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1980–81 NHL season facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The 1980-81 National Hockey League (NHL) season was an exciting time for ice hockey fans! Teams played many games to see who would be the best. This season ended with the New York Islanders winning the Stanley Cup, which is the biggest prize in hockey.

Regular Season: Teams Battle It Out

The regular season is when all the teams play a set number of games against each other. They try to win as many games as possible to earn points. These points help them get a good spot in the standings, which decides who gets to play in the playoffs.

How Teams Ranked: Final Standings

Teams are divided into different groups called "divisions" and "conferences." At the end of the regular season, teams are ranked based on their points. The best teams get to move on to the playoffs.

Here's what the numbers mean:

  • GP = Games Played (how many games the team played)
  • W = Wins (how many games the team won)
  • L = Losses (how many games the team lost)
  • T = Ties (how many games ended in a tie)
  • Pts = Points (teams get points for wins and ties)
  • GF = Goals For (how many goals the team scored)
  • GA = Goals Against (how many goals were scored against the team)
  • PIM = Penalties In Minutes (how many minutes players spent in the penalty box)

Teams highlighted in bold made it to the playoffs!

Prince of Wales Conference Teams

This conference had two divisions: Adams and Norris.

Adams Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Buffalo Sabres 80 39 20 21 99 327 250 1194
Boston Bruins 80 37 30 13 87 316 272 1836
Minnesota North Stars 80 35 28 17 87 291 263 1624
Quebec Nordiques 80 30 32 18 78 314 318 1524
Toronto Maple Leafs 80 28 37 15 71 322 367 1830
Norris Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Montreal Canadiens 80 45 22 13 103 332 232 1398
Los Angeles Kings 80 43 24 13 99 337 290 1627
Chicago Black Hawks 80 31 33 16 78 304 315 1660
Pittsburgh Penguins 80 30 37 13 73 302 345 1807
Hartford Whalers 80 21 41 18 60 292 372 1584
Detroit Red Wings 80 19 43 18 56 252 339 1687

Clarence Campbell Conference Teams

This conference also had two divisions: Patrick and Smythe.

Patrick Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
New York Islanders 80 48 18 14 110 355 260 1442
Philadelphia Flyers 80 41 24 15 97 313 249 2621
Calgary Flames 80 39 27 14 92 329 298 1450
New York Rangers 80 30 36 14 74 312 317 1981
Washington Capitals 80 26 36 18 70 286 317 1872
Smythe Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
St. Louis Blues 80 45 18 17 107 352 281 1657
Vancouver Canucks 80 28 32 20 76 289 301 1892
Edmonton Oilers 80 29 35 16 74 328 327 1544
Colorado Rockies 80 22 45 13 57 258 344 1418
Winnipeg Jets 80 9 57 14 32 246 400 1191

Top Scorers: Player Points Leaders

These players scored the most points during the regular season. Points are earned by scoring goals or helping teammates score goals (assists).

Here's what the numbers mean for players:

  • GP = Games Played
  • G = Goals (how many times they scored)
  • A = Assists (how many times they helped a teammate score)
  • Pts = Points (Goals + Assists)
  • PIM = Penalties In Minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Wayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers 80 55 109 164 28
Marcel Dionne Los Angeles Kings 80 58 77 135 70
Kent Nilsson Calgary Flames 80 49 82 131 26
Mike Bossy New York Islanders 79 68 51 119 32
Dave Taylor Los Angeles Kings 72 47 65 112 130
Peter Stastny Quebec Nordiques 77 39 70 109 37
Charlie Simmer Los Angeles Kings 65 56 49 105 62
Mike Rogers Hartford Whalers 80 40 65 105 32
Bernie Federko St. Louis Blues 78 31 73 104 47
Jacques Richard Quebec Nordiques 78 52 51 103 39

Stanley Cup Playoffs: The Road to the Championship

After the regular season, the top teams compete in the Stanley Cup playoffs. This is a knockout tournament where teams play a series of games. The first team to win a certain number of games (usually four) moves on, and the losing team is out.

Playoff Bracket: Who Played Whom

This bracket shows how the teams were matched up in the playoffs and who won each series. The numbers next to the team names show how many games they won in that series.

