The 1977–78 Philadelphia Flyers season was the franchise's 11th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Regular season The Flyers lost their hold on the Patrick Division in 1977–78 and settled for second place.
Tom Bladon's eight points (four goals and four assists) in a game against the Cleveland Barons on December 11, 1977, set an NHL record for a defenseman.Hockey's Book of Firsts, p.27, James Duplacey, JG Press,
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Playoffs After sweeping the Colorado Rockies in 2 games in the preliminary round, the Flyers moved on and beat Buffalo in five games. They faced Boston in the semifinals for the second consecutive season, and lost again, this time in five games.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 13 || 5–1 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks || Stephenson || 1–0–0 || 2 ||
| 2 || October 15 || 8–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Parent || 2–0–0 || 4 ||
| 3 || October 16 || 7–0 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues || Stephenson || 3–0–0 || 6 ||
| 4 || October 20 || 11–0 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Parent || 4–0–0 || 8 ||
| 5 || October 22 || 1–6 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Stephenson || 4–1–0 || 8 ||
| 6 || October 23 || 3–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Parent || 4–2–0 || 8 ||
| 7 || October 26 || 2–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks || Parent || 4–2–1 || 9 ||
| 8 || October 29 || 7–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues || Parent || 5–2–1 || 11 ||
| 9 || November 3 || 4–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Parent || 6–2–1 || 13 ||
| 10 || November 5 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Stephenson || 7–2–1 || 15 ||
| 11 || November 6 || 3–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks || Parent || 8–2–1 || 17 ||
| 12 || November 10 || 2–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Stephenson || 8–3–1 || 17 ||
| 13 || November 12 || 2–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Parent || 8–3–2 || 18 ||
| 14 || November 13 || 3–0 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Stephenson || 9–3–2 || 20 ||
| 15 || November 17 || 4–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Parent || 9–3–3 || 21 ||
| 16 || November 19 || 7–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars || Stephenson || 10–3–3 || 23 ||
| 17 || November 20 || 4–0 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames || Parent || 11–3–3 || 25 ||
| 18 || November 23 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Stephenson || 11–4–3 || 25 ||
| 19 || November 25 || 7–2 || align="left"| Cleveland Barons || Parent || 12–4–3 || 27 ||
| 20 || November 27 || 2–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings || Stephenson || 13–4–3 || 29 ||
| 21 || November 29 || 3–0 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks || Parent || 14–4–3 || 31 ||
| 22 || December 1 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Stephenson || 15–4–3 || 33 ||
| 23 || December 3 || 6–3 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies || Parent || 16–4–3 || 35 ||
| 24 || December 7 || 3–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Stephenson || 16–4–4 || 36 ||
| 25 || December 8 || 7–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Parent || 17–4–4 || 38 ||
| 26 || December 10 || 4–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks || Stephenson || 18–4–4 || 40 ||
| 27 || December 11 || 11–1 || align="left"| Cleveland Barons || Parent || 19–4–4 || 42 ||
| 28 || December 15 || 6–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Stephenson || 20–4–4 || 44 ||
| 29 || December 17 || 4–3 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames || Parent || 21–4–4 || 46 ||
| 30 || December 18 || 0–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Stephenson || 21–5–4 || 46 ||
| 31 || December 21 || 4–0 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Barons || Parent || 22–5–4 || 48 ||
| 32 || December 23 || 1–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Stephenson || 22–6–4 || 48 ||
| 33 || December 28 || 4–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Parent || 23–6–4 || 50 ||
| 34 || December 29 || 5–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars || Stephenson || 24–6–4 || 52 ||
| 35 || December 31 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues || Parent || 24–7–4 || 52 ||
| 36 || January 3 || 5–4 || align="left"| Cleveland Barons || Stephenson || 25–7–4 || 54 ||
| 37 || January 5 || 4–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings || Parent || 25–7–5 || 55 ||
| 38 || January 6 || 3–5 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames || Stephenson || 25–8–5 || 55 ||
| 39 || January 9 || 3–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Parent || 25–8–6 || 56 ||
| 40 || January 11 || 4–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks || Stephenson || 25–9–6 || 56 ||
| 41 || January 12 || 4–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Parent || 25–9–7 || 57 ||
| 42 || January 14 || 4–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Parent || 26–9–7 || 59 ||
| 43 || January 16 || 5–3 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames || Parent || 27–9–7 || 61 ||
| 44 || January 19 || 1–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Parent || 27–9–8 || 62 ||
| 45 || January 21 || 1–6 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Parent || 27–10–8 || 62 ||
| 46 || January 26 || 6–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks || Parent || 28–10–8 || 64 ||
| 47 || January 28 || 4–6 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies || Stephenson || 28–11–8 || 64 ||
| 48 || January 29 || 3–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Parent || 28–11–9 || 65 ||
| 49 || February 1 || 1–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks || Parent || 28–12–9 || 65 ||
| 50 || February 2 || 3–0 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies || Parent || 29–12–9 || 67 ||
| 51 || February 4 || 2–2 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Barons || Parent || 29–12–10 || 68 ||
| 52 || February 6 || 2–0 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues || Parent || 30–12–10 || 70 ||
