1980–81 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1980–81 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 72nd season of play. The Canadiens lost just once in their last twenty-seven home games.The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D’Arcy Jenish, p.243, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0 The Canadiens would earn at least 100 regular season points for the seventh consecutive season.The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D’Arcy Jenish, p.243, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0 Montreal qualified for the playoffs and were eliminated in the Preliminary round by the Edmonton Oilers 3 games to 0. Four days after the Canadiens were eliminated, head coach Claude Ruel resigned.
==Off-season==
==Regular Season==
Guy Lafleur appeared in only 51 games and scored 27 goals. It was the first time since the 1973–74 Montreal Canadiens season that he failed to score 50 goals or more in a season.The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D’Arcy Jenish, p.242, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results 	Regular Season Results
No. 	R 	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	L 	October 11, 1980 	4–5 	Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) 	0–1–0
2 	L 	October 12, 1980 	2–3 	@ Boston Bruins (1980–81) 	0–2–0
3 	T 	October 15, 1980 	3–3 	@ Washington Capitals (1980–81) 	0–2–1
4 	W 	October 18, 1980 	4–1 	Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) 	1–2–1
5 	L 	October 19, 1980 	1–2 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) 	1–3–1
6 	L 	October 21, 1980 	3–4 	@ St. Louis Blues (1980–81) 	1–4–1
7 	W 	October 23, 1980 	7–2 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) 	2–4–1
8 	L 	October 25, 1980 	2–5 	Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) 	2–5–1
9 	L 	October 28, 1980 	4–6 	@ New York Islanders (1980–81) 	2–6–1
10 	W 	October 30, 1980 	8–2 	Hartford Whalers (1980–81) 	3–6–1
11 	W 	November 1, 1980 	7–4 	New York Rangers (1980–81) 	4–6–1
12 	W 	November 4, 1980 	5–4 	Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) 	5–6–1
13 	L 	November 6, 1980 	2–3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) 	5–7–1
14 	W 	November 8, 1980 	3–0 	Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) 	6–7–1
15 	W 	November 11, 1980 	8–2 	@ Colorado Rockies (1980–81) 	7–7–1
16 	W 	November 12, 1980 	8–4 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) 	8–7–1
17 	T 	November 14, 1980 	3–3 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) 	8–7–2
18 	W 	November 16, 1980 	5–1 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) 	9–7–2
19 	W 	November 19, 1980 	5–4 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) 	10–7–2
20 	W 	November 20, 1980 	7–3 	Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) 	11–7–2
21 	W 	November 22, 1980 	7–3 	Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) 	12–7–2
22 	L 	November 25, 1980 	4–5 	Calgary Flames (1980–81) 	12–8–2
23 	L 	November 27, 1980 	3–4 	New York Islanders (1980–81) 	12–9–2
24 	L 	November 29, 1980 	2–4 	Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) 	12–10–2
25 	W 	December 3, 1980 	6–5 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) 	13–10–2
26 	L 	December 4, 1980 	2–3 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) 	13–11–2
27 	W 	December 6, 1980 	4–1 	Boston Bruins (1980–81) 	14–11–2
28 	L 	December 10, 1980 	3–4 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) 	14–12–2
29 	W 	December 11, 1980 	5–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) 	15–12–2
30 	W 	December 13, 1980 	4–1 	Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) 	16–12–2
31 	T 	December 17, 1980 	4–4 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) 	16–12–3
32 	W 	December 18, 1980 	4–0 	@ Calgary Flames (1980–81) 	17–12–3
33 	L 	December 20, 1980 	3–4 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) 	17–13–3
34 	T 	December 23, 1980 	2–2 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) 	17–13–4
35 	W 	December 27, 1980 	7–4 	Washington Capitals (1980–81) 	18–13–4
36 	W 	December 28, 1980 	5–2 	@ New York Rangers (1980–81) 	19–13–4
37 	W 	December 30, 1980 	4–0 	Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) 	20–13–4
38 	W 	January 2, 1981 	3–1 	@ Hartford Whalers (1980–81) 	21–13–4
39 	W 	January 3, 1981 	2–1 	Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) 	22–13–4
40 	W 	January 6, 1981 	6–2 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) 	23–13–4
41 	W 	January 8, 1981 	4–2 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) 	24–13–4
42 	T 	January 10, 1981 	5–5 	Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) 	24–13–5
43 	W 	January 12, 1981 	5–0 	Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) 	25–13–5
44 	W 	January 15, 1981 	7–3 	Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) 	26–13–5
45 	L 	January 17, 1981 	5–6 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) 	26–14–5
46 	L 	January 19, 1981 	3–6 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)	26–15–5
47 	L 	January 21, 1981 	2–4 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) 	26–16–5
48 	W 	January 24, 1981 	6–3 	Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) 	27–16–5
49 	L 	January 28, 1981 	1–9 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) 	27–17–5
50 	T 	January 29, 1981 	4–4 	@ Calgary Flames (1980–81) 	27–17–6
51 	L 	January 31, 1981 	1–4 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) 	27–18–6
52 	W 	February 3, 1981 	5–2 	@ Colorado Rockies (1980–81) 	28–18–6
53 	W 	February 5, 1981 	7–0 	Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) 	29–18–6
