1980–81 New York Islanders season

1980–81 New York Islanders
Stanley Cup champions
Campbell Conference champions
Patrick Division champions
Division	1st Patrick
Conference	1st Campbell
1980–81 record	48–18–14
Goals for	355
Goals against	260
Team information
General manager	Bill Torrey
Coach	Al Arbour
Captain	Denis Potvin
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Nassau Coliseum
Average attendance	14,122
Team leaders
Goals	Mike Bossy (68)
Assists	Bryan Trottier (72)
Points	Mike Bossy (119)
Penalty minutes	Garry Howatt (174)
Wins	Billy Smith (22)
Goals against average	Glenn Resch (3.07)

The 1980–81 New York Islanders season was the ninth season in the franchise's history. It involved winning the Stanley Cup.

Offseason

NHL Draft

New York's draft picks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	17	Brent Sutter	Canada	Red Deer Rustlers (AJHL)
2	38	Kelly Hrudey	Canada	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
3	59	Dave Simpson	Canada	London Knights (OHA)
4	68	Monty Trottier	Canada	Billings Bighorns (WHL)
4	80	Greg Gilbert	Canada	Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL)
5	101	Ken Leiter	United States	Michigan State University (WCHA)
6	122	Dan Revell	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OMJHL)
7	143	Mark Hamway	United States	Michigan State University (WCHA)
8	164	Morey Gare	Canada	Penticton Knights (BCJHL)
9	185	Peter Steblyk	Canada	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
10	206	Glenn Johannesen	Canada	Red Deer Rustlers (AJHL)

Regular season

• January 24, 1981 – In a victory over the Quebec Nordiques, Mike Bossy became the second player in NHL history to score 50 goals in 50 games.

Season standings

Patrick Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
New York Islanders	80	48	18	14	355	260	110
Philadelphia Flyers	80	41	24	15	313	249	97
Calgary Flames	80	39	27	14	329	298	92
New York Rangers	80	30	36	14	312	317	74
Washington Capitals	80	26	36	18	286	317	70

^[1]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

League standings^[2]

R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – New York Islanders	PTK	80	48	18	14	355	260	110
2	x – St. Louis Blues	SMY	80	45	18	17	352	281	107
3	y – Montreal Canadiens	NRS	80	45	22	13	332	232	103
4	Los Angeles Kings	NRS	80	43	24	13	337	290	99
5	x – Buffalo Sabres	ADM	80	39	20	21	327	250	99
6	Philadelphia Flyers	PTK	80	41	24	15	313	249	97
7	Calgary Flames	PTK	80	39	27	14	329	298	92
8	Boston Bruins	ADM	80	37	30	13	316	272	87
9	Minnesota North Stars	ADM	80	35	28	17	291	263	87
10	Chicago Black Hawks	SMY	80	31	33	16	304	315	78
11	Quebec Nordiques	ADM	80	30	32	18	314	318	78
12	Vancouver Canucks	SMY	80	28	32	20	289	301	76
13	New York Rangers	PTK	80	30	36	14	312	317	74
14	Edmonton Oilers	SMY	80	29	35	16	328	327	74
15	Pittsburgh Penguins	NRS	80	30	37	13	302	345	73
16	Toronto Maple Leafs	ADM	80	28	37	15	322	367	71
17	Washington Capitals	PTK	80	26	36	18	286	317	70
18	Hartford Whalers	NRS	80	21	41	18	292	372	60
19	Colorado Rockies	SMY	80	22	45	13	258	344	57
20	Detroit Red Wings	NRS	80	19	43	18	252	339	56
21	Winnipeg Jets	SMY	80	9	57	14	246	400	32

Divisions: ADM – Adams, NRS – Norris, PTK – Patrick, SMY – Smythe

bold – The top 16 teams in the league qualified for the playoffs, regardless of division or conference.
x – Won division; y – Won Conference (and division); p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and conference and division)

Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Patrick Division 1980–81 NHL records[3] Team CGY NYI NYR PHI WSH Total Calgary — 1−1−2 2−1−1 2−2 3−1 8−5−3 N.Y. Islanders 1−1−2 — 2−2 1−2−1 4−0 8−5−3 N.Y. Rangers 1−2−1 2−2 — 1−1−2 2−2 6−7−3 Philadelphia 2−2 2−1−1 1−1−2 — 2−2 7−6−3 Washington 1−3 0−4 2−2 2−2 — 5−11−0 Vs. Smythe Division 1980–81 NHL records Team CHI COL EDM STL VAN WIN Total Calgary 0−1−3 1−3 2−1−1 2−2 3−1 3−0−1 11−8−5 N.Y. Islanders 4−0 3−1 2−0−2 2−0−2 3−1 3−0−1 17−2−5 N.Y. Rangers 2−1−1 1−3 2−1−1 0−4 2−1−1 3−1 10−11−3 Philadelphia 1−1−2 4−0 2−2 3−0−1 1−2−1 3−1 14−6−4 Washington 1−1−2 3−0−1 2−1−1 0−2−2 1−1−2 3−0−1 10−5−9 Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Adams Division 1980–81 NHL records Team BOS BUF MIN QUE TOR Total Calgary 3−1 1−2−1 2−2 1−1−2 2−2 9−8−3 N.Y. Islanders 2−2 2−2 2−0−2 3−1 3−1 12−6−2 N.Y. Rangers 2−2 1−2−1 1−1−2 1−1−2 2−2 7−8−5 Philadelphia 2−2 0−2−2 2−1−1 1−2−1 0−2−2 5−9−6 Washington 1−2−1 0−2−2 0−3−1 0−4 3−1 4−12−4 Vs. Norris Division 1980–81 NHL records Team DET HFD LAK MTL PIT Total Calgary 2−1−1 3−1 3−1 1−2−1 2−1−1 11−6−3 N.Y. Islanders 4−0 2−0−2 2−2 2−1−1 1−2−1 11−5−4 N.Y. Rangers 1−2−1 3−1 1−3 1−2−1 1−2−1 7−10−3 Philadelphia 3−1 3−0−1 4−0 1−2−1 4−0 15−3−2 Washington 2−1−1 3−1 1−2−1 0−2−2 1−2−1 7−8−5

