1980 Stanley Cup playoffs

1980 Stanley Cup playoffs

Tournament details
Dates	April 8–May 24, 1980
Teams	16
Defending champions	Montreal Canadiens
Final positions
Champions	New York Islanders
Runners-up	Philadelphia Flyers
←  1979 1981  →

The 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs, the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL) began on April 8, after the conclusion of the 1979–80 NHL season. This season saw the addition of four teams from the disbanded World Hockey Association (WHA) as expansion franchises, and thus the playoffs were also expanded from 12 to 16 teams. The expanded playoff format allowed two of those former WHA clubs, the Edmonton Oilers and the Hartford Whalers, to make the playoffs in their first season in the NHL. The Atlanta Flames played their final playoff games before moving to Calgary after the season; the playoffs would eventually return to Atlanta in 2007 when the expansion Atlanta Thrashers made their first postseason appearance.

The playoffs concluded on May 24 when the New York Islanders defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5–4 to win the final series four games to two and win the Stanley Cup. It was the Islanders' first Stanley Cup win and was the first of four consecutive Stanley Cup wins.

The Stanley Cup

Playoff seeds

With the league expansion from 17 to 21 teams, the playoffs were also expanded, from a 12-team tournament to a 16-team tournament. The sixteen teams were composed of the four divisional champions plus the top 12 finishers of the remaining 17 teams. The 16 qualifying teams were then seeded based on regular-season points, with divisional rankings ignored. Division leaders no longer received first-round byes. The teams were seeded 1 through 16, with the top team playing the 16th team in the first round, and so on. In subsequent rounds, matchups were similarly arranged, with the top remaining seed against the lowest remaining seed, the second-highest remaining seed against the second-lowest remaining seed, and so on. ^[1]

The following sixteen teams qualified for the playoffs:

1. Philadelphia Flyers, Patrick Division champions, Clarence Campbell Conference regular season champions, NHL regular season champions – 116 points
2. Buffalo Sabres, Adams Division champions, Prince of Wales Conference regular season champions – 110 points
3. Montreal Canadiens, Norris Division champions – 107 points
4. Boston Bruins – 105 points
5. New York Islanders – 91 points
6. Minnesota North Stars – 88 points
7. Chicago Black Hawks, Smythe Division champions – 87 points
8. New York Rangers – 86 points
9. Atlanta Flames – 83 points
10. St. Louis Blues – 80 points
11. Toronto Maple Leafs – 75 points
12. Los Angeles Kings – 74 points
13. Pittsburgh Penguins – 73 points (30 wins)
14. Hartford Whalers – 73 points (27 wins)
15. Vancouver Canucks – 70 points
16. Edmonton Oilers – 69 points

Playoff bracket

The NHL used "re-seeding" instead of a fixed bracket playoff system: in each round, the highest remaining seed was matched against the lowest remaining seed, the second-highest remaining seed played the second-lowest remaining seed, and so forth.

Starting this postseason, each series in the Preliminary Round was expanded from a best-of-three format to a best-of-five format. Each series in the other three rounds remained in a best-of-seven format. ^[1]

	Preliminary Round					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Stanley Cup Finals
	1	Philadelphia	3
	16	Edmonton	0
						1	Philadelphia	4
						8	NY Rangers	1
	2	Buffalo	3
	15	Vancouver	1
											1	Philadelphia	4
											4	Minnesota	1
	3	Montreal	3
	14	Hartford	0
						2	Buffalo	4
						7	Chicago	0
	4	Boston	3
	13	Pittsburgh	2
																1	Philadelphia	2
																3	NY Islanders	4
	5	NY Islanders	3
	12	Los Angeles	1
						3	Montreal	3
						6	Minnesota	4
	6	Minnesota	3
	11	Toronto	0
											2	Buffalo	2
											3	NY Islanders	4
	7	Chicago	3
	10	St. Louis	0
						4	Boston	1
						5	NY Islanders	4
	8	NY Rangers	3
	9	Atlanta	1

Preliminary round

(1) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (16) Edmonton Oilers

This was the first playoff series meeting between these two teams.

April 8	Edmonton Oilers		3–4	OT	Philadelphia Flyers	Spectrum	Recap
Dave Lumley (1) – pp – 14:09 Wayne Gretzky (1) – 16:01		First period			00:56 – Paul Holmgren (1) 06:19 – Reggie Leach (1)
No scoring		Second period			No scoring
Don Murdoch (1) – 08:09		Third period			18:41 – Rick MacLeish (1)
No scoring		First overtime period			08:06 – Bobby Clarke (1)
Ron Low 47 saves / 51 shots		Goalie stats			Pete Peeters 14 saves / 17 shots

April 9	Edmonton Oilers		1–5		Philadelphia Flyers	Spectrum	Recap
Don Murdoch (2) – 01:14		First period			13:32 – Behn Wilson (1)
No scoring		Second period			04:08 – pp – Bobby Clarke (2)
No scoring		Third period			08:26 – Paul Holmgren (2) 10:05 – Reggie Leach (2) 19:33 – pp – Tom Gorence (1)
Ron Low 23 saves / 28 shots		Goalie stats			Pete Peeters 23 saves / 24 shots

April 11	Philadelphia Flyers		3–2	2OT	Edmonton Oilers	Northlands Coliseum	Recap
No scoring		First period			15:55 – Wayne Gretzky (2) 17:16 – sh – Mark Messier (1)
Behn Wilson (2) – 04:24		Second period			No scoring
Brian Propp (1) – 07:03		Third period			No scoring
Ken Linseman (1) – 03:56		Second overtime period			No scoring
Phil Myre 41 saves / 43 shots		Goalie stats			Ron Low 45 saves / 48 shots

Philadelphia won series 3–0

(2) Buffalo Sabres vs. (15) Vancouver Canucks

This was the first playoff series meeting between these two teams.

