1976–77 Winnipeg Jets season

The 1976–77 Winnipeg Jets season was the Jets' fifth season of operation in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Jets, the defending WHA champions, made it to the Avco Cup final before losing to the Quebec Nordiques.

Regular season

Final standings

Schedule and results

|1||W||October 8, 1976||4–1 || align="left"| Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) ||1–0–0

|2||W||October 10, 1976||5–2 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1976–77) ||2–0–0

|3||W||October 15, 1976||6–1 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) ||3–0–0

|4||L||October 16, 1976||4–6 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) ||3–1–0

|5||L||October 17, 1976||1–3 || align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) ||3–2–0

|6||W||October 19, 1976||6–1 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) ||4–2–0

|7||L||October 22, 1976||3–4 OT|| align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) ||4–3–0

|8||W||October 24, 1976||7–1 || align="left"| Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) ||5–3–0

|9||W||October 29, 1976||11–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) ||6–3–0

|10||W||October 31, 1976||6–4 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1976–77) ||7–3–0

|11||L||November 2, 1976||1–3 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1976–77) ||7–4–0

|12||W||November 5, 1976||9–2 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) ||8–4–0

|13||L||November 6, 1976||3–7 || align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) ||8–5–0

|14||W||November 7, 1976||5–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) ||9–5–0

|15||W||November 9, 1976||5–4 OT|| align="left"| New England Whalers (1976–77) ||10–5–0

|16||L||November 11, 1976||5–7 || align="left"| @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) ||10–6–0

|17||W||November 14, 1976||2–0 || align="left"| @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) ||11–6–0

|18||W||November 16, 1976||8–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) ||12–6–0

|19||W||November 19, 1976||7–3 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1976–77) ||13–6–0

|20||L||November 20, 1976||4–8 || align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) ||13–7–0

|21||L||November 21, 1976||2–4 || align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) ||13–8–0

|22||L||November 23, 1976||4–7 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) ||13–9–0

|23||T||November 26, 1976||1–1 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) ||13–9–1

|24||L||November 28, 1976||3–5 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) ||13–10–1

|25||W||November 30, 1976||8–2 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1976–77) ||14–10–1

|26||W||December 3, 1976||4–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) ||15–10–1

|27||W||December 4, 1976||6–2 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1976–77) ||16–10–1

|28||L||December 5, 1976||4–6 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) ||16–11–1

|29||W||December 7, 1976||4–2 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) ||17–11–1

|30||W||December 8, 1976||4–2 || align="left"| @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) ||18–11–1

|31||L||December 10, 1976||3–5 || align="left"| Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) ||18–12–1

|32||L||December 26, 1976||3–12 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) ||18–13–1

|33||L||December 28, 1976||3–6 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) ||18–14–1

|34||L||December 30, 1976||3–4 || align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) ||18–15–1

|35||W||January 2, 1977||5–2 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1976–77) ||19–15–1

|36||W||January 4, 1977||2–1 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) ||20–15–1

|37||W||January 9, 1977||4–1 || align="left"| Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) ||21–15–1

|38||W||January 11, 1977||9–2 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) ||22–15–1

|39||W||January 14, 1977||5–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) ||23–15–1

|40||L||January 16, 1977||4–6 || align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) ||23–16–1

|41||W||January 21, 1977||6–5 OT|| align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) ||24–16–1

|42||W||January 23, 1977||10–5 || align="left"| Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) ||25–16–1

|43||L||January 25, 1977||2–5 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) ||25–17–1

|44||L||January 27, 1977||0–3 || align="left"| @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) ||25–18–1

|45||L||January 29, 1977||3–5 || align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) ||25–19–1

|46||L||January 30, 1977||5–8 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) ||25–20–1

|47||W||February 1, 1977||11–1 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) ||26–20–1

|48||W||February 4, 1977||8–2 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1976–77) ||27–20–1

|49||W||February 6, 1977||6–4 || align="left"| Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) ||28–20–1

|50||W||February 8, 1977||7–2 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) ||29–20–1

|51||L||February 10, 1977||3–6 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1976–77) ||29–21–1

|52||L||February 11, 1977||0–4 || align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) ||29–22–1

|53||W||February 13, 1977||7–5 || align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) ||30–22–1

|54||T||February 15, 1977||2–2 || align="left"| Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) ||30–22–2

|55||W||February 17, 1977||4–2 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) ||31–22–2

|56||L||February 18, 1977||2–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) ||31–23–2

|57||W||February 20, 1977||4–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) ||32–23–2

|58||W||February 22, 1977||3–2 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1976–77) ||33–23–2

|59||L||February 23, 1977||3–6 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) ||33–24–2

|60||W||February 26, 1977||8–6 || align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) ||34–24–2

|61||L||February 27, 1977||2–3 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1976–77) ||34–25–2

|62||L||March 1, 1977||1–6 || align="left"| @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) ||34–26–2

|63||W||March 2, 1977||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) ||35–26–2

|64||L||March 3, 1977||4–5 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) ||35–27–2

|65||L||March 5, 1977||1–4 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) ||35–28–2

|66||W||March 8, 1977||5–0 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1976–77) ||36–28–2

|67||W||March 11, 1977||4–1 || align="left"| Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) ||37–28–2

