1977–78 Los Angeles Kings season

1977–78 Los Angeles Kings
1977–78 Los Angeles Kings
Division	3rd Norris
Conference	6th Wales
1977–78 record	31–34–15
Home record	18–16–6
Road record	13–18–9
Goals for	243
Goals against	245
Team information
General manager	George Maguire
Coach	Ron Stewart
Captain	Mike Murphy
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Los Angeles Forum
Team leaders
Goals	Butch Goring (37)
Assists	Marcel Dionne (43)
Points	Marcel Dionne (79)
Penalty minutes	Bert Wilson (127)
Wins	Rogie Vachon (29)
Goals against average	Rogie Vachon (2.87)

The 1977–78 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' 11th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Regular season

Final standings

Norris Division
	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Montreal Canadiens	80	59	10	11	359	183	129
Detroit Red Wings	80	32	34	14	252	266	78
Los Angeles Kings	80	31	34	15	243	245	77
Pittsburgh Penguins	80	25	37	18	254	321	68
Washington Capitals	80	17	49	14	195	321	48

^[1]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Norris Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference

Vs. Campbell Conference

Vs. Norris Division

1977–78 NHL records^[2]
Team	DET	LAK	MTL	PIT	WSH	Total
Detroit	—	3–2–1	1–4–1	3–2–1	4–1–1	11–9–4
Los Angeles	2–3–1	—	1–4–1	3–0–3	4–2	10–9–5
Montreal	4–1–1	4–1–1	—	5–1	5–0–1	18–3–3
Pittsburgh	2–3–1	0–3–3	1–5	—	1–4–1	4–15–5
Washington	1–4–1	2–4	0–5–1	4–1–1	—	7–12–5

Vs. Adams Division

1977–78 NHL records
Team	BOS	BUF	CLE	TOR	Total
Detroit	0–4–1	2–2–1	2–2–1	1–2–2	5–10–5
Los Angeles	0–5	0–3–2	3–1–1	3–2	6–11–3
Montreal	4–0–1	2–3	4–1	4–0–1	14–4–2
Pittsburgh	0–5	0–0–5	5–0	3–2	8–7–5
Washington	0–4–1	1–3–1	3–2	0–4–1	4–13–3

Vs. Patrick Division

1977–78 NHL records
Team	ATL	NYI	NYR	PHI	Total
Detroit	2–1–1	0–4	1–2–1	1–2–1	4–9–3
Los Angeles	2–1–1	0–2–2	3–1	0–3–1	5–7–4
Montreal	2–0–2	4–0	3–1	2–0–2	11–1–4
Pittsburgh	1–3	1–2–1	2–0–2	0–3–1	4–8–4
Washington	2–1–1	0–4	0–2–2	0–4	2–11–3

Vs. Smythe Division

1977–78 NHL records
Team	CHI	COL	MIN	STL	VAN	Total
Detroit	1–3	2–1–1	4–0	3–1	2–1–1	12–6–2
Los Angeles	2–2	2–1–1	2–1–1	2–2	2–1–1	10–7–3
Montreal	3–0–1	4–0	2–2	4–0	3–0–1	16–2–2
Pittsburgh	2–1–1	2–1–1	2–2	2–1–1	1–2–1	9–7–4
Washington	0–3–1	2–1–1	1–2–1	1–1–2	0–4	4–11–5

Schedule and results

1977–78 regular season^[3]

October

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 12, 1977	2–0	Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	1–0–0
2	W	October 15, 1977	4–2	Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	2–0–0
3	T	October 18, 1977	0–0	@ New York Islanders (1977–78)	2–0–1
4	L	October 19, 1977	1–3	@ Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	2–1–1
5	L	October 22, 1977	3–4	Boston Bruins (1977–78)	2–2–1
6	L	October 25, 1977	1–3	@ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	2–3–1
7	T	October 26, 1977	2–2	New York Islanders (1977–78)	2–3–2
8	W	October 29, 1977	5–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	3–3–2
9	W	October 30, 1977	5–3	@ New York Rangers (1977–78)	4–3–2