April 8	Vancouver Canucks		1–2		Buffalo Sabres	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium	Recap
No scoring		First period			04:20 – pp – Derek Smith (1)
No scoring		Second period			13:21 – Don Luce (1)
Brent Ashton (1) – 16:42		Third period			No scoring
Gary Bromley 24 saves / 26 shots		Goalie stats			Don Edwards 18 saves / 19 shots

April 9	Vancouver Canucks		0–6		Buffalo Sabres	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium	Recap
No scoring		First period			03:31 – pp – Mike Ramsey (1) 09:51 – Richard Martin (1) 16:54 – pp – Gilbert Perreault (1) 19:59 – pp – Richie Dunn (1)
No scoring		Second period			06:05 – Ric Seiling (1) 16:31 – Richard Martin (2)
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
Gary Bromley 6 saves / 10 shots Glen Hanlon 14 saves / 16 shots		Goalie stats			Bob Sauve 22 saves / 22 shots

April 11	Buffalo Sabres		4–5		Vancouver Canucks	Pacific Coliseum	Recap
Danny Gare (1) – pp – 15:29		First period			04:41 – Bob Manno (1) 07:06 – Gary Lupul (1) 16:17 – Darcy Rota (1) 19:50 – Kevin McCarthy (1)
Derek Smith (2) – 02:08		Second period			No scoring
Tony McKegney (1) – 17:46 Richard Martin (3) – 18:48		Third period			03:38 – Per-Olov Brasar (1)
Don Edwards 21 saves / 26 shots		Goalie stats			Gary Bromley 19 saves / 22 shots Glen Hanlon 10 saves / 11 shots

April 12	Buffalo Sabres		3–1		Vancouver Canucks	Pacific Coliseum	Recap
Richard Martin (4) – pp – 15:24		First period			No scoring
No scoring		Second period			04:42 – Darcy Rota (2)
Gilbert Perreault (2) – 02:04 Ric Seiling (2) – en – 19:41		Third period			No scoring
Bob Sauve 23 saves / 24 shots		Goalie stats			Gary Bromley 24 saves / 26 shots

Buffalo won series 3–1

(3) Montreal Canadiens vs. (14) Hartford Whalers

This was the first playoff series meeting between these two teams. Game 3 was the last game each for Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull, who each retired in the offseason.

April 8	Hartford Whalers		1–6		Montreal Canadiens	Forum de Montréal	Recap
No scoring		First period			05:50 – Yvon Lambert (1) 15:52 – Brian Engblom (1)
No scoring		Second period			11:59 – Rick Chartraw (1) 13:59 – Guy Lafleur (1)
Mark Howe (1) – 15:01		Third period			10:27 – Yvon Lambert (2) 13:15 – pp – Steve Shutt (1)
Al Smith 31 saves / 37 shots		Goalie stats			Denis Herron 20 saves / 21 shots

April 9	Hartford Whalers		4–8		Montreal Canadiens	Forum de Montréal	Recap
No scoring		First period			00:30 – Doug Jarvis (1) 01:20 – Rejean Houle (1) 16:32 – Yvon Lambert (3)
Ray Neufeld (1) – 06:22 Gordie Roberts (1) – 11:26		Second period			01:33 – Gaston Gingras (1) 06:46 – Bob Gainey (1) 12:45 – Yvon Lambert (4) 13:53 – Steve Shutt (2) 19:49 – Guy Lafleur (2)
Marty Howe (1) – 05:55 Gordie Howe (1) – 13:59		Third period			No scoring
John Garrett 32 saves / 40 shots		Goalie stats			Denis Herron 23 saves / 27 shots

April 11	Montreal Canadiens		4–3	OT	Hartford Whalers	Hartford Civic Center	Recap
Guy Lafleur (3) – 12:17		First period			07:03 – sh – Pat Boutette (1)
Yvon Lambert (5) – pp – 05:03		Second period			01:27 – Tom Rowe (1)
Rejean Houle (2) – 02:58		Third period			08:04 – Tom Rowe (2)
Yvon Lambert (6) – 00:29		First overtime period			No scoring
Michel Larocque 25 saves / 28 shots		Goalie stats			Al Smith 23 saves / 27 shots

Montreal won series 3–0

(4) Boston Bruins vs. (13) Pittsburgh Penguins

This was the second playoff series meeting between these two teams. This was a rematch of the previous year's Stanley Cup Quarterfinals, which Boston won in a four-game sweep.

April 8	Pittsburgh Penguins		4–2		Boston Bruins	Boston Garden	Recap
No Scoring		First period			No Scoring
Mark Johnson (1) – pp – 08:25 Gary McAdam (1) – 14:47		Second period			No Scoring
Mark Johnson (2) – 03:10 Gregg Sheppard (1) – en – 19:24		Third period			13:44 – pp – Terry O'Reilly (1) 18:47 – Craig MacTavish (1)
Greg Millen 36 saves / 38 shots		Goalie stats			Gerry Cheevers 18 saves / 21 shots

April 10	Pittsburgh Penguins		1–4		Boston Bruins	Boston Garden	Recap
No Scoring		First period			No Scoring
No Scoring		Second period			01:42 – Rick Middleton (1) 10:38 – Don Marcotte (1) 11:21 – Brad Park (1)
Rod Schutt (1) – 12:16		Third period			11:15 – Wayne Cashman (1)
Greg Millen 38 saves / 42 shots		Goalie stats			Gerry Cheevers 16 saves / 17 shots

