1985–86 NHL season

The 1985–86 NHL season was the 69th season of the National Hockey League. Twenty-one teams each played 80 games. This season saw the league's Board of Governors introduce the Presidents' Trophy, which would go to the team with the best overall record in the NHL regular season. The Edmonton Oilers would be the first winners of this award.

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Calgary Flames four games to one in the final series to win the Stanley Cup.

 Regular season 
 Final standings 
Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalty Minutes
 Prince of Wales Conference 
 Adams Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM Quebec Nordiques  80  43  31  6  92  330  289  1847 Montreal Canadiens  80  40  33  7  87  330  280  1372 Boston Bruins  80  37  31  12  86  311  288  1919 Hartford Whalers  80  40  36  4  84  332  302  1759 Buffalo Sabres  80  37  37  6  80  296  291  1608

 Patrick Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM Philadelphia Flyers  80  53  23  4  110  335  241  2025 Washington Capitals  80  50  23  7  107  315  272  1418 New York Islanders  80  39  29  12  90  327  284  1343 New York Rangers  80  36  38  6  78  280  276  1496 Pittsburgh Penguins  80  34  38  8  76  313  305  1538 New Jersey Devils  80  28  49  3  59  300  374  1424

 Clarence Campbell Conference 
 Norris Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM Chicago Black Hawks  80  39  33  8  86  351  349  1537 Minnesota North Stars  80  38  33  9  85  327  305  1672 St. Louis Blues  80  37  34  9  83  302  291  1478 Toronto Maple Leafs  80  25  48  7  57  311  386  1716 Detroit Red Wings  80  17  57  6  40  266  415  2393

 Smythe Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM Edmonton Oilers  80  56  17  7  119  426  310  1928 Calgary Flames  80  40  31  9  89  354  315  2297 Winnipeg Jets  80  26  47  7  59  295  372  1774 Vancouver Canucks  80  23  44  13  59  282  333  1813 Los Angeles Kings  80  23  49  8  54  284  389  2004

 Scoring leaders 
 Player Team GP G A PTS Wayne Gretzky  Edmonton Oilers  80  52  163  215 Mario Lemieux  Pittsburgh Penguins  79  48  93  141 Paul Coffey  Edmonton Oilers  79  48  90  138 Jari Kurri  Edmonton Oilers  78  68  63  131 Mike Bossy  New York Islanders  80  61  62  123 Peter Stastny  Quebec Nordiques 76  41  81  122 Denis Savard  Chicago Black Hawks  80  47  69  116 Mats Naslund  Montreal Canadiens  80  43  67  110 Dale Hawerchuk  Winnipeg Jets  80  46  59  105 Neal Broten  Minnesota North Stars  80  29  76  105

 Leading Goaltenders 
 Player Team GP MIN GA SO GAA Bob Froese  Philadelphia Flyers 51  2728  116  5  2.55 Al Jensen  Washington Capitals 44  2437  129  2  3.18 Clint Malarchuk  Quebec Nordiques  46  2657  142  4  3.21 Kelly Hrudey  New York Islanders  45  2563  137  1  3.21 John Vanbiesbrouck  New York Rangers  61  3326  184  3  3.32 Patrick Roy  Montreal Canadiens  47  2651  148  1  3.35 Pat Riggin  Washington Capitals / Boston Bruins  46  2641  150  1  3.41 Rick Wamsley  St. Louis Blues  42  2517  144  1  3.43 Pete Peeters  Boston Bruins / Washington Capitals   42  2506  144  1  3.45 Don Beaupre  Minnesota North Stars 52  3073  182  1  3.55

 Stanley Cup playoffs 
Note: all dates in 1986

 Adams Division Semi-Finals 
Hartford Whalers vs. Quebec Nordiques

 Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 9 Hartford  3  Quebec 2 (OT)April 10  Hartford   4  Quebec  1 April 12 Quebec  4 Hartford   9 
Hartford wins best-of-five series 3–0

Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens
 Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 9  Boston  1  Montreal  3April 10 Boston  2  Montreal  3 April 12 Montreal   4 Boston 3 
Montreal wins best-of-five series 3–0

 Patrick Division Semi-Finals 
New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers
 Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 9 New York  6  Philadelphia  2 April 10 New York  1  Philadelphia  2 April 12  Philadelphia  2  New York   5 April 13  Philadelphia  7 New York  1 April 15 New York   5  Philadelphia  2
New York Rangers wins best-of-five series 3–2

New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals
 Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 9  New York  1  Washington   3April 10  New York  2  Washington   5April 12 Washington  3  New York  1
Washington wins best-of-five series 3–0

 Norris Division Semi-Finals 
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Chicago Black Hawks
 Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 9 Toronto   5  Chicago 3April 10 Toronto   6  Chicago  4April 12  Chicago  2  Toronto   7
Toronto wins best-of-five series 3–0

St. Louis Blues vs. Minnesota North Stars
 Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 9 St. Louis  2  Minnesota 1April 10 St. Louis  2  Minnesota   6April 12  Minnesota  3  St. Louis  4April 13 Minnesota  7  St. Louis 4 April 15 St. Louis   6 Minnesota  3 
St. Louis wins best-of-five series 3–2

 Smythe Division Semi-Finals 
Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers
 Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 9  Vancouver  3  Edmonton   7 April 10 Vancouver  1  Edmonton   5April 12 Edmonton   5  Vancouver  1
Edmonton wins best-of-five series 3–0

Winnipeg Jets vs. Calgary Flames
 Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 9  Winnipeg 1  Calgary  5 April 10  Winnipeg  4  Calgary   6 April 12  Calgary  4  Winnipeg  3 (OT)
Calgary wins best-of-five series 3–0

