1978-79 New England Whalers Game-by-Game Results
World Hockey Association (WHA)
Team Record: 37-34-9 - 83 points
Finishing 4th in the WHA
Postseason: 5-5
Lost AVCO Cup semi-finals
Preliminary - Defeated Cincinnati Stingers 2-1
Semi-Finals - Lost to Edmonton Oilers 4-3
Coach: Bill Dineen (33-29-9)
Coach: Don Blackburn (4-5)
Location: Hartford, Connecticut
1978-79 New England Whalers StatisticsTeam Record: 37-34-9 - 83 points
Finishing 4th in the WHA
Postseason: 5-5
Lost AVCO Cup semi-finals
Preliminary - Defeated Cincinnati Stingers 2-1
Semi-Finals - Lost to Edmonton Oilers 4-3
Coach: Bill Dineen (33-29-9)
Coach: Don Blackburn (4-5)
Location: Hartford, Connecticut
1978-79 New England Whalers Roster
The New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association ended the 1978-79 season with a record of 37 wins and 34 losses and 9 ties for 83 points, finishing fourth in the WHA. The team compiled a postseason mark of 5-5.
The Whalers netted 298 goals and conceded 287. Mark Howe scored 42 goals for New England, while Andre Lacroix tallied 30 or more, too. Mark Howe recorded 65 assists. John Garrett topped the squad with 20 wins, and Al Smith added 15 or more victories as well. Al Smith earned a 3.31 goals against average, pacing goalies with significant playing time.
Bill Dineen and Don Blackburn coached the team. The 1978-79 New England Whalers lost in the AVCO Cup semi-finals.
Click on column headings to sort.
Regular Season Goals For: 324
Regular Season Goals Against: 306
| Date | Game | Res | Home | Road | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 15, 1978 | New England Whalers 6 at Quebec Nordiques 5 | W | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | ||
| October 17, 1978 | New England Whalers 2 at Edmonton Oilers 1 | W | 0-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 2-0-0 | ||
| October 18, 1978 | New England Whalers 4 at Winnipeg Jets 4 | T | 0-0-0 | 2-0-1 | 2-0-1 | OT | |
| October 21, 1978 | Quebec Nordiques 1 at New England Whalers 7 | W | 1-0-0 | 2-0-1 | 3-0-1 | ||
| October 22, 1978 | New England Whalers 6 at Indianapolis Racers 3 | W | 1-0-0 | 3-0-1 | 4-0-1 | ||
| October 24, 1978 | New England Whalers 2 at Cincinnati Stingers 1 | W | 1-0-0 | 4-0-1 | 5-0-1 | ||
| October 26, 1978 | New England Whalers 5 at Quebec Nordiques 8 | L | 1-0-0 | 4-1-1 | 5-1-1 | ||
| October 27, 1978 | Winnipeg Jets 6 at New England Whalers 4 | L | 1-1-0 | 4-1-1 | 5-2-1 | ||
| October 29, 1978 | Cincinnati Stingers 7 at New England Whalers 4 | L | 1-2-0 | 4-1-1 | 5-3-1 | ||
| November 3, 1978 | Indianapolis Racers 3 at New England Whalers 6 | W | 2-2-0 | 4-1-1 | 6-3-1 | ||
| November 4, 1978 | New England Whalers 6 at Indianapolis Racers 6 | T | 2-2-0 | 4-1-2 | 6-3-2 | OT | |
| November 5, 1978 | New England Whalers 4 at Cincinnati Stingers 5 | L | 2-2-0 | 4-2-2 | 6-4-2 | ||
