# 1980–81 Boston Bruins season

The 1980–81 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 57th season.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 39 | 20 | 21 | 327 | 250 | 99 |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 37 | 30 | 13 | 316 | 272 | 87 |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 35 | 28 | 17 | 291 | 263 | 87 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 30 | 32 | 18 | 314 | 318 | 78 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 28 | 37 | 15 | 322 | 367 | 71 |
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.
League standings :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – New York Islanders | PTK | 80 | 48 | 18 | 14 | 355 | 260 | 110 |
| 2 | x – St. Louis Blues | SMY | 80 | 45 | 18 | 17 | 352 | 281 | 107 |
| 3 | y – Montreal Canadiens | NRS | 80 | 45 | 22 | 13 | 332 | 232 | 103 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Kings | NRS | 80 | 43 | 24 | 13 | 337 | 290 | 99 |
| 5 | x – Buffalo Sabres | ADM | 80 | 39 | 20 | 21 | 327 | 250 | 99 |
| 6 | Philadelphia Flyers | PTK | 80 | 41 | 24 | 15 | 313 | 249 | 97 |
| 7 | Calgary Flames | PTK | 80 | 39 | 27 | 14 | 329 | 298 | 92 |
| 8 | Boston Bruins | ADM | 80 | 37 | 30 | 13 | 316 | 272 | 87 |
| 9 | Minnesota North Stars | ADM | 80 | 35 | 28 | 17 | 291 | 263 | 87 |
| 10 | Chicago Black Hawks | SMY | 80 | 31 | 33 | 16 | 304 | 315 | 78 |
| 11 | Quebec Nordiques | ADM | 80 | 30 | 32 | 18 | 314 | 318 | 78 |
| 12 | Vancouver Canucks | SMY | 80 | 28 | 32 | 20 | 289 | 301 | 76 |
| 13 | New York Rangers | PTK | 80 | 30 | 36 | 14 | 312 | 317 | 74 |
| 14 | Edmonton Oilers | SMY | 80 | 29 | 35 | 16 | 328 | 327 | 74 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NRS | 80 | 30 | 37 | 13 | 302 | 345 | 73 |
| 16 | Toronto Maple Leafs | ADM | 80 | 28 | 37 | 15 | 322 | 367 | 71 |
| 17 | Washington Capitals | PTK | 80 | 26 | 36 | 18 | 286 | 317 | 70 |
| 18 | Hartford Whalers | NRS | 80 | 21 | 41 | 18 | 292 | 372 | 60 |
| 19 | Colorado Rockies | SMY | 80 | 22 | 45 | 13 | 258 | 344 | 57 |
| 20 | Detroit Red Wings | NRS | 80 | 19 | 43 | 18 | 252 | 339 | 56 |
| 21 | Winnipeg Jets | SMY | 80 | 9 | 57 | 14 | 246 | 400 | 32 |
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

Adams Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Boston
—2–1–12–1–11–31–1–26–6–4
Buffalo
1–2–1—0–1–33–0–13–17–4–5
Minnesota
1–2–11–0–3—2–20–44–8–4
Quebec
3–10–3–12–2—0–2–25–8–3
Toronto
1–1–21–34–02–0–2—8–4–4
Vs. Norris Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Boston
2−0−21−1−22−21−33−0−19–6–5
Buffalo
3−0−12−1−12−1−11−33−0−111–5–4
Minnesota
2−0−23−10−42−1−13−110–7–3
Quebec
3−0−12−21−31−1−21−2–18–8–4
Toronto
1−31–1−20−3−11−32−1–15–11–4
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
CGY
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Boston
1–32–22–22–22–1–19–10–1
Buffalo
2–1–12–22–1–12–0–22–0–210–4–6
Minnesota
2–20–2–21–1–21–2–13–0–17–7–6
Quebec
1–1–21–31–1–22–1–14–09–6–5
Toronto
2–21–32–22–0–21–38–10–2
Vs. Smythe Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Boston
3−12−1−13−11−32−22−0−213−8−3
Buffalo
2−23–0−11−1−20−3−11−1−24−011−7−6
Minnesota
2−22−1–12−1−12−1–12−1−14−014−6−4
Quebec
0−3−12−23−11−2–11–1−21–1−28−10−6
Toronto
2−1–11−1−21−2−11−30–3−12−27−12−5 :

