1978–79 Winnipeg Jets season

1978–79 Winnipeg Jets
Avco Cup champions
Division3rd WHA
1978–79 record39–35–6
Home record22–15–4
Road record17–20–2
Goals for307
Goals against306
Team information
General managerJohn Ferguson
CoachLarry Hillman (28-27-6)
Tom McVie (11-8-0)
CaptainBarry Long
ArenaWinnipeg Arena
Team leaders
GoalsMorris Lukowich (65)
AssistsKent Nilsson (68)
PointsKent Nilsson (107)
Penalty minutesScott Campbell (248)
WinsMarkus Mattsson (25)
Goals against averageGary Smith (2.97)

The 1978–79 Winnipeg Jets season was the franchise's seventh and final season in the World Hockey Association. The WHA folded after the season.

Regular season

[edit]

Head coach Larry Hillman, who had guided the Jets to the AVCO Cup the previous season, was fired 61 games into the season. Three days later, Tom McVie took over and coached the remaining 19 games and guided the team to a 3rd-place finish in the league, which due to the league's dwindling fortunes meant that the top five teams of the remaining seven in the league (Indianapolis folded midway in the season) went into the playoffs. They finished one point ahead of the rival Whalers for third, which meant that the Jets got a first round bye as New England and Cincinnati played each other. The Jets played the 2nd place team, Quebec. After sweeping the Nordiques, they went to their fifth and final AVCO Cup Finals against the Oilers. Fittingly, the Jets won the Cup 4-2 and clinched the series at Winnipeg Arena 7-3 in Game 6 to end a seven-year run in which they appeared in five AVCO Cups and won three of them (1976, 1978, 1979) before the WHA merged with the NHL with the Jets included.

Final standings

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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 Oilers 80 48 30 2 98 340 266 1220
Quebec Nordiques 80 41 34 5 87 288 271 1399
Winnipeg Jets 80 39 35 6 84 307 306 1342
New England Whalers 80 37 34 9 83 298 287 1090
Cincinnati Stingers 80 33 41 6 72 274 284 1651
Birmingham Bulls 80 32 42 6 70 286 311 1661
xIndianapolis Racers 25 5 18 2 12 78 130 557
#Soviet All-Stars 6 4 1 1 9 27 20 77
#Czechoslovakia 6 1 4 1 3 14 33 107
#Finland 1 0 1 0 0 4 8 2