| November 9, 1978 | Edmonton Oilers 1 at New England Whalers 6 | W | 3-2-0 | 4-2-2 | 7-4-2 | ||
| November 11, 1978 | Cincinnati Stingers 1 at New England Whalers 2 | W | 4-2-0 | 4-2-2 | 8-4-2 | ||
| November 14, 1978 | New England Whalers 5 at Birmingham Bulls 5 | T | 4-2-0 | 4-2-3 | 8-4-3 | OT | |
| November 15, 1978 | New England Whalers 4 at Cincinnati Stingers 4 | T | 4-2-0 | 4-2-4 | 8-4-4 | OT | |
| November 17, 1978 | New England Whalers 1 at Birmingham Bulls 7 | L | 4-2-0 | 4-3-4 | 8-5-4 | ||
| November 18, 1978 | Birmingham Bulls 3 at New England Whalers 2 | L | 4-3-0 | 4-3-4 | 8-6-4 | ||
| November 22, 1978 | Winnipeg Jets 2 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 5-3-0 | 4-3-4 | 9-6-4 | ||
| November 25, 1978 | Birmingham Bulls 2 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 6-3-0 | 4-3-4 | 10-6-4 | ||
| November 26, 1978 | Birmingham Bulls 3 at New England Whalers 9 | W | 7-3-0 | 4-3-4 | 11-6-4 | ||
| November 29, 1978 | New England Whalers 2 at Winnipeg Jets 4 | L | 7-3-0 | 4-4-4 | 11-7-4 | ||
| December 1, 1978 | New England Whalers 2 at Edmonton Oilers 8 | L | 7-3-0 | 4-5-4 | 11-8-4 | ||
| December 3, 1978 | New England Whalers 7 at Edmonton Oilers 0 | W | 7-3-0 | 5-5-4 | 12-8-4 | ||
| December 5, 1978 | New England Whalers 2 at Cincinnati Stingers 2 | T | 7-3-0 | 5-5-5 | 12-8-5 | OT | |
| December 7, 1978 | Edmonton Oilers 3 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 8-3-0 | 5-5-5 | 13-8-5 | ||
| December 9, 1978 | Quebec Nordiques 7 at New England Whalers 4 | L | 8-4-0 | 5-5-5 | 13-9-5 | ||
| December 9, 1978 | Soviet All Stars 7 at New England Whalers 4 | L | 8-5-0 | 5-5-5 | 13-10-5 | ||
| December 12, 1978 | New England Whalers 7 at Indianapolis Racers 4 | W | 8-5-0 | 6-5-5 | 14-10-5 | ||
| December 12, 1978 | New England Whalers 6 at Quebec Nordiques 3 | W | 8-5-0 | 7-5-5 | 15-10-5 | ||
| December 14, 1978 | New England Whalers 4 at Winnipeg Jets 3 | W | 8-5-0 | 8-5-5 | 16-10-5 | ||
| December 16, 1978 | Quebec Nordiques 1 at New England Whalers 2 | W | 9-5-0 | 8-5-5 | 17-10-5 | ||
| December 17, 1978 | New England Whalers 2 at Birmingham Bulls 2 | T | 9-5-0 | 8-5-6 | 17-10-6 | OT | |
| December 17, 1978 | New England Whalers 4 at Quebec Nordiques 4 | T | 9-5-0 | 8-5-7 | 17-10-7 | OT | |
| December 23, 1978 | Birmingham Bulls 3 at New England Whalers 4 | W | 10-5-0 | 8-5-7 | 18-10-7 | ||
| December 27, 1978 | Czechoslovakia 4 at New England Whalers 10 | W | 11-5-0 | 8-5-7 | 19-10-7 | ||
| December 27, 1978 | Edmonton Oilers 4 at New England Whalers 10 | W | 12-5-0 | 8-5-7 | 20-10-7 | ||
| December 29, 1978 | Birmingham Bulls 0 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 13-5-0 | 8-5-7 | 21-10-7 | ||
| December 30, 1978 | New England Whalers 1 at Cincinnati Stingers 2 | L | 13-5-0 | 8-6-7 | 21-11-7 | ||
| January 7, 1979 | Cincinnati Stingers 4 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 14-5-0 | 8-6-7 | 22-11-7 | ||
