1978–79 NHL season
| 1978–79 NHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | National Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 11, 1978 – May 21, 1979 |
| Number of games | 80 |
| Number of teams | 17 |
| Regular season | |
| Season champions | New York Islanders |
| Season MVP | Bryan Trottier (Islanders) |
| Top scorer | Bryan Trottier (Islanders) |
| Playoffs | |
| Playoffs Playoffs MVP | Bob Gainey (Canadiens) |
| Stanley Cup | |
| Champions | Montreal Canadiens |
| Runners-up | New York Rangers |
The 1978–79 NHL season was the 62nd season of the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens beat the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup finals four games to one for their fourth Cup in a row. This was the last time that two of the "Original Six" teams met in the Finals until 2013. With the Boston Bruins joining the Canadiens and Rangers in the semifinals, this was the last time that three of the final four teams were Original six teams until 2014.
This season saw the first reduction in the total number of teams since the Brooklyn Americans folded following the 1941–42 season. Fearing that two teams were on the verge of folding, the league approved the merger of the financially unstable Cleveland Barons and Minnesota North Stars franchises, reducing the number of teams to 17. The merged team continued as the Minnesota North Stars, but assumed the Barons' place in the Adams Division.
This reduction would only be temporary, however, as negotiations continued toward an agreement with the World Hockey Association that would see it fold following this season, with four of its teams joining the NHL as expansion franchises for 1979–80.
For the first time since the NHL All-Star Game became an annual tradition, it was not played. In its stead was the 1979 Challenge Cup, which saw Soviet Union players come over to North America to play against NHL players. The Soviets won the series two games to one.
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