November

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
10	L	November 1, 1977	2–7	@ St. Louis Blues (1977–78)	4–4–2
11	W	November 3, 1977	4–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	5–4–2
12	W	November 5, 1977	3–1	New York Rangers (1977–78)	6–4–2
13	W	November 8, 1977	5–1	@ Washington Capitals (1977–78)	7–4–2
14	L	November 10, 1977	2–5	@ Boston Bruins (1977–78)	7–5–2
15	T	November 12, 1977	2–2	Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	7–5–3
16	T	November 16, 1977	1–1	Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	7–5–4
17	L	November 19, 1977	2–4	Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	7–6–4
18	W	November 23, 1977	8–3	Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	8–6–4
19	W	November 24, 1977	5–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	9–6–4
20	T	November 26, 1977	4–4	@ Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	9–6–5
21	L	November 27, 1977	0–2	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	9–7–5
22	W	November 29, 1977	4–2	Washington Capitals (1977–78)	10–7–5

December

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
23	L	December 1, 1977	2–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	10–8–5
24	W	December 3, 1977	4–1	Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	11–8–5
25	W	December 6, 1977	6–1	@ St. Louis Blues (1977–78)	12–8–5
26	W	December 8, 1977	5–3	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	13–8–5
27	L	December 10, 1977	0–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	13–9–5
28	L	December 15, 1977	3–7	Buffalo Sabres (1977–78)	13–10–5
29	L	December 17, 1977	1–2	Washington Capitals (1977–78)	13–11–5
30	W	December 19, 1977	3–2	Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	14–11–5
31	W	December 21, 1977	8–1	Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	15–11–5
32	W	December 22, 1977	4–0	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	16–11–5
33	L	December 28, 1977	3–4	New York Islanders (1977–78)	16–12–5
34	T	December 29, 1977	2–2	@ Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	16–12–6

January

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
35	W	January 1, 1978	5–1	Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	17–12–6
36	L	January 4, 1978	0–4	@ Washington Capitals (1977–78)	17–13–6
37	T	January 5, 1978	4–4	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	17–13–7
38	T	January 7, 1978	3–3	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	17–13–8
39	L	January 8, 1978	3–4	@ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	17–14–8
40	T	January 11, 1978	3–3	@ Buffalo Sabres (1977–78)	17–14–9
41	L	January 12, 1978	1–6	@ Boston Bruins (1977–78)	17–15–9
42	W	January 14, 1978	8–4	@ Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	18–15–9
43	L	January 18, 1978	0–3	New York Rangers (1977–78)	18–16–9
44	L	January 20, 1978	2–5	@ Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	18–17–9
45	W	January 21, 1978	2–1	Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	19–17–9
46	W	January 26, 1978	5–1	St. Louis Blues (1977–78)	20–17–9
47	L	January 28, 1978	3–6	@ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	20–18–9
48	W	January 29, 1978	4–1	@ New York Rangers (1977–78)	21–18–9

February

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
49	W	February 1, 1978	8–3	Washington Capitals (1977–78)	22–18–9
50	T	February 4, 1978	5–5	Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	22–18–10
51	L	February 7, 1978	1–2	Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	22–19–10
52	L	February 9, 1978	2–4	Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	22–20–10
53	T	February 11, 1978	3–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	22–20–11
54	L	February 14, 1978	2–3	@ New York Islanders (1977–78)	22–21–11
55	L	February 16, 1978	0–5	@ Buffalo Sabres (1977–78)	22–22–11
56	T	February 18, 1978	1–1	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	22–22–12
57	L	February 19, 1978	1–5	@ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	22–23–12
58	W	February 21, 1978	4–1	@ Washington Capitals (1977–78)	23–23–12
59	L	February 22, 1978	1–4	@ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	23–24–12
60	L	February 25, 1978	2–4	Boston Bruins (1977–78)	23–25–12
61	W	February 28, 1978	4–2	Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	24–25–12

