1977–78 St. Louis Blues season

1977–78 St. Louis Blues
Division	4th Smythe
Conference	Campbell
1977–78 record	20–47–13
Goals for	195
Goals against	304
Team information
General manager	Emile Francis
Coach	Leo Boivin
Captain	Red Berenson
Alternate captains	None

The 1977–78 St. Louis Blues season was the 11th for the franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. Prior to the season, the team's founders, Sid Salomon Jr. and Sid Salomon III, sold the team to pet food giant Ralston Purina, and the St. Louis Arena became the Checkerdome. The Blues finished the season with a record of 20 wins, 47 losses and 13 ties for 53 points, and finished out of the playoffs for only the second time in team history.

Regular season

Final standings

Smythe Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Chicago Black Hawks	80	32	29	19	230	220	83
Colorado Rockies	80	19	40	21	257	305	59
Vancouver Canucks	80	20	43	17	239	320	57
St. Louis Blues	80	20	47	13	195	304	53
Minnesota North Stars	80	18	53	9	218	325	45

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

Smythe Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Smythe Division 1977–78 NHL records Team CHI COL MIN STL VAN Total Chicago — 1–1–4 5–0–1 3–1–2 2–3–1 11–5–8 Colorado 1–1–4 — 3–1–2 1–4–1 3–0–3 8–6–10 Minnesota 0–5–1 1–3–2 — 1–4–1 3–3 5–15–4 St. Louis 1–3–2 4–1–1 4–1–1 — 3–3 12–8–4 Vancouver 3–2–1 0–3–3 3–3 3–3 — 9–11–4 Vs. Patrick Division 1977–78 NHL records Team ATL NYI NYR PHI Total Chicago 2–1–2 1–2–2 1–3–1 2–2–1 6–8–6 Colorado 1–2–2 0–4–1 2–2–1 2–3 5–11–4 Minnesota 1–4 1–4 0–3–2 2–3 4–14–2 St. Louis 0–4–1 0–4–1 0–4–1 1–4 1–16–3 Vancouver 1–2–2 0–5 1–4 0–5 2–16–2 Vs. Adams Division 1977–78 NHL records Team BOS BUF CLE TOR Total Chicago 1–3 1–2–1 3–1 1–2–1 6–8–2 Colorado 0–3–1 1–3 1–1–2 0–4 2–11–3 Minnesota 1–3 1–3 0–3–1 0–4 2–13–1 St. Louis 0–4 0–4 2–1–1 0–2–2 2–11–3 Vancouver 0–2–2 0–1–3 1–2–1 0–3–1 1–8–7 Vs. Norris Division 1977–78 NHL records Team DET LAK MTL PIT WSH Total Chicago 3–1 2–2 0–3–1 1–2–1 3–0–1 9–8–3 Colorado 1–2–1 1–2–1 0–4 1–2–1 1–2–1 4–12–4 Minnesota 0–4 1–2–1 2–2 2–2 2–1–1 7–11–2 St. Louis 1–3 2–2 0–4 1–2–1 1–1–2 5–12–3 Vancouver 1–2–1 1–2–1 0–3–1 2–1–1 4–0 8–8–4

