1978–79 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1978–79 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' seventh season of operation. The Oilers placed first and made it to the Avco Cup Final, losing to the Winnipeg Jets. This was the organization's last season in the WHA before joining the National Hockey League.

1978–79 Edmonton Oilers
Division1st WHA
1978–79 record48–30–2
Home record29–11–1
Road record19–19–1
Goals for340 (1st)
Goals against266 (1st)
Team information
General managerLarry Gordon
CoachGlen Sather
CaptainPaul Shmyr
Alternate captainsRon Chipperfield
Peter Driscoll
Al Hamilton
Blair MacDonald
ArenaNorthlands Coliseum
Minor league affiliate(s)Springfield Indians (AHL)
Dallas Black Hawks (CHL)
Team leaders
GoalsWayne Gretzky (43)
AssistsWayne Gretzky (61)
PointsWayne Gretzky (104)
Penalty minutesDave Semenko (158)
Plus/minusPaul Shmyr (+37)
WinsDave Dryden (41)
Goals against averageDave Dryden (2.89)

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points

WHA Team GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Edmonton Oilers8048302983402661220
Quebec Nordiques8041345872882711399
Winnipeg Jets8039356843073061342
New England Whalers8037349832982871090
Cincinnati Stingers8033416722742841651
Birmingham Bulls8032426702863111661
xIndianapolis Racers2551821278130557
#Soviet All-Stars64119272077
#Czechoslovakia614131433107
#Finland10100482

x-team folded during season #-played limited schedule

Schedule and results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1WOctober 13, 19783–2Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)1–0–0
2LOctober 17, 19781–2New England Whalers (1978–79)1–1–0
3WOctober 20, 19784–3@ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79)2–1–0
4LOctober 21, 19783–4@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)2–2–0
5WOctober 22, 19786–2@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79)3–2–0
6LOctober 24, 19782–3Birmingham Bulls (1978–79)3–3–0
7LOctober 29, 19782–6Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)3–4–0
8LOctober 31, 19784–5Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)3–5–0
9WNovember 3, 19784–3 OTWinnipeg Jets (1978–79)4–5–0
10LNovember 5, 19780–2@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)4–6–0
11WNovember 8, 19786–5@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)5–6–0
12LNovember 9, 19781–6@ New England Whalers (1978–79)5–7–0
13WNovember 11, 19785–3@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79)6–7–0
14LNovember 12, 19783–5@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)6–8–0
15WNovember 17, 19786–1Indianapolis Racers (1978–79)7–8–0
16WNovember 19, 19786–3Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)8–8–0
17WNovember 21, 19784–1Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)9–8–0
18WNovember 24, 19784–3 OTQuebec Nordiques (1978–79)10–8–0
19WNovember 28, 19788–2Indianapolis Racers (1978–79)11–8–0
20WDecember 1, 19788–2New England Whalers (1978–79)12–8–0
21LDecember 3, 19780–7New England Whalers (1978–79)12–9–0
22LDecember 6, 19783–6@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)12–10–0
23LDecember 7, 19783–5@ New England Whalers (1978–79)12–11–0
24LDecember 9, 19782–6@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79)12–12–0
25LDecember 10, 19784–6@ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79)12–13–0
26WDecember 12, 19785–2@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)13–13–0
27WDecember 15, 19785–3Soviet All-Stars (1978–79)14–13–0
28WDecember 19, 19785–2@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79)15–13–0
29LDecember 22, 19784–5Winnipeg Jets (1978–79)15–14–0
30LDecember 26, 19783–5@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79)15–15–0
31WDecember 27, 19785–3Winnipeg Jets (1978–79)16–15–0
32WDecember 30, 19785–1Czechoslovakia (1978–79)17–15–0
33LJanuary 9, 19793–4 OT@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79)17–16–0
34WJanuary 13, 19793–0@ New England Whalers (1978–79)18–16–0
35WJanuary 16, 19793–1Winnipeg Jets (1978–79)19–16–0
36WJanuary 17, 19796–3@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79)20–16–0
37WJanuary 19, 197911–3Birmingham Bulls (1978–79)21–16–0
38LJanuary 21, 19793–4Birmingham Bulls (1978–79)21–17–0
39WJanuary 23, 19795–1New England Whalers (1978–79)22–17–0
40LJanuary 26, 19792–5Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)22–18–0
41WJanuary 28, 19793–0Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)23–18–0
42LJanuary 31, 19793–6@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79)23–19–0
43LFebruary 2, 19792–4@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79)23–20–0
44LFebruary 4, 19793–6@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)23–21–0
45WFebruary 6, 19796–2Birmingham Bulls (1978–79)24–21–0
46WFebruary 7, 19798–5Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)25–21–0
47WFebruary 9, 19793–0Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)26–21–0
48WFebruary 11, 19794–3 OTBirmingham Bulls (1978–79)27–21–0
49WFebruary 13, 19796–1Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)28–21–0
50WFebruary 16, 19794–2@ New England Whalers (1978–79)29–21–0
51WFebruary 18, 19796–3@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79)30–21–0
52WFebruary 20, 19798–2New England Whalers (1978–79)31–21–0
53WFebruary 23, 19793–1Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)32–21–0
54WFebruary 25, 19795–4Birmingham Bulls (1978–79)33–21–0
55TFebruary 27, 19791–1New England Whalers (1978–79)33–21–1
56WMarch 2, 19795–2Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)34–21–1
57WMarch 3, 19796–4@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)35–21–1
58LMarch 6, 19793–4@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)35–22–1
59LMarch 7, 19793–6@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)35–23–1
60TMarch 9, 19794–4@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79)35–23–2
61WMarch 11, 19794–0@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79)36–23–2
62LMarch 13, 19791–5@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)36–24–2
63WMarch 16, 19796–1Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)37–24–2
64LMarch 18, 19792–7Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)37–25–2
65WMarch 20, 19798–4Finland (1978–79)38–25–2
66WMarch 21, 19797–4@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79)39–25–2
67LMarch 23, 19794–6Winnipeg Jets (1978–79)39–26–2
68WMarch 25, 19796–5@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)40–26–2
69LMarch 28, 19790–3@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)40–27–2
70WMarch 30, 19793–1@ New England Whalers (1978–79)41–27–2
71WApril 1, 19795–3@ New England Whalers (1978–79)42–27–2
72WApril 3, 19795–1@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)43–27–2
73LApril 4, 19792–4@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79)43–28–2
74WApril 6, 19797–2New England Whalers (1978–79)44–28–2
75WApril 8, 19795–4Birmingham Bulls (1978–79)45–28–2
76LApril 10, 19794–6Winnipeg Jets (1978–79)45–29–2
77WApril 13, 19796–4@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79)46–29–2
78LApril 14, 19796–7@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79)46–30–2
79WApril 15, 19794–1@ New England Whalers (1978–79)47–30–2
80WApril 18, 19799–3Winnipeg Jets (1978–79)48–30–2