| 53 || February 9 || 5–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks || Parent || 31–12–10 || 72 ||
| 54 || February 12 || 4–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Parent || 32–12–10 || 74 ||
| 55 || February 16 || 2–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars || St. Croix || 32–13–10 || 74 ||
| 56 || February 18 || 4–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Parent || 33–13–10 || 76 ||
| 57 || February 19 || 1–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Parent || 33–14–10 || 76 ||
| 58 || February 23 || 0–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || St. Croix || 33–15–10 || 76 ||
| 59 || February 25 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || St. Croix || 34–15–10 || 78 ||
| 60 || February 26 || 6–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || St. Croix || 35–15–10 || 80 ||
| 61 || February 28 || 4–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || St. Croix || 35–15–11 || 81 ||
| 62 || March 1 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || St. Croix || 35–16–11 || 81 ||
| 63 || March 4 || 1–7 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || St. Croix || 35–17–11 || 81 ||
| 64 || March 5 || 7–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues || Parent || 36–17–11 || 83 ||
| 65 || March 7 || 5–3 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames || Stephenson || 37–17–11 || 85 ||
| 66 || March 11 || 6–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Parent || 38–17–11 || 87 ||
| 67 || March 12 || 6–2 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies || Stephenson || 39–17–11 || 89 ||
| 68 || March 15 || 2–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Parent || 39–17–12 || 90 ||
| 69 || March 16 || 1–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Stephenson || 39–18–12 || 90 ||
| 70 || March 18 || 2–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Parent || 39–18–13 || 91 ||
| 71 || March 20 || 4–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Parent || 40–18–13 || 93 ||
| 72 || March 23 || 4–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Parent || 41–18–13 || 95 ||
| 73 || March 25 || 4–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars || Parent || 42–18–13 || 97 ||
| 74 || March 28 || 3–4 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies || Parent || 42–19–13 || 97 ||
| 75 || March 31 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks || Stephenson || 43–19–13 || 99 ||
| 76 || April 1 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Parent || 44–19–13 || 101 ||
| 77 || April 4 || 3–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Parent || 44–19–14 || 102 ||
| 78 || April 6 || 3–0 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Parent || 45–19–14 || 104 ||
| 79 || April 8 || 1–1 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames || Parent || 45–19–15 || 105 ||
| 80 || April 9 || 1–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars || Stephenson || 45–20–15 || 105 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 11 || 3–2 OT || align="left"| Colorado Rockies || Parent || Flyers lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 13 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies || Parent || Flyers win 2–0 ||
| 1 || April 17 || 2–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Parent || Sabres lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 19 || 2–1 OT || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Parent || Series tied 1–1 ||
| 3 || April 22 || 5–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Parent || Flyers lead 2–1 ||
| 4 || April 23 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Parent || Flyers lead 3–1 ||
| 5 || April 25 || 6–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Parent || Flyers win 4–1 ||
| 1 || May 2 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Parent || Bruins lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || May 4 || 5–7 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Parent || Bruins lead 2–0 ||
| 3 || May 7 || 3–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Parent || Bruins lead 2–1 ||
| 4 || May 9 || 2–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Parent || Bruins lead 3–1 ||
| 5 || May 11 || 3–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Parent || Bruins win 4–1 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only. Player Regular season Playoffs 16 C 71 21 68 89 47 83 12 4 7 11 −5 8 7 LW 80 41 31 72 31 34 12 6 3 9 −2 2 19 LW 76 31 39 70 24 33 12 7 9 16 1 4 26 C 73 17 45 62 35 128 12 5 5 10 3 13 2 D 76 21 36 57 45 62 12 1 5 6 −2 22 27 RW 72 24 28 52 20 24 12 2 2 4 −3 0 18 LW 78 18 30 48 41 45 12 2 2 4 −3 6 10 C 76 16 32 48 26 203 12 1 7 8 0 36 11 RW 70 27 18 45 34 44 11 2 0 2 2 19 3 D 79 11 24 35 32 57 12 0 2 2 −4 11 17 RW 62 16 18 34 23 190 12 1 4 5 −7 26 9 LW 74 19 13 32 15 95 12 3 5 8 8 26 29 LW 56 7 18 25 12 34 5 D 47 4 16 20 35 91 12 0 3 3 −3 19 20 D 71 5 12 17 33 62 12 1 7 8 4 6 25 D 62 2 15 17 29 32 10 0 1 1 2 8 14 D 65 5 9 14 23 22 1 0 0 0 −1 0 6 D 69 2 12 14 31 225 12 2 1 3 4 13 12 RW 47 7 5 12 −3 62 4 0 0 0 0 7 8 LW 41 1 3 4 −5 119 9 0 0 0 1 17 22 C 2 1 0 1 1 7 32 C 3 0 1 1 1 0 21 D 1 0 0 0 0 0 28 C 1 0 0 0 0 0 21 LW 1 0 0 0 1 4 15 LW 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 G 49 0 0 0 4 12 0 0 0 0 30 G 7 0 0 0 0 35 G 26 0 0 0 0
Goaltending Player Regular season Playoffs 1 Bernie Parent 49 48 29 6 13 1223 108 2.22 .912 7 2,919 12 12 7 5 306 33 2.75 .892 0 719 35 Wayne Stephenson 26 25 14 10 1 648 68 2.76 .895 3 1,480 — — — — — — — — — — 30 Rick St. Croix 7 7 2 4 1 165 20 3.05 .879 0 394 — — — — — — — — — —
Awards and records
Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Bill Barber Tom Bladon Bobby Clarke Bob Dailey Fred Shero (Coach) Wayne Stephenson Jim Watson Team Barry Ashbee Trophy Jim Watson Class Guy Award Joe Watson
Records
On December 11, 1977, defenseman Tom Bladon had a record-breaking game against the Cleveland Barons. He scored four goals, tying a team record, and picked up four assists for a total of eight points, a team record and tied for the NHL record among defenseman. His plus/minus of +10 in the game is an NHL single game record. Goaltender Bernie Parent won a team record ten consecutive games from November 20 to December 28. On April 1, Bill Barber tied a team record by scoring two shorthanded goals in a single game.