1979–80 New York Islanders season

The 1979-80 New York Islanders season was the eighth season in the franchise's history. It involved winning the Stanley Cup. During the season, the Islanders dropped below the 100-point mark for the first time in five years, earning only 91 points.

1979–80 New York Islanders
Stanley Cup champions
Division2nd Patrick
Conference2nd Campbell
1979–80 record39–28–13
Goals for281
Goals against247
Team information
General ManagerBill Torrey
CoachAl Arbour
CaptainDenis Potvin
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaNassau Coliseum
Team leaders
GoalsMike Bossy (51)
AssistsBryan Trottier (62)
PointsBryan Trottier (104)
Penalty minutesGarry Howatt (219)
WinsChico Resch (23)
Goals against averageBilly Smith (2.95)

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's 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.

Offseason

Clark Gillies resigns the team captaincy and is replaced by defenceman Denis Potvin.

NHL Draft
See also: 1979 NHL Entry Draft
Round Pick Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team
117Duane Sutter (RW) CanadaLethbridge Broncos (WHL)
225Tomas Jonsson (D) SwedenModo Hockey (Sweden)
238Billy Carroll (C) CanadaLondon Knights (OMJHL)
359Roland Melanson (G) CanadaWindsor Spitfires (OMJHL)
480Tim Lockridge (D) CanadaBrandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
5101Glen Duncan (LW) CanadaToronto Marlboros (OMJHL)
6122John Gibb (D) CanadaBowling Green University (CCHA)

Regular season

Season standings
Patrick Division
  GP W L T GF GA Pts
Philadelphia Flyers80481220327254116
New York Islanders8039281328124791
New York Rangers8038321030828486
Atlanta Flames8035321328226983
Washington Capitals8027401326129367

[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.

Schedule and results

Pre-season

Regular season
1979–80 Game Log

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1LOctober 11, 19792–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80)0–1–0
2LOctober 13, 19792–5Buffalo Sabres (1979–80)0–2–0
3WOctober 16, 19795–1Atlanta Flames (1979–80)1–2–0
4LOctober 18, 19792–3@ Boston Bruins (1979–80)1–3–0
5WOctober 20, 19796–1Hartford Whalers (1979–80)2–3–0
6TOctober 23, 19793–3Edmonton Oilers (1979–80)2–3–1
7WOctober 26, 19792–1@ Hartford Whalers (1979–80)3–3–1
8WOctober 27, 19796–4Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80)4–3–1
9TOctober 31, 19792–2@ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80)4–3–2
10LNovember 2, 19795–7@ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80)4–4–2
11TNovember 4, 19794–4@ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80)4–4–3
12WNovember 6, 19794–1Los Angeles Kings (1979–80)5–4–3
13LNovember 9, 19792–5@ Atlanta Flames (1979–80)5–5–3
14LNovember 10, 19792–5Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80)5–6–3
15WNovember 13, 197910–5New York Rangers (1979–80)6–6–3
16LNovember 17, 19794–5Detroit Red Wings (1979–80)6–7–3
17LNovember 20, 19793–6@ St. Louis Blues (1979–80)6–8–3
18LNovember 21, 19791–3@ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80)6–9–3
19TNovember 24, 19794–4@ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80)6–9–4
20LNovember 28, 19794–7@ Colorado Rockies (1979–80)6–10–4
21LNovember 30, 19793–5@ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80)6–11–4
22WDecember 2, 19794–0@ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80)7–11–4
23LDecember 4, 19791–5Vancouver Canucks (1979–80)7–12–4
24WDecember 6, 19794–3Boston Bruins (1979–80)8–12–4
25WDecember 7, 19796–1@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80)9–12–4
26LDecember 9, 19794–5@ New York Rangers (1979–80)9–13–4
27WDecember 11, 19794–1Montreal Canadiens (1979–80)10–13–4
28TDecember 12, 19793–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80)10–13–5
29TDecember 15, 19793–3Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80)10–13–6
30WDecember 18, 19793–2Colorado Rockies (1979–80)11–13–6
31WDecember 22, 19792–1Washington Capitals (1979–80)12–13–6
32LDecember 23, 19790–8@ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80)12–14–6
33WDecember 27, 19797–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80)13–14–6
34LDecember 30, 19792–4@ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80)13–15–6
35WJanuary 2, 19803–1@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80)14–15–6
36LJanuary 3, 19803–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80)14–16–6
37WJanuary 5, 19803–1St. Louis Blues (1979–80)15–16–6
38WJanuary 8, 19803–0Vancouver Canucks (1979–80)16–16–6
39LJanuary 9, 19802–3@ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80)16–17–6
40WJanuary 12, 19805–2Washington Capitals (1979–80)17–17–6
41WJanuary 15, 19805–2Winnipeg Jets (1979–80)18–17–6
42WJanuary 17, 19809–6Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80)19–17–6
43WJanuary 19, 19803–1Quebec Nordiques (1979–80)20–17–6
44WJanuary 22, 19802–1Montreal Canadiens (1979–80)21–17–6
45WJanuary 23, 19805–3@ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80)22–17–6
46WJanuary 26, 19803–2Hartford Whalers (1979–80)23–17–6
47LJanuary 27, 19801–7@ Washington Capitals (1979–80)23–18–6
48TJanuary 29, 19802–2Minnesota North Stars (1979–80)23–18–7
49LJanuary 31, 19802–4@ Boston Bruins (1979–80)23–19–7
50WFebruary 2, 19803–2Buffalo Sabres (1979–80)24–19–7
51LFebruary 3, 19803–5@ Hartford Whalers (1979–80)24–20–7
52WFebruary 7, 19804–1Los Angeles Kings (1979–80)25–20–7
53WFebruary 9, 19805–0Quebec Nordiques (1979–80)26–20–7
54TFebruary 12, 19800–0Winnipeg Jets (1979–80)26–20–8
55WFebruary 14, 19805–3@ Colorado Rockies (1979–80)27–20–8
56LFebruary 16, 19802–3@ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80)27–21–8
57LFebruary 17, 19802–4@ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80)27–22–8
58LFebruary 19, 19804–6Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80)27–23–8
59LFebruary 21, 19802–5Minnesota North Stars (1979–80)27–24–8
60WFebruary 23, 19803–2@ St. Louis Blues (1979–80)28–24–8
61LFebruary 24, 19802–8@ New York Rangers (1979–80)28–25–8
62WFebruary 27, 19805–3@ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80)29–25–8
63LMarch 1, 19803–4Detroit Red Wings (1979–80)29–26–8
64TMarch 2, 19800–0@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80)29–26–9
65WMarch 4, 19806–4Edmonton Oilers (1979–80)30–26–9
66WMarch 6, 19805–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80)31–26–9
67LMarch 8, 19803–5Boston Bruins (1979–80)31–27–9
68LMarch 9, 19801–3@ Washington Capitals (1979–80)31–28–9
69WMarch 11, 19804–1Colorado Rockies (1979–80)32–28–9
70WMarch 15, 19806–2St. Louis Blues (1979–80)33–28–9
71WMarch 16, 19806–1@ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80)34–28–9
72WMarch 18, 19806–3Atlanta Flames (1979–80)35–28–9
73TMarch 22, 19804–4Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80)35–28–10
74TMarch 23, 19801–1@ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80)35–28–11
75WMarch 25, 19805–2Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80)36–28–11
76TMarch 28, 19802–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80)36–28–12
77WMarch 30, 19809–6@ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80)37–28–12
78TApril 1, 19801–1@ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80)37–28–13
79WApril 4, 19807–3@ Atlanta Flames (1979–80)38–28–13
80WApril 5, 19802–1New York Rangers (1979–80)39–28–13