54 	W 	February 7, 1981 	6–2 	Boston Bruins (1980–81) 	30–18–6
55 	T 	February 12, 1981 	3–3 	St. Louis Blues (1980–81) 	30–18–7
56 	W 	February 14, 1981 	6–1 	Washington Capitals (1980–81) 	31–18–7
57 	T 	February 15, 1981 	5–5 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) 	31–18–8
58 	W 	February 19, 1981 	5–2 	Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) 	32–18–8
59 	W 	February 21, 1981 	4–1 	Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) 	33–18–8
60 	W 	February 22, 1981 	4–2 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) 	34–18–8
61 	T 	February 24, 1981 	2–2 	@ St. Louis Blues (1980–81) 	34–18–9
62 	W 	February 26, 1981 	6–0 	Colorado Rockies (1980–81) 	35–18–9
63 	W 	February 28, 1981 	5–3 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) 	36–18–9
64 	T 	March 1, 1981 	4–4 	@ New York Rangers (1980–81) 	36–18–10
65 	W 	March 4, 1981 	9–3 	Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) 	37–18–10
66 	L 	March 7, 1981 	2–4 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) 	37–19–10
67 	T 	March 9, 1981 	1–1 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)	37–19–11
68 	W 	March 11, 1981 	2–1 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) 	38–19–11
69 	W 	March 12, 1981 	4–3 	St. Louis Blues (1980–81) 	39–19–11
70 	W 	March 14, 1981 	2–1 	Colorado Rockies (1980–81) 	40–19–11
71 	T 	March 17, 1981 	3–3 	@ New York Islanders (1980–81) 	40–19–12
72 	L 	March 18, 1981 	3–9 	@ Hartford Whalers (1980–81) 	40–20–12
73 	W 	March 21, 1981 	5–3 	Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) 	41–20–12
74 	T 	March 22, 1981 	2–2 	@ Washington Capitals (1980–81) 	41–20–13
75 	W 	March 26, 1981 	8–2 	Calgary Flames (1980–81) 	42–20–13
76 	L 	March 28, 1981 	2–6 	New York Rangers (1980–81) 	42–21–13
77 	L 	March 29, 1981 	0–4 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) 	42–22–13
78 	W 	March 31, 1981 	3–1 	New York Islanders (1980–81) 	43–22–13
79 	W 	April 3, 1981 	6–1 	Hartford Whalers (1980–81) 	44–22–13
80 	W 	April 5, 1981 	4–2 	@ Boston Bruins (1980–81) 	45–22–13
==Playoffs==
===Edmonton Oilers 3, Montreal Canadiens 0===
The Canadiens were swept in three games by the Edmonton Oilers. In Game One of the series, 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
==Player Stats==
===Regular Season===
;Scoring
Player	Pos 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	LW 	77	35	38	73 	51 	30 	7 	0 	3
 	RW 	79	35	36	71 	24 	34 	5 	0 	6
 	RW 	51	27	43	70 	29 	24 	7 	0 	7
 	RW 	77	25	38	63 	123	16 	4 	1 	4
 	W 	77	27	31	58 	83 	20 	6 	1 	3
 	LW 	73	22	32	54 	39 	7 	4 	0 	3
 	C 	61	25	28	53 	28 	13 	5 	0 	2
 	D 	65	12	38	50 	37 	46 	7 	0 	2
 	LW 	78	23	24	47 	36 	13 	5 	3 	3
 	D 	80	11	34	45 	120	53 	5 	1 	2
 	C 	57	17	24	41 	16 	24 	5 	0 	2
 	C 	61	15	24	39 	74 	5 	3 	0 	2
 	C 	80	16	22	38 	34 	12 	0 	2 	1
 	C 	48	13	21	34 	93 	7 	1 	0 	1
 	D 	80	3 	25	28 	96 	63 	1 	0 	0
 	D 	55	5 	16	21 	22 	5 	3 	0 	1
 	D 	77	4 	13	17 	30 	12 	0 	0 	1
 	RW 	57	7 	8 	15 	262	7 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	41	7 	8 	15 	20 	5 	2 	0 	0
 	D 	33	1 	9 	10 	79 	-6 	1 	0 	1
 	D 	8 	2 	2 	4 	6 	-1 	1 	0 	0
 	G 	25	0 	2 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	2 	0 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	28	0 	1 	1 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	11	0 	0 	0 	32 	-1 	0 	0 	0
 	D/RW	14	0 	0 	0 	4 	-5 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	5 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	33	0 	0 	0 	30 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L 	T 	GA 	GAA 	SO
 	1777	33	20	4 	3 	71 	2.40	2
 	1623	28	16	9 	3 	82 	3.03	1
 	1147	25	6 	9 	6 	67 	3.50	1
 	253 	5 	3 	0 	1 	8 	1.90	1
Team: 	4800	80	45	22	13	228	2.85	5
===Playoffs===
;Scoring
Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	LW 	3 	2	1	3 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	2 	0	2	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	3 	1	0	1 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	1 	1	0	1 	0 	1 	0 	0
 	W 	3 	1	0	1 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	3 	1	0	1 	0 	1 	0 	0
 	RW 	3 	0	1	1 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	3 	0	1	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	3 	0	1	1 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	2 	0	0	0 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	3 	0	0	0 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	3 	0	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	3 	0	0	0 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	3 	0	0	0 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	1 	0	0	0 	17 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	3 	0	0	0 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	2 	0	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	1 	0	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	3 	0	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	3 	0	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	3 	0	0	0 	9 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA 	SO
 	180	3 	0	3	13	4.33	0
Team: 	180	3 	0	3	13	4.33	0
Note: 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==
*Prince of Wales Trophy: Montreal Canadiens
*Frank J. Selke Trophy: Bob Gainey
*NHL Plus-Minus Award: Brian Engblom
*William M. Jennings Trophy: Denis Herron, Michel Larocque & Richard Sevigny
*Larry Robinson, Defense, NHL Second Team All-Star
==Transactions==
==Draft Picks==
Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/junior/club team
==Farm Teams==
==See Also==
*1980–81 NHL season
==References==
Category:Montreal Canadiens seasons
Category:1980 in hockey
Category:1981 in hockey