NHL hockey team season (won Stanley Cup)
The 1979–80 New York Islanders season was the eighth season in the franchise's history. During the season, the Islanders dropped below the 100-point mark for the first time in five years, earning only 91 points.
Before the playoffs, Torrey made the difficult decision to trade longtime and popular veterans Billy Harris and defenseman Dave Lewis to the Los Angeles Kings for second line center Butch Goring . Goring is often called the "final piece of the puzzle": a strong two-way player, his presence on the second line ensured that opponents would no longer be able to focus their defensive efforts on the Isles' first line of Bossy, Trottier and Clark Gillies . Contributions from new teammates, such as wingers Duane Sutter and Anders Kallur and stay-at-home defensemen Gord Lane and Ken Morrow (the latter fresh off a gold medal win at the 1980 Olympics ), also figured prominently in the Islanders' playoff success.
Clark Gillies resigns the team captaincy and is replaced by defenceman Denis Potvin .
Round
Pick
Player
Nationality
College/Junior/Club team
1
17
Duane Sutter (RW)Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)
2
25
Tomas Jonsson (D)Modo Hockey (Sweden)
2
38
Billy Carroll (C)London Knights (OMJHL)
3
59
Roland Melanson (G)Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL)
4
80
Tim Lockridge (D)
Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
5
101
Glen Duncan (LW)
Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL)
6
122
John Gibb (D)
Bowling Green University (CCHA)
[ 1] Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
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 [ edit ]
Patrick Division record vs. opponents
Vs. Campbell Conference [ edit ]
Vs. Patrick Division
Vs. Smythe Division
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
Vs. Norris Division
Schedule and results [ edit ]
1979 Pre-Season Game Log:
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Decision
Attendance
Location
Record
Recap
1979–80 Game Log
November: 2–8–2 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 0–5–2)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Decision
Attendance
Location
Record
Pts
Recap
10
November 2, 1979
@ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80 )
5–7
11
November 4, 1979
@ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 )
4–4
12
November 6, 1979
Los Angeles Kings (1979–80 ) 4–1
13
November 9, 1979
@ Atlanta Flames (1979–80 )
2–5
14
November 10, 1979
Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80 ) 2–5
15
November 13, 1979
New York Rangers (1979–80 ) 10–5
16
November 17, 1979
Detroit Red Wings (1979–80 ) 4–5
17
November 20, 1979
@ St. Louis Blues (1979–80 )
3–6
18
November 21, 1979
@ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80 )
1–3
19
November 24, 1979
@ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80 )
4–4
20
November 28, 1979
@ Colorado Rockies (1979–80 )
4–7
21
November 30, 1979
@ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80 )
3–5
December: 7–4–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 3–3–1)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Decision
Attendance
Location
Record
Pts
Recap
22
December 2, 1979
@ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 )
4–0
23
December 4, 1979
Vancouver Canucks (1979–80 ) 1–5
24
December 6, 1979
Boston Bruins (1979–80 ) 4–3
25
December 8, 1979
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80 )
6–1
26
December 9, 1979
@ New York Rangers (1979–80 )
4–5
27
December 11, 1979
Montreal Canadiens (1979–80 ) 4–1
28
December 12, 1979
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80 )
3–3
29
December 15, 1979
Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80 ) 3–3
30
December 18, 1979
Colorado Rockies (1979–80 ) 3–2
31
December 22, 1979
Washington Capitals (1979–80 ) 2–1
32
December 23, 1979
@ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80 )
0–8
33
December 27, 1979
@ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80 )
7–3
34
December 30, 1979
@ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80 )
2–4
January: 10–4–1 (Home: 8–2–1 ; Road: 2–2–0)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Decision
Attendance
Location
Record
Pts
Recap
35
January 2, 1980
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80 )
3–1
36
January 3, 1980
Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80 ) 3–4
37
January 5, 1980
St. Louis Blues (1979–80 ) 3–1
38
January 8, 1980
Vancouver Canucks (1979–80 ) 3–0
39
January 9, 1980
@ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80 )
2–3
40
January 12, 1980
Washington Capitals (1979–80 ) 5–2
41
January 15, 1980
Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 ) 5–2
42
January 17, 1980
Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80 ) 9–6
43
January 19, 1980
Quebec Nordiques (1979–80 ) 3–1
44
January 22, 1980
Montreal Canadiens (1979–80 ) 2–1
45
January 23, 1980
@ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80 )
5–3
46
January 26, 1980
Hartford Whalers (1979–80 ) 3–2
47
January 27, 1980
@ Washington Capitals (1979–80 )
1–7
48
January 29, 1980
Minnesota North Stars (1979–80 ) 2–2
49
January 31, 1980
@ Boston Bruins (1979–80 )
2–4
February: 6–6–1 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 3–4–0)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Decision
Attendance
Location
Record
Pts
Recap
50
February 2, 1980
Buffalo Sabres (1979–80 ) 3–2
51
February 3, 1980
@ Hartford Whalers (1979–80 )
3–5
52
February 7, 1980
Los Angeles Kings (1979–80 ) 4–1
53
February 9, 1980
Quebec Nordiques (1979–80 ) 5–0
54
February 12, 1980
Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 ) 0–0
55
February 14, 1980
@ Colorado Rockies (1979–80 )
5–3
56
February 16, 1980
@ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80 )
2–3
57
February 17, 1980
@ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80 )
2–4
58
February 19, 1980
Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80 ) 4–6
59
February 21, 1980
Minnesota North Stars (1979–80 ) 2–5
60
February 23, 1980
@ St. Louis Blues (1979–80 )
3–2
61
February 24, 1980
@ New York Rangers (1979–80 )
2–8
62
February 27, 1980
@ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80 )
5–3
March: 8–3–4 (Home: 5–1–1 ; Road: 3–2–3)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Decision
Attendance
Location
Record
Pts
Recap
63
March 1, 1980
Detroit Red Wings (1979–80 ) 3–4
64
March 2, 1980
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80 )
0–0
65
March 4, 1980
Edmonton Oilers (1979–80 ) 6–4
66
March 6, 1980
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80 )
5–2
67
March 8, 1980
Boston Bruins (1979–80 ) 3–5
68
March 9, 1980
@ Washington Capitals (1979–80 )
1–3
69
March 11, 1980
Colorado Rockies (1979–80 ) 4–1
70
March 15, 1980
St. Louis Blues (1979–80 ) 6–2
71
March 16, 1980
@ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80 )
6–1
72
March 18, 1980
Atlanta Flames (1979–80 ) 6–3
73
March 22, 1980
Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80 ) 4–4
74
March 23, 1980
@ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80 )
1–1
75
March 25, 1980
Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80 ) 5–2
76
March 28, 1980
@ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80 )
2–2
77
March 30, 1980
@ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80 )
9–6
Legend Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) Tie (1 point)
No.
R
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
1
L
October 11, 1979
2–5
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80 )
0–1–0
2
L
October 13, 1979
2–5
Buffalo Sabres (1979–80 ) 0–2–0
3
W
October 16, 1979
5–1
Atlanta Flames (1979–80 ) 1–2–0
4
L
October 18, 1979
2–3
@ Boston Bruins (1979–80 )
1–3–0
5
W
October 20, 1979
6–1
Hartford Whalers (1979–80 ) 2–3–0
6
T
October 23, 1979
3–3
Edmonton Oilers (1979–80 ) 2–3–1
7
W
October 26, 1979
2–1
@ Hartford Whalers (1979–80 )
3–3–1
8
W
October 27, 1979
6–4
Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80 ) 4–3–1
9
T
October 31, 1979
2–2
@ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80 )
4–3–2
10
L
November 2, 1979
5–7
@ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80 )
4–4–2
11
T
November 4, 1979
4–4
@ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 )
4–4–3
12
W
November 6, 1979
4–1
Los Angeles Kings (1979–80 ) 5–4–3
13
L
November 9, 1979
2–5
@ Atlanta Flames (1979–80 )
5–5–3
14
L
November 10, 1979
2–5
Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80 ) 5–6–3
15
W
November 13, 1979
10–5
New York Rangers (1979–80 ) 6–6–3
16
L
November 17, 1979
4–5
Detroit Red Wings (1979–80 ) 6–7–3
17
L
November 20, 1979
3–6
@ St. Louis Blues (1979–80 )
6–8–3
18
L
November 21, 1979
1–3
@ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80 )
6–9–3
19
T
November 24, 1979
4–4
@ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80 )
6–9–4
20
L
November 28, 1979
4–7
@ Colorado Rockies (1979–80 )
6–10–4
21
L
November 30, 1979
3–5
@ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80 )
6–11–4
22
W
December 2, 1979
4–0
@ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 )
7–11–4
23
L
December 4, 1979
1–5
Vancouver Canucks (1979–80 ) 7–12–4
24
W
December 6, 1979
4–3
Boston Bruins (1979–80 ) 8–12–4
25
W
December 7, 1979
6–1
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80 )
9–12–4
26
L
