1978–79 New York Rangers season
The 1978–79 New York Rangers season was the 53rd season for the franchise. The highlight of the season was participating in the Stanley Cup Finals, as the Rangers played 12 consecutive playoff games without losing in regulation.
Offseason
The Rangers fired their general manager John Ferguson and head coach Jean-Guy Talbot, replacing them with former Philadelphia Flyers and two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach Fred Shero.The Rangers signed forwards Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson away from the WHA's Winnipeg Jets.
The Rangers chose Don Maloney with their first pick, in the second-round, 26th over-all. Maloney was the younger brother of Dave Maloney, a defenceman with the Rangers. Don Maloney would get into 28 games for the Rangers that season.
Regular season
Season standings
Schedule and results
Season Summary
- February 25: During a win against the Islanders, Ulf Nilsson was injured on a hip check by Denis Potvin. In the years to come, this would serve as the origin to the infamous "Potvin Sucks" chant at Madison Square Garden.
Playoffs
Stanley Cup Finals
The Rangers faced the defending champion Montreal Canadiens, who were making their fourth straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance. It was the Rangers' first appearance in the finals since the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals. The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series four games to one, to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup.Key: Win Loss
Player statistics
;Skaters| Player | |||||
| 80 | 33 | 46 | 79 | 33 | |
| 80 | 42 | 36 | 78 | 37 | |
| 80 | 34 | 41 | 75 | 56 | |
| 59 | 27 | 39 | 66 | 21 | |
| 79 | 27 | 36 | 63 | 35 | |
| 80 | 20 | 38 | 58 | 35 | |
| 60 | 17 | 36 | 53 | 66 | |
| 66 | 13 | 34 | 47 | 24 | |
| 77 | 8 | 37 | 45 | 86 | |
| 77 | 15 | 27 | 42 | 38 | |
| 40 | 15 | 21 | 36 | 6 | |
| 70 | 6 | 25 | 31 | 37 | |
| 71 | 5 | 26 | 31 | 153 | |
| 68 | 13 | 16 | 29 | 29 | |
| 62 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 26 | |
| 76 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 151 | |
| 28 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 39 | |
| 71 | 1 | 19 | 20 | 61 | |
| 30 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 27 | |
| 71 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 190 | |
| ‡ | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| 18 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | |||||
| 18 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 19 | |
| 18 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 20 | |
| 18 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 8 | |
| 18 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 12 | |
| 18 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 16 | |
| 18 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 10 | |
| 18 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 13 | |
| 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 11 | |
| 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 12 | |
| 18 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 13 | |
| 18 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | |
| 15 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | |
| 17 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 45 | |
| 18 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 29 | |
| 18 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 20 | |
| 17 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 10 | |
| 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | |
| 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
;Goaltenders
| Player | ||||||||
| 39 | 2232 | 20 | 12 | 5 | 131 | 3.52 | 0 | |
| 31 | 1668 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 101 | 3.63 | 1 | |
| 17 | 900 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 57 | 3.80 | 0 |
| Player | |||||||
| 18 | 1106 | 11 | 7 | 42 | 2.28 | 1 |
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
Awards and records
Transactions
Draft picks
New York's picks at the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
| 2 | 26 | Don Maloney | LW | Kitchener Rangers | |
| 3 | 43 | Ray Markham | C | Flin Flon Bombers | |
| 3 | 44 | Dean Turner | D | University of Michigan | |
| 4 | 59 | Dave Silk | RW | Boston University | |
| 4 | 60 | Andre Dore | D | Quebec Remparts | |
| 5 | 76 | Mike McDougall | RW | Port Huron Flags | |
| 6 | 93 | Tom Laidlaw | D | Northern Michigan University | |
| 7 | 110 | Dan Clark | D | Milwaukee Admirals | |
| 8 | 127 | Greg Kostenko | D | Ohio State University | |
| 9 | 144 | Brian McDavid | D | Kitchener Rangers | |
| 10 | 161 | Mark Rodrigues | G | Yale University | |
| 11 | 176 | Steve Weeks | G | Northern Michigan University | |
| 12 | 192 | Pierre Daigneault | LW | Montreal Juniors | |
| 13 | 206 | Chris McLaughlin | D | Dartmouth College | |
| 14 | 217 | Todd Johnson | C | Boston University | |
| 15 | 223 | Dan McCarthy | C | Sudbury Wolves |