1977-78 New England Whalers Game-by-Game Results
World Hockey Association (WHA)
Team Record: 44-31-5 - 93 points
Finishing 2nd in the WHA
Postseason: 8-6
Lost AVCO Cup finals
Quarter-Finals - Defeated Edmonton Oilers 4-1
Semi-Finals - Lost to Quebec Nordiques 1-4
Avco Cup Finals - Lost to Winnipeg Jets 4-0
Coach: Harry Neale (44-31-5)
Location: Hartford, Connecticut
1977-78 New England Whalers StatisticsTeam Record: 44-31-5 - 93 points
Finishing 2nd in the WHA
Postseason: 8-6
Lost AVCO Cup finals
Quarter-Finals - Defeated Edmonton Oilers 4-1
Semi-Finals - Lost to Quebec Nordiques 1-4
Avco Cup Finals - Lost to Winnipeg Jets 4-0
Coach: Harry Neale (44-31-5)
Location: Hartford, Connecticut
1977-78 New England Whalers Roster
The New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association ended the 1977-78 season with a record of 44 wins and 31 losses and 5 ties for 93 points, finishing second in the WHA. The team compiled a postseason mark of 8-6.
The Whalers scored 335 goals and gave up 269. Gordie Howe netted 34 goals for New England, while Mark Howe, Mike Antonovich and George Lyle each tallied 30 or more, too. Gordie Howe contributed 62 assists. Al Smith earned 30 wins in front of the net for the squad and a team-best 3.22 goals against average, pacing regular goalies.
Harry Neale coached the team. The 1977-78 New England Whalers lost in the AVCO Cup finals.
Click on column headings to sort.
Regular Season Goals For: 361
Regular Season Goals Against: 283
| Date | Game | Res | Home | Road | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 12, 1977 | New England Whalers 3 at Houston Aeros 0 | W | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | ||
| October 15, 1977 | Birmingham Bulls 2 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 2-0-0 | ||
| October 16, 1977 | New England Whalers 2 at Cincinnati Stingers 6 | L | 1-0-0 | 1-1-0 | 2-1-0 | ||
| October 18, 1977 | New England Whalers 2 at Indianapolis Racers 2 | T | 1-0-0 | 1-1-1 | 2-1-1 | OT | |
| October 19, 1977 | New England Whalers 6 at Edmonton Oilers 3 | W | 1-0-0 | 2-1-1 | 3-1-1 | ||
| October 21, 1977 | New England Whalers 5 at Winnipeg Jets 2 | W | 1-0-0 | 3-1-1 | 4-1-1 | ||
| October 26, 1977 | Quebec Nordiques 1 at New England Whalers 7 | W | 2-0-0 | 3-1-1 | 5-1-1 | ||
| October 29, 1977 | Houston Aeros 2 at New England Whalers 7 | W | 3-0-0 | 3-1-1 | 6-1-1 | ||
| November 1, 1977 | New England Whalers 6 at Quebec Nordiques 3 | W | 3-0-0 | 4-1-1 | 7-1-1 | ||
| November 4, 1977 | Cincinnati Stingers 3 at New England Whalers 4 | W | 4-0-0 | 4-1-1 | 8-1-1 | ||
| November 6, 1977 | New England Whalers 5 at Cincinnati Stingers 2 | W | 4-0-0 | 5-1-1 | 9-1-1 | ||
| November 8, 1977 | New England Whalers 4 at Birmingham Bulls 3 | W | 4-0-0 | 6-1-1 | 10-1-1 | ||
| November 10, 1977 | Edmonton Oilers 3 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 5-0-0 | 6-1-1 | 11-1-1 | ||
| November 12, 1977 | Indianapolis Racers 3 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 6-0-0 | 6-1-1 | 12-1-1 | ||