Playoffs

Edmonton Oilers 4, New England Whalers 3 – Semifinals
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 26New England2 – 6Edmonton1–0
2April 27New England5 – 9Edmonton2–0
3April 29Edmonton1 – 4New England2–1
4May 1Edmonton4 – 5New England2–2
5May 3New England2 – 5Edmonton3–2
6May 6Edmonton8 – 4New England3–3
7May 8New England3 – 6Edmonton4–3

Winnipeg Jets 4, Edmonton Oilers 2 – Avco Cup Finals
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1May 11Winnipeg Jets3–1Edmonton Oilers0–1
2May 13Winnipeg Jets3–2Edmonton Oilers0–2
3May 15Edmonton Oilers8–3Winnipeg Jets1–2
4May 16Edmonton Oilers2–3Winnipeg Jets1–3
5May 18Winnipeg Jets2–10Edmonton Oilers2–3
6May 20Edmonton Oilers3–7Winnipeg Jets2–4

Player statistics
Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Wayne GretzkyC7243611041923900
Blair MacDonaldRW803437714435340
Brett CallighenC7131397079291200
Ron ChipperfieldC553237694725600
Bill FlettRW732836641426900
Dennis SobchukC742637633124610
Stan WeirC683130612024300
Joe MichelettiD721433478510300
Paul ShmyrD808394711937000
Al HamiltonD80638443822200
Steve CarlsonC731822405015430
Peter DriscollLW6917234011516300
Dave HunterLW72725321347000
Claire AlexanderD548233116-5210
Dave LangevinD77621277633300
Dave SemenkoLW77101424158-12200
John HughesD41215178222000
Doug BerryC296394-9100
Garnet BaileyLW3854922-8100
Dave DrydenG6308800000
Risto SiltanenD2034744000
Bill GoldsworthyRW1742614-3000
Jim NeilsonD35055185000
Pierre GuiteLW121128-5100
Eddie MioG2201120000
Wes GeorgeLW3000111000
Hannu KamppuriG200000000
Jim MayerRW20000-2000
Cal SandbeckD60002-2000
Rudy TajcnarD20000-4000
Ed WalshG300000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Dave Dryden353163411721702.893
Eddie Mio1068227100713.991
Hannu Kamppuri902010106.670
Ed Walsh144302093.750
Team:483380483022603.234
Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Wayne GretzkyC131010202001
Ron ChipperfieldC13910198000
Blair MacDonaldRW13810186000
Brett CallighenC135101515001
Dennis SobchukC1266124001
Al HamiltonD134594000
Joe MichelettiD130992000
Risto SiltanenD110994000
Bill FlettRW105272001
Stan WeirC132572001
Peter DriscollLW131678000
Dave SemenkoLW1142629000
Paul ShmyrD1315623000
Dave HunterLW1323542000
Bengt-Ake GustafssonRW21230000
Steve CarlsonC1111212000
Bill GoldsworthyRW411211001
John HughesD1310135000
Dave DrydenG130110000
Dave LangevinD1301125000
Garnet BaileyLW20004000
Eddie MioG30000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Dave Dryden6871367423.670
Eddie Mio9030064.000
Team:7771367483.710