Playoffs

In the semi-finals, the Isles faced the Buffalo Sabres, 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.[2]

1980 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Legend:   Win   Loss

Stanley Cup

New York Islanders vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Date Visitors Score Home Score Notes
May 13New York4Philadelphia3OT
May 15New York3Philadelphia 8
May 17Philadelphia2New York6
May 19Philadelphia2New York5OT
May 22New York3Philadelphia 6
May 24Philadelphia4New York5OT

New York wins the series 4–2.

1980 New York Islanders Stanley Cup Champions

Gord Lane, Jean Potvin, Bob Lorimer, Denis Potvin, Stefan Persson, Ken Morrow, Dave Langevin, Duane Sutter, Garry Howatt, Clark Gillies, Lorne Henning, Wayne Merrick, Bob Bourne, Steve Tambellini, Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, Bob Nystrom, John Tonelli, Anders Kallur, Butch Goring, Alex McKendry, Glenn Resch, Billy Smith, Al Arbour(coach), Bill Torrey(general manager), Ron Waske, Jim Pickard(trainers)

Player statistics
Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Bryan TrottierC78426210468311506
Mike BossyRW7551419212281608
Clark GilliesLW731935544929705
Anders KallurRW762230521612542
John TonelliLW77143044498302
Denis PotvinD31833414413400
Bob BourneC73152540525301
Bob NystromRW67211839944204
Stefan PerssonD73435397613200
Wayne MerrickC701322351612204
Billy HarrisRW67151530370212
Duane SutterRW5615924555001
Dave LewisD62516215410000
Garry HowattLW7781119219-3001
Bob LorimerD74316195332001
Dave LangevinD763131610911010
Gord LaneD552141615210001
Jean PotvinD322131526-12200
Steve TambelliniC4558134-1000
Butch GoringC12651127010
Lorne HenningC393696-10000
Mike KaszyckiC16145153000
Yvon VautourRW1731424-6001
Ken MorrowD1803344000
Chico ReschG4503340000
Billy SmithG38101390000
Richard BrodeurG200000000
Mike HordyD900070000
Randy JohnstonD40004-2000
Garth MacGuiganC200021000
Alex McKendryW20000-1000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Chico Resch260645231461323.043
Billy Smith211438151471042.952
Richard Brodeur80210064.500
Team:4800803928132423.025
Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Bryan TrottierC2112172916422
Mike BossyRW161013238601
Bob BourneC2110102010521
Butch GoringC21712192100
Denis PotvinD216131924401
Bob NystromRW20991850003
John TonelliLW21791618000
Clark GilliesLW216101663102
Stefan PerssonD215101516400
Duane SutterRW21371074000
Lorne HenningC213472031
Wayne MerrickC212462001
Garry HowattLW2131484001
Alex McKendryW62240000
Gord LaneD2113485000
Bob LorimerD2113441001
Ken MorrowD2012312001
Dave LangevinD2103332000
Chico ReschG40000000
Billy SmithG2000011000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Billy Smith119820154562.801
Chico Resch12040294.500
Team:131821156652.961

[3]

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;

Awards and records

Transactions

Farm teams

References
  1. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
  2. 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
  3. "1979-80 New York Islanders Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
Preceded by
Montreal Canadiens
1979		 New York Islanders
Stanley Cup Champions
1980		 Succeeded by
New York Islanders
1981
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