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80-81EdmOil
1980–81 Edmonton Oilers
Division 4th Smythe
Conference 8th Campbell
1980–81 record 29–35–16
Home record 17–13–10
Road record 12–22–6
Goals for 328 (6th)
Goals against 327 (15th)
Team information
General manager Glen Sather
Coach Bryan Watson
Glen Sather
Captain Blair MacDonald (Oct-Mar)
Lee Fogolin (Mar-Apr)
Alternate captains none
Arena Northlands Coliseum
Team leaders
Goals Wayne Gretzky (55)
Assists Wayne Gretzky (109)
Points Wayne Gretzky (164)
Penalty minutes Pat Price (193)
Plus/minus Wayne Gretzky (+41)
Wins Eddie Mio (16)
Goals against average Gary Edwards (3.62)

The 1980–81 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 2nd season in the NHL, and they finished with 74 points, a 5 point improvement from their first NHL season.

Regular Season[]

Wayne Gretzky would run away with the Art Ross Trophy, awarded to the leading scorer, as he finished with 164 points, 29 points ahead of runner-up Marcel Dionne of the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky would also win his 2nd straight Hart Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the NHL. His 164 points were an NHL record, previously held by Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins in the 1970–71 NHL season when he scored 152 points. Youngsters Jari Kurri and Mark Messier would have very good offensive seasons, finishing 2nd and 3rd on the Oilers scoring list.

Eddie Mio would get the majority of action in the Oilers goal, playing in a team high 43 games and having 16 wins, which set a franchise record.

In the playoffs, the Oilers would face the heavily favoured Montreal Canadiens in the opening round, and they would shock the hockey world by sweeping Montreal in 3 games. In the quarter-finals, the Oilers would play the defending Stanley Cup Champion New York Islanders, and would take them to 6 games before being eliminated.

Final Standings[]

Smythe Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
St. Louis Blues 80 45 18 14 352 281 107
Chicago Black Hawks 80 31 33 16 304 315 78
Vancouver Canucks 80 28 32 20 289 301 76
Edmonton Oilers 80 29 35 16 328 327 74
Colorado Rockies 80 22 45 13 258 344 57
Winnipeg Jets 80 9 57 14 246 400 32

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.


Game Log[]

