1979–80 Hartford Whalers season
The Whalers were one of four World Hockey Association (WHA) franchises (with the Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets) that joined the league for the 1979–80 season.
Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, and André Lacroix all played the final NHL games of their illustrious careers with Hartford this season.
After winning their final game of October, the Whalers extended their winning streak to three games, as they defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second time in a row, this time by a 5–3 score at home with Gordie Howe leading the way with two goals, followed by a big 7–2 victory on the road against the Colorado Rockies to even their overall record to 4–4–4.
The Black Hawks stopped the Whalers winning streak on November 9 as Chicago won the game 4–2 at the Civic Center.
On November 19, goaltender Al Smith stopped all 23 shots against the Edmonton Oilers to earn the first shutout in Whalers history, as Hartford won the game 4–0 at home.
The team snapped out of their slump on January 12, as both Jordy Douglas and Blaine Stoughton scored twice, leading the Whalers to a 6–4 win over the Detroit Red Wings.
This began a four-game winning streak for Hartford, as the team then defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 7–1, Chicago Black Hawks 5-3 and Winnipeg Jets 7–2.
The Whalers put together a record of 6-6-1 in January, improving to 15–22–10 for the season; however, the club remained in last place in the Norris Division, five points behind the Detroit Red Wings.
In their first game at the Hartford Civic Center on February 6, Mark Howe had two goals and two assists, leading the Whalers to a 7–3 win over the Los Angeles Kings in front of 14,448 fans.
Hartford lost again the next night against the Boston Bruins by a 6–3 score, however, the team ended the month with a 3–0 win over the St. Louis Blues.
Hartford then lost two more games in a row, which included a 7–0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, making it a six-game winless streak.
Hartford ended their winless streak on April 4 in convincing fashion, as the Whalers routed the Quebec Nordiques by a 9–2 score.
When the WHA folded in 1979, the Hartford Whalers joined the NHL and the 51-year-old Howe signed on for one final season playing in all 80 games of the schedule, helping his team to make the playoffs with fifteen goals.
One particular honor was when Howe, Phil Esposito, and Jean Ratelle were selected to the mid-season all-star game by coach Scotty Bowman, as a nod to their storied careers before they retired.
The Joe Louis Arena crowd gave him a standing ovation twice, lasting so long, he had to skate to the bench to stop people from cheering.
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes [6] Note: GP= Games played; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average [6] The Whalers opened the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens.