April 12	Boston Bruins		1–4		Pittsburgh Penguins	Civic Arena	Recap
No Scoring		First period			13:28 – Ross Lonsberry (1)
No Scoring		Second period			01:17 – Ross Lonsberry (2) 16:37 – Randy Carlyle (1)
Rick Middleton (2) – 03:48		Third period			13:51 – Rod Schutt (2)
Gerry Cheevers 24 saves / 28 shots		Goalie stats			Greg Millen 19 saves / 20 shots

April 13	Boston Bruins		8–3		Pittsburgh Penguins	Civic Arena	Recap
Peter McNab (1) – 05:13 Rick Middleton (3) – 06:42 Ray Bourque (1) – 13:26 Peter McNab (2) – pp – 16:00 Craig MacTavish (2) – 18:09		First period			No Scoring
Bob Miller (1) – sh – 06:31 Dwight Foster (1) – sh – 10:08		Second period			No Scoring
Dwight Foster 2 – 16:45		Third period			06:43 – pp – Rick Kehoe (1) 14:40 – pp – Ron Stackhouse (1) 14:47 – pp – Rick Kehoe (2)
Gerry Cheevers 23 saves / 26 shots		Goalie stats			Greg Millen 21 saves / 29 shots

April 14	Pittsburgh Penguins		2–6		Boston Bruins	Boston Garden	Recap
No Scoring		First period			03:49 – Peter McNab (3) 04:57 – Bob Miller (2)
No Scoring		Second period			05:22 – Dwight Foster (3) 10:20 – pp – Wayne Cashman (2)
Bob Stewart (1) – 03:18 Nick Libett (1) – pp – 16:10		Third period			06:25 – pp – Terry O'Reilly (2) 14:22 – Brad Park (2)
Greg Millen 24 saves / 30 shots		Goalie stats			Gerry Cheevers 22 saves / 24 shots

Boston won series 3–2

(5) New York Islanders vs. (12) Los Angeles Kings

This was the first playoff series meeting between these two teams.

April 8	Los Angeles Kings		1–8		New York Islanders	Nassau Coliseum	Recap
No Scoring		First period			05:46 – Bryan Trottier (1) 18:07 – Wayne Merrick (1)
No Scoring		Second period			04:30 – sh – Bryan Trottier (2) 10:19 – Mike Bossy (1) 11:29 – Bob Nystrom (1) 14:14 – Gord Lane (1) 19:20 – sh – Bryan Trottier (3)
Rob Palmer (1) – 19:20		Third period			02:15 – Stefan Persson (1)
Doug Keans 13 saves / 20 shots Mario Lessard 13 saves / 14 shots		Goalie stats			Billy Smith 23 saves / 24 shots

April 9	Los Angeles Kings		6–3		New York Islanders	Nassau Coliseum	Recap
Mike Murphy (1) – sh – 05:54 Dave Taylor (1) – 13:59 Glenn Goldup (1) – 15:21 Andre St. Laurent (1) – sh – 18:31		First period			No Scoring
Dave Taylor (2) – 04:00 Steve Carlson (1) – 11:59		Second period			15:49 – pp – Bob Bourne (1) 16:55 – John Tonelli (1)
No Scoring		Third period			07:38 – Garry Howatt (1)
Mario Lessard 30 saves / 33 shots		Goalie stats			Glenn Resch 20 saves / 26 shots Billy Smith 6 saves / 6 shots

April 11	New York Islanders		4–3	OT	Los Angeles Kings	The Forum	Recap
Bob Bourne (2) – pp – 03:47		First period			01:31 – Mark Hardy (1) 06:42 – pp – Charlie Simmer (1)
No Scoring		Second period			10:47 – Charlie Simmer (2)
Clark Gillies (1) – 03:22 Butch Goring (1) – 06:34		Third period			No Scoring
Ken Morrow (1) – 06:55		First overtime period			No Scoring
Billy Smith 20 saves / 23 shots		Goalie stats			Mario Lessard 34 saves / 38 shots

April 12	New York Islanders		6–0		Los Angeles Kings	The Forum	Recap
Garry Howatt (2) – 15:05		First period			No Scoring
Bob Bourne (3) – pp – 09:27		Second period			No Scoring
Alex McKendry (1) – 01:46 John Tonelli (2) – 05:22 Butch Goring (2) – 06:17 Alex McKendry (2) – 10:15		Third period			No Scoring
Billy Smith 20 saves / 20 shots		Goalie stats			Mario Lessard 26 saves / 32 shots

New York won series 3–1

(6) Minnesota North Stars vs. (11) Toronto Maple Leafs

This was the first playoff series meeting between these two teams.

April 8	Toronto Maple Leafs		3–6		Minnesota North Stars	Met Center	Recap
Laurie Boschman (1) – pp – 10:37 Ron Wilson (1) – pp – 15:51		First period			02:17 – pp – Steve Payne (1) 19:15 – pp – Gary Sargent (1)
No scoring		Second period			11:35 – pp – Curt Giles (1) 15:47 – Steve Payne (2)
Rick Vaive (1) – 13:03		Third period			04:47 – Mike Eaves (1) 15:41 – Steve Christoff (1)
Jiri Crha 55 saves / 61 shots		Goalie stats			Gary Edwards 22 saves / 25 shots

April 9	Toronto Maple Leafs		2–7		Minnesota North Stars	Met Center	Recap
No scoring		First period			15:49 – pp – Craig Hartsburg (1)
No scoring		Second period			04:31 – Al MacAdam (1) 11:14 – Gary Sargent (2) 17:00 – pp – Tim Young (1)
Terry Martin (1) – 05:16 Darryl Sittler (1) – pp – 09:15		Third period			12:36 – Tom McCarthy (1) 13:12 – Al MacAdam (2) 18:31 – Mike Polich (1)
Mike Palmateer 36 saves / 43 shots		Goalie stats			Gary Edwards 27 saves / 29 shots

