1979–80 New York Islanders season

NHL hockey team season (won Stanley Cup) March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1979–80 1979 New York Islanders Campbell 2nd Patrick 2nd 39–28–13 26–9–5 13–19–8 281 247 Bill Torrey Al Arbour Denis Potvin None Nassau Coliseum Mike Bossy (51) Bryan Trottier (62) Bryan Trottier (104) Garry Howatt (219) Chico Resch (23) Billy Smith (2.95) yes The 1979–80 New York Islanders season was the eighth season in the franchise's history. During the season, the Islanders dropped below the 100-point mark for the first time in five years, earning only 91 points. Before the playoffs, Torrey made the difficult decision to trade longtime and popular veterans Billy Harris and defenseman Dave Lewis to the Los Angeles Kings for second line center Butch Goring. Goring is often called the "final piece of the puzzle": a strong two-way player, his presence on the second line ensured that opponents would no longer be able to focus their defensive efforts on the Isles' first line of Bossy, Trottier and Clark Gillies. Contributions from new teammates, such as wingers Duane Sutter and Anders Kallur and stay-at-home defensemen Gord Lane and Ken Morrow (the latter fresh off a gold medal win at the 1980 Olympics), also figured prominently in the Islanders' playoff success. 2 Offseason Clark Gillies resigns the team captaincy and is replaced by defenseman Denis Potvin. Regular season Season standings NYI NYI Record vs. opponents NYI Playoffs After easily disposing of the Los Angeles Kings and the Boston Bruins in the first two rounds, the Isles faced the Buffalo Sabres in the semi-finals, who had finished second overall in the NHL standings. The Isles won the first two games in Buffalo, including a 3–2 victory in Game 2 on Bob Nystrom's goal in double overtime. They went on to win the series in six games and reach the finals for the first time in franchise history, where they would face the NHL's regular season champions, the Philadelphia Flyers, who had gone undefeated for 35 straight games (25–0–10) during the regular season. In Game 1 in Philadelphia, the Isles won 4–3 on Denis Potvin's power-play goal in overtime. Leading the series 3–2, they went home to Long Island for Game 6. In that game, Bob Nystrom continued his overtime heroics, scoring at 7:11 of the extra frame, on assists by John Tonelli and Lorne Henning, to bring Long Island its first Stanley Cup. It was the Isles' sixth overtime victory of the playoffs. Bryan Trottier won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. Torrey's strategy of building through the draft turned out very well; nearly all of the major contributors on the 1980 champions were home-grown Islanders or had spent most of their NHL careers in the Islanders organization. The Islanders would become the first NHL team to win a Stanley Cup with Europeans (Stefan Persson, Anders Kallur, Bob Nystrom) on its roster.IIHF Top 100 Hockey Stories of All Time, Szymon Szemberg and Andrew Podnieks, p.74, Fenn Publishing, Bolton, Ontario, Canada, 2008, 978-1-55168-358