1980–81 Edmonton Oilers season

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===
===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.The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D’Arcy Jenish, p.243, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
===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==
*Art Ross Memorial Trophy: Wayne Gretzky
*Hart Memorial Trophy: Wayne Gretzky
*Wayne Gretzky, Center, NHL First Team All-Star
==Transactions==
====Trades====
June 11, 1980 	To Philadelphia FlyersRon Areshenkoff10th round pick in 1980 - Bob O'Brien	To Edmonton OilersBarry Dean
February 2, 1981	To Minnesota North Stars3rd round pick in 1982 - Wally Chapman 	To Edmonton OilersGary Edwards
March 10, 1981 	To Los Angeles Kings7th round pick in 1981 - Craig Hurley 	To Edmonton OilersGarry Unger
March 10, 1981 	To New York RangersJohn Hughes 	To Edmonton OilersRay Markham
March 10, 1981 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsPat Price 	To Edmonton OilersPat Hughes
March 10, 1981 	To Vancouver CanucksBlair MacDonaldLars-Gunnar Pettersson 	To Edmonton OilersGarry LariviereKen Berry
====Free Agents====
{|class="wikitable"	
Player 	Former Team
D *Tom Bladon	Pittsburgh Penguins
*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 	 	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
3 	48 	Shawn Babcock 	 	Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL)
4 	69 	Jari Kurri 	 	Jokerit (SM-liiga)
5 	90 	Walt Poddubny 	 	Kingston Canadians (OMJHL)
6 	111	Mike Winther 	 	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
7 	132	Andy Moog 	 	Billings Bighorns (WHL)
8 	153	Rob Polman-Tuin 	 	Michigan Tech (NCAA)
9 	174	Lars-Gunnar Pettersson	 	Bjorkloven IF (Sweden)
==References==
==External Sources==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
Category:Edmonton Oilers seasons
Edmonton Oilers season, 1980–81
Edmonton Oilers season, 1980–81