April 11	Minnesota North Stars		4–3	OT	Toronto Maple Leafs	Maple Leaf Gardens	Recap
Steve Christoff (2) – pp – 03:08		First period			11:51 – Terry Martin (2)
No scoring		Second period			08:14 – pp – Borje Salming (1)
Tom McCarthy (2) – pp – 01:04 Steve Christoff (3) – 04:25		Third period			14:47 – John Anderson (1)
Al MacAdam (3) – 00:32		First overtime period			No scoring
Gary Edwards 19 saves / 21 shots Gilles Meloche 12 saves / 13 shots		Goalie stats			Jiri Crha 27 saves / 31 shots

Minnesota won series 3–0

(7) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (10) St. Louis Blues

This was the second playoff series meeting between these two teams. Chicago won the only previous meeting in five games in the 1973 Stanley Cup Quarterfinals.

With their victory in game one, Chicago snapped a record 16-game losing streak in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

April 8	St. Louis Blues		2–3	OT	Chicago Black Hawks	Chicago Stadium	Recap
No Scoring		First period			03:39 – Grant Mulvey (1)
Larry Patey (1) – 05:53		Second period			No Scoring
Wayne Babych (1) – 14:42		Third period			14:10 – Ted Bulley (1)
No Scoring		First overtime period			12:34 – Doug Lecuyer (1)
Mike Liut 42 saves / 45 shots		Goalie stats			Tony Esposito 31 saves / 33 shots

April 9	St. Louis Blues		1–5		Chicago Black Hawks	Chicago Stadium	Recap
No Scoring		First period			00:23 – Doug Wilson (1) 12:46 – pp – Ron Sedlbauer (1)
Perry Turnbull (1) – pp – 13:40		Second period			No Scoring
No Scoring		Third period			01:16 – pp – Tom Lysiak (1) 15:23 – Doug Wilson (2) 19:04 – Ted Bulley (2)
Mike Liut 31 saves / 36 shots		Goalie stats			Tony Esposito 30 saves / 31 shots

April 11	Chicago Black Hawks		4–1		St. Louis Blues	Checkerdome	Recap
Doug Lecuyer (2) – 03:46		First period			No Scoring
Darryl Sutter (1) – pp – 03:29		Second period			No Scoring
Bob Murray (1) – 14:57 Doug Lecuyer (3) – 16:35		Third period			15:37 – Bernie Federko (1)
Tony Esposito 23 saves / 24 shots		Goalie stats			Mike Liut 25 saves / 29 shots

Chicago won series 3–0

(8) New York Rangers vs. (9) Atlanta Flames

This was the first playoff series meeting between these two teams. Game four was also the final home game for the Flames in Atlanta, as the franchise was sold and relocated to Calgary during the offseason.

April 8	Atlanta Flames		1–2	OT	New York Rangers	Madison Square Garden	Recap
No scoring		First period			No scoring
Don Lever (1) – pp – 04:57		Second period			No scoring
No scoring		Third period			08:14 – Steve Vickers (1)
No scoring		First overtime period			00:33 – Steve Vickers (2)
Dan Bouchard 29 saves / 31 shots		Goalie stats			John Davidson 21 saves / 22 shots

April 9	Atlanta Flames		1–5		New York Rangers	Madison Square Garden	Recap
No scoring		First period			03:02 – pp – Phil Esposito (1) 06:32 – Anders Hedberg (1) 12:33 – sh – Dave Maloney (1) 14:32 – Phil Esposito (2)
No scoring		Second period			No scoring
Willi Plett (1) – pp – 09:05		Third period			15:18 – Warren Miller (1)
Dan Bouchard 27 saves / 32 shots		Goalie stats			John Davidson 20 saves / 21 shots

April 11	New York Rangers		2–4		Atlanta Flames	Omni Coliseum	Recap
Dave Maloney (2) – 13:11		First period			14:56 – Bob Murdoch (1)
Anders Hedberg (2) – 04:07		Second period			03:34 – Ken Houston (1) 05:47 – Eric Vail (1) 16:15 – Eric Vail (2)
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
John Davidson 29 saves / 33 shots		Goalie stats			Dan Bouchard 25 saves / 27 shots

April 12	New York Rangers		5–2		Atlanta Flames	Omni Coliseum	Recap
Anders Hedberg (3) – 01:58 Dean Talafous (1) – pp – 06:09 Ed Hospodar (1) – 06:43		First period			09:07 – pp – Eric Vail (3)
Carol Vadnais (1) – 04:10		Second period			No scoring
Barry Beck (1) – pp – 13:23		Third period			08:14 – pp – Guy Chouinard (1)
John Davidson 30 saves / 32 shots		Goalie stats			Dan Bouchard 22 saves / 27 shots

New York won series 3–1

Quarterfinals

(1) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (8) New York Rangers

This was the third playoff series meeting between these two teams. Both teams split their previous two meetings. This was a rematch of the previous year's Stanley Cup Quarterfinals, which New York won in five games.

