Every 1977-78 NHL race charted day by day: Patrick, Smythe, Adams and Norris. Final standings, from a season that ran October 12, 1977 to April 9, 1978.
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Patrick standings, 1977-78
Team
W
L
T
PTS
L10
Streak
New York Islanders (NYI)z
48
17
15
111
6-2-2
W2
Philadelphia Flyers (PHI)x
45
20
15
105
6-2-2
L1
Atlanta Flames (AFM)x
34
27
19
87
7-2-1
L1
New York Rangers (NYR)x
30
37
13
73
5-5-0
W1
Final standings.
Clinch key
x
clinched a playoff place
z
clinched the best record in the Clarence Campbell Conference
Turning points
The lead changed hands 6 times.
The New York Islanders trailed by as many as 6 points on December 15, 1977.
The New York Islanders took first place for good on January 28, 1978.
The New York Islanders won 6 games in a row from January 14, 1978 to January 28, 1978, the longest run of the race.
The Philadelphia Flyers led by 6 points as late as December 21, 1977.
The New York Islanders led by as many as 9 points on March 9, 1978.
The New York Islanders went 12-2-3 from January 17, 1978 to February 22, 1978, turning a deficit of 5 points into a lead of 7 points.
The top two ended the day within two points of each other on 58 of the 139 days played.
The New York Islanders spent 83 of the season's 180 charted days in first place.