| November 15, 1977 | New England Whalers 6 at Indianapolis Racers 4 | W | 6-0-0 | 7-1-1 | 13-1-1 | ||
| November 18, 1977 | Winnipeg Jets 2 at New England Whalers 3 | W | 7-0-0 | 7-1-1 | 14-1-1 | ||
| November 20, 1977 | New England Whalers 5 at Edmonton Oilers 4 | W | 7-0-0 | 8-1-1 | 15-1-1 | OT | |
| November 22, 1977 | New England Whalers 4 at Quebec Nordiques 5 | L | 7-0-0 | 8-2-1 | 15-2-1 | ||
| November 23, 1977 | Indianapolis Racers 3 at New England Whalers 3 | T | 7-0-1 | 8-2-1 | 15-2-2 | OT | |
| November 25, 1977 | Quebec Nordiques 6 at New England Whalers 2 | L | 7-1-1 | 8-2-1 | 15-3-2 | ||
| November 26, 1977 | Edmonton Oilers 3 at New England Whalers 1 | L | 7-2-1 | 8-2-1 | 15-4-2 | ||
| November 30, 1977 | New England Whalers 3 at Houston Aeros 3 | T | 7-2-1 | 8-2-2 | 15-4-3 | OT | |
| December 2, 1977 | Winnipeg Jets 1 at New England Whalers 4 | W | 8-2-1 | 8-2-2 | 16-4-3 | ||
| December 3, 1977 | Cincinnati Stingers 5 at New England Whalers 2 | L | 8-3-1 | 8-2-2 | 16-5-3 | ||
| December 6, 1977 | New England Whalers 2 at Indianapolis Racers 5 | L | 8-3-1 | 8-3-2 | 16-6-3 | ||
| December 7, 1977 | New England Whalers 6 at Birmingham Bulls 3 | W | 8-3-1 | 9-3-2 | 17-6-3 | ||
| December 9, 1977 | New England Whalers 2 at Birmingham Bulls 1 | W | 8-3-1 | 10-3-2 | 18-6-3 | OT | |
| December 14, 1977 | Soviet All Stars 2 at New England Whalers 7 | W | 9-3-1 | 10-3-2 | 19-6-3 | ||
| December 14, 1977 | Houston Aeros 2 at New England Whalers 7 | W | 10-3-1 | 10-3-2 | 20-6-3 | ||
| December 16, 1977 | Czechoslovakia 3 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 11-3-1 | 10-3-2 | 21-6-3 | ||
| December 16, 1977 | Cincinnati Stingers 3 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 12-3-1 | 10-3-2 | 22-6-3 | ||
| December 17, 1977 | New England Whalers 5 at Cincinnati Stingers 4 | W | 12-3-1 | 11-3-2 | 23-6-3 | ||
| December 17, 1977 | Winnipeg Jets 6 at New England Whalers 3 | L | 12-4-1 | 11-3-2 | 23-7-3 | ||
| December 18, 1977 | New England Whalers 3 at Winnipeg Jets 7 | L | 12-4-1 | 11-4-2 | 23-8-3 | ||
| December 23, 1977 | Indianapolis Racers 3 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 13-4-1 | 11-4-2 | 24-8-3 | ||
| December 23, 1977 | New England Whalers 6 at Houston Aeros 2 | W | 13-4-1 | 12-4-2 | 25-8-3 | ||
| December 27, 1977 | Birmingham Bulls 1 at New England Whalers 8 | W | 14-4-1 | 12-4-2 | 26-8-3 | ||
| December 30, 1977 | Birmingham Bulls 2 at New England Whalers 6 | W | 15-4-1 | 12-4-2 | 27-8-3 | ||
| January 1, 1978 | New England Whalers 4 at Cincinnati Stingers 3 | W | 15-4-1 | 13-4-2 | 28-8-3 | OT | |
| January 3, 1978 | New England Whalers 3 at Quebec Nordiques 3 | T | 15-4-1 | 13-4-3 | 28-8-4 | OT | |
| January 4, 1978 | Quebec Nordiques 6 at New England Whalers 4 | L | 15-5-1 | 13-4-3 | 28-9-4 | ||
| January 6, 1978 | New England Whalers 3 at Indianapolis Racers 4 | L | 15-5-1 | 13-5-3 | 28-10-4 | ||