April 16	New York Rangers		1–2		Philadelphia Flyers	Spectrum	Recap
No scoring		First period			04:49 – Rick MacLeish (2)
No scoring		Second period			No scoring
Ray Markham (1) – 03:47		Third period			05:44 – Behn Wilson (3)
John Davidson 40 saves / 42 shots		Goalie stats			Pete Peeters 29 saves / 30 shots

April 17	New York Rangers		1–4		Philadelphia Flyers	Spectrum	Recap
No scoring		First period			No scoring
No scoring		Second period			10:25 – Paul Holmgren (3) 10:39 – Bill Barber (1)
Ron Duguay (1) – 14:41		Third period			14:26 – Rick MacLeish (3) 18:32 – sh – en – Reggie Leach (3)
John Davidson 37 saves / 40 shots		Goalie stats			Pete Peeters 31 saves / 32 shots

April 19	Philadelphia Flyers		3–0		New York Rangers	Madison Square Garden	Recap
Bob Dailey (1) – sh – 08:39		First period			No scoring
No scoring		Second period			No scoring
Bill Barber (2) – 04:16 Rick MacLeish (4) – 09:43		Third period			No scoring
Pete Peeters 29 saves / 29 shots		Goalie stats			John Davidson 32 saves / 35 shots

April 20	Philadelphia Flyers		2–4		New York Rangers	Madison Square Garden	Recap
Rick MacLeish (5) – 13:10		First period			05:05 – pp – Ron Duguay (2)
No scoring		Second period			05:02 – pp – Ron Duguay (3) 09:26 – Phil Esposito (3)
Reggie Leach (4) – 15:32		Third period			05:42 – Ron Duguay (4)
Pete Peeters 22 saves / 26 shots		Goalie stats			John Davidson 31 saves / 33 shots

April 22	New York Rangers		1–3		Philadelphia Flyers	Spectrum	Recap
No scoring		First period			19:03 – Al Hill (1)
No scoring		Second period			05:09 – Behn Wilson (4) 08:24 – Paul Holmgren (4)
Ron Duguay (5) – 14:27		Third period			No scoring
John Davidson 27 saves / 30 shots		Goalie stats			Pete Peeters 25 saves / 26 shots

Philadelphia won series 4–1

(2) Buffalo Sabres vs. (7) Chicago Black Hawks

This was the second playoff series meeting between these two teams. Buffalo won the only previous meeting in five games in the 1975 Stanley Cup Quarterfinals.

April 16	Chicago Black Hawks		0–5		Buffalo Sabres	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium	Recap
No scoring		First period			12:09 – pp – John Van Boxmeer (1) 18:24 – pp – Gilbert Perreault (3)
No scoring		Second period			11:32 – pp – Danny Gare (2) 12:08 – Bob Mongrain (1)
No scoring		Third period			19:40 – pp – Rick Dudley (1)
Tony Esposito 25 saves / 30 shots		Goalie stats			Don Edwards 17 saves / 17 shots

April 17	Chicago Black Hawks		4–6		Buffalo Sabres	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium	Recap
Tom Lysiak (2) – pp – 18:24		First period			08:48 – pp – Danny Gare (3) 13:17 – Ric Seiling (3)
Tom Lysiak (3) – pp – 03:49 Doug Lecuyer (4) – 17:06		Second period			06:31 – Don Luce (2) 11:22 – Ric Seiling (4) 15:20 – pp – Danny Gare (4)
Darryl Sutter (2) – 02:09		Third period			16:24 – Richard Martin (5)
Mike Veisor 19 saves / 25 shots		Goalie stats			Bob Sauve 17 saves / 21 shots

April 19	Buffalo Sabres		2–1		Chicago Black Hawks	Chicago Stadium	Recap
Ric Seiling (5) – 03:53 Rick Dudley (2) – 05:37		First period			No scoring
No scoring		Second period			14:11 – pp – Darryl Sutter (3)
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
Don Edwards 38 saves / 39 shots		Goalie stats			Tony Esposito 30 saves / 32 shots

April 20	Buffalo Sabres		3–2		Chicago Black Hawks	Chicago Stadium	Recap
No scoring		First period			13:26 – Bob Murray (2)
John Van Boxmeer (2) – 19:32		Second period			09:55 – pp – Tom Lysiak (4)
Richard Martin (6) – 08:47 Gilbert Perreault (4) – 16:54		Third period			No scoring
Bob Sauve 46 saves / 48 shots		Goalie stats			Tony Esposito 31 saves / 34 shots

Buffalo won series 4–0

(3) Montreal Canadiens vs. (6) Minnesota North Stars

This was the second playoff series meeting between these two teams. Montreal won the only previous meeting in six games in the 1971 Stanley Cup Semifinals. This was Montreal's first playoff series loss since losing to Buffalo in the 1975 Stanley Cup Semifinals.

Al MacAdam's goal with 1:26 left in the third period of game seven won the series for the North Stars and sent them to the semifinals.

April 16	Minnesota North Stars		3–0		Montreal Canadiens	Forum de Montréal	Recap
No scoring		First period			No scoring
No scoring		Second period			No scoring
Kent-Erik Andersson – 02:51 Steve Payne (3) – 15:13 Al MacAdam (4) – 16:52		Third period			No scoring
Gilles Meloche 23 saves / 23 shots		Goalie stats			Denis Herron 25 saves / 28 shots

April 17	Minnesota North Stars		4–1		Montreal Canadiens	Forum de Montréal	Recap
Tom McCarthy (3) – pp – 19:11		First period			No scoring
Steve Payne (4) – 04:18		Second period			05:27 – Yvon Lambert (7)
Steve Payne (5) – 03:45 Curt Giles (2) – pp – 10:01		Third period			No scoring
Gilles Meloche 40 saves / 41 shots		Goalie stats			Denis Herron 28 saves / 32 shots

April 19	Montreal Canadiens		5–0		Minnesota North Stars	Met Center	Recap
Norm Dupont (1) – 12:49 Doug Jarvis (2) – 16:27		First period			No scoring
Doug Jarvis (3) – 05:43 Rod Langway (1) – pp – 17:39		Second period			No scoring
Pierre Larouche (1) – 02:45		Third period			No scoring
Michel Larocque 25 saves / 25 shots		Goalie stats			Gilles Meloche 31 saves / 36 shots