December 9, 1979
4–5
@ New York Rangers (1979–80 )
9–13–4
27
W
December 11, 1979
4–1
Montreal Canadiens (1979–80 ) 10–13–4
28
T
December 12, 1979
3–3
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80 )
10–13–5
29
T
December 15, 1979
3–3
Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80 ) 10–13–6
30
W
December 18, 1979
3–2
Colorado Rockies (1979–80 ) 11–13–6
31
W
December 22, 1979
2–1
Washington Capitals (1979–80 ) 12–13–6
32
L
December 23, 1979
0–8
@ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80 )
12–14–6
33
W
December 27, 1979
7–3
@ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80 )
13–14–6
34
L
December 30, 1979
2–4
@ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80 )
13–15–6
35
W
January 2, 1980
3–1
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80 )
14–15–6
36
L
January 3, 1980
3–4
Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80 ) 14–16–6
37
W
January 5, 1980
3–1
St. Louis Blues (1979–80 ) 15–16–6
38
W
January 8, 1980
3–0
Vancouver Canucks (1979–80 ) 16–16–6
39
L
January 9, 1980
2–3
@ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80 )
16–17–6
40
W
January 12, 1980
5–2
Washington Capitals (1979–80 ) 17–17–6
41
W
January 15, 1980
5–2
Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 ) 18–17–6
42
W
January 17, 1980
9–6
Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80 ) 19–17–6
43
W
January 19, 1980
3–1
Quebec Nordiques (1979–80 ) 20–17–6
44
W
January 22, 1980
2–1
Montreal Canadiens (1979–80 ) 21–17–6
45
W
January 23, 1980
5–3
@ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80 )
22–17–6
46
W
January 26, 1980
3–2
Hartford Whalers (1979–80 ) 23–17–6
47
L
January 27, 1980
1–7
@ Washington Capitals (1979–80 )
23–18–6
48
T
January 29, 1980
2–2
Minnesota North Stars (1979–80 ) 23–18–7
49
L
January 31, 1980
2–4
@ Boston Bruins (1979–80 )
23–19–7
50
W
February 2, 1980
3–2
Buffalo Sabres (1979–80 ) 24–19–7
51
L
February 3, 1980
3–5
@ Hartford Whalers (1979–80 )
24–20–7
52
W
February 7, 1980
4–1
Los Angeles Kings (1979–80 ) 25–20–7
53
W
February 9, 1980
5–0
Quebec Nordiques (1979–80 ) 26–20–7
54
T
February 12, 1980
0–0
Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 ) 26–20–8
55
W
February 14, 1980
5–3
@ Colorado Rockies (1979–80 )
27–20–8
56
L
February 16, 1980
2–3
@ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80 )
27–21–8
57
L
February 17, 1980
2–4
@ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80 )
27–22–8
58
L
February 19, 1980
4–6
Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80 ) 27–23–8
59
L
February 21, 1980
2–5
Minnesota North Stars (1979–80 ) 27–24–8
60
W
February 23, 1980
3–2
@ St. Louis Blues (1979–80 )
28–24–8
61
L
February 24, 1980
2–8
@ New York Rangers (1979–80 )
28–25–8
62
W
February 27, 1980
5–3
@ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80 )
29–25–8
63
L
March 1, 1980
3–4
Detroit Red Wings (1979–80 ) 29–26–8
64
T
March 2, 1980
0–0
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80 )
29–26–9
65
W
March 4, 1980
6–4
Edmonton Oilers (1979–80 ) 30–26–9
66
W
March 6, 1980
5–2
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80 )
31–26–9
67
L
March 8, 1980
3–5
Boston Bruins (1979–80 ) 31–27–9
68
L
March 9, 1980
1–3
@ Washington Capitals (1979–80 )
31–28–9
69
W
March 11, 1980
4–1
Colorado Rockies (1979–80 ) 32–28–9
70
W
March 15, 1980
6–2
St. Louis Blues (1979–80 ) 33–28–9
71
W
March 16, 1980
6–1
@ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80 )
34–28–9
72
W
March 18, 1980
6–3
Atlanta Flames (1979–80 ) 35–28–9
73
T
March 22, 1980
4–4
Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80 ) 35–28–10
74
T
March 23, 1980
1–1
@ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80 )
35–28–11
75
W
March 25, 1980
5–2
Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80 ) 36–28–11
76
T
March 28, 1980
2–2
@ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80 )
36–28–12
77
W
March 30, 1980
9–6
@ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80 )
37–28–12
78
T
April 1, 1980
1–1
@ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80 )
37–28–13
79
W
April 4, 1980
7–3
@ Atlanta Flames (1979–80 )
38–28–13
80
W
April 5, 1980
2–1
New York Rangers (1979–80 ) 39–28–13