| January 7, 1978 | Cincinnati Stingers 3 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 16-5-1 | 13-5-3 | 29-10-4 | ||
| January 8, 1978 | Birmingham Bulls 5 at New England Whalers 4 | L | 16-6-1 | 13-5-3 | 29-11-4 | ||
| January 13, 1978 | Edmonton Oilers 0 at New England Whalers 2 | W | 17-6-1 | 13-5-3 | 30-11-4 | ||
| January 14, 1978 | Houston Aeros 5 at New England Whalers 4 | L | 17-7-1 | 13-5-3 | 30-12-4 | OT | |
| January 18, 1978 | New England Whalers 0 at Edmonton Oilers 1 | L | 17-7-1 | 13-6-3 | 30-13-4 | ||
| January 20, 1978 | New England Whalers 4 at Winnipeg Jets 4 | T | 17-7-1 | 13-6-4 | 30-13-5 | OT | |
| January 21, 1978 | New England Whalers 2 at Quebec Nordiques 3 | L | 17-7-1 | 13-7-4 | 30-14-5 | ||
| January 22, 1978 | Quebec Nordiques 3 at New England Whalers 6 | W | 18-7-1 | 13-7-4 | 31-14-5 | ||
| January 25, 1978 | New England Whalers 7 at Cincinnati Stingers 8 | L | 18-7-1 | 13-8-4 | 31-15-5 | OT | |
| January 27, 1978 | New England Whalers 6 at Birmingham Bulls 2 | W | 18-7-1 | 14-8-4 | 32-15-5 | ||
| January 28, 1978 | New England Whalers 3 at Houston Aeros 0 | W | 18-7-1 | 15-8-4 | 33-15-5 | ||
| January 29, 1978 | New England Whalers 4 at Houston Aeros 6 | L | 18-7-1 | 15-9-4 | 33-16-5 | ||
| February 1, 1978 | Edmonton Oilers 3 at New England Whalers 4 | W | 19-7-1 | 15-9-4 | 34-16-5 | ||
| February 3, 1978 | Edmonton Oilers 6 at New England Whalers 3 | L | 19-8-1 | 15-9-4 | 34-17-5 | ||
| February 4, 1978 | New England Whalers 4 at Houston Aeros 5 | L | 19-8-1 | 15-10-4 | 34-18-5 | ||
| February 11, 1978 | New England Whalers 8 at Cincinnati Stingers 7 | W | 19-8-1 | 16-10-4 | 35-18-5 | ||
| February 14, 1978 | Quebec Nordiques 1 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 20-8-1 | 16-10-4 | 36-18-5 | ||
| February 16, 1978 | Winnipeg Jets 2 at New England Whalers 1 | L | 20-9-1 | 16-10-4 | 36-19-5 | OT | |
| February 18, 1978 | New England Whalers 4 at Indianapolis Racers 1 | W | 20-9-1 | 17-10-4 | 37-19-5 | ||
| February 21, 1978 | New England Whalers 5 at Quebec Nordiques 6 | L | 20-9-1 | 17-11-4 | 37-20-5 | OT | |
| February 22, 1978 | New England Whalers 2 at Winnipeg Jets 4 | L | 20-9-1 | 17-12-4 | 37-21-5 | ||
| February 24, 1978 | New England Whalers 2 at Winnipeg Jets 7 | L | 20-9-1 | 17-13-4 | 37-22-5 | ||
| February 26, 1978 | New England Whalers 6 at Edmonton Oilers 5 | W | 20-9-1 | 18-13-4 | 38-22-5 | ||
| March 1, 1978 | Quebec Nordiques 4 at New England Whalers 3 | L | 20-10-1 | 18-13-4 | 38-23-5 | OT | |
| March 3, 1978 | Houston Aeros 3 at New England Whalers 2 | L | 20-11-1 | 18-13-4 | 38-24-5 | OT | |
| March 4, 1978 | Birmingham Bulls 5 at New England Whalers 2 | L | 20-12-1 | 18-13-4 | 38-25-5 | ||
| March 5, 1978 | New England Whalers 1 at Quebec Nordiques 2 | L | 20-12-1 | 18-14-4 | 38-26-5 | ||
| March 9, 1978 | New England Whalers 4 at Houston Aeros 6 | L | 20-12-1 | 18-15-4 | 38-27-5 | ||
| March 10, 1978 | New England Whalers 5 at Birmingham Bulls 4 | W | 20-12-1 | 19-15-4 | 39-27-5 | OT | |