April 20	Montreal Canadiens		5–1		Minnesota North Stars	Met Center	Recap
Rejean Houle (3) – pp – 06:33		First period			No scoring
Steve Shutt (3) – 13:34		Second period			No scoring
Rejean Houle (4) – 07:15 Yvon Lambert (8) – 11:40 Rod Langway (2) – 19:32		Third period			04:15 – Steve Christoff (4)
Michel Larocque 22 saves / 23 shots		Goalie stats			Gilles Meloche 31 saves / 36 shots

April 22	Minnesota North Stars		2–6		Montreal Canadiens	Forum de Montréal	Recap
Steve Christoff (5) – 11:32		First period			09:23 – Steve Shutt (4) 14:51 – Pierre Mondou (1)
Al MacAdam (5) – 05:28		Second period			08:43 – pp – Steve Shutt (5)
No scoring		Third period			04:15 – sh – Doug Jarvis (4) 10:28 – pp – Brian Engblom (2) 15:07 – Steve Shutt (6)
Gilles Meloche 32 saves / 38 shots		Goalie stats			Michel Larocque 29 saves / 31 shots

April 24	Montreal Canadiens		2–5		Minnesota North Stars	Met Center	Recap
Mark Napier (1) – 05:23		First period			No scoring
No scoring		Second period			05:22 – pp – Steve Christoff (6) 10:29 – Kent-Erik Andersson (2) 13:20 – Paul Shmyr (1) 13:47 – pp – Bobby Smith (1) 19:16 – Glen Sharpley (1)
Rick Chartraw (2) – 05:08		Third period			No scoring
Michel Larocque 31 saves / 36 shots		Goalie stats			Gilles Meloche 26 saves / 28 shots

April 27	Minnesota North Stars		3–2		Montreal Canadiens	Forum de Montréal	Recap
Tom Younghans (1) – sh – 14:43		First period			09:12 – pp – Mark Napier (2)
Craig Hartsburg (2) – pp – 16:46		Second period			No scoring
Al MacAdam (6) – 18:34		Third period			05:23 – Rod Langway (3)
Gilles Meloche 22 saves / 24 shots		Goalie stats			Denis Herron 27 saves / 30 shots

Minnesota won series 4–3

(4) Boston Bruins vs. (5) New York Islanders

This was the first playoff series meeting between these two teams.

April 16	New York Islanders		2–1	OT	Boston Bruins	Boston Garden	Recap
No Scoring		First period			No Scoring
No Scoring		Second period			No Scoring
Garry Howatt (3) – 03:49		Third period			00:51 – Peter McNab (4)
Clark Gillies (2) – 01:02		First overtime period			No Scoring
Billy Smith 22 saves / 23 shots		Goalie stats			Gerry Cheevers 25 saves / 27 shots

April 17	New York Islanders		5–4	OT	Boston Bruins	Boston Garden	Recap
Bryan Trottier (4) – 16:08		First period			No Scoring
John Tonelli (3) – 10:40 Lorne Henning (1) – sh – 14:33		Second period			01:32 – Rick Smith (1) 12:00 – Brad McCrimmon (1) 16:55 – Brad Park (3)
Bob Nystrom (2) – 11:06		Third period			10:51 – Bob Miller (3)
Bob Bourne (4) – 01:24		First overtime period			No Scoring
Billy Smith 29 saves / 33 shots		Goalie stats			Gerry Cheevers 18 saves / 23 shots

April 19	Boston Bruins		3–5		New York Islanders	Nassau Coliseum	Recap
Don Marcotte (2) – 09:52		First period			12:16 – John Tonelli (4) 17:08 – pp – Bryan Trottier (5)
Peter McNab (5) – 09:48		Second period			06:57 – Bob Bourne (5) 15:54 – Bobby Nystrom (3)
Peter McNab (6) – pp – 12:15		Third period			04:51 – Bryan Trottier (6)
Gerry Cheevers 30 saves / 35 shots		Goalie stats			Billy Smith 32 saves / 35 shots

April 21	Boston Bruins		4–3	OT	New York Islanders	Nassau Coliseum	Recap
Ray Bourque (2) – 09:21		First period			12:03 – Mike Bossy (2)
No scoring		Second period			08:18 – pp – Mike Bossy (3)
Peter McNab (7) – 03:09 Rick Middleton (4) – 19:40		Third period			13:20 – Clark Gillies (3)
Terry O'Reilly (3) – 17:13		First overtime period			No scoring
Gerry Cheevers 27 saves / 30 shots		Goalie stats			Billy Smith 35 saves / 39 shots

April 22	New York Islanders		4–2		Boston Bruins	Boston Garden	Recap
No Scoring		First period			01:31 – Wayne Cashman (3) 03:28 – pp – Peter McNab (8)
Stefan Persson (2) – pp – 17:23		Second period			No Scoring
Duane Sutter (1) – 02:38 Clark Gillies (4) – 05:58 Denis Potvin (1) – 14:27		Third period			No Scoring
Billy Smith 22 saves / 24 shots		Goalie stats			Gerry Cheevers 20 saves / 24 shots

New York won series 4–1

Semifinals

(1) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (4) Minnesota North Stars

This was the second playoff series meeting between these two teams. Philadelphia won the only previous meeting in six games in the 1973 Stanley Cup Quarterfinals.