| January 13, 1979 | Edmonton Oilers 3 at New England Whalers 0 | L | 14-6-0 | 8-6-7 | 22-12-7 | ||
| January 14, 1979 | Winnipeg Jets 4 at New England Whalers 2 | L | 14-7-0 | 8-6-7 | 22-13-7 | ||
| January 18, 1979 | Quebec Nordiques 4 at New England Whalers 2 | L | 14-8-0 | 8-6-7 | 22-14-7 | ||
| January 20, 1979 | Cincinnati Stingers 1 at New England Whalers 3 | W | 15-8-0 | 8-6-7 | 23-14-7 | ||
| January 23, 1979 | New England Whalers 1 at Edmonton Oilers 5 | L | 15-8-0 | 8-7-7 | 23-15-7 | ||
| January 26, 1979 | New England Whalers 4 at Birmingham Bulls 5 | L | 15-8-0 | 8-8-7 | 23-16-7 | ||
| January 28, 1979 | Winnipeg Jets 6 at New England Whalers 8 | W | 16-8-0 | 8-8-7 | 24-16-7 | ||
| January 30, 1979 | Winnipeg Jets 2 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 17-8-0 | 8-8-7 | 25-16-7 | ||
| February 2, 1979 | Quebec Nordiques 1 at New England Whalers 4 | W | 18-8-0 | 8-8-7 | 26-16-7 | ||
| February 3, 1979 | New England Whalers 2 at Birmingham Bulls 2 | T | 18-8-0 | 8-8-8 | 26-16-8 | OT | |
| February 6, 1979 | New England Whalers 5 at Quebec Nordiques 3 | W | 18-8-0 | 9-8-8 | 27-16-8 | ||
| February 10, 1979 | Winnipeg Jets 2 at New England Whalers 7 | W | 19-8-0 | 9-8-8 | 28-16-8 | ||
| February 11, 1979 | New England Whalers 2 at Cincinnati Stingers 5 | L | 19-8-0 | 9-9-8 | 28-17-8 | ||
| February 14, 1979 | Birmingham Bulls 7 at New England Whalers 4 | L | 19-9-0 | 9-9-8 | 28-18-8 | ||
| February 16, 1979 | Edmonton Oilers 4 at New England Whalers 2 | L | 19-10-0 | 9-9-8 | 28-19-8 | ||
| February 17, 1979 | Quebec Nordiques 1 at New England Whalers 4 | W | 20-10-0 | 9-9-8 | 29-19-8 | ||
| February 18, 1979 | New England Whalers 7 at Winnipeg Jets 1 | W | 20-10-0 | 10-9-8 | 30-19-8 | ||
| February 20, 1979 | New England Whalers 2 at Edmonton Oilers 8 | L | 20-10-0 | 10-10-8 | 30-20-8 | ||
| February 21, 1979 | New England Whalers 2 at Winnipeg Jets 5 | L | 20-10-0 | 10-11-8 | 30-21-8 | ||
| February 23, 1979 | Quebec Nordiques 4 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 21-10-0 | 10-11-8 | 31-21-8 | OT | |
| February 24, 1979 | New England Whalers 0 at Quebec Nordiques 6 | L | 21-10-0 | 10-12-8 | 31-22-8 | ||
| February 25, 1979 | Winnipeg Jets 7 at New England Whalers 5 | L | 21-11-0 | 10-12-8 | 31-23-8 | ||
| February 27, 1979 | New England Whalers 1 at Edmonton Oilers 1 | T | 21-11-0 | 10-12-9 | 31-23-9 | OT | |
| March 2, 1979 | New England Whalers 4 at Winnipeg Jets 1 | W | 21-11-0 | 11-12-9 | 32-23-9 | ||
| March 4, 1979 | Cincinnati Stingers 4 at New England Whalers 3 | L | 21-12-0 | 11-12-9 | 32-24-9 | OT | |
| March 9, 1979 | Quebec Nordiques 3 at New England Whalers 1 | L | 21-13-0 | 11-12-9 | 32-25-9 | ||
| March 11, 1979 | New England Whalers 2 at Cincinnati Stingers 1 | W | 21-13-0 | 12-12-9 | 33-25-9 | ||