| March 14, 1978 | Birmingham Bulls 0 at New England Whalers 6 | W | 21-12-1 | 19-15-4 | 40-27-5 | ||
| March 15, 1978 | Indianapolis Racers 0 at New England Whalers 7 | W | 22-12-1 | 19-15-4 | 41-27-5 | ||
| March 17, 1978 | New England Whalers 6 at Cincinnati Stingers 2 | W | 22-12-1 | 20-15-4 | 42-27-5 | ||
| March 18, 1978 | New England Whalers 3 at Quebec Nordiques 5 | L | 22-12-1 | 20-16-4 | 42-28-5 | ||
| March 21, 1978 | Indianapolis Racers 3 at New England Whalers 6 | W | 23-12-1 | 20-16-4 | 43-28-5 | ||
| March 22, 1978 | Winnipeg Jets 5 at New England Whalers 3 | L | 23-13-1 | 20-16-4 | 43-29-5 | ||
| March 24, 1978 | Houston Aeros 1 at New England Whalers 0 | L | 23-14-1 | 20-16-4 | 43-30-5 | ||
| March 26, 1978 | Edmonton Oilers 3 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 24-14-1 | 20-16-4 | 44-30-5 | ||
| March 29, 1978 | Cincinnati Stingers 1 at New England Whalers 6 | W | 25-14-1 | 20-16-4 | 45-30-5 | ||
| April 3, 1978 | Houston Aeros 6 at New England Whalers 8 | W | 26-14-1 | 20-16-4 | 46-30-5 | ||
| April 5, 1978 | New England Whalers 4 at Edmonton Oilers 4 | T | 26-14-1 | 20-16-5 | 46-30-6 | OT | |
| April 6, 1978 | New England Whalers 4 at Winnipeg Jets 7 | L | 26-14-1 | 20-17-5 | 46-31-6 | ||
| April 10, 1978 | Cincinnati Stingers 1 at New England Whalers 6 | W | 27-14-1 | 20-17-5 | 47-31-6 | ||
| April 11, 1978 | Indianapolis Racers 3 at New England Whalers 6 | W | 28-14-1 | 20-17-5 | 48-31-6 | ||
| April 14, 1978 | Edmonton Oilers 4 at New England Whalers 6 | W | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 | ||
| April 16, 1978 | Edmonton Oilers 1 at New England Whalers 4 | W | 2-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 2-0-0 | ||
| April 19, 1978 | New England Whalers 0 at Edmonton Oilers 2 | L | 2-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 2-1-0 | ||
| April 21, 1978 | New England Whalers 9 at Edmonton Oilers 1 | W | 2-0-0 | 1-1-0 | 3-1-0 | ||
| April 23, 1978 | Edmonton Oilers 1 at New England Whalers 4 | W | 3-0-0 | 1-1-0 | 4-1-0 | ||
| April 28, 1978 | Quebec Nordiques 1 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 4-0-0 | 1-1-0 | 5-1-0 | ||
| April 30, 1978 | Quebec Nordiques 3 at New England Whalers 2 | L | 4-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 5-2-0 | ||
| May 3, 1978 | New England Whalers 5 at Quebec Nordiques 4 | W | 4-1-0 | 2-1-0 | 6-2-0 | ||
| May 5, 1978 | New England Whalers 7 at Quebec Nordiques 3 | W | 4-1-0 | 3-1-0 | 7-2-0 | ||
| May 7, 1978 | Quebec Nordiques 3 at New England Whalers 6 | W | 5-1-0 | 3-1-0 | 8-2-0 | ||
| May 12, 1978 | Winnipeg Jets 4 at New England Whalers 1 | L | 5-2-0 | 3-1-0 | 8-3-0 | ||
| May 14, 1978 | Winnipeg Jets 5 at New England Whalers 2 | L | 5-3-0 | 3-1-0 | 8-4-0 | ||
| May 19, 1978 | New England Whalers 2 at Winnipeg Jets 10 | L | 5-3-0 | 3-2-0 | 8-5-0 | ||
| May 22, 1978 | New England Whalers 3 at Winnipeg Jets 5 | L | 5-3-0 | 3-3-0 | 8-6-0 |