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 10 Quebec Nordiques 7–4 Edmonton Oilers 0–1–0 0
2 October 12 Colorado Rockies 3–2 Edmonton Oilers 0–2–0 0
3 October 15 Edmonton Oilers 0–2 Buffalo Sabres 0–3–0 0
4 October 18 Edmonton Oilers 5–5 New York Islanders 0–3–1 1
5 October 19 Edmonton Oilers 4–2 New York Rangers 1–3–1 3
6 October 22 Calgary Flames 3–5 Edmonton Oilers 2–3–1 5
7 October 24 Minnesota North Stars 4–2 Edmonton Oilers 2–4–1 5
8 October 26 Los Angeles Kings 4–4 Edmonton Oilers 2–4–2 6
9 October 29 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–4 Edmonton Oilers 2–4–3 7
10 November 1 Washington Capitals 2–2 Edmonton Oilers 2–4–4 8
11 November 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Edmonton Oilers 2–4–5 9
12 November 5 Edmonton Oilers 3–4 Vancouver Canucks 2–5–5 9
13 November 7 Edmonton Oilers 4–2 Winnipeg Jets 3–5–5 11
14 November 9 St. Louis Blues 6–4 Edmonton Oilers 3–6–5 11
15 November 13 Edmonton Oilers 1–8 Philadelphia Flyers 3–7–5 11
16 November 15 Edmonton Oilers 2–4 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–8–5 11
17 November 16 Edmonton Oilers 5–4 Chicago Black Hawks 4–8–5 13
18 November 19 Vancouver Canucks 6–4 Edmonton Oilers 4–9–5 13
19 November 23 Buffalo Sabres 3–6 Edmonton Oilers 5–9–5 15
20 November 25 Edmonton Oilers 3–4 Colorado Rockies 5–10–5 15
21 November 26 Chicago Black Hawks 3–10 Edmonton Oilers 6–10–5 17
22 November 28 Edmonton Oilers 4–6 Hartford Whalers 6–11–5 17
23 November 29 Edmonton Oilers 3–6 Boston Bruins 6–12–5 17
24 December 5 New York Rangers 5–1 Edmonton Oilers 6–13–5 17
25 December 7 Hartford Whalers 4–6 Edmonton Oilers 7–13–5 19
26 December 10 New York Islanders 3–2 Edmonton Oilers 7–14–5 19
27 December 13 Edmonton Oilers 1–4 Montreal Canadiens 7–15–5 19
28 December 14 Edmonton Oilers 5–6 Quebec Nordiques 7–16–5 19
29 December 16 Edmonton Oilers 3–4 Detroit Red Wings 7–17–5 19
30 December 17 Edmonton Oilers 2–5 Washington Capitals 7–18–5 19
31 December 20 Montreal Canadiens 3–4 Edmonton Oilers 8–18–5 21
32 December 23 Edmonton Oilers 4–7 Los Angeles Kings 8–19–5 21
33 December 27 Detroit Red Wings 4–4 Edmonton Oilers 8–19–6 22
34 December 28 Philadelphia Flyers 2–1 Edmonton Oilers 8–20–6 22
35 December 30 Edmonton Oilers 3–5 Calgary Flames 8–21–6 22
36 January 2 Boston Bruins 5–7 Edmonton Oilers 9–21–6 24
37 January 3 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–4 Edmonton Oilers 10–21–6 26
38 January 7 Washington Capitals 3–6 Edmonton Oilers 11–21–6 28
39 January 9 Hartford Whalers 6–6 Edmonton Oilers 11–21–7 29
40 January 11 Edmonton Oilers 6–3 Quebec Nordiques 12–21–7 31
41 January 12 Edmonton Oilers 0–5 Montreal Canadiens 12–22–7 31
42 January 14 Edmonton Oilers 7–4 Toronto Maple Leafs 13–22–7 33
43 January 16 Edmonton Oilers 5–5 Buffalo Sabres 13–22–8 34
44 January 17 Edmonton Oilers 6–7 St. Louis Blues 13–23–8 34
45 January 21 Vancouver Canucks 1–5 Edmonton Oilers 14–23–8 36
46 January 23 New York Rangers 7–4 Edmonton Oilers 14–24–8 36
47 January 24 Edmonton Oilers 1–6 Minnesota North Stars 14–25–8 36
48 January 28 Montreal Canadiens 1–9 Edmonton Oilers 15–25–8 38
49 January 30 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 Edmonton Oilers 16–25–8 40
50 February 1 Edmonton Oilers 4–7 Washington Capitals 16–26–8 40
51 February 3 Edmonton Oilers 3–3 St. Louis Blues 16–26–9 41
52 February 4 Edmonton Oilers 4–6 Chicago Black Hawks 16–27–9 41
53 February 6 Winnipeg Jets 4–10 Edmonton Oilers 17–27–9 43
54 February 8 Calgary Flames 10–4 Edmonton Oilers 17–28–9 43
55 February 13 Quebec Nordiques 4–2 Edmonton Oilers 17–29–9 43
56 February 15 Buffalo Sabres 2–2 Edmonton Oilers 17–29–10 44
57 February 18 St. Louis Blues 2–9 Edmonton Oilers 18–29–10 46
58 February 20 Boston Bruins 5–1 Edmonton Oilers 18–30–10 46
59 February 21 Edmonton Oilers 5–1 Winnipeg Jets 19–30–10 48
60 February 24 Edmonton Oilers 2–5 Los Angeles Kings 19–31–10 48
61 February 25 Philadelphia Flyers 2–6 Edmonton Oilers 20–31–10 50
62 February 27 Detroit Red Wings 2–5 Edmonton Oilers 21–31–10 52
63 February 28 Edmonton Oilers 1–3 Colorado Rockies 21–32–10 52
64 March 3 Edmonton Oilers 8–8 New York Islanders 21–32–11 53
65 March 4 Edmonton Oilers 5–5 New York Rangers 21–32–12 54
66 March 7 Edmonton Oilers 5–3 Philadelphia Flyers 22–32–12 56
67 March 8 Edmonton Oilers 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins 22–33–12 56
68 March 12 New York Islanders 5–0 Edmonton Oilers 22–34–12 56
69 March 15 Edmonton Oilers 3–3 Calgary Flames 22–34–13 57
70 March 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–7 Edmonton Oilers 23–34–13 59
71 March 18 Edmonton Oilers 5–3 Minnesota North Stars 24–34–13 61
72 March 20 Minnesota North Stars 1–1 Edmonton Oilers 24–34–14 62
73 March 21 Los Angeles Kings 6–6 Edmonton Oilers 24–34–15 63
74 March 23 Edmonton Oilers 2–7 Boston Bruins 24–35–15 63
75 March 25 Edmonton Oilers 7–2 Hartford Whalers 25–35–15 65
76 March 28 Edmonton Oilers 4–2 Detroit Red Wings 26–35–15 67
77 March 29 Edmonton Oilers 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 27–35–15 69
78 April 1 Colorado Rockies 4–4 Edmonton Oilers 27–35–16 70
79 April 3 Edmonton Oilers 7–2 Vancouver Canucks 28–35–16 72
80 April 4 Winnipeg Jets 2–7 Edmonton Oilers 29–35–16 74