## Schedule and results

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 9, 1980 | 7–2 | New York Rangers (1980–81) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 11, 1980 | 2–5 | @ New York Islanders (1980–81) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | W | October 12, 1980 | 3–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | L | October 15, 1980 | 2–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | L | October 16, 1980 | 1–2 | @ Calgary Flames (1980–81) | 2–3–0 |
| 6 | L | October 18, 1980 | 2–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1980–81) | 2–4–0 |
| 7 | L | October 22, 1980 | 0–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) | 2–5–0 |
| 8 | L | October 24, 1980 | 2–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) | 2–6–0 |
| 9 | T | October 26, 1980 | 7–7 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) | 2–6–1 |
| 10 | L | October 30, 1980 | 1–3 | Calgary Flames (1980–81) | 2–7–1 |
| 11 | L | November 2, 1980 | 2–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) | 2–8–1 |
| 12 | L | November 6, 1980 | 2–4 | New York Islanders (1980–81) | 2–9–1 |
| 13 | W | November 9, 1980 | 7–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) | 3–9–1 |
| 14 | T | November 11, 1980 | 4–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) | 3–9–2 |
| 15 | T | November 13, 1980 | 5–5 | Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) | 3–9–3 |
| 16 | W | November 15, 1980 | 7–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) | 4–9–3 |
| 17 | W | November 16, 1980 | 1–0 | Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) | 5–9–3 |
| 18 | W | November 20, 1980 | 4–2 | Colorado Rockies (1980–81) | 6–9–3 |
| 19 | T | November 22, 1980 | 2–2 | @ Washington Capitals (1980–81) | 6–9–4 |
| 20 | T | November 23, 1980 | 5–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) | 6–9–5 |
| 21 | L | November 26, 1980 | 4–6 | @ New York Rangers (1980–81) | 6–10–5 |
| 22 | T | November 27, 1980 | 3–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) | 6–10–6 |
| 23 | W | November 29, 1980 | 6–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) | 7–10–6 |
| 24 | W | December 2, 1980 | 5–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) | 8–10–6 |
| 25 | L | December 6, 1980 | 1–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) | 8–11–6 |
| 26 | W | December 7, 1980 | 7–3 | Washington Capitals (1980–81) | 9–11–6 |
| 27 | W | December 10, 1980 | 6–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) | 10–11–6 |
| 28 | L | December 11, 1980 | 3–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) | 10–12–6 |
| 29 | L | December 13, 1980 | 1–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) | 10–13–6 |
| 30 | W | December 14, 1980 | 7–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) | 11–13–6 |
| 31 | L | December 17, 1980 | 4–5 | @ Hartford Whalers (1980–81) | 11–14–6 |
| 32 | L | December 18, 1980 | 3–7 | St. Louis Blues (1980–81) | 11–15–6 |
| 33 | T | December 20, 1980 | 4–4 | Hartford Whalers (1980–81) | 11–15–7 |
| 34 | W | December 27, 1980 | 6–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) | 12–15–7 |
| 35 | L | December 28, 1980 | 2–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) | 12–16–7 |
| 36 | W | December 31, 1980 | 4–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) | 13–16–7 |
| 37 | L | January 2, 1981 | 5–7 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) | 13–17–7 |
| 38 | L | January 3, 1981 | 1–4 | @ Colorado Rockies (1980–81) | 13–18–7 |
| 39 | W | January 5, 1981 | 4–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) | 14–18–7 |
| 40 | W | January 8, 1981 | 7–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) | 15–18–7 |
| 41 | W | January 10, 1981 | 3–2 | @ New York Islanders (1980–81) | 16–18–7 |
| 42 | W | January 12, 1981 | 4–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) | 17–18–7 |
| 43 | T | January 13, 1981 | 3–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) | 17–18–8 |
| 44 | L | January 15, 1981 | 2–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) | 17–19–8 |
| 45 | W | January 17, 1981 | 6–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) | 18–19–8 |
| 46 | W | January 19, 1981 | 5–1 | Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) | 19–19–8 |
| 47 | W | January 22, 1981 | 7–3 | St. Louis Blues (1980–81) | 20–19–8 |
| 48 | L | January 24, 1981 | 4–6 | Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) | 20–20–8 |
| 49 | W | January 26, 1981 | 5–3 | Colorado Rockies (1980–81) | 21–20–8 |
| 50 | W | January 29, 1981 | 7–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) | 22–20–8 |
| 51 | W | February 1, 1981 | 6–3 | New York Islanders (1980–81) | 23–20–8 |
| 52 | T | February 4, 1981 | 3–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1980–81) | 23–20–9 |
| 53 | W | February 5, 1981 | 6–3 | New York Rangers (1980–81) | 24–20–9 |
| 54 | L | February 7, 1981 | 2–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) | 24–21–9 |
| 55 | L | February 8, 1981 | 3–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) | 24–22–9 |
| 56 | T | February 12, 1981 | 3–3 | @ Colorado Rockies (1980–81) | 24–22–10 |
| 57 | W | February 14, 1981 | 5–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) | 25–22–10 |
| 58 | W | February 18, 1981 | 7–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) | 26–22–10 |
| 59 | W | February 20, 1981 | 5–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) | 27–22–10 |
| 60 | L | February 21, 1981 | 2–7 | @ Calgary Flames (1980–81) | 27–23–10 |
| 61 | L | February 25, 1981 | 3–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) | 27–24–10 |
| 62 | W | February 26, 1981 | 5–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) | 28–24–10 |
| 63 | W | March 1, 1981 | 6–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) | 29–24–10 |
| 64 | L | March 3, 1981 | 2–4 | @ St. Louis Blues (1980–81) | 29–25–10 |
| 65 | T | March 4, 1981 | 3–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) | 29–25–11 |
| 66 | W | March 7, 1981 | 7–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) | 30–25–11 |
| 67 | W | March 8, 1981 | 4–1 | Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) | 31–25–11 |
| 68 | T | March 11, 1981 | 4–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) | 31–25–12 |
| 69 | W | March 13, 1981 | 7–1 | @ Washington Capitals (1980–81) | 32–25–12 |
| 70 | W | March 15, 1981 | 4–2 | Hartford Whalers (1980–81) | 33–25–12 |
| 71 | L | March 18, 1981 | 2–3 | @ New York Rangers (1980–81) | 33–26–12 |
| 72 | L | March 19, 1981 | 3–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) | 33–27–12 |
| 73 | W | March 21, 1981 | 4–3 | Calgary Flames (1980–81) | 34–27–12 |
| 74 | W | March 23, 1981 | 7–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) | 35–27–12 |
| 75 | L | March 26, 1981 | 2–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) | 35–28–12 |
| 76 | W | March 28, 1981 | 5–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) | 36–28–12 |
| 77 | T | March 30, 1981 | 2–2 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) | 36–28–13 |
| 78 | L | April 2, 1981 | 2–3 | Washington Capitals (1980–81) | 36–29–13 |
| 79 | W | April 4, 1981 | 5–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) | 37–29–13 |
| 80 | L | April 5, 1981 | 2–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) | 37–30–13 |

