1978–79 Toronto Maple Leafs season

1978–79 Toronto Maple Leafs
Division3rd Adams
Conference5th Wales
1978–79 record34–33–13
Home record20–12–8
Road record14–21–5
Goals for267
Goals against252
Team information
General managerJim Gregory
CoachRoger Neilson
CaptainDarryl Sittler
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaMaple Leaf Gardens
Team leaders
GoalsLanny McDonald (43)
AssistsDarryl Sittler (51)
PointsDarryl Sittler (87)
Penalty minutesTiger Williams (298)
WinsMike Palmateer (26)
Goals against averageMike Palmateer (2.95)

The 1978–79 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the 62nd season of the Toronto NHL franchise, 52nd as the Maple Leafs. The Leafs placed third in the Adams Division to make the playoffs where the Leafs won their first round series against the Atlanta Flames, only to lose in the second series to the Montreal Canadiens. Until 2021, this would mark the last time the Maple Leafs and Canadiens would play each other in the postseason.

Offseason

NHL draft

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team
2 21 Joel Quenneville  Canada Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL)
3 48 Mark Kirton  Canada Peterborough Petes (OMJHL)
4 65 Bob Parent  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OMJHL)
5 81 Jordy Douglas  Canada Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)
6 92 Mel Hewitt  Canada Calgary Wranglers (WCHL)
6 98 Norm Lefebvre  Canada Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
7 115 John Scammell  Canada Lethbridge Broncos (WCHL)
8 132 Kevin Reinhart  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OMJHL)
9 149 Mike Waghorne  United States University of New Hampshire (ECAC)
10 166 Laurie Cuvelier  Canada St. Francis Xavier University (CIAU)

[1]

Regular season

Final standings

Adams Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Boston Bruins 80 43 23 14 316 270 100
Buffalo Sabres 80 36 28 16 280 263 88
80 34 33 13 267 252 81
Minnesota North Stars 80 28 40 12 257 289 68

[2]

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
       Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Adams Division record vs. opponents