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 12, 1977	2–4	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	0–1–0
2	L	October 15, 1977	1–3	@ Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	0–2–0
3	L	October 16, 1977	0–7	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	0–3–0
4	L	October 19, 1977	3–7	Boston Bruins (1977–78)	0–4–0
5	L	October 22, 1977	2–3	Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	0–5–0
6	L	October 23, 1977	0–2	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	0–6–0
7	T	October 25, 1977	2–2	Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	0–6–1
8	L	October 26, 1977	2–6	@ New York Rangers (1977–78)	0–7–1
9	L	October 29, 1977	3–7	Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	0–8–1
10	W	November 1, 1977	7–2	Los Angeles Kings (1977–78)	1–8–1
11	T	November 2, 1977	4–4	@ Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	1–8–2
12	L	November 5, 1977	1–3	Buffalo Sabres (1977–78)	1–9–2
13	L	November 6, 1977	4–7	@ Buffalo Sabres (1977–78)	1–10–2
14	W	November 9, 1977	8–6	Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	2–10–2
15	W	November 11, 1977	2–1	@ Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	3–10–2
16	W	November 12, 1977	3–1	Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	4–10–2
17	T	November 15, 1977	2–2	Washington Capitals (1977–78)	4–10–3
18	L	November 16, 1977	1–10	@ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	4–11–3
19	L	November 19, 1977	1–2	Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	4–12–3
20	L	November 23, 1977	2–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	4–13–3
21	W	November 26, 1977	2–1	@ Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	5–13–3
22	L	November 27, 1977	1–4	@ Boston Bruins (1977–78)	5–14–3
23	L	November 30, 1977	0–4	New York Rangers (1977–78)	5–15–3
24	L	December 3, 1977	2–7	New York Islanders (1977–78)	5–16–3
25	L	December 6, 1977	1–6	Los Angeles Kings (1977–78)	5–17–3
26	L	December 8, 1977	1–8	@ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	5–18–3
27	W	December 10, 1977	6–4	Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	6–18–3
28	L	December 11, 1977	1–2	@ Washington Capitals (1977–78)	6–19–3
29	W	December 14, 1977	3–2	Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	7–19–3
30	L	December 17, 1977	2–3	Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	7–20–3
31	T	December 19, 1977	4–4	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	7–20–4
32	L	December 21, 1977	2–6	Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	7–21–4
33	L	December 22, 1977	3–6	@ New York Islanders (1977–78)	7–22–4
34	L	December 27, 1977	0–1	@ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	7–23–4
35	L	December 29, 1977	4–5	@ Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	7–24–4
36	W	December 31, 1977	3–2	Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	8–24–4
37	L	January 3, 1978	0–2	Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	8–25–4
38	T	January 7, 1978	0–0	Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	8–25–5
39	W	January 8, 1978	3–1	@ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	9–25–5
40	L	January 11, 1978	4–6	@ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	9–26–5
41	W	January 13, 1978	2–1	@ Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	10–26–5
42	W	January 14, 1978	5–2	Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	11–26–5
43	T	January 17, 1978	2–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	11–26–6
44	L	January 19, 1978	0–3	New York Islanders (1977–78)	11–27–6
45	L	January 21, 1978	1–3	Buffalo Sabres (1977–78)	11–28–6
46	L	January 22, 1978	1–3	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	11–29–6
47	L	January 26, 1978	1–5	@ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78)	11–30–6
48	L	January 28, 1978	3–8	@ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	11–31–6
49	L	February 1, 1978	3–5	Boston Bruins (1977–78)	11–32–6
50	T	February 4, 1978	2–2	New York Rangers (1977–78)	11–32–7
51	L	February 6, 1978	0–2	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	11–33–7
52	L	February 8, 1978	4–5	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	11–34–7
53	L	February 11, 1978	3–7	@ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	11–35–7
54	L	February 15, 1978	2–6	Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	11–36–7
55	W	February 18, 1978	4–3	Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	12–36–7
56	L	February 19, 1978	2–6	@ Buffalo Sabres (1977–78)	12–37–7
57	L	February 21, 1978	4–5	Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	12–38–7
58	T	February 22, 1978	2–2	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	12–38–8
59	T	February 25, 1978	5–5	Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	12–38–9
60	W	February 26, 1978	3–1	@ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	13–38–9
61	W	February 28, 1978	7–1	Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	14–38–9
62	W	March 1, 1978	3–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	15–38–9
63	T	March 4, 1978	3–3	Washington Capitals (1977–78)	15–38–10
64	L	March 5, 1978	1–7	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	15–39–10
65	L	March 7, 1978	2–7	@ Boston Bruins (1977–78)	15–40–10
66	L	March 9, 1978	3–6	New York Islanders (1977–78)	15–41–10
67	T	March 11, 1978	1–1	Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	15–41–11
68	T	March 14, 1978	3–3	@ New York Islanders (1977–78)	15–41–12
69	L	March 15, 1978	2–6	Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	15–42–12
70	W	March 18, 1978	5–4	Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	16–42–12
71	W	March 19, 1978	3–2	@ Washington Capitals (1977–78)	17–42–12
72	L	March 22, 1978	1–6	New York Rangers (1977–78)	17–43–12
73	L	March 23, 1978	3–5	@ Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	17–44–12
74	T	March 25, 1978	2–2	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	17–44–13
75	L	March 27, 1978	2–5	@ New York Rangers (1977–78)	17–45–13
76	W	March 29, 1978	3–1	Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	18–45–13
77	W	April 1, 1978	3–1	Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	19–45–13
78	L	April 4, 1978	2–3	@ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	19–46–13
79	W	April 5, 1978	3–2	@ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78)	20–46–13
80	L	April 8, 1978	2–5	@ Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	20–47–13