x-team folded during season #-played limited schedule


Schedule and results

[edit]
1978–79 regular season[1]
October
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
1 W October 13, 1978 5–4 OT @ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 1–0–0
2 W October 14, 1978 6–3 @ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) 2–0–0
3 L October 15, 1978 3–4 Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 2–1–0
4 T October 18, 1978 4–4 New England Whalers (1978–79) 2–1–1
5 L October 22, 1978 2–6 Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 2–2–1
6 W October 25, 1978 7–2 Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 3–2–1
7 W October 27, 1978 6–4 @ New England Whalers (1978–79) 4–2–1
8 L October 28, 1978 2–3 @ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) 4–3–1
9 T October 29, 1978 3–3 Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) 4–3–2
November
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
10 L November 3, 1978 3–4 OT @ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 4–4–2
11 W November 5, 1978 6–2 Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) 5–4–2
12 W November 7, 1978 2–1 @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 6–4–2
13 L November 9, 1978 5–6 @ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 6–5–2
14 L November 10, 1978 2–3 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 6–6–2
15 L November 12, 1978 4–6 Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 6–7–2
16 L November 15, 1978 2–5 @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 6–8–2
17 W November 17, 1978 10–6 Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 7–8–2
18 W November 19, 1978 5–2 Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) 8–8–2
19 L November 22, 1978 2–5 @ New England Whalers (1978–79) 8–9–2
20 W November 23, 1978 5–1 @ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) 9–9–2
21 T November 26, 1978 2–2 @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 9–9–3
22 W November 29, 1978 4–2 New England Whalers (1978–79) 10–9–3
December
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
23 L December 1, 1978 5–6 Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 10–10–3
24 L December 3, 1978 3–5 @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 10–11–3
25 W December 7, 1978 9–4 @ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) 11–11–3
26 T December 10, 1978 4–4 Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 11–11–4
27 L December 14, 1978 3–4 Soviet All-Stars (1978–79) 11–12–4
28 W December 17, 1978 6–3 Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 12–12–4
29 W December 22, 1978 5–4 @ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 13–12–4
30 W December 26, 1978 5–3 Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 14–12–4
31 L December 27, 1978 3–5 @ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 14–13–4
January
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
32 T January 1, 1979 3–3 Czechoslovakia (1978–79) 14–13–5
33 W January 7, 1979 3–2 Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 15–13–5
34 W January 9, 1979 4–3 OT Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 16–13–5
35 W January 12, 1979 3–1 @ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 17–13–5
36 W January 13, 1979 3–1 @ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 18–13–5
37 W January 14, 1979 4–2 @ New England Whalers (1978–79) 19–13–5
38 L January 16, 1979 1–3 @ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 19–14–5
39 L January 17, 1979 3–6 Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 19–15–5
40 L January 19, 1979 2–7 Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 19–16–5
41 L January 20, 1979 1–10 @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 19–17–5
42 W January 21, 1979 3–1 Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 20–17–5
43 T January 24, 1979 5–5 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 20–17–6
44 W January 27, 1979 4–2 @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 21–17–6
45 L January 28, 1979 6–8 @ New England Whalers (1978–79) 21–18–6
46 L January 30, 1979 2–5 @ New England Whalers (1978–79) 21–19–6
47 W January 31, 1979 6–3 Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 22–19–6
February
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
48 W February 2, 1979 4–2 Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 23–19–6
49 W February 4, 1979 8–1 Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 24–19–6
50 W February 7, 1979 3–2 Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 25–19–6
51 L February 9, 1979 0–4 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 25–20–6
52 L February 10, 1979 2–7 @ New England Whalers (1978–79) 25–21–6
53 W February 14, 1979 5–1 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 26–21–6
54 L February 16, 1979 1–2 @ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 26–22–6
55 L February 17, 1979 4–6 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 26–23–6
56 L February 18, 1979 1–7 New England Whalers (1978–79) 26–24–6
57 L February 20, 1979 2–5 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 26–25–6
58 W February 21, 1979 5–2 New England Whalers (1978–79) 27–25–6
59 L February 23, 1979 1–9 @ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 27–26–6
60 W February 25, 1979 7–5 @ New England Whalers (1978–79) 28–26–6
61 L February 27, 1979 2–5 Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 28–27–6
March
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
62 L March 2, 1979 1–4 New England Whalers (1978–79) 28–28–6
63 L March 6, 1979 4–5 @ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 28–29–6
64 W March 7, 1979 5–3 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 29–29–6
65 W March 11, 1979 7–2 Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 30–29–6
66 L March 14, 1979 2–4 Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 30–30–6
67 W March 16, 1979 5–3 Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 31–30–6
68 W March 18, 1979 4–2 Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 32–30–6
69 L March 21, 1979 4–7 Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 32–31–6
70 W March 23, 1979 6–4 @ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 33–31–6
71 W March 28, 1979 6–3 Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 34–31–6
72 L March 30, 1979 0–2 Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 34–32–6
April
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
73 W April 1, 1979 7–3 @ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 35–32–6
74 L April 4, 1979 2–4 New England Whalers (1978–79) 35–33–6
75 L April 6, 1979 1–2 Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 35–34–6
76 W April 8, 1979 6–4 New England Whalers (1978–79) 36–34–6
77 W April 10, 1979 6–4 @ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 37–34–6
78 W April 11, 1979 2–1 Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 38–34–6
79 W April 15, 1979 5–4 OT Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 39–34–6
80 L April 18, 1979 3–9 @ Edmonton Oilers (1978–79) 39–35–6

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

[edit]
1979 Avco Cup playoffs[1]
Semifinals vs. (2) Quebec Nordiques – Jets win 4–0
Game Date Visitor Score Home Series
1 April 23 Winnipeg Jets 6–3 Quebec Nordiques 1-0
2 April 25 Winnipeg Jets 9–2 Quebec Nordiques 2-0
3 April 27 Quebec Nordiques 5–9 Winnipeg Jets 3-0
4 April 29 Quebec Nordiques 2–6 Winnipeg Jets 4-0
Avco Cup Finals vs. (1) Edmonton Oilers – Jets win 4–2
Game Date Visitor Score Home Series
1 May 11 Winnipeg Jets 3–1 Edmonton Oilers 1-0
2 May 13 Winnipeg Jets 3–2 Edmonton Oilers 2-0
3 May 15 Edmonton Oilers 8–3 Winnipeg Jets 2-1
4 May 16 Edmonton Oilers 2–3 Winnipeg Jets 3-1
5 May 18 Winnipeg Jets 2–10 Edmonton Oilers 3-2
6 May 20 Edmonton Oilers 3–7 Winnipeg Jets 4-2

Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

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Regular season

[edit]
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Kent Nilsson C 78 39 68 107 8 1 8 0
Morris Lukowich LW 80 65 34 99 119 26 16 0
Peter Sullivan C 80 46 40 86 24 -6 9 2
Terry Ruskowski C 75 20 66 86 211 13 6 1
Willy Lindstrom RW 79 26 36 62 22 7 11 0
Rich Preston RW 80 28 32 60 88 -5 6 1
Barry Long D 80 5 36 41 42 -2 0 0
Bill Lesuk LW 79 17 15 32 44 -14 0 0
Lyle Moffat LW 70 14 18 32 38 -14 0 1
Bobby Guindon LW 71 8 18 26 21 -12 0 0
John Gray RW 57 10 15 25 51 -7 6 0
Paul Terbenche D 68 3 22 25 12 -1 0 0
Mike Amodeo D 64 4 18 22 29 -1 0 0
Scott Campbell D 74 3 15 18 248 5 0 0
Paul MacKinnon D 73 2 15 17 70 -3 0 0
Glenn Hicks LW 69 6 10 16 48 -2 0 0
Roland Eriksson C 33 5 10 15 2 -5 3 0
Steve West C 18 3 11 14 6 6 1 0
Kim Clackson D 71 0 12 12 210 -6 0 0
Bobby Hull LW 4 2 3 5 0 1 1 0
Bill Davis D 5 1 2 3 0 -2 0 0
Lars-Erik Sjoberg D 9 0 3 3 2 -1 0 0
Gary Smith G 11 0 3 3 2 0 0 0
Ted Green D 20 0 2 2 16 -7 0 0
Joe Daley G 23 0 1 1 2 0 0 0
John Gibson D 9 0 1 1 5 1 0 0
Markus Mattsson G 52 0 1 1 4 0 0 0
Rich Gosselin C 3 0 0 0 0 -1 0 0
Dale Yakiwchuk C 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Markus Mattsson 2990 52 25 21 3 181 3.63 0
Joe Daley 1256 23 7 11 3 90 4.30 0
Gary Smith 626 11 7 3 0 31 2.97 0
Team: 4872 80 39 35 6 302 3.72 0

Playoffs

[edit]
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Willy Lindstrom RW 10 10 5 15 9 1
Morris Lukowich LW 10 8 7 15 21 1
Peter Sullivan C 10 5 9 14 2 1
Kent Nilsson C 10 3 11 14 4 0
Rich Preston RW 10 8 5 13 15 0
Terry Ruskowski C 8 1 12 13 23 1
Paul MacKinnon D 10 2 5 7 4 0
Barry Long D 10 2 3 5 0 0
Steve West C 6 2 3 5 2 0
Roland Eriksson C 10 1 4 5 0 0
Kim Clackson D 9 0 5 5 28 0
Lyle Moffat LW 10 3 1 4 22 2
Bill Lesuk LW 10 1 3 4 6 1
Bobby Guindon LW 7 2 1 3 0 0
Lars-Erik Sjoberg D 10 1 2 3 4 1
Glenn Hicks LW 7 1 1 2 4 0
Paul Terbenche D 10 1 1 2 4 0
Scott Campbell D 10 0 2 2 25 0
Gary Smith G 10 0 1 1 4 0
Joe Daley G 3 0 0 0 0 0
John Gray RW 1 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Gary Smith 563 10 8 2 35 3.73 0
Joe Daley 37 3 0 0 3 4.86 0
Team: 600 10 8 2 38 3.80 0

[2]

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

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Transactions

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See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "1978-79 Winnipeg Jets Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  2. ^ "1978-79 Winnipeg Jets Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
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