Schedule and results

1978–79 regular season[4]
October
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
1 W October 11, 1978 3–2 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) 1–0–0
2 W October 14, 1978 10–7 New York Islanders (1978–79) 2–0–0
3 L October 15, 1978 2–4 @ Boston Bruins (1978–79) 2–1–0
4 W October 18, 1978 2–0 Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) 3–1–0
5 L October 19, 1978 0–1 @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) 3–2–0
6 W October 21, 1978 2–0 Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) 4–2–0
7 L October 22, 1978 2–5 @ New York Rangers (1978–79) 4–3–0
8 T October 25, 1978 4–4 Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) 4–3–1
9 L October 26, 1978 0–5 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) 4–4–1
10 L October 28, 1978 3–5 Boston Bruins (1978–79) 4–5–1
November
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
11 W November 1, 1978 4–2 @ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) 5–5–1
12 W November 3, 1978 3–1 @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) 6–5–1
13 T November 4, 1978 4–4 @ Colorado Rockies (1978–79) 6–5–2
14 W November 7, 1978 5–0 @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) 7–5–2
15 L November 8, 1978 1–2 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) 7–6–2
16 L November 11, 1978 2–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) 7–7–2
17 T November 15, 1978 2–2 Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) 7–7–3
18 W November 16, 1978 6–4 @ Boston Bruins (1978–79) 8–7–3
19 W November 18, 1978 3–1 St. Louis Blues (1978–79) 9–7–3
20 W November 21, 1978 4–3 @ Atlanta Flames (1978–79) 10–7–3
21 T November 22, 1978 3–3 @ New York Rangers (1978–79) 10–7–4
22 L November 25, 1978 3–6 Colorado Rockies (1978–79) 10–8–4
23 W November 26, 1978 8–2 Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) 11–8–4
24 W November 29, 1978 5–3 @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) 12–8–4
December
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
25 W December 2, 1978 5–2 New York Rangers (1978–79) 13–8–4
26 L December 3, 1978 2–7 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) 13–9–4
27 L December 5, 1978 1–5 Boston Bruins (1978–79) 13–10–4
28 L December 6, 1978 4–6 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) 13–11–4
29 L December 9, 1978 2–3 New York Islanders (1978–79) 13–12–4
30 L December 10, 1978 3–5 @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) 13–13–4
31 W December 13, 1978 5–1 Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) 14–13–4
32 W December 16, 1978 4–2 Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) 15–13–4
33 L December 17, 1978 6–7 @ Washington Capitals (1978–79) 15–14–4
34 W December 20, 1978 4–2 Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) 16–14–4
35 L December 22, 1978 1–3 @ Atlanta Flames (1978–79) 16–15–4
36 W December 23, 1978 6–1 @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) 17–15–4
37 L December 26, 1978 1–5 @ New York Islanders (1978–79) 17–16–4
38 T December 27, 1978 1–1 Boston Bruins (1978–79) 17–16–5
39 T December 30, 1978 5–5 Washington Capitals (1978–79) 17–16–6
January
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
40 L January 3, 1979 1–4 Atlanta Flames (1978–79) 17–17–6
41 L January 6, 1979 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) 17–18–6
42 L January 8, 1979 1–5 Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) 17–19–6
43 T January 10, 1979 2–2 Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) 17–19–7
44 W January 13, 1979 4–2 Colorado Rockies (1978–79) 18–19–7
45 W January 16, 1979 3–2 @ Colorado Rockies (1978–79) 19–19–7
46 T January 19, 1979 3–3 @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) 19–19–8
47 W January 20, 1979 3–2 @ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) 20–19–8
48 T January 24, 1979 2–2 @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) 20–19–9
49 L January 26, 1979 2–4 @ Atlanta Flames (1978–79) 20–20–9
50 T January 28, 1979 2–2 @ Washington Capitals (1978–79) 20–20–10
51 W January 31, 1979 5–1 St. Louis Blues (1978–79) 21–20–10
February
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
52 L February 3, 1979 3–6 Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) 21–21–10
53 L February 4, 1979 4–6 @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) 21–22–10
54 W February 12, 1979 5–2 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) 22–22–10
55 T February 14, 1979 2–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) 22–22–11
56 W February 17, 1979 5–2 Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) 23–22–11
57 W February 19, 1979 6–2 @ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) 24–22–11
58 L February 21, 1979 1–5 @ Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) 24–23–11
59 L February 24, 1979 2–4 New York Rangers (1978–79) 24–24–11
60 L February 26, 1979 1–3 @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) 24–25–11
61 L February 28, 1979 4–6 Atlanta Flames (1978–79) 24–26–11
March
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
62 L March 1, 1979 1–2 @ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) 24–27–11
63 W March 3, 1979 4–3 Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) 25–27–11
64 W March 4, 1979 4–2 @ New York Rangers (1978–79) 26–27–11
65 W March 7, 1979 2–0 Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) 27–27–11
66 W March 10, 1979 9–4 Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) 28–27–11
67 W March 11, 1979 4–0 Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) 29–27–11
68 L March 14, 1979 1–4 Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) 29–28–11
69 L March 15, 1979 2–6 @ New York Islanders (1978–79) 29–29–11
70 W March 17, 1979 6–4 Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) 30–29–11
71 L March 19, 1979 3–4 @ Boston Bruins (1978–79) 30–30–11
72 L March 21, 1979 2–4 Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) 30–31–11
73 T March 24, 1979 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) 30–31–12
74 L March 25, 1979 1–2 @ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) 30–32–12
75 W March 28, 1979 6–2 Washington Capitals (1978–79) 31–32–12
76 W March 31, 1979 6–2 Minnesota North Stars (1978–79) 32–32–12
April
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
77 W April 1, 1979 6–3 @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) 33–32–12
78 T April 4, 1979 3–3 Boston Bruins (1978–79) 33–32–13
79 W April 7, 1979 6–2 Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) 34–32–13
80 L April 8, 1979 3–6 @ Boston Bruins (1978–79) 34–33–13