April 29	Minnesota North Stars		6–5		Philadelphia Flyers	Spectrum	Recap
Steve Christoff (7) – 04:19 Paul Shmyr (2) – pp – 13:20 Steve Christoff (8) – 13:59		First period			05:23 – pp – Al Hill (2) 14:54 – Ken Linseman (2) 15:36 – Tom Gorence (2) 16:40 – Ken Linseman (3)
Mike Eaves (2) – 14:04 Steve Payne (6) – pp – 16:46		Second period			No scoring
Steve Payne (7) – pp – 07:40		Third period			09:27 – Paul Holmgren (5)
Gilles Meloche 7 saves / 11 shots Gary Edwards 21 saves / 22 shots		Goalie stats			Pete Peeters 30 saves / 36 shots

May 1	Minnesota North Stars		0–7		Philadelphia Flyers	Spectrum	Recap
No scoring		First period			02:09 – pp – Paul Holmgren (6) 03:20 – sh – Bill Barber (3)
No scoring		Second period			00:56 – pp – Bobby Clarke (3) 08:42 – pp – Bob Dailey (2) 11:27 – pp – Brian Propp (2)
No scoring		Third period			16:23 – Al Hill (3) 19:20 – Reggie Leach (5)
Gary Edwards 33 saves / 40 shots		Goalie stats			Phil Myre 27 saves / 27 shots

May 4	Philadelphia Flyers		5–3		Minnesota North Stars	Met Center	Recap
Bill Barber (4) – pp – 15:15 Bill Barber (5) – 17:09		First period			No scoring
Mel Bridgman (1) – 01:14 Bill Barber (6) – 06:07		Second period			14:39 – sh – Tom Younghans (2) 15:34 – sh – Tim Young (2) 17:27 – pp – Tom McCarthy (4)
Bill Barber (7) – sh – 16:34		Third period			No scoring
Phil Myre 31 saves / 34 shots		Goalie stats			Gilles Meloche 23 saves / 28 shots

May 6	Philadelphia Flyers		3–2		Minnesota North Stars	Met Center	Recap
Reggie Leach (6) – 16:51		First period			13:18 – Tom McCarthy (5)
Bill Barber (8) – 13:54		Second period			No scoring
Bill Barber (9) – 02:43		Third period			13:54 – Mike Polich (2)
Phil Myre 30 saves / 32 shots		Goalie stats			Gary Edwards 29 saves / 32 shots

May 8	Minnesota North Stars		3–7		Philadelphia Flyers	Spectrum	Recap
Craig Hartsburg (3) – 00:44 Al MacAdam (7) – pp – 17:11		First period			02:23 – pp – Rick MacLeish (6) 06:26 – sh – Bill Barber (10) 12:16 – pp – Reggie Leach (7)
Rob Flockhart (1) – 14:43		Second period			03:33 – Reggie Leach (8) 06:02 – Bill Barber (11) 16:19 – Bobby Clarke (4)
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
Gary Edwards 7 saves / 11 shots Gilles Meloche 14 saves / 17 shots		Goalie stats			Phil Myre 22 saves / 25 shots

Philadelphia won series 4–1

(2) Buffalo Sabres vs. (3) New York Islanders

This was the third playoff series meeting between these two teams. New York won both previous meetings in consecutive years, the latter of which was a four-game sweep in the 1977 Stanley Cup Quarterfinals.

April 29	New York Islanders		4–1		Buffalo Sabres	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium	Recap
Bob Bourne (6) – sh – 13:06 Mike Bossy (4) – 17:42		First period			05:23 – Rick Dudley (3)
John Tonelli (5) – 09:56		Second period			No scoring
John Tonelli (6) – 11:10		Third period			No scoring
Billy Smith 31 saves / 32 shots		Goalie stats			Don Edwards 25 saves / 29 shots

May 1	New York Islanders		2–1	2OT	Buffalo Sabres	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium	Recap
No scoring		First period			No scoring
Butch Goring (3) – 15:02		Second period			No scoring
No scoring		Third period			11:47 – Andre Savard (1)
Bobby Nystrom (4) – 01:20		Second overtime period			No scoring
Billy Smith 41 saves / 42 shots		Goalie stats			Bob Sauve 31 saves / 33 shots

May 3	Buffalo Sabres		4–7		New York Islanders	Nassau Coliseum	Recap
Tony McKegney (2) – 19:28		First period			05:14 – Mike Bossy (5) 12:47 – Wayne Merrick (2)
Gilbert Perreault (5) – 08:12		Second period			08:57 – Bryan Trottier (7) 18:26 – pp – Bryan Trottier (8)
Derek Smith (3) – pp – 10:11 Lindy Ruff (1) – 11:09		Third period			02:59 – sh – Lorne Henning (2) 07:47 – pp – Bob Bourne (7) 19:38 – en – Butch Goring (4)
Don Edwards 34 saves / 40 shots		Goalie stats			Billy Smith 23 saves / 27 shots

May 6	Buffalo Sabres		7–4		New York Islanders	Nassau Coliseum	Recap
Don Luce (3) – sh – 16:14		First period			08:52 – pp – Bob Bourne (8) 19:13 – Bob Bourne (9)
Derek Smith (4) – 07:21 Gilbert Perreault (6) – pp – 09:29 Gilbert Perreault (7) – 11:10 Derek Smith (5) – pp – 19:30		Second period			03:28 – Bobby Nystrom (5)
Tony McKegney (3) – 12:14 Gilbert Perreault (8) – en – 19:47		Third period			01:51 – Bobby Nystrom (6)
Bob Sauve 27 saves / 31 shots		Goalie stats			Billy Smith 19 saves / 24 shots Glenn Resch 9 saves / 10 shots

