1980–81 NHL season


The 1980–81 NHL season was the 64th season of the National Hockey League. The New York Islanders were the top regular season team and the top playoff team, winning their second consecutive Stanley Cup.

League business

This was the first season that the Calgary Flames played in Calgary, Alberta. Previously, they were the Atlanta Flames and played in Atlanta, Georgia.

Regular season

The season featured notable individual scoring milestones.
Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers broke Bobby Orr's single season assist record, scoring 109 assists, and Phil Esposito's point record, scoring 164 points. He won his second of an unmatched eight straight Hart Trophies as the league's most valuable player
Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders became only the second man in NHL history to score 50 goals in his first 50 games. In the 50th game, played at his home rink, he had 48 goals going into the 3rd and final period. Bossy admitted being so embarrassed and upset that he contemplated not going out on the ice for the final period. However, Bossy got his 49th goal with 5:15 left to go in the game and the 50th with 1:50 remaining, sending the Nassau Coliseum into a delirium. Maurice Richard, the only other man to accomplish this feat, was on hand to congratulate Bossy.
Bossy's Islanders finished as regular season champions with 110 points with the St. Louis Blues finishing a close second at 107 points.

Final standings

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold

Prince of Wales Conference

Clarence Campbell Conference

Playoffs

The Stanley Cup playoffs would see the New York Islanders dominate on their way to winning their second consecutive Stanley Cup. Notably, in the first round against the Maple Leafs, the Isles swept a three-game series, outscoring Toronto 20-4. The Islanders would go on to defeat Edmonton in six games in the quarter-finals, and in the semi-finals, the Islanders swept the Rangers and outscored them 22-8.
In game one of the Edmonton-Montreal series, Wayne Gretzky had five assists. This was a single game playoff record. Another distinction was in the Minnesota North Stars' sweep of the Boston Bruins; the two games the North Stars won in Boston Garden were the first games that the team had won in Boston, either regular season or playoff, since the team had joined the NHL in 1967.

Playoff bracket

Stanley Cup Finals

The Islanders easily defeated the Minnesota North Stars in the finals in five games. The Islanders were defeated three times during the playoffs.

New York Islanders vs. Minnesota North Stars

Awards

All-Star teams

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points
PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Wayne GretzkyEdmonton Oilers805510916428
Marcel DionneLos Angeles Kings80587713570
Kent NilssonCalgary Flames80498213126
Mike BossyNew York Islanders79685111932
Dave TaylorLos Angeles Kings724765112130
Peter StastnyQuebec Nordiques77397010937
Charlie SimmerLos Angeles Kings65564910562
Mike RogersHartford Whalers80406510532
Bernie FederkoSt. Louis Blues78317310447
Jacques RichardQuebec Nordiques78525110339
Rick MiddletonBoston Bruins80445910316
Bryan TrottierNew York Islanders73317210374

Source: NHL.

Leading goaltenders

Coaches

Patrick Division

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1980–81 :
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1980–81 :