In the second round, the Firebirds faced the west division's first place team and defending playoffs champion, the Johnstown Jets in a best-of-seven series.

The Jaros had won 54 games in the regular season, and led the league in goals scored with 462 and penalty minutes with 2134.

The Firebirds won 5–2 on home ice to win the Lockhart Cup as NAHL champions in front of a crowd of 9223 fans.

[6] Since both Firebirds goaltenders were injured, Gaye Cooley filled in after winning the 1976 Southern Hockey League championship with the Charlotte Checkers.

The team was built with several Red Wings prospects, and many of the top players from the Firebirds' NAHL seasons returned.

[12] Goaltender Rejean Lemelin led the league with 60 games played, tied for most wins with 31, and his 2.96 goals against average was second best.

Head coach Danny Belisle had moved on to the Washington Capitals, and was replaced by Armand "Bep" Guidolin.

The Firebirds relocated to Syracuse, New York for the 1979–80 AHL season, playing home games at Onondaga County War Memorial Arena.

The Firebirds were led by rookie coach Michel Parizeau, who recently retired from a seven-year WHA playing career.

[18] Syracuse struggled on defence, allowing a league worst 364 goals against, and finished with a 31–42–7 record, and third place in the southern division.

Goaltender Réjean Lemelin and centre Bob Collyard were the only players to be members of the Firebirds all five seasons in Philadelphia.

Others Firebirds players that coached in the NHL include: Don Hay, Lorne Molleken, Terry Murray, and Rick Wilson.

A couple other notable persons were briefly Firebirds players; including future NHL referee Paul Stewart; and Mike Eruzione, best known as the captain of the United States men's national ice hockey team that defeated the Soviet Union in the famous Miracle on Ice game at 1980 Winter Olympics.