Schedule and results

Pre-season

1980 Pre-Season Game Log:
#	Date	Opponent	Score	Decision	Attendance	Location	Record	Recap

Regular season

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 11, 1980	5–2	Boston Bruins (1980–81)	1–0–0
2	W	October 12, 1980	2–1	@ Washington Capitals (1980–81)	2–0–0
3	T	October 14, 1980	5–5	St. Louis Blues (1980–81)	2–0–1
4	W	October 16, 1980	6–4	@ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)	3–0–1
5	T	October 18, 1980	5–5	Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)	3–0–2
6	T	October 19, 1980	3–3	@ Hartford Whalers (1980–81)	3–0–3
7	L	October 21, 1980	3–6	Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)	3–1–3
8	L	October 23, 1980	2–4	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)	3–2–3
9	L	October 25, 1980	1–3	Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)	3–3–3
10	L	October 26, 1980	2–5	@ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)	3–4–3
11	W	October 28, 1980	6–4	Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)	4–4–3
12	L	November 1, 1980	3–7	Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)	4–5–3
13	W	November 4, 1980	6–4	Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)	5–5–3
14	W	November 6, 1980	4–2	@ Boston Bruins (1980–81)	6–5–3
15	W	November 8, 1980	7–3	Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)	7–5–3
16	T	November 11, 1980	6–6	Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)	7–5–4
17	W	November 12, 1980	4–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)	8–5–4
18	W	November 15, 1980	4–1	Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)	9–5–4
19	W	November 17, 1980	2–1	@ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)	10–5–4
20	W	November 18, 1980	7–2	@ St. Louis Blues (1980–81)	11–5–4
21	W	November 20, 1980	5–0	Hartford Whalers (1980–81)	12–5–4
22	W	November 22, 1980	6–4	New York Rangers (1980–81)	13–5–4
23	T	November 25, 1980	4–4	Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)	13–5–5
24	W	November 27, 1980	4–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)	14–5–5
25	W	November 29, 1980	5–1	Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)	15–5–5
26	W	November 30, 1980	7–3	@ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)	16–5–5
27	W	December 2, 1980	5–1	Colorado Rockies (1980–81)	17–5–5
28	L	December 4, 1980	3–4	@ Colorado Rockies (1980–81)	17–6–5
29	L	December 6, 1980	3–5	@ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)	17–7–5
30	W	December 7, 1980	5–3	@ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)	18–7–5
31	W	December 10, 1980	3–2	@ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)	19–7–5
32	T	December 13, 1980	4–4	@ Calgary Flames (1980–81)	19–7–6
33	W	December 14, 1980	5–4	@ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)	20–7–6
34	W	December 16, 1980	6–2	Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)	21–7–6
35	W	December 20, 1980	5–2	Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)	22–7–6
36	W	December 21, 1980	9–0	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)	23–7–6
37	T	December 23, 1980	2–2	Calgary Flames (1980–81)	23–7–7
38	T	December 27, 1980	5–5	@ Hartford Whalers (1980–81)	23–7–8
39	W	December 30, 1980	9–3	Colorado Rockies (1980–81)	24–7–8
40	L	January 2, 1981	1–3	@ New York Rangers (1980–81)	24–8–8
41	W	January 3, 1981	8–1	Hartford Whalers (1980–81)	25–8–8
42	W	January 6, 1981	6–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)	26–8–8
43	L	January 7, 1981	3–7	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)	26–9–8
44	L	January 10, 1981	2–3	Boston Bruins (1980–81)	26–10–8
45	W	January 11, 1981	4–2	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)	27–10–8
46	W	January 13, 1981	6–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)	28–10–8
47	W	January 17, 1981	6–4	Washington Capitals (1980–81)	29–10–8
48	W	January 20, 1981	5–0	Calgary Flames (1980–81)	30–10–8
49	W	January 22, 1981	3–0	@ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)	31–10–8
50	W	January 24, 1981	7–4	Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)	32–10–8
51	L	January 26, 1981	3–5	Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)	32–11–8
52	W	January 28, 1981	6–4	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)	33–11–8
53	L	January 31, 1981	1–5	@ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)	33–12–8
54	L	February 1, 1981	3–6	@ Boston Bruins (1980–81)	33–13–8
55	W	February 3, 1981	8–1	Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)	34–13–8
56	L	February 4, 1981	3–9	@ New York Rangers (1980–81)	34–14–8
57	T	February 7, 1981	5–5	Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)	34–14–9
58	L	February 12, 1981	3–5	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)	34–15–9
59	T	February 14, 1981	1–1	St. Louis Blues (1980–81)	34–15–10
60	L	February 17, 1981	5–8	Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)	34–16–10
61	W	February 21, 1981	6–3	Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)	35–16–10
62	W	February 23, 1981	4–1	@ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)	36–16–10
63	L	February 25, 1981	4–11	@ Calgary Flames (1980–81)	36–17–10
64	W	February 27, 1981	5–1	@ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)	37–17–10
65	W	February 28, 1981	2–1	@ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)	38–17–10
66	T	March 3, 1981	8–8	Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)	38–17–11
67	W	March 7, 1981	3–1	Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)	39–17–11
68	W	March 11, 1981	6–3	@ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)	40–17–11
69	W	March 12, 1981	5–0	@ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)	41–17–11
70	T	March 14, 1981	3–3	Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)	41–17–12
71	T	March 17, 1981	3–3	Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)	41–17–13
72	W	March 20, 1981	5–3	@ Colorado Rockies (1980–81)	42–17–13
73	W	March 22, 1981	6–2	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)	43–17–13
74	W	March 24, 1981	5–3	@ St. Louis Blues (1980–81)	44–17–13
75	T	March 28, 1981	4–4	Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)	44–17–14
76	W	March 29, 1981	5–4	@ Washington Capitals (1980–81)	45–17–14
77	L	March 31, 1981	1–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)	45–18–14
78	W	April 2, 1981	2–1	New York Rangers (1980–81)	46–18–14
79	W	April 4, 1981	4–1	Washington Capitals (1980–81)	47–18–14
80	W	April 5, 1981	7–3	@ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)	48–18–14

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Mike Bossy RW 79 68 51 119 32 37 28 2 10 Bryan Trottier C 73 31 72 103 74 49 9 2 5 Clark Gillies LW 80 33 45 78 99 26 9 0 3 Bob Bourne C 78 35 41 76 62 34 9 7 5 Denis Potvin D 74 20 56 76 104 38 9 0 4 Anders Kallur RW 78 36 28 64 32 25 7 6 4 Stefan Persson D 80 9 52 61 82 24 6 0 2 Butch Goring C 78 23 37 60 0 4 4 1 1 John Tonelli LW 70 20 32 52 57 8 2 0 3 Bob Nystrom RW 79 14 30 44 145 6 3 0 0 Steve Tambellini C 61 19 17 36 17 -12 2 0 4 Wayne Merrick C 71 16 15 31 30 12 1 0 2 Garry Howatt LW 70 4 15 19 174 12 0 0 0 Duane Sutter RW 23 7 11 18 26 -8 1 0 1 Dave Langevin D 75 1 16 17 122 40 0 0 0 Ken Morrow D 80 2 11 13 20 19 0 0 0 Bob Lorimer D 73 1 12 13 77 45 0 0 0 Gord Lane D 60 3 9 12 124 -6 0 1 1 Hector Marini RW 14 4 7 11 39 9 1 0 0 Billy Carroll C 18 4 4 8 6 3 0 0 1 Jean Potvin D 18 2 3 5 25 -4 2 0 1 Brent Sutter C 3 2 2 4 0 2 0 0 1 Lorne Henning C 9 1 2 3 24 4 0 0 0 Mike McEwen D 13 0 3 3 10 3 0 0 0 Chico Resch G 32 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Roland Melanson G 11 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 Billy Smith G 41 0 0 0 33 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO Billy Smith 2363 41 22 10 8 129 3.28 2 Chico Resch 1817 32 18 7 5 93 3.07 3 Roland Melanson 620 11 8 1 1 32 3.10 0 Team: 4800 80 48 18 14 254 3.17 5

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Mike Bossy RW 18 17 18 35 4 9 0 3 Bryan Trottier C 18 11 18 29 34 4 2 1 Denis Potvin D 18 8 17 25 16 6 1 2 Butch Goring C 18 10 10 20 6 4 2 2 Wayne Merrick C 18 6 12 18 8 0 0 1 Clark Gillies LW 18 6 9 15 28 3 0 0 Mike McEwen D 17 6 8 14 6 4 0 0 John Tonelli LW 16 5 8 13 16 0 0 2 Bob Nystrom RW 18 6 6 12 20 0 0 1 Billy Carroll C 18 3 9 12 4 0 1 1 Bob Bourne C 14 4 6 10 19 1 1 1 Hector Marini RW 9 3 6 9 14 0 0 0 Anders Kallur RW 12 4 3 7 10 0 2 0 Ken Morrow D 18 3 4 7 8 0 0 1 Gord Lane D 12 1 5 6 32 0 0 0 Bob Lorimer D 18 1 4 5 27 0 0 0 Stefan Persson D 7 0 5 5 6 0 0 0 Duane Sutter RW 12 3 1 4 10 0 0 0 Dave Langevin D 18 0 3 3 25 0 0 0 Garry Howatt LW 8 0 2 2 15 0 0 0 Billy Smith G 17 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 Lorne Henning C 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Roland Melanson G 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO Billy Smith 994 17 14 3 42 2.54 0 Roland Melanson 92 3 1 0 6 3.91 0 Team: 1086 18 15 3 48 2.65 0

^[4]

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;

Playoffs

Stanley Cup Finals

New York Islanders vs. Minnesota North Stars

Date	Visitors	Score	Home	Score	Notes
May 12	Minnesota	3	New York	6
May 14	Minnesota	3	New York	6
May 17	New York	7	Minnesota	5
May 19	New York	2	Minnesota	4
May 21	Minnesota	1	New York	5

Awards and records

• Butch Goring, Conn Smythe Trophy

External links

• Islanders on Hockey Database

References

1. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
2. "1980–81 NHL Standings". NHL.com. National Hockey League.
3. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
4. "1980-81 New York Islanders Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2009.

Preceded by New York Islanders 1980

New York Islanders Stanley Cup Champions 1981

Succeeded by New York Islanders 1982