After easily disposing of the Los Angeles Kings and the Boston Bruins in the first two rounds, the Isles faced the Buffalo Sabres in the semi-finals, who had finished second overall in the NHL standings. The Isles won the first two games in Buffalo, including a 3–2 victory in Game 2 on Bob Nystrom 's goal in double overtime. They went on to win the series in six games and reach the finals for the first time in franchise history, where they would face the NHL's regular season champions, the Philadelphia Flyers , who had gone undefeated for 35 straight games (25–0–10) during the regular season. In Game 1 in Philadelphia , the Isles won 4–3 on Denis Potvin 's power-play goal in overtime. Leading the series 3–2, they went home to Long Island for Game 6. In that game, Bob Nystrom continued his overtime heroics, scoring at 7:11 of the extra frame, on assists by John Tonelli and Lorne Henning, to bring Long Island its first Stanley Cup. It was the Isles' sixth overtime victory of the playoffs. Bryan Trottier won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. Torrey's strategy of building through the draft turned out very well; nearly all of the major contributors on the 1980 champions were home-grown Islanders or had spent most of their NHL careers in the Islanders organization. The Islanders would become the first NHL team to win a Stanley Cup with Europeans (Stefan Persson, Anders Kallur, Bob Nystrom) on its roster.[ 4]
1980 Stanley Cup playoffs
Stanley Cup Quarterfinals vs. (4) Boston Bruins: N.Y. Islanders wins 4–1
#
Date
Opponent
Score
OT
Decision
Attendance
Location
Series
Recap
1
April 16, 1980
@ Boston Bruins (1979–80 )
2–1
OT 1:02
Smith 10,910
Boston Garden 1–0
2
April 17, 1980
@ Boston Bruins (1979–80 )
5–4
OT 1:24
Smith 13,134
Boston Garden 2–0
3
April 19, 1980
Boston Bruins (1979–80 ) 5–3
Smith 14,995
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3–0
4
April 21, 1980
Boston Bruins (1979–80 ) 3–4
OT 17:13
Smith 14,995
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3–1
5
April 22, 1980
@ Boston Bruins (1979–80 )
4–2
Smith 14,673
Boston Garden 4–0
Stanley Cup Semi-finals vs. (2) Buffalo Sabres: N.Y. Islanders wins 4–2
#
Date
Opponent
Score
OT
Decision
Attendance
Location
Series
Recap
1
April 29, 1980
@ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80 )
4–1
Smith 16,433
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 1–0
2
May 1, 1980
@ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80 )
2–1
2OT 21:20
Smith 16,433
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 2–0
3
May 3, 1980
Buffalo Sabres (1979–80 ) 7–4
Smith 14,995
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3–0
4
May 6, 1980
Buffalo Sabres (1979–80 ) 4–7
Smith 14,995
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3–1
5
May 8, 1980
@ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80 )
0–2
Resch 16,433
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 3–2
6
May 10, 1980
Buffalo Sabres (1979–80 ) 5–2
Smith 14,995
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4–2
Stanley Cup Finals vs. (1) Philadelphia Flyers: N.Y. Islanders wins 4–2
#
Date
Opponent
Score
OT
Decision
Attendance
Location
Series
Recap
1
May 13, 1980
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80 )
4–3
OT 4:07
Smith 17,077
Spectrum 1–0
2
May 15, 1980
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80 )
3–8
Smith 17,077
Spectrum 1–1
3
May 17, 1980
Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80 ) 6–2
Smith 14,995
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2–1
4
May 19, 1980
Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80 ) 5–2
Smith 14,995
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 3–1
5
May 22, 1980
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80 )
3–6
Smith 17,077
Spectrum 3–2
6
May 24, 1980
Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80 ) 5–4
OT 7:11
Smith 14,995
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 4–2
Legend Win Loss
New York Islanders Philadelphia Flyers
Date
Visitors
Score
Home
Score
Notes
May 13
New York 4 Philadelphia
3
OT
May 15
New York
3
Philadelphia 8
May 17
Philadelphia
2
New York 6
May 19
Philadelphia
2
New York 5
May 22
New York
3
Philadelphia 6
May 24
Philadelphia
4
New York 5 OT
New York wins the series 4–2.
Regular season
Scoring
Goaltending
Playoffs
Scoring
Goaltending
Player
MIN
GP
W
L
GA
GAA
SO
Billy Smith 1198
20
15
4
56
2.80
1
Chico Resch 120
4
0
2
9
4.50
0
Team: 1318
21
15
6
65
2.96
1
[ 5]
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
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^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 . Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225 ^ "1979–80 NHL Standings" . NHL.com . National Hockey League.^ "All-Time NHL Results" . NHL.com . Retrieved August 25, 2023 .^ IIHF Top 100 Hockey Stories of All Time, Szymon Szemberg and Andrew Podnieks, p.74, Fenn Publishing, Bolton, Ontario, Canada, 2008, ISBN 978-1-55168-358-4
^ "1979-80 New York Islanders Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com" . hockey-reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2009 .
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