[1]

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;

Awards and records
Regular Season
PlayerMilestoneReached
Claire Alexander1st WHA Game
1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point		October 13, 1978
Dave Hunter1st WHA Game
Dave Hunter1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point		October 20, 1978
Ed Walsh1st WHA GameOctober 21, 1978
Doug Berry1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point		October 22, 1978
Garnet Bailey1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point		October 31, 1978
Brett Callighen100th WHA PointNovember 8, 1978
Stan Weir1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
Garnet Bailey1st WHA AssistNovember 11, 1978
Doug Berry1st WHA AssistNovember 19, 1978
Dave Hunter1st WHA Goal
Stan Weir1st WHA GoalNovember 21, 1978
Jim Neilson1st WHA AssistNovember 24, 1978
Stan Weir1st WHA Hat-TrickNovember 28, 1978
Wayne Gretzky1st WHA Hat-TrickDecember 12, 1978
Dave Dryden200th WHA GameDecember 19, 1978
Wayne Gretzky2nd WHA Hat-TrickJanuary 13, 1978
Dennis Sobchuk300th WHA PointJanuary 28, 1979
Ron Chipperfield300th WHA PointFebruary 7, 1979
Dave Dryden100th WHA WinFebruary 23, 1979
Paul Shmyr300th WHA PointMarch 16, 1979
Risto Siltanen1st WHA GoalMarch 18, 1979
Al Hamilton300th WHA PointMarch 20, 1979
Hannu Kamppuri1st WHA Game
Peter Driscoll100th WHA AssistApril 4, 1979
Bill Flett100th WHA Goal
Wayne Gretzky3rd WHA Hat-TrickApril 10, 1979
Wayne Gretzky100th WHA PointApril 13, 1979
Joe Micheletti100th WHA PointApril 14, 1979
Wayne Gretzky4th WHA Hat-TrickApril 15, 1979

Transactions

Trades
DateTo Edmonton OilersTraded toTraded for
June 1978Bill GoldsworthyIndianapolis RacersJuha Widing
September 1978Larry HendrickMinnesota North Stars (NHL)Cash
November 2, 1978 (1978-11-02)Peter Driscoll
Eddie Mio
Wayne Gretzky		Indianapolis RacersWes George
Cash

Players acquired
DatePlayerFormer team
Rudolf TajcnárMaine Mariners (AHL)
June 1978Wes GeorgeSaskatoon Blades (WCHL)
Matti HagmanQuebec Nordiques
Jim NeilsonCleveland Barons (NHL)
Risto SiltanenIlves Tampere (Liiga)
Stan WeirToronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
June 16, 1978 (1978-06-16)Claire AlexanderVancouver Canucks (NHL)
June 22, 1978 (1978-06-22)Dave HunterMontreal Canadiens (NHL)
Ed Walsh
July 1978Ron CarterSherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)
September 1978George BuatSeattle Breakers (WCHL)
December 1978Wes GeorgeIndianapolis Racers
January 1979John HughesIndianapolis Racers
March 1979Bengt-Åke GustafssonFärjestad BK Karlstad (Elitserien)
Hannu KamppuriJokerit Helsinki (Liiga)

Players lost
DatePlayerNew team
Gavin KirkBirmingham Bulls
Gary MacGregorIndianapolis Racers
June 1, 1978 (1978-06-01)Pierre JarryIndianapolis Racers
Don McLeod
Jim TroyCincinnati Stingers
September 29, 1978 (1978-09-29)Mike ZukeSt. Louis Blues (NHL)
October 23, 1978 (1978-10-23)Ab DeMarcoBoston Bruins (NHL)
March 1, 1979 (1979-03-01)Bryan WatsonCincinnati Stingers

Signings
DatePlayerTerm
August 26, 1978 (1978-08-26)Doug Berry

Waivers
DatePlayerTeam
May 1978Steve Carlsonfrom New England Whalers
Jim Mayer

See also

References
  1. "1978-79 Edmonton Oilers Statistics – Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
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