|68||W||March 13, 1977||9–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) ||38–28–2

|69||W||March 15, 1977||7–0 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) ||39–28–2

|70||L||March 17, 1977||3–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) ||39–29–2

|71||W||March 18, 1977||7–5 || align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) ||40–29–2

|72||W||March 20, 1977||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) ||41–29–2

|73||W||March 22, 1977||8–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) ||42–29–2

|74||W||March 27, 1977||5–3 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) ||43–29–2

|75||L||March 29, 1977||2–5 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1976–77) ||43–30–2

|76||L||March 31, 1977||3–4 || align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) ||43–31–2

|77||W||April 2, 1977||6–5 || align="left"| @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) ||44–31–2

|78||W||April 3, 1977||6–4 || align="left"| Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) ||45–31–2

|79||L||April 4, 1977||2–6 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) ||45–32–2

|80||W||April 7, 1977||6–4 || align="left"| @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) ||46–32–2

Legend:

Playoffs The Jets lost in the Avco Cup Finals.

| 1 || April 10 || San Diego Mariners || 1–5 || Winnipeg Jets || 1–0

| 2 || April 12 || San Diego Mariners || 1–4 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–0

| 3 || April 16 || Winnipeg Jets || 4–5 || San Diego Mariners || 2–1

| 4 || April 17 || Winnipeg Jets || 4–6 || San Diego Mariners || 2–2

| 5 || April 20 || San Diego Mariners || 0–3 || Winnipeg Jets || 3–2

| 6 || April 22 || Winnipeg Jets || 1–3 || San Diego Mariners || 3–3

| 7 || April 24 || San Diego Mariners || 3–7 || Winnipeg Jets || 4–3

| 1 || April 26 || Winnipeg Jets || 4–3 OT || Houston Aeros || 1–0

| 2 || April 28 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–7 || Houston Aeros || 1–1

| 3 || April 30 || Houston Aeros || 3–4 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–1

| 4 || May 1 || Houston Aeros || 4–6 || Winnipeg Jets || 3–1

| 5 || May 3 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–3 || Houston Aeros || 3–2

| 6 || May 5 || Houston Aeros || 3–6 || Winnipeg Jets || 4–2

| 1 || May 11 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–1 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–0

| 2 || May 15 || Winnipeg Jets || 1–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–1

| 3 || May 18 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–6 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–1

| 4 || May 20 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–2 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–2

| 5 || May 22 || Winnipeg Jets || 3–8 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–3

| 6 || May 24 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–12 || Winnipeg Jets || 3–3

| 7 || May 26 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–8 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–4

Legend:

Player statistics

Regular season Scoring + Regular season Player RW 68 70 61 131 484822010 C 71 39 85 124 8957836 C 78 31 52 83 1811603 RW 79 44 36 80 37−21106 C 64 25 29 54 59−1360 LW 34 21 32 53 141670 LW 64 24 27 51 21−1180 D 71 9 38 47 54−140 D 74 14 31 45 1242751 LW 78 14 27 41 852320 D 52 2 38 40 31911 C 73 14 17 31 2−1312 LW 69 10 17 27 19−1230 D 42 2 24 26 37300 D 70 4 21 25 451220 LW 74 13 11 24 90−720 RW 51 11 11 22 2−1200 D 22 3 14 17 201400 D 53 1 16 17 28−100 D 40 3 11 14 129−100 RW 14 6 7 13 2020 C 14 4 7 11 2−220 C 12 2 2 4 10−100 G 65 0 4 4 60000 LW 2 0 1 1 0−1000 G 19 0 1 1 40000 RW 2 0 1 1 51000 Goaltending Player 3818 65 39 23 2 206 3.24 3 1019 19 7 9 0 82 4.83 0 Team: 4837 80 46 32 2 288 3.57 3

Playoffs Scoring Player RW 20 13 16 29 132 C 20 6 21 27 330 LW 20 7 17 24 151 LW 20 13 9 22 22 C 20 7 12 19 22 D 20 3 13 16 120 RW 20 9 6 15 221 D 20 4 6 10 270 C 20 2 7 9 21 D 20 4 4 8 231 LW 20 4 4 8 91 RW 13 2 4 6 60 D 20 1 5 6 100 D 20 0 6 6 220 D 20 1 3 4 120 LW 18 2 1 3 220 LW 17 2 0 2 60 C 7 0 2 2 60 G 20 0 1 1 00 G 1 0 0 0 00 Goaltending Player 1186 20 11 9 71 3.59 1 20 1 0 0 1 3.00 0 Team: 1206 20 11 9 72 3.58 1

Draft picks Winnipeg's draft picks at the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)19Thomas Gradin (F)MoDo AIK (Elitserien)217Clayton Pachal (C)New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)220Tom Rowe (RW)London Knights (OHA)333Steve Clippingdale (LW)New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)445Goran Lindblom (D)Skelleftea AIK (Elitserien)557Doug Johnston (D)Lethbridge Broncos (WCHL)669Fred Berry (C)New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)781Greg Craig (C)St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)892Brian Granfield (D)Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)9103Anders Hakansson (F)AIK IF (Elitserien)10115Jorgen Pettersson (F)Vastra Frolunda (Elitserien)

See also 1976–77 WHA season

References