May 8	New York Islanders		0–2		Buffalo Sabres	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium	Recap
No scoring		First period			01:51 – pp – John Van Boxmeer (3)
No scoring		Second period			14:45 – pp – Richie Dunn (2)
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
Glenn Resch 13 saves / 15 shots		Goalie stats			Bob Sauve 22 saves / 22 shots

May 10	Buffalo Sabres		2–5		New York Islanders	Nassau Coliseum	Recap
Gilbert Perreault (9) – 02:26 Gilbert Perreault (10) – 06:53		First period			08:08 – John Tonelli (7)
No scoring		Second period			00:31 – pp – Mike Bossy (6) 11:11 – Bob Lorimer (1)
No scoring		Third period			11:50 – Duane Sutter (2) 19:00 – sh – en – Bob Bourne (10)
Bob Sauve 26 saves / 30 shots		Goalie stats			Billy Smith 22 saves / 24 shots

New York won series 4–2

Stanley Cup Finals

Main article: 1980 Stanley Cup Finals

This was the second playoff series (and only Finals) meeting between these two teams. Philadelphia won the only previous meeting in seven games in the 1975 Stanley Cup Semifinals.

Ken Morrow became the first player in history to win an Olympic Gold Medal and the Stanley Cup in the same season. Game six was the last NHL game to air on American network television for nearly ten years. ^[2]

May 13	New York Islanders		4–3	OT	Philadelphia Flyers	Spectrum	Recap
Mike Bossy (7) – pp – 12:02		First period			10:31 – Mel Bridgman (2)
Denis Potvin (2) – 02:20		Second period			17:08 – pp – Bobby Clarke (5)
Stefan Persson (3) – pp – 16:18		Third period			13:10 – Rick MacLeish (7)
Denis Potvin (3) – pp – 04:07		First overtime period			No scoring
Billy Smith 30 saves / 33 shots		Goalie stats			Pete Peeters 32 saves / 36 shots

May 15	New York Islanders		3–8		Philadelphia Flyers	Spectrum	Recap
Butch Goring (5) – 03:23		First period			07:22 – pp – Paul Holmgren (7) 08:37 – Bob Kelly (1) 17:23 – Bobby Clarke (6)
Bryan Trottier (9) – pp – 03:28		Second period			01:06 – Bill Barber (12) 04:13 – pp – Paul Holmgren (8) 15:47 – pp – Brian Propp (3)
Butch Goring (6) – pp – 15:00		Third period			01:40 – Tom Gorence (3) 04:19 – Paul Holmgren (9)
Billy Smith 20 saves / 26 shots Chico Resch 3 saves / 5 shots		Goalie stats			Pete Peeters 20 saves / 23 shots

May 17	Philadelphia Flyers		2–6		New York Islanders	Nassau Coliseum	Recap
No scoring		First period			02:38 – sh – Lorne Henning (3) 07:43 – pp – Denis Potvin (4) 13:04 – pp – Bryan Trottier (10) 14:29 – pp – Mike Bossy (8)
No scoring		Second period			15:41 – pp – Clark Gillies (5) 17:25 – pp – Denis Potvin (5)
Bobby Clarke (7) – 09:48 Mike Busniuk (1) – 11:32		Third period			No scoring
Phil Myre 34 saves / 40 shots		Goalie stats			Billy Smith 30 saves / 32 shots

May 19	Philadelphia Flyers		2–5		New York Islanders	Nassau Coliseum	Recap
No scoring		First period			07:23 – pp – Mike Bossy (9) 13:06 – Butch Goring (7)
John Paddock (1) – 01:35		Second period			No scoring
Ken Linseman (4) – 11:53		Third period			06:06 – Bryan Trottier (11) 12:35 – Bobby Nystrom (7) 14:08 – Clark Gillies (6)
Pete Peeters 22 saves / 27 shots		Goalie stats			Billy Smith 34 saves / 36 shots

May 22	New York Islanders		3–6		Philadelphia Flyers	Spectrum	Recap
Stefan Persson (4) – pp – 10:58		First period			No scoring
Bryan Trottier (12) – 16:16		Second period			01:45 – Bobby Clarke (8) 05:55 – Rick MacLeish (8) 17:04 – Mike Busniuk (2)
Stefan Persson (5) – pp – 14:57		Third period			09:43 – Rick MacLeish (9) 12:33 – pp – Brian Propp (4) 17:26 – Paul Holmgren (10)
Billy Smith 25 saves / 31 shots		Goalie stats			Pete Peeters 35 saves / 38 shots

May 24	Philadelphia Flyers		4–5	OT	New York Islanders	Nassau Coliseum	Recap
Reggie Leach (9) – pp – 07:21 Brian Propp (5) – 18:58		First period			11:56 – pp – Denis Potvin (6) 14:08 – Duane Sutter (3)
No scoring		Second period			07:34 – pp – Mike Bossy (10) 19:46 – Bobby Nystrom (8)
Bob Dailey (4) – 01:47 John Paddock (2) – 06:02		Third period			No scoring
No scoring		First overtime period			07:11 – Bobby Nystrom (9)
Pete Peeters 28 saves / 33 shots		Goalie stats			Billy Smith 21 saves / 25 shots

New York won series 4–2

See also

• 1979–80 NHL season
• List of NHL seasons
• List of Stanley Cup champions

References

1. McCarthy, p. 249
2. Podnieks, Andrew; Szemberg, Szymon (2008). IIHF Top 100 Hockey Stories of All Time. Bolton, Ontario, Canada: Fenn Publishing. p. 74. ISBN   978-1-55168-358-4.

• Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Stanley Cup . Total Sports Canada. ISBN   1-892129-07-8.

Preceded by 1979 Stanley Cup playoffs

Stanley Cup playoffs

Succeeded by 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs