1980–81 Montreal Canadiens
Wales Conference champions
Norris Division champions
Division1st Norris
Conference1st Wales
1980–81 record45–22–13
Goals for332
Goals against232
Team information
General managerIrving Grundman
CoachClaude Ruel
CaptainSerge Savard
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaMontreal Forum
Average attendance16,699
Team leaders
GoalsSteve Shutt
Mark Napier (35)
AssistsGuy Lafleur (43)
PointsSteve Shutt (73)
Penalty minutesChris Nilan (262)
Plus/minusBrian Engblom (+63)
WinsRichard Sevigny (20)
Goals against averageRick Wamsley (1.90)

The 1980–81 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 72nd season of play. The Canadiens lost just once in their last twenty-seven home games.[1] The Canadiens earned at least 100 regular season points for the seventh consecutive season.[2] Montreal qualified for the playoffs and were eliminated in the NHL's Preliminary round by the Edmonton Oilers three games to none, in what was considered a major upset.[3] Four days after the Canadiens were eliminated, head coach Claude Ruel resigned.

Offseason

Regular season

  • Guy Lafleur, as a result of recovery from a car accident, appeared in only 51 games and scored 27 goals. It was the first time since the 1973–74 Montreal Canadiens season that he failed to score 50 goals or more in a season.[4][5]

Final standings

Norris Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Montreal Canadiens80452213332232103
Los Angeles Kings8043241333729099
Pittsburgh Penguins8030371330234573
Hartford Whalers8021411829237260
Detroit Red Wings8019431825233956

[6]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.

Record vs. opponents

Norris Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference

Vs. Campbell Conference

Schedule and results

Regular season results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1LOctober 11, 19804–5Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)0–1–0
2LOctober 12, 19802–3@ Boston Bruins (1980–81)0–2–0
3TOctober 15, 19803–3@ Washington Capitals (1980–81)0–2–1
4WOctober 18, 19804–1Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)1–2–1
5LOctober 19, 19801–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)1–3–1
6LOctober 21, 19803–4@ St. Louis Blues (1980–81)1–4–1
7WOctober 23, 19807–2@ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)2–4–1
8LOctober 25, 19802–5Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)2–5–1
9LOctober 28, 19804–6@ New York Islanders (1980–81)2–6–1
10WOctober 30, 19808–2Hartford Whalers (1980–81)3–6–1
11WNovember 1, 19807–4New York Rangers (1980–81)4–6–1
12WNovember 4, 19805–4Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)5–6–1
13LNovember 6, 19802–3@ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)5–7–1
14WNovember 8, 19803–0Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)6–7–1
15WNovember 11, 19808–2@ Colorado Rockies (1980–81)7–7–1
16WNovember 12, 19808–4@ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)8–7–1
17TNovember 14, 19803–3@ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)8–7–2
18WNovember 16, 19805–1@ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)9–7–2
19WNovember 19, 19805–4@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)10–7–2
20WNovember 20, 19807–3Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)11–7–2
21WNovember 22, 19807–3Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)12–7–2
22LNovember 25, 19804–5Calgary Flames (1980–81)12–8–2
23LNovember 27, 19803–4New York Islanders (1980–81)12–9–2
24LNovember 29, 19802–4Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)12–10–2
25WDecember 3, 19806–5@ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)13–10–2
26LDecember 4, 19802–3Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)13–11–2
27WDecember 6, 19804–1Boston Bruins (1980–81)14–11–2
28LDecember 10, 19803–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)14–12–2
29WDecember 11, 19805–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)15–12–2
30WDecember 13, 19804–1Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)16–12–2
31TDecember 17, 19804–4@ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)16–12–3
32WDecember 18, 19804–0@ Calgary Flames (1980–81)17–12–3
33LDecember 20, 19803–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)17–13–3
34TDecember 23, 19802–2@ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)17–13–4
35WDecember 27, 19807–4Washington Capitals (1980–81)18–13–4
36WDecember 28, 19805–2@ New York Rangers (1980–81)19–13–4
37WDecember 30, 19804–0Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)20–13–4
38WJanuary 2, 19813–1@ Hartford Whalers (1980–81)21–13–4
39WJanuary 3, 19812–1Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)22–13–4
40WJanuary 6, 19816–2@ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)23–13–4
41WJanuary 8, 19814–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)24–13–4
42TJanuary 10, 19815–5Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)24–13–5
43WJanuary 12, 19815–0Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)25–13–5
44WJanuary 15, 19817–3Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)26–13–5
45LJanuary 17, 19815–6@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)26–14–5
46LJanuary 19, 19813–6@ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)26–15–5
47LJanuary 21, 19812–4@ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)26–16–5
48WJanuary 24, 19816–3Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)27–16–5
49LJanuary 28, 19811–9@ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)27–17–5
50TJanuary 29, 19814–4@ Calgary Flames (1980–81)27–17–6
51LJanuary 31, 19811–4@ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)27–18–6
52WFebruary 3, 19815–2@ Colorado Rockies (1980–81)28–18–6
53WFebruary 5, 19817–0Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)29–18–6
54WFebruary 7, 19816–2Boston Bruins (1980–81)30–18–6
55TFebruary 12, 19813–3St. Louis Blues (1980–81)30–18–7
56WFebruary 14, 19816–1Washington Capitals (1980–81)31–18–7
57TFebruary 15, 19815–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)31–18–8
58WFebruary 19, 19815–2Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)32–18–8
59WFebruary 21, 19814–1Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)33–18–8
60WFebruary 22, 19814–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)34–18–8
61TFebruary 24, 19812–2@ St. Louis Blues (1980–81)34–18–9
62WFebruary 26, 19816–0Colorado Rockies (1980–81)35–18–9
63WFebruary 28, 19815–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)36–18–9
64TMarch 1, 19814–4@ New York Rangers (1980–81)36–18–10
65WMarch 4, 19819–3Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)37–18–10
66LMarch 7, 19812–4@ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)37–19–10
67TMarch 9, 19811–1@ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)37–19–11
68WMarch 11, 19812–1@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)38–19–11
69WMarch 12, 19814–3St. Louis Blues (1980–81)39–19–11
70WMarch 14, 19812–1Colorado Rockies (1980–81)40–19–11
71TMarch 17, 19813–3@ New York Islanders (1980–81)40–19–12
72LMarch 18, 19813–9@ Hartford Whalers (1980–81)40–20–12
73WMarch 21, 19815–3Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)41–20–12
74TMarch 22, 19812–2@ Washington Capitals (1980–81)41–20–13
75WMarch 26, 19818–2Calgary Flames (1980–81)42–20–13
76LMarch 28, 19812–6New York Rangers (1980–81)42–21–13
77LMarch 29, 19810–4@ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)42–22–13
78WMarch 31, 19813–1New York Islanders (1980–81)43–22–13
79WApril 3, 19816–1Hartford Whalers (1980–81)44–22–13
80WApril 5, 19814–2@ Boston Bruins (1980–81)45–22–13

[8]

Playoffs

The Canadiens were swept in three games by the Edmonton Oilers. In Game One of the series, Wayne Gretzky had five assists. This was a single game playoff record.[9]

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Steve ShuttLW773538735130703
Mark NapierRW793536712434506
Guy LafleurRW512743702924707
Mario TremblayRW7725386312316414
Rejean HouleW772731588320613
Yvon LambertLW73223254397403
Pierre LaroucheC612528532813502
Larry RobinsonD651238503746702
Bob GaineyLW782324473613533
Rod LangwayD8011344512053512
Pierre MondouC571724411624502
Keith ActonC61152439745302
Doug JarvisC801622383412021
Doug RisebroughC48132134937101
Brian EngblomD80325289663100
Gaston GingrasD5551621225301
Serge SavardD77413173012001
Chris NilanRW5778152627001
Doug WickenheiserC417815205200
Guy LapointeD33191079-6101
Robert PicardD82246-1100
Denis HerronG2502200000
Guy CarbonneauC201100000
Michel LarocqueG2801120000
Bill BakerD1100032-1000
Rick ChartrawD/RW140004-5000
Yvan JolyRW100000000
Dave OrleskiLW100000000
Richard SevignyG33000300000
Rick WamsleyG500000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Richard Sevigny1777332043712.402
Michel Larocque1623281693823.031
Denis Herron114725696673.501
Rick Wamsley253530181.901
Team:4800804522132282.855

Playoffs

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Steve ShuttLW32134000
Pierre LaroucheC20220000
Brian EngblomD31014000
Gaston GingrasD11010100
Rejean HouleW31016000
Doug RisebroughC31010100
Guy LafleurRW30112000
Pierre MondouC30110000
Larry RobinsonD30112000
Keith ActonC20006000
Bob GaineyLW30002000
Doug JarvisC30000000
Yvon LambertLW30002000
Rod LangwayD30006000
Guy LapointeD100017000
Mark NapierRW30002000
Chris NilanRW20000000
Robert PicardD10000000
Serge SavardD30000000
Richard SevignyG30000000
Mario TremblayRW30009000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Richard Sevigny180303134.330
Team:180303134.330

[10]

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

The 1980 NHL Entry Draft was hosted at the Montreal Forum. It would mark the first time that an NHL Arena hosted the event.[11]

Round # Player Nationality College/junior/club team
11Doug Wickenheiser CanadaRegina Pats (WHL)
227Ric Nattress CanadaBrantford Alexanders (OHA)
240John Chabot CanadaHull Olympiques (QMJHL)
345John Newberry CanadaNanaimo Clippers (BCJHL)
361Craig Ludwig United StatesUniversity of North Dakota (NCAA)
482Jeff Teal United StatesUniversity of Minnesota (WCHA)
5103Remi Gagne CanadaChicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
6124Mike McPhee CanadaRennssaeler Polytechnic Institute (ECAC)
7145Bill Norton United StatesClarkson University (ECAC)
8166Steve Penney CanadaShawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
9187John Schmidt United StatesUniversity of Notre Dame (WCHA)
10208Scott Robinson CanadaUniversity of Denver (WCHA)

Farm teams

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.243, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
  2. ↑ The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.243, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
  3. ↑ https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2168415
  4. ↑ The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.242, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
  5. ↑ https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2168415
  6. ↑ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
  7. ↑ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  8. ↑ "1980–81 Montreal Canadiens Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
  9. ↑ The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.243, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
  10. ↑ "1980-81 Montreal Canadiens Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
  11. ↑ The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.240, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.