| March 13, 1979 | New England Whalers 4 at Birmingham Bulls 3 | W | 21-13-0 | 13-12-9 | 34-25-9 | ||
| March 15, 1979 | Birmingham Bulls 4 at New England Whalers 3 | L | 21-14-0 | 13-12-9 | 34-26-9 | OT | |
| March 16, 1979 | New England Whalers 5 at Birmingham Bulls 5 | T | 21-14-0 | 13-12-10 | 34-26-10 | OT | |
| March 18, 1979 | Cincinnati Stingers 4 at New England Whalers 1 | L | 21-15-0 | 13-12-10 | 34-27-10 | ||
| March 20, 1979 | New England Whalers 7 at Quebec Nordiques 6 | W | 21-15-0 | 14-12-10 | 35-27-10 | OT | |
| March 23, 1979 | Quebec Nordiques 3 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 22-15-0 | 14-12-10 | 36-27-10 | ||
| March 24, 1979 | Birmingham Bulls 4 at New England Whalers 3 | L | 22-16-0 | 14-12-10 | 36-28-10 | ||
| March 27, 1979 | New England Whalers 1 at Birmingham Bulls 3 | L | 22-16-0 | 14-13-10 | 36-29-10 | ||
| March 30, 1979 | Edmonton Oilers 3 at New England Whalers 1 | L | 22-17-0 | 14-13-10 | 36-30-10 | ||
| April 1, 1979 | Edmonton Oilers 5 at New England Whalers 3 | L | 22-18-0 | 14-13-10 | 36-31-10 | ||
| April 4, 1979 | New England Whalers 4 at Winnipeg Jets 2 | W | 22-18-0 | 15-13-10 | 37-31-10 | ||
| April 6, 1979 | New England Whalers 2 at Edmonton Oilers 7 | L | 22-18-0 | 15-14-10 | 37-32-10 | ||
| April 8, 1979 | New England Whalers 4 at Winnipeg Jets 6 | L | 22-18-0 | 15-15-10 | 37-33-10 | ||
| April 10, 1979 | New England Whalers 5 at Quebec Nordiques 2 | W | 22-18-0 | 16-15-10 | 38-33-10 | ||
| April 12, 1979 | Cincinnati Stingers 0 at New England Whalers 4 | W | 23-18-0 | 16-15-10 | 39-33-10 | ||
| April 14, 1979 | Cincinnati Stingers 4 at New England Whalers 0 | L | 23-19-0 | 16-15-10 | 39-34-10 | ||
| April 15, 1979 | Edmonton Oilers 4 at New England Whalers 1 | L | 23-20-0 | 16-15-10 | 39-35-10 | ||
| April 17, 1979 | New England Whalers 3 at Quebec Nordiques 2 | W | 23-20-0 | 17-15-10 | 40-35-10 | ||
| April 21, 1979 | Cincinnati Stingers 3 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 | ||
| April 22, 1979 | New England Whalers 3 at Cincinnati Stingers 6 | L | 1-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 1-1-0 | ||
| April 24, 1979 | Cincinnati Stingers 1 at New England Whalers 2 | W | 2-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 2-1-0 | ||
| April 26, 1979 | New England Whalers 2 at Edmonton Oilers 6 | L | 2-0-0 | 0-2-0 | 2-2-0 | ||
| April 27, 1979 | New England Whalers 5 at Edmonton Oilers 9 | L | 2-0-0 | 0-3-0 | 2-3-0 | ||
| April 29, 1979 | Edmonton Oilers 1 at New England Whalers 4 | W | 3-0-0 | 0-3-0 | 3-3-0 | ||
| May 1, 1979 | Edmonton Oilers 4 at New England Whalers 5 | W | 4-0-0 | 0-3-0 | 4-3-0 | ||
| May 3, 1979 | New England Whalers 2 at Edmonton Oilers 5 | L | 4-0-0 | 0-4-0 | 4-4-0 | ||
| May 6, 1979 | Edmonton Oilers 4 at New England Whalers 8 | W | 5-0-0 | 0-4-0 | 5-4-0 | ||
| May 8, 1979 | New England Whalers 3 at Edmonton Oilers 6 | L | 5-0-0 | 0-5-0 | 5-5-0 |