 Divisional Finals 
Hartford Whalers vs. Montreal Canadiens
 Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 17  Hartford   4  Montreal  1 April 19 Hartford  1  Montreal   3 April 21 Montreal   4 Hartford  1 April 23  Montreal  1  Hartford   2 (OT)April 25  Hartford  3  Montreal   5April 27  Montreal  0  Hartford  1April 29  Hartford 1  Montreal   2 (OT)
Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4–3

New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals
 Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 17 New York   4  Washington 3 (OT)April 19  New York  1  Washington   8 April 21  Washington   6  New York  3 April 23  Washington  5  New York   6 (OT)April 25 New York   4  Washington  2April 27  Washington 1  New York   2 
New York Rangers wins best-of-seven series 4–2

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. St. Louis Blues
 Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 18 Toronto1St. Louis6April 20 Toronto3St. Louis0April 22 St. Louis2Toronto5April 24 St. Louis7Toronto4April 26 Toronto3St. Louis4(OT)April 28 St. Louis3Toronto5April 30 Toronto1St. Louis2
St. Louis wins best-of-seven series 4–3

Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers

 Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 18 Calgary   4  Edmonton  1April 20  Calgary  5  Edmonton   6 (OT)April 22  Edmonton  2  Calgary  3April 24 Edmonton  7  Calgary  4April 26  Calgary  4 Edmonton  1April 28 Edmonton   5  Calgary  2April 30 Calgary  3 Edmonton 2 
Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4–3

 Conference Finals 
New York Rangers vs. Montreal Canadiens

 Date Away Score Home Score NotesMay 1  New York  1  Montreal  2 May 3 New York  2  Montreal   6 May 5 Montreal   4  New York  3 (OT)May 7 Montreal  0  New York   2 May 9 New York  1  Montreal  3
Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4–1

St. Louis Blues vs. Calgary Flames

 Date Away Score Home Score NotesMay 2 St. Louis   3 Calgary 2 May 4 St. Louis  2  Calgary   8 May 6 Calgary   5  St. Louis  3May 8 Calgary 2  St. Louis  5May 10 St. Louis  2  Calgary   4 May 12  Calgary  5  St. Louis   6 (OT)May 14 St. Louis  1  Calgary   2
Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4–3

 Finals 
Montreal Canadiens vs. Calgary Flames

 Date Away Score Home Score NotesMay 16 Montreal  2  Calgary   5 May 18 Montreal   3  Calgary  2 (OT)May 20  Calgary  3  Montreal  5 May 22 Calgary  0  Montreal   1 May 24 Montreal   4  Calgary  3 
Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4–1

 NHL awards 
 Presidents' Trophy:  Edmonton Oilers Prince of Wales Trophy:  Montreal Canadiens Clarence S. Campbell Bowl:  Calgary Flames Art Ross Memorial Trophy:  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:  Charlie Simmer, Boston Bruins Calder Memorial Trophy:  Gary Suter, Calgary Flames Conn Smythe Trophy:  Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens Frank J. Selke Trophy:  Troy Murray, Chicago Black Hawks Hart Memorial Trophy:  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers Jack Adams Award:  Glen Sather, Edmonton Oilers James Norris Memorial Trophy:  Paul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:  Mike Bossy, New York Islanders Lester B. Pearson Award:  Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Plus/Minus Award:  Mark Howe, Philadelphia Flyers, William M. Jennings Trophy:  Bob Froese/Darren Jensen, Philadelphia Flyers Vezina Trophy:  John Vanbiesbrouck, New York Rangers Lester Patrick Trophy:  Jack MacInnes, Jack Riley

 All-Star teams 
 First Team    Position    Second TeamJohn Vanbiesbrouck, New York Rangers GBob Froese, Philadelphia FlyersPaul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers DLarry Robinson, Montreal CanadiensMark Howe, Philadelphia Flyers DRay Bourque, Boston BruinsWayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers CMario Lemieux, Pittsburgh PenguinsMike Bossy, New York Islanders RWJari Kurri, Edmonton OilersMichel Goulet, Quebec Nordiques LWMats Naslund, Montreal Canadiens

 First games 
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1985–86 (listed with their first team, stars(*) mark start in playoffs):
Bill Ranford, Boston Bruins
Daren Puppa, Buffalo Sabres
Brian Bradley, Calgary Flames
Gary Suter, Calgary Flames
Brett Hull*, Calgary Flames
Adam Oates, Detroit Red Wings
Petr Klima, Detroit Red Wings
Bob Probert, Detroit Red Wings
Shayne Corson, Montreal Canadiens
Kirk McLean, New Jersey Devils
Scott Mellanby, Philadelphia Flyers
Craig Simpson, Pittsburgh Penguins
Jeff Brown, Quebec Nordiques
Cliff Ronning*, St. Louis Blues
Wendel Clark, Toronto Maple Leafs
Dave Lowry, Vancouver Canucks
Jim Sandlak, Vancouver Canucks

 Last games 
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1985–86 (listed with their last team):
Tom Lysiak, Chicago Black Hawks
Mike Rogers, Edmonton Oilers
Mario Tremblay, Montreal Canadiens
Bob Nystrom, New York Islanders
Pelle Lindbergh, Philadelphia Flyers
Denis Herron, Pittsburgh Penguins
Don Edwards, Toronto Maple Leafs
Marian Stastny, Toronto Maple Leafs
Jiri Bubla, Vancouver Canucks
Dan Bouchard, Winnipeg Jets

 References 

Hockey Database
NHL.com

Category:National Hockey League seasons
Category:1985 in sports