March

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
62	W	March 2, 1978	5–2	Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	25–25–12
63	L	March 4, 1978	3–6	Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	25–26–12
64	W	March 8, 1978	5–1	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	26–26–12
65	T	March 9, 1978	3–3	@ Buffalo Sabres (1977–78)	26–26–13
66	L	March 11, 1978	3–5	@ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	26–27–13
67	L	March 12, 1978	3–9	@ Boston Bruins (1977–78)	26–28–13
68	W	March 14, 1978	4–2	Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	27–28–13
69	T	March 16, 1978	3–3	Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	27–28–14
70	L	March 18, 1978	3–6	Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	27–29–14
71	L	March 21, 1978	2–6	Buffalo Sabres (1977–78)	27–30–14
72	W	March 23, 1978	3–1	@ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	28–30–14
73	W	March 24, 1978	4–3	@ Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	29–30–14
74	L	March 27, 1978	0–3	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	29–31–14
75	L	March 29, 1978	1–5	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	29–32–14
76	W	March 30, 1978	4–0	@ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	30–32–14

April

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
77	L	April 1, 1978	2–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	30–33–14
78	L	April 5, 1978	2–3	St. Louis Blues (1977–78)	30–34–14
79	T	April 7, 1978	5–5	@ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	30–34–15
80	W	April 8, 1978	5–3	Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	31–34–15

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

Playoffs

Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1977–78 season.^[4]

Trades

May 23, 1977	To Los Angeles Kings Randy Manery	To Atlanta Flames Ab DeMarco Jr.
June 17, 1977	To Los Angeles Kings Steve Short	To Philadelphia Flyers Future considerations
November 2, 1977	To Los Angeles Kings Syl Apps Jr. Hartland Monahan	To Pittsburgh Penguins Dave Schultz Gene Carr 4th round pick in 1978 – Shane Pearsall
November 21, 1977	To Los Angeles Kings Larry Carriere	To Vancouver Canucks Sheldon Kannegiesser
January 9, 1978	To Los Angeles Kings Danny Grant	To Detroit Red Wings Barry Long 3rd round pick in 1978 – Doug Derkson
January 14, 1978	To Los Angeles Kings 2nd round pick in 1980 – Greg Terrion	To St. Louis Blues Neil Komadoski
March 13, 1978	To Los Angeles Kings Darryl Edestrand	To Boston Bruins Cash

Free agent signings

August 8, 1977	From Cleveland Barons Charlie Simmer
August 31, 1977	From New York Rangers Pete Stemkowski
September 16, 1977	From Minnesota North Stars Ernie Hicke

Draft picks

Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
5	84	Julian Baretta	Canada	University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
5	85	Warren Holmes	Canada	Ottawa 67's (OMJHL)
6	103	Randy Rudnyk	Canada	New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
7	120	Bob Suter	United States	University of Wisconsin (WCHA)

References

^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
^ "1977-78 Los Angeles Kings Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
^ "Hockey Transactions Search Results".

[nhl-gd-standings-1] Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.

[2] "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.

[Gamelog-3] "1977-78 Los Angeles Kings Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 27, 2025.

[4] "Hockey Transactions Search Results".

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

Los Angeles Kings
Founded in 1967 Based in Los Angeles, California
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Category

Los Angeles Kings seasons
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Highlighted seasons indicate Stanley Cup championship

1977–78 NHL season
Patrick	Atlanta NY Islanders NY Rangers Philadelphia
Adams	Boston Buffalo Cleveland Toronto
Norris	Detroit Los Angeles Montreal Pittsburgh Washington
Smythe	Chicago Colorado Minnesota St. Louis Vancouver
See also	Draft Waiver draft All-Star Game 1978 Stanley Cup Final Transactions