1980–81 Montreal Canadiens season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 Montreal Canadiens NHL 1980–81 1980 Wales 1st Norris 1st 45–22–13 31–7–2 14–15–11 332 232 Irving Grundman Claude Ruel Serge Savard None Montreal Forum 16,699 Steve ShuttMark Napier (35) Guy Lafleur (43) Steve Shutt (73) Brian Engblom (+63) Chris Nilan (262) Richard Sevigny (20) Rick Wamsley (1.90) Yes Yes The 1980–81 Montreal Canadiens season was the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Montreal Canadiens' 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 243 Doubleday 2009 978-0-385-66325-0 The Canadiens earned at least 100 regular season points for the seventh consecutive season. Montreal qualified for the 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs and were eliminated in the NHL's preliminary round by the Edmonton Oilers three games to none, in what was considered a major upset.https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2168415 The playoff upset that rattled a dynasty and put Gretzky's Oilers 'on the map' Faris Nick TheScore.com May 14, 2021 August 19, 2024 Four days after the Canadiens were eliminated, head coach Claude Ruel resigned. 2 Regular season Guy Lafleur, as a result of recovery from a car accident, appeared in only 51 games and scored 27 goals. It was the first time since the 1973–74 season that he failed to score 50 goals or more in a season.The Montreal Canadiens: 100 Years of Glory D'Arcy Jenish 242 Doubleday 2009 978-0-385-66325-0 Final standings MTL MTL Record vs. opponents MTL Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 5px solid; border-bottom:#192168 5px solid; 1980–81 regular season1980-81 Montreal Canadiens Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1981_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 6, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||L||October 11, 1980||4–5 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) ||0–1–0 |- |2||L||October 12, 1980||2–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1980–81) ||0–2–0 |- |3||T||October 15, 1980||3–3 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1980–81) ||0–2–1 |- |4||W||October 18, 1980||4–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) ||1–2–1 |- |5||L||October 19, 1980||1–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) ||1–3–1 |- |6||L||October 21, 1980||3–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1980–81) ||1–4–1 |- |7||W||October 23, 1980||7–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) ||2–4–1 |- |8||L||October 25, 1980||2–5 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) ||2–5–1 |- |9||L||October 28, 1980||4–6 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1980–81) ||2–6–1 |- |10||W||October 30, 1980||8–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1980–81) ||3–6–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |11||W||November 1, 1980||7–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1980–81) ||4–6–1 |- |12||W||November 4, 1980||5–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) ||5–6–1 |- |13||L||November 6, 1980||2–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) ||5–7–1 |- |14||W||November 8, 1980||3–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) ||6–7–1 |- |15||W||November 11, 1980||8–2 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1980–81) ||7–7–1 |- |16||W||November 12, 1980||8–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) ||8–7–1 |- |17||T||November 14, 1980||3–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) ||8–7–2 |- |18||W||November 16, 1980||5–1 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) ||9–7–2 |- |19||W||November 19, 1980||5–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) ||10–7–2 |- |20||W||November 20, 1980||7–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) ||11–7–2 |- |21||W||November 22, 1980||7–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) ||12–7–2 |- |22||L||November 25, 1980||4–5 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1980–81) ||12–8–2 |- |23||L||November 27, 1980||3–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1980–81) ||12–9–2 |- |24||L||November 29, 1980||2–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) ||12–10–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |25||W||December 3, 1980||6–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) ||13–10–2 |- |26||L||December 4, 1980||2–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) ||13–11–2 |- |27||W||December 6, 1980||4–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1980–81) ||14–11–2 |- |28||L||December 10, 1980||3–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) ||14–12–2 |- |29||W||December 11, 1980||5–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) ||15–12–2 |- |30||W||December 13, 1980||4–1 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) ||16–12–2 |- |31||T||December 17, 1980||4–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) ||16–12–3 |- |32||W||December 18, 1980||4–0 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1980–81) ||17–12–3 |- |33||L||December 20, 1980||3–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) ||17–13–3 |- |34||T||December 23, 1980||2–2 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) ||17–13–4 |- |35||W||December 27, 1980||7–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1980–81) ||18–13–4 |- |36||W||December 28, 1980||5–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1980–81) ||19–13–4 |- |37||W||December 30, 1980||4–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) ||20–13–4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |38||W||January 2, 1981||3–1 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1980–81) ||21–13–4 |- |39||W||January 3, 1981||2–1 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) ||22–13–4 |- |40||W||January 6, 1981||6–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) ||23–13–4 |- |41||W||January 8, 1981||4–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) ||24–13–4 |- |42||T||January 10, 1981||5–5 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) ||24–13–5 |- |43||W||January 12, 1981||5–0 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) ||25–13–5 |- |44||W||January 15, 1981||7–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) ||26–13–5 |- |45||L||January 17, 1981||5–6 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) ||26–14–5 |- |46||L||January 19, 1981||3–6 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) ||26–15–5 |- |47||L||January 21, 1981||2–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) ||26–16–5 |- |48||W||January 24, 1981||6–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) ||27–16–5 |- |49||L||January 28, 1981||1–9 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) ||27–17–5 |- |50||T||January 29, 1981||4–4 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1980–81) ||27–17–6 |- |51||L||January 31, 1981||1–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) ||27–18–6 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |52||W||February 3, 1981||5–2 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1980–81) ||28–18–6 |- |53||W||February 5, 1981||7–0 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) ||29–18–6 |- |54||W||February 7, 1981||6–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1980–81) ||30–18–6 |- |55||T||February 12, 1981||3–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1980–81) ||30–18–7 |- |56||W||February 14, 1981||6–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1980–81) ||31–18–7 |- |57||T||February 15, 1981||5–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) ||31–18–8 |- |58||W||February 19, 1981||5–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) ||32–18–8 |- |59||W||February 21, 1981||4–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) ||33–18–8 |- |60||W||February 22, 1981||4–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) ||34–18–8 |- |61||T||February 24, 1981||2–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1980–81) ||34–18–9 |- |62||W||February 26, 1981||6–0 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1980–81) ||35–18–9 |- |63||W||February 28, 1981||5–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) ||36–18–9 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |64||T||March 1, 1981||4–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1980–81) ||36–18–10 |- |65||W||March 4, 1981||9–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) ||37–18–10 |- |66||L||March 7, 1981||2–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) ||37–19–10 |- |67||T||March 9, 1981||1–1 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) ||37–19–11 |- |68||W||March 11, 1981||2–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) ||38–19–11 |- |69||W||March 12, 1981||4–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1980–81) ||39–19–11 |- |70||W||March 14, 1981||2–1 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1980–81) ||40–19–11 |- |71||T||March 17, 1981||3–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1980–81) ||40–19–12 |- |72||L||March 18, 1981||3–9 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1980–81) ||40–20–12 |- |73||W||March 21, 1981||5–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) ||41–20–12 |- |74||T||March 22, 1981||2–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1980–81) ||41–20–13 |- |75||W||March 26, 1981||8–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1980–81) ||42–20–13 |- |76||L||March 28, 1981||2–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1980–81) ||42–21–13 |- |77||L||March 29, 1981||0–4 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) ||42–22–13 |- |78||W||March 31, 1981||3–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1980–81) ||43–22–13 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |79||W||April 3, 1981||6–1 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1980–81) ||44–22–13 |- |80||W||April 5, 1981||4–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1980–81) ||45–22–13 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs 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. Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Steve Shutt LW 77 35 38 73 5130703 Mark Napier Mark Napier (ice hockey) RW 79 35 36 71 2434506 Guy Lafleur RW 51 27 43 70 2924707 Mario Tremblay RW 77 25 38 63 12316414 Rejean Houle W 77 27 31 58 8320613 Yvon Lambert LW 73 22 32 54 397403 Pierre Larouche C 61 25 28 53 2813502 Larry Robinson D 65 12 38 50 3746702 Bob Gainey LW 78 23 24 47 3613533 Rod Langway D 80 11 34 45 12053512 Pierre Mondou C 57 17 24 41 1624502 Keith Acton C 61 15 24 39 745302 Doug Jarvis C 80 16 22 38 3412021 Doug Risebrough C 48 13 21 34 937101 Brian Engblom D 80 3 25 28 9663100 Gaston Gingras D 55 5 16 21 225301 Serge Savard D 77 4 13 17 3012001 Chris Nilan RW 57 7 8 15 2627001 Doug Wickenheiser C 41 7 8 15 205200 Guy Lapointe D 33 1 9 10 79-6101 Robert Picard D 8 2 2 4 6-1100 Denis Herron G 25 0 2 2 00000 Guy Carbonneau C 2 0 1 1 00000 Michel Larocque Michel Larocque (ice hockey, born 1952) G 28 0 1 1 20000 Bill Baker Bill Baker (ice hockey, born 1956) D 11 0 0 0 32-1000 Rick Chartraw D/RW 14 0 0 0 4-5000 Yvan Joly RW 1 0 0 0 00000 Dave Orleski LW 1 0 0 0 00000 Richard Sevigny G 33 0 0 0 300000 Rick Wamsley G 5 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SO Richard Sevigny 1777 33 20 4 3 71 2.40 2 Michel Larocque Michel Larocque (ice hockey, born 1952) 1623 28 16 9 3 82 3.03 1 Denis Herron 1147 25 6 9 6 67 3.50 1 Rick Wamsley 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 Steve Shutt LW 3 2 1 3 4000 Pierre Larouche C 2 0 2 2 0000 Brian Engblom D 3 1 0 1 4000 Gaston Gingras D 1 1 0 1 0100 Rejean Houle W 3 1 0 1 6000 Doug Risebrough C 3 1 0 1 0100 Guy Lafleur RW 3 0 1 1 2000 Pierre Mondou C 3 0 1 1 0000 Larry Robinson D 3 0 1 1 2000 Keith Acton C 2 0 0 0 6000 Bob Gainey LW 3 0 0 0 2000 Doug Jarvis C 3 0 0 0 0000 Yvon Lambert LW 3 0 0 0 2000 Rod Langway D 3 0 0 0 6000 Guy Lapointe D 1 0 0 0 17000 Mark Napier Mark Napier (ice hockey) RW 3 0 0 0 2000 Chris Nilan RW 2 0 0 0 0000 Robert Picard D 1 0 0 0 0000 Serge Savard D 3 0 0 0 0000 Richard Sevigny G 3 0 0 0 0000 Mario Tremblay RW 3 0 0 0 9000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LGAGAA SO Richard Sevigny 180 3 0 3 13 4.33 0 Team: 180 3 0 3 13 4.33 0 hockey-reference.com 2009-05-28 1980-81 Montreal Canadiens Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1981.html Transactions The Canadiens were involved in the following transactions during the 1980–81 season.https://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=&Team=Canadiens&BeginDate=1980-05-01&EndDate=1981-09-01&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search&start=0 Hockey Transactions Search Results Trades June 5, 1980To Montreal Canadiens3rd round pick in 1981 – Dieter Hegen 5th round pick in 1981 – Steve RooneyTo Hartford WhalersRick Meagher 3rd round pick in 1981 – Paul MacDermid 5th round pick in 1981 – Dan Bourbonnais September 1, 1980To Montreal CanadiensDave GormanTo Calgary FlamesTim Burke September 1, 1980To Montreal CanadiensFuture considerationsTo Minnesota North StarsBill Nyrop September 26, 1980To Montreal Canadiens2nd round pick in 1982 – David MaleyTo Winnipeg JetsNorm Dupont September 26, 1980To Montreal Canadiens3rd round pick in 1983 – Peter TaglianettiTo Pittsburgh PenguinsGilles Lupien 3rd round pick in 1983 – Mike Rowe February 17, 1981To Montreal Canadiens2nd round pick in 1983 – Claude LemieuxTo Los Angeles KingsRick Chartraw March 10, 1981To Montreal Canadiens3rd round pick in 1983 – Daniel Letendre 4th round pick in 1984 – Lee BrodeurTo Colorado RockiesBill Baker 4th round pick in 1984 – Paul Ysebaert March 10, 1981To Montreal CanadiensRobert Picard 8th round pick in 1982 – Steve SmithTo Toronto Maple LeafsMichel Larocque Free agent signings March 9, 1981From Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)Dan Daoust Draft picks The 1980 NHL entry draft was hosted at the Montreal Forum. It would mark the first time that an NHL arena hosted the event.The Montreal Canadiens: 100 Years of Glory D'Arcy Jenish 240 Doubleday 2009 978-0-385-66325-0 Round # Player Nationality College/junior/club team11Doug WickenheiserCanadaRegina Pats (WHL)227Ric NattressCanadaBrantford Alexanders (OHA)240John ChabotCanadaHull Olympiques (QMJHL)345John NewberryCanadaNanaimo Clippers (BCJHL)361Craig LudwigUnited StatesUniversity of North Dakota (NCAA)482Jeff TealUnited StatesUniversity of Minnesota (WCHA)5103Remi GagneCanadaChicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)6124Mike McPheeCanadaRennssaeler Polytechnic Institute (ECAC)7145Bill NortonUnited StatesClarkson University (ECAC)8166Steve PenneyCanadaShawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)9187John SchmidtUnited StatesUniversity of Notre Dame (WCHA)10208Scott RobinsonCanadaUniversity of Denver (WCHA) See also 1980–81 NHL season References Category:Montreal Canadiens seasons Montreal Canadiens season, 1980-81 Category:Norris Division champion seasons Montreal Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens Category:Eastern Conference (NHL) championship seasons Category:1980 in Montreal Category:1981 in Montreal