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.

1976–77 Winnipeg Jets
Division2nd West
1976–77 record46–32–2
Goals for366
Goals against291
Team information
General managerRudy Pilous
CoachBobby Kromm
CaptainLars-Erik Sjoberg
Alternate captainsTed Green
Anders Hedberg

Offseason

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Regular season

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Final standings

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Western Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Houston Aeros 80 50 24 6 320 241 106
Winnipeg Jets 80 46 32 2 366 291 94
San Diego Mariners 81 40 37 4 284 283 85
Edmonton Oilers 81 34 43 4 243 304 72
Calgary Cowboys 81 31 43 7 252 296 69
Phoenix Roadrunners 80 28 48 4 281 383 60

Schedule and results

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No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1 W October 8, 1976 4–1 Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 1–0–0
2 W October 10, 1976 5–2 New England Whalers (1976–77) 2–0–0
3 W October 15, 1976 6–1 @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 3–0–0
4 L October 16, 1976 4–6 @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 3–1–0
5 L October 17, 1976 1–3 @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 3–2–0
6 W October 19, 1976 6–1 Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 4–2–0
7 L October 22, 1976 3–4 OT Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 4–3–0
8 W October 24, 1976 7–1 Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 5–3–0
9 W October 29, 1976 11–3 Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 6–3–0
10 W October 31, 1976 6–4 San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 7–3–0
11 L November 2, 1976 1–3 Houston Aeros (1976–77) 7–4–0
12 W November 5, 1976 9–2 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) 8–4–0
13 L November 6, 1976 3–7 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 8–5–0
14 W November 7, 1976 5–2 Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 9–5–0
15 W November 9, 1976 5–4 OT New England Whalers (1976–77) 10–5–0
16 L November 11, 1976 5–7 @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 10–6–0
17 W November 14, 1976 2–0 @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 11–6–0
18 W November 16, 1976 8–4 Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 12–6–0
19 W November 19, 1976 7–3 @ New England Whalers (1976–77) 13–6–0
20 L November 20, 1976 4–8 @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 13–7–0
21 L November 21, 1976 2–4 Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 13–8–0
22 L November 23, 1976 4–7 @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 13–9–0
23 T November 26, 1976 1–1 @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) 13–9–1
24 L November 28, 1976 3–5 Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 13–10–1
25 W November 30, 1976 8–2 San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 14–10–1
26 W December 3, 1976 4–3 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) 15–10–1
27 W December 4, 1976 6–2 @ New England Whalers (1976–77) 16–10–1
28 L December 5, 1976 4–6 @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 16–11–1
29 W December 7, 1976 4–2 Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 17–11–1
30 W December 8, 1976 4–2 @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 18–11–1
31 L December 10, 1976 3–5 Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 18–12–1
32 L December 26, 1976 3–12 Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 18–13–1
33 L December 28, 1976 3–6 @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) 18–14–1
34 L December 30, 1976 3–4 @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 18–15–1
35 W January 2, 1977 5–2 Houston Aeros (1976–77) 19–15–1
36 W January 4, 1977 2–1 Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 20–15–1
37 W January 9, 1977 4–1 Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 21–15–1
38 W January 11, 1977 9–2 Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 22–15–1
39 W January 14, 1977 5–3 @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 23–15–1
40 L January 16, 1977 4–6 Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 23–16–1
41 W January 21, 1977 6–5 OT Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 24–16–1
42 W January 23, 1977 10–5 Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 25–16–1
43 L January 25, 1977 2–5 @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) 25–17–1
44 L January 27, 1977 0–3 @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 25–18–1
45 L January 29, 1977 3–5 @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 25–19–1
46 L January 30, 1977 5–8 @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 25–20–1
47 W February 1, 1977 11–1 @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 26–20–1
48 W February 4, 1977 8–2 San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 27–20–1
49 W February 6, 1977 6–4 Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 28–20–1
50 W February 8, 1977 7–2 @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 29–20–1
51 L February 10, 1977 3–6 @ New England Whalers (1976–77) 29–21–1
52 L February 11, 1977 0–4 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 29–22–1
53 W February 13, 1977 7–5 @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 30–22–1
54 T February 15, 1977 2–2 Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 30–22–2
55 W February 17, 1977 4–2 Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 31–22–2
56 L February 18, 1977 2–3 @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 31–23–2
57 W February 20, 1977 4–2 Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 32–23–2
58 W February 22, 1977 3–2 Houston Aeros (1976–77) 33–23–2
59 L February 23, 1977 3–6 @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 33–24–2
60 W February 26, 1977 8–6 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 34–24–2
61 L February 27, 1977 2–3 New England Whalers (1976–77) 34–25–2
62 L March 1, 1977 1–6 @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 34–26–2
63 W March 2, 1977 4–3 OT Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 35–26–2
64 L March 3, 1977 4–5 @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 35–27–2
65 L March 5, 1977 1–4 @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 35–28–2
66 W March 8, 1977 5–0 San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 36–28–2
67 W March 11, 1977 4–1 Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 37–28–2
68 W March 13, 1977 9–3 Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 38–28–2
69 W March 15, 1977 7–0 Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 39–28–2
70 L March 17, 1977 3–4 @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 39–29–2
71 W March 18, 1977 7–5 @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 40–29–2
72 W March 20, 1977 4–3 OT @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 41–29–2
73 W March 22, 1977 8–3 Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 42–29–2
74 W March 27, 1977 5–3 @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) 43–29–2
75 L March 29, 1977 2–5 Houston Aeros (1976–77) 43–30–2
76 L March 31, 1977 3–4 @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 43–31–2
77 W April 2, 1977 6–5 @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 44–31–2
78 W April 3, 1977 6–4 Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 45–31–2
79 L April 4, 1977 2–6 @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 45–32–2
80 W April 7, 1977 6–4 @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 46–32–2

[1]

Playoffs

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The Jets lost in the Avco Cup Finals.