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Rick Middleton | RW | 80 | 44 | 59 | 103 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 7 |
| Peter McNab | C | 80 | 37 | 46 | 83 | 24 | 12 | 16 | 0 | 4 |
| Brad Park | D | 78 | 14 | 52 | 66 | 111 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 2 |
| Wayne Cashman | LW | 77 | 25 | 35 | 60 | 80 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| Raymond Bourque | D | 67 | 27 | 29 | 56 | 96 | 29 | 9 | 1 | 6 |
| Steve Kasper | C | 76 | 21 | 35 | 56 | 94 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Dwight Foster | RW | 77 | 24 | 28 | 52 | 62 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Terry O'Reilly | RW | 77 | 8 | 35 | 43 | 223 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stan Jonathan | LW | 74 | 14 | 24 | 38 | 192 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jean Ratelle | C | 47 | 11 | 26 | 37 | 16 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Dick Redmond | D | 78 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 60 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Don Marcotte | LW | 72 | 20 | 13 | 33 | 32 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Mike O'Connell | D | 48 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 42 | -1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Brad McCrimmon | D | 78 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 148 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Keith Crowder | RW | 47 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 172 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Mike Milbury | D | 77 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 222 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Lalonde | C | 62 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Doug Morrison | RW | 18 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Miller | C | 30 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 19 | -5 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Craig MacTavish | C | 24 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 13 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Gillis | LW | 17 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 15 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barry Pederson | C | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | -5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Melnyk | D | 26 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 39 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Secord | LW | 18 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Songin | RW | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jim Craig | G | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rogie Vachon | G | 53 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marco Baron | G | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Doak | D | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Rogie Vachon | 3021 | 53 | 25 | 19 | 6 | 168 | 3.34 | 1 |
| Jim Craig | 1272 | 23 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 78 | 3.68 | 0 |
| Marco Baron | 507 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 2.84 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 37 | 30 | 13 | 270 | 3.38 | 1 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Don Marcotte | LW | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike O'Connell | D | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brad Park | D | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter McNab | C | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Lalonde | C | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Terry O'Reilly | RW | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Keith Crowder | RW | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dwight Foster | RW | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Raymond Bourque | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Cashman | LW | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Kasper | C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brad McCrimmon | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Middleton | RW | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Milbury | D | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dick Redmond | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marco Baron | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Gillis | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stan Jonathan | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean Ratelle | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rogie Vachon | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Marco Baron | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9.00 | 0 |
| Rogie Vachon | 164 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 5.85 | 0 |
| Team: | 184 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 6.20 | 0 |
    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;

## Draft picks

Boston's draft picks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 18 | Barry Pederson | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WHL) |
| 3 | 60 | Tom Fergus | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 4 | 81 | Steve Kasper | Canada | Sorel Eperviers (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 102 | Randy Hillier | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL) |
| 6 | 123 | Steve Lyons | United States | Matignon High School (USHS-MA) |
| 7 | 144 | Tom McMurchy | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WHL) |
| 8 | 165 | Mike Moffat | Canada | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
| 9 | 186 | Michael Thelven | Sweden | Djurgardens IF (Sweden) |
| 10 | 207 | Jens Ohling | Sweden | Djurgardens IF (Sweden) |