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

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Darryl Sittler C 70 36 51 87 69 9 12 0 4
Lanny McDonald RW 79 43 42 85 32 12 16 0 2
Borje Salming D 78 17 56 73 76 36 4 0 2
Ian Turnbull D 80 12 51 63 80 -7 4 0 0
Walt McKechnie C 79 25 36 61 18 21 7 1 6
Dan Maloney LW 77 17 36 53 157 19 0 0 5
Tiger Williams LW 77 19 20 39 298 -7 6 0 4
Pat Boutette C/RW 80 14 19 33 136 3 0 0 2
Ron Ellis RW 63 16 12 28 10 7 4 0 1
John Anderson RW 71 15 11 26 10 2 0 0 2
Dave Hutchison D 79 4 15 19 235 36 0 0 0
Jimmy Jones RW 69 9 9 18 45 2 0 0 0
Ron Wilson D 46 5 12 17 4 -10 4 0 0
Jerry Butler RW 76 8 7 15 52 -2 0 2 2
Dave Burrows D 65 2 11 13 28 -10 0 0 0
Garry Monahan LW 62 4 7 11 25 4 0 2 0
Joel Quenneville D 61 2 9 11 60 7 0 0 1
Paul Gardner C 11 7 2 9 0 0 2 0 1
Rocky Saganiuk RW/C 16 3 5 8 9 1 1 0 1
Bruce Boudreau C 26 4 3 7 2 -3 0 0 0
Lorne Stamler LW 45 4 3 7 2 -6 0 0 1
Trevor Johansen D 40 1 4 5 48 1 0 0 0
Mike Palmateer G 58 0 5 5 24 0 0 0 0
Don Ashby C 3 0 0 0 0 -3 0 0 0
Pierre Hamel G 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Paul Harrison G 25 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Mike Palmateer 3396 58 26 21 10 167 2.95 4
Paul Harrison 1403 25 8 12 3 82 3.51 1
Pierre Hamel 1 1 0 0 0 0 0.00 0
Team: 4800 80 34 33 13 249 3.11 5

Playoffs

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Darryl Sittler C 6 5 4 9 17 2 0 0
Walt McKechnie C 6 4 3 7 7 0 1 1
Dan Maloney LW 6 3 3 6 2 1 0 1
Lanny McDonald RW 6 3 2 5 0 0 0 0
Pat Boutette C/RW 6 2 2 4 22 0 0 0
Ian Turnbull D 6 0 4 4 27 0 0 0
Dave Hutchison D 6 0 3 3 23 0 0 0
Ron Ellis RW 6 1 1 2 2 0 0 0
John Anderson RW 6 0 2 2 0 0 0 0
Rocky Saganiuk RW/C 3 1 0 1 5 0 0 0
Dave Burrows D 6 0 1 1 7 0 0 0
Paul Gardner C 6 0 1 1 4 0 0 0
Joel Quenneville D 6 0 1 1 4 0 0 0
Borje Salming D 6 0 1 1 8 0 0 0
Ron Wilson D 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
Jerry Butler RW 6 0 0 0 4 0 0 0
Paul Harrison G 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jimmy Jones RW 6 0 0 0 4 0 0 0
Mike Palmateer G 5 0 0 0 6 0 0 0
Tiger Williams LW 6 0 0 0 48 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Mike Palmateer 298 5 2 3 17 3.42 0
Paul Harrison 91 2 0 1 7 4.62 0
Team: 389 6 2 4 24 3.70 0

[5]

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;

Playoffs

Preliminary round

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Atlanta Flames

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 10 Toronto 2 Atlanta 1
April 12 Atlanta 4 Toronto 7

Toronto wins best-of-three series 2 games to 0.

Quarter-finals

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 16 Toronto 2 Montreal 5
April 18 Toronto 1 Montreal 5
April 21 Montreal 4 Toronto 3 (OT)
April 22 Montreal 5 Toronto 4 (OT)

Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 0.

Awards and records

  • Borje Salming, Second Team NHL All-Star, Defence

Transactions

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1978–79 season.

Trades

September 13, 1978 To Vancouver Canucks
Cash 		To Toronto Maple Leafs
Garry Monahan
October 5, 1978 To Minnesota North Stars
3rd round pick in 1980 – Randy Velischek 		To Toronto Maple Leafs
Walt McKechnie
October 19, 1978 To Colorado Rockies
Jack Valiquette 		To Toronto Maple Leafs
2nd round pick in 1981 – Gary Yaremchuk
March 13, 1979 To Colorado Rockies
Don Ashby
Trevor Johansen 		To Toronto Maple Leafs
Paul Gardner

Waivers

July 4, 1979 To Edmonton Oilers
Stan Weir

Expansion draft

June 13, 1979 To Hartford Whalers
Jordy Douglas
June 13, 1979 To Winnipeg Jets
Pierre Hamel
June 13, 1979 To Hartford Whalers
Kevin Kemp
June 13, 1979 To Hartford Whalers
Rick Ley

References

  1. ^ "1978 NHL Amateur Draft". HockeydB.com. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  2. ^ National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 163, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5
  3. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  4. ^ "1978-79 Toronto Maple Leafs Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  5. ^ "1978-79 Toronto Maple Leafs Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
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