–5	Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	42–15–13
71	L	March 20, 1978	2–4	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	42–16–13
72	W	March 22, 1978	6–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	43–16–13
73	T	March 25, 1978	4–4	Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	43–16–14
74	W	March 26, 1978	6–3	Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	44–16–14
75	L	March 29, 1978	1–5	@ New York Rangers (1977–78)	44–17–14
76	W	April 1, 1978	3–2	Washington Capitals (1977–78)	45–17–14
77	W	April 2, 1978	5–2	@ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	46–17–14
78	T	April 4, 1978	3–3	Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	46–17–15
79	W	April 8, 1978	7–2	New York Rangers (1977–78)	47–17–15
80	W	April 9, 1978	5–2	@ Boston Bruins (1977–78)	48–17–15

Playoffs

Round 1 (3) New York Islanders vs (6) Toronto Maple Leafs

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Series
1	April 17	Toronto	1–4	NY Islanders		1–0
2	April 19	Toronto	2–3	NY Islanders	OT	2–0
3	April 21	NY Islanders	0–2	Toronto		2–1
4	April 23	NY Islanders	1–3	Toronto		2–2
5	April 25	Toronto	2–1	NY Islanders	OT	3–2
6	April 27	NY Islanders	2–5	Toronto		3–3
7	April 27	Toronto	2–1	NY Islanders	OT	3–4

Toronto Wins Series 4–3

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Bryan Trottier C 77 46 77 123 46 52 13 2 6 Denis Potvin D 80 30 64 94 81 57 9 0 6 Mike Bossy RW 73 53 38 91 6 31 25 0 5 Clark Gillies LW 80 35 50 85 76 49 9 0 2 Bob Bourne C 80 30 33 63 31 15 2 0 8 Billy Harris RW 80 22 38 60 40 27 1 1 1 Bob Nystrom RW 80 30 29 59 94 19 3 0 6 Stefan Persson D 66 6 50 56 54 19 3 0 0 Mike Kaszycki C 58 13 29 42 24 15 3 0 2 J.P. Parise LW 39 12 16 28 12 19 1 0 0 Lorne Henning C 79 12 15 27 6 10 0 2 4 Gerry Hart D 78 2 23 25 94 44 0 0 1 Wayne Merrick C 37 10 14 24 8 2 2 0 2 Ed Westfall D/RW 71 5 19 24 14 7 0 1 1 Jude Drouin C 56 5 17 22 12 14 0 0 0 Garry Howatt LW 61 7 12 19 146 7 0 0 0 Michel Bergeron RW 25 9 6 15 2 16 0 0 2 Dave Lewis D 77 3 11 14 58 32 0 1 1 Pat Price D 52 2 10 12 27 25 0 0 1 Jean Potvin D 34 1 10 11 8 11 0 0 0 Bert Marshall D 58 0 7 7 44 10 0 0 0 Bob Lorimer D 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Chico Resch G 45 0 1 1 12 0 0 0 0 Richie Hansen C 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Goran Hogosta G 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Alex McKendry W 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 Neil Nicholson D 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Billy Smith G 38 0 0 0 35 0 0 0 0 Andre St. Laurent C 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO Chico Resch 2637 45 28 9 7 112 2.55 3 Billy Smith 2154 38 20 8 8 95 2.65 2 Goran Hogosta 9 1 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 Team: 4800 80 48 17 15 207 2.59 5

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Bob Bourne C 7 2 3 5 2 1 0 0 Bob Nystrom RW 7 3 1 4 14 1 0 2 Mike Bossy RW 7 2 2 4 2 0 0 1 Denis Potvin D 7 2 2 4 6 0 0 0 Mike Kaszycki C 7 1 3 4 4 0 0 0 Bryan Trottier C 7 0 3 3 4 0 0 0 Clark Gillies LW 7 2 0 2 15 1 0 0 Bert Marshall D 7 0 2 2 9 0 0 0 Stefan Persson D 7 0 2 2 6 0 0 0 Wayne Merrick C 7 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 Garry Howatt LW 7 0 1 1 62 0 0 0 Dave Lewis D 7 0 1 1 11 0 0 0 Pat Price D 5 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 Jude Drouin C 5 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 Billy Harris RW 7 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 Gerry Hart D 7 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 Lorne Henning C 7 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 Chico Resch G 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Billy Smith G 1 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 Ed Westfall D/RW 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO Glenn Resch 388 7 3 4 15 2.32 0 Billy Smith 47 1 0 0 1 1.28 0 Team: 435 7 3 4 16 2.21 0

[2]

Note: Pos = Position; 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;

References

1. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
2. "1977-78 New York Islanders Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-07-27.

• Islanders on Hockey Database