Winnipeg Jets 4, San Diego Mariners 3

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record
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 2–3
6 April 22 Winnipeg Jets 1–3 San Diego Mariners 3–3
7 April 24 San Diego Mariners 3–7 Winnipeg Jets 3–4

Winnipeg Jets 4, Houston Aeros 2

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record
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

Quebec Nordiques 4, Winnipeg Jets 3 – Avco Cup Finals

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record
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

Player statistics

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Regular season

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Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Anders Hedberg RW 68 70 61 131 48 48 22 0 10
Ulf Nilsson C 71 39 85 124 89 57 8 3 6
Peter Sullivan C 78 31 52 83 18 11 6 0 3
Willy Lindstrom RW 79 44 36 80 37 −2 11 0 6
Veli-Pekka Ketola C 64 25 29 54 59 −13 6 0
Bobby Hull LW 34 21 32 53 14 16 7 0
Dan Labraaten LW 64 24 27 51 21 −11 8 0
Barry Long D 71 9 38 47 54 −1 4 0
Perry Miller D 74 14 31 45 124 27 5 1
Bill Lesuk LW 78 14 27 41 85 23 2 0
Lars-Erik Sjoberg D 52 2 38 40 31 9 1 1
Mats Lindh C 73 14 17 31 2 −13 1 2
Bobby Guindon LW 69 10 17 27 19 −12 3 0
Thommie Bergman D 42 2 24 26 37 3 0 0
Ted Green D 70 4 21 25 45 12 2 0
Lyle Moffat LW 74 13 11 24 90 −7 2 0
Kent Ruhnke RW 51 11 11 22 2 −12 0 0
Mike Ford D 22 3 14 17 20 14 0 0
Heikki Riihiranta D 53 1 16 17 28 −1 0 0
Dave Dunn D 40 3 11 14 129 −1 0 0
Danny Lawson RW 14 6 7 13 2 0 2 0
Ron Ward C 14 4 7 11 2 −2 2 0
Fran Huck C 12 2 2 4 10 −1 0 0
Joe Daley G 65 0 4 4 6 0 0 0 0
Jim Cole LW 2 0 1 1 0 −1 0 0 0
Curt Larsson G 19 0 1 1 4 0 0 0 0
Morris Mott RW 2 0 1 1 5 1 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Joe Daley 3818 65 39 23 2 206 3.24 3
Curt Larsson 1019 19 7 9 0 82 4.83 0
Team: 4837 80 46 32 2 288 3.57 3

Playoffs

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Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Anders Hedberg RW 20 13 16 29 13 2
Ulf Nilsson C 20 6 21 27 33 0
Dan Labraaten LW 20 7 17 24 15 1
Bobby Hull LW 20 13 9 22 2 2
Peter Sullivan C 20 7 12 19 2 2
Mike Ford D 20 3 13 16 12 0
Willy Lindstrom RW 20 9 6 15 22 1
Perry Miller D 20 4 6 10 27 0
Mats Lindh C 20 2 7 9 2 1
Dave Dunn D 20 4 4 8 23 1
Bobby Guindon LW 20 4 4 8 9 1
Danny Lawson RW 13 2 4 6 6 0
Barry Long D 20 1 5 6 10 0
Lars-Erik Sjoberg D 20 0 6 6 22 0 0 0
Ted Green D 20 1 3 4 12 0
Bill Lesuk LW 18 2 1 3 22 0
Lyle Moffat LW 17 2 0 2 6 0
Fran Huck C 7 0 2 2 6 0 0 0
Joe Daley G 20 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
Curt Larsson G 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Joe Daley 1186 20 11 9 71 3.59 1
Curt Larsson 20 1 0 0 1 3.00 0
Team: 1206 20 11 9 72 3.58 1

[2]

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;

Awards and records

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Transactions

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Draft picks

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Winnipeg's draft picks at the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft.[3]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 9 Thomas Gradin (F)   Sweden MoDo AIK (Elitserien)
2 17 Clayton Pachal (C)   Canada New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
2 20 Tom Rowe (RW)   United States London Knights (OHA)
3 33 Steve Clippingdale (LW)   Canada New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
4 45 Goran Lindblom (D)   Sweden Skelleftea AIK (Elitserien)
5 57 Doug Johnston (D)   Canada Lethbridge Broncos (WCHL)
6 69 Fred Berry (C)   Canada New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
7 81 Greg Craig (C)   Canada St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
8 92 Brian Granfield (D)   Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)
9 103 Anders Hakansson (F)   Sweden AIK IF (Elitserien)
10 115 Jorgen Pettersson (F)   Sweden Vastra Frolunda (Elitserien)

Farm teams

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "1976–77 Winnipeg Jets Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  2. ^ "1976-77 Winnipeg Jets Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
  3. ^ "1976 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.