  Preliminary Round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Stanley Cup Final
                                         
1  New York Islanders 3  
16  Toronto Maple Leafs 0  
  1  New York Islanders 4  
 
  14  Edmonton Oilers 2  
2  St. Louis Blues 3
15  Pittsburgh Penguins 2  
  1  New York Islanders 4  
  13  New York Rangers 0  
3  Montreal Canadiens 0  
14  Edmonton Oilers 3  
  2  St. Louis Blues 2
 
  13  New York Rangers 4  
4  Los Angeles Kings 1
13  New York Rangers 3  
  1  New York Islanders 4
(Pairings are re-seeded after the first and second rounds.)
  9  Minn. North Stars 1
5  Buffalo Sabres 3  
12  Vancouver Canucks 0  
  5  Buffalo Sabres 1
 
  9  Minn. North Stars 4  
6  Philadelphia Flyers 3
11  Quebec Nordiques 2  
  7  Calgary Flames 2
  9  Minn. North Stars 4  
7  Calgary Flames 3  
10  Chicago Black Hawks 0  
  6  Philadelphia Flyers 3
 
  7  Calgary Flames 4  
8  Boston Bruins 0
9  Minn. North Stars 3  

Stanley Cup Finals: The Championship Series

The final two teams battled it out for the Stanley Cup. In 1981, it was the New York Islanders against the Minnesota North Stars. The Islanders won the series, taking home the championship!

Date Visitors Score Home Score
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

The New York Islanders won the series 4 games to 1.

NHL Awards: Recognizing Greatness

At the end of each season, the NHL gives out special awards to players and teams for their amazing achievements.

Prince of Wales Trophy: Awarded to the champion of the Prince of Wales Conference. In 1981, it was the Montreal Canadiens.
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Awarded to the champion of the Clarence Campbell Conference. In 1981, it was the New York Islanders.
Art Ross Memorial Trophy: Given to the player who leads the league in points (goals + assists). Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers won this award.
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: For the player who best shows perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Blake Dunlop from the St. Louis Blues received it.
Calder Memorial Trophy: Given to the best rookie player (first-year player) in the NHL. Peter Stastny of the Quebec Nordiques was the winner.
Conn Smythe Trophy: Awarded to the most valuable player (MVP) in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Butch Goring from the New York Islanders won this.
Frank J. Selke Trophy: For the best defensive forward. Bob Gainey of the Montreal Canadiens earned this award.
Hart Memorial Trophy: Given to the player judged most valuable to his team. Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers won this award too!
Jack Adams Award: For the best coach in the NHL. Gordon "Red" Berenson from the St. Louis Blues was recognized.
James Norris Memorial Trophy: Awarded to the best defenseman. Randy Carlyle of the Pittsburgh Penguins won this.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: For the player who shows the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. Rick Kehoe from the Pittsburgh Penguins received it.
Lester B. Pearson Award: Voted on by the players as the most outstanding player. Mike Liut of the St. Louis Blues was chosen.
NHL Plus/Minus Award: For the player with the best plus/minus rating (how many more goals their team scored than allowed while they were on the ice). Brian Engblom of the Montreal Canadiens won.
Vezina Trophy: Given to the best goaltender (goalie). Denis Herron, Michel Larocque, & Richard Sevigny from the Montreal Canadiens shared this award.
Lester Patrick Trophy: Given for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, received this award.

All-Star Teams: The League's Best Players

At the end of the season, the very best players at each position are chosen for "All-Star Teams." These are like dream teams made up of the top players from across the league.

First Team   Position   Second Team
Mike Liut, St. Louis Blues G Mario Lessard, Los Angeles Kings
Denis Potvin, New York Islanders D Larry Robinson, Montreal Canadiens
Randy Carlyle, Pittsburgh Penguins D Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins
Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers C Marcel Dionne, Los Angeles Kings
Mike Bossy, New York Islanders RW Dave Taylor, Los Angeles Kings
Charlie Simmer, Los Angeles Kings LW Bill Barber, Philadelphia Flyers

First and Last Games: Player Milestones

Every season, new players join the NHL, and some experienced players play their final games.

New Faces: Players Making Their Debut

Here are a few notable players who played their very first NHL game during the 1980–81 season:

Saying Goodbye: Players' Final Games

These are some well-known players who played their last NHL game in the 1980–81 season:

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1980–81 NHL season Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.