Playoffs[]

In Game One of the series versus Montreal, Wayne Gretzky had five assists. This was a single game playoff record.[1]

Edmonton Oilers 3, Montreal Canadiens 0[]

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 8 Edmonton Oilers 6–3 Montreal Canadiens 1–0
2 April 9 Edmonton Oilers 3–1 Montreal Canadiens 2–0
3 April 11 Montreal Canadiens 2–6 Edmonton Oilers 3–0

New York Islanders 4, Edmonton Oilers 2[]

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 16 Edmonton Oilers 2–8 New York Islanders 0–1
2 April 17 Edmonton Oilers 3–6 New York Islanders 0–2
3 April 19 New York Islanders 2–5 Edmonton Oilers 1–2
4 April 20 New York Islanders 5–4 Edmonton Oilers 1–3
5 April 22 Edmonton Oilers 4–3 New York Islanders 2–3
6 April 24 New York Islanders 5–2 Edmonton Oilers 2–4

Season Stats[]

Scoring Leaders[]

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Wayne Gretzky 80 55 109 164 28
Jari Kurri 75 32 43 75 40
Mark Messier 72 23 40 63 102
Brett Callighen 55 25 35 60 32
Glenn Anderson 58 30 23 53 24

Goaltending[]

Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
Gary Edwards 15 729 5 3 4 44 0 3.62
Andy Moog 7 313 3 3 0 20 0 3.83
Eddie Mio 43 2393 16 15 9 155 0 3.89
Ron Low 24 1260 5 13 3 93 0 4.43
Pete LoPresti 2 105 0 1 0 8 0 4.57

Playoff Stats[]

Scoring Leaders[]

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Wayne Gretzky 9 7 14 21 4
Glenn Anderson 9 5 7 12 12
Jari Kurri 9 5 7 12 4
Brett Callighen 9 4 4 8 6
Paul Coffey 9 4 3 7 22

Goaltending[]

Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Andy Moog 9 526 5 4 32 0 3.65
Gary Edwards 1 20 0 0 2 0 6.00

Awards and Records[]

Transactions[]

Trades[]

June 11, 1980 To Philadelphia Flyers
Ron Areshenkoff
10th round pick in 1980 - Bob O'Brien
To Edmonton Oilers
Barry Dean
February 2, 1981 To Minnesota North Stars
3rd round pick in 1982 - Wally Chapman
To Edmonton Oilers
Gary Edwards
March 10, 1981 To Los Angeles Kings
7th round pick in 1981 - Craig Hurley
To Edmonton Oilers
Garry Unger
March 10, 1981 To New York Rangers
John Hughes
To Edmonton Oilers
Ray Markham
March 10, 1981 To Pittsburgh Penguins
Pat Price
To Edmonton Oilers
Pat Hughes
March 10, 1981 To Vancouver Canucks
Blair MacDonald
Lars-Gunnar Pettersson
To Edmonton Oilers
Garry Lariviere
Ken Berry

Free Agents[]

Player Former Team
D *Tom Bladon Pittsburgh Penguins
Player New Team
D John Bednarski Buffalo Sabres
F Alex Tidey Los Angeles Kings
D Tom Bladon Winnipeg Jets

*Played only one game before becoming a free agent

Draft Picks[]

Edmonton's draft picks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 6 Paul Coffey Flag of Canada Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
3 48 Shawn Babcock Flag of Canada Canada Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL)
4 69 Jari Kurri Flag of Finland Finland Jokerit (SM-liiga)
5 90 Walt Poddubny Flag of Canada Canada Kingston Canadians (OMJHL)
6 111 Mike Winther Flag of Canada Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
7 132 Andy Moog Flag of Canada Canada Billings Bighorns (WHL)
8 153 Rob Polman-Tuin Flag of Canada Canada Michigan Tech (NCAA)
9 174 Lars-Gunnar Pettersson Flag of Sweden Sweden Bjorkloven IF (Sweden)

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

External Sources[]


This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at 1980–81 Edmonton Oilers season. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Ice Hockey Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA).


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