Playoffs

The Blues did not make the playoffs for the first time since the 1973–74 season.

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Garry Unger	C	80	32	20	52	66	−35	10	0	5
Bernie Federko	C	72	17	24	41	27	−35	4	0	1
Inge Hammarstrom	LW	70	19	19	38	4	−21	3	0	2
Red Berenson	C	80	13	25	38	12	−20	0	1	2
Larry Patey	C	80	17	17	34	29	−20	3	0	3
Bill Fairbairn	RW	60	14	16	30	10	−23	2	1	1
Curt Bennett	LW	50	7	17	24	54	−22	1	0	1
Brian Sutter	LW	78	9	13	22	123	−38	4	0	1
Claude Larose	RW	69	8	13	21	20	−19	2	0	0
Bob MacMillan	RW	28	7	12	19	23	−11	3	0	0
Barry Gibbs	D	51	6	12	18	45	−11	4	0	0
Bruce Affleck	D	75	4	14	18	26	−56	0	0	1
Jack Brownschidle	D	40	2	15	17	23	−11	1	0	0
Dick Redmond	D	28	4	11	15	16	−14	2	0	0
Brian Ogilvie	C	32	6	8	14	12	−12	3	0	0
Jim Roberts	D/RW	75	4	10	14	39	−20	0	0	1
Bob Hess	D	55	2	12	14	16	0	0	0	0
Rod Seiling	D	78	1	11	12	40	−48	0	0	0
Gary Holt	LW	49	7	4	11	81	−6	0	0	1
Rick Bourbonnais	RW	31	3	7	10	11	−12	1	0	0
Neil Komadoski	D	33	2	8	10	73	−29	0	0	0
Tony Currie	RW	22	4	5	9	4	−10	1	0	0
Ken Richardson	C	12	2	5	7	2	4	0	0	0
John Smrke	LW	18	2	4	6	11	−7	0	0	0
Len Frig	D	30	1	3	4	45	−13	0	0	1
Floyd Thomson	LW	6	1	1	2	4	−3	0	0	0
Jerry Butler	RW	9	0	2	2	5	−6	0	0	0
Phil Myre	G	44	0	2	2	10	0	0	0	0
Doug Palazzari	C	3	1	0	1	0	−2	0	0	0
Yves Belanger	G	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Doug Grant	G	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Eddie Johnston	G	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bob Plager	D	18	0	0	0	4	−8	0	0	0
Ed Staniowski	G	17	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
Phil Myre	2620	44	11	25	8	159	3.64	1
Eddie Johnston	650	12	5	6	1	45	4.15	0
Doug Grant	500	9	3	3	2	24	2.88	0
Ed Staniowski	886	17	1	10	2	57	3.86	0
Yves Belanger	144	3	0	3	0	15	6.25	0
Team:	4800	80	20	47	13	300	3.75	1

Note:

Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Draft picks

St. Louis'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)
1	9	Scott Campbell	Canada	London Knights (OHA)
2	27	Neil LaBatte	Canada	Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL)
3	45	Tom Roulston	Canada	Winnipeg Monarchs (WCHL)
4	63	Tony Currie	Canada	Portland Winter Hawks (WCHL)
5	81	Bruce Hamilton	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)
6	99	Gary McMonagle	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OMJHL)
7	117	Matti Forss	Finland	Rauma (Finland)
8	132	Raimo Hirvonen	Finland	Helsinki IFK (Finland)
9	147	Bjorn Olsson	Sweden	Karlstad (Sweden)

See also

• 1977–78 NHL season

References

• "1977–78 St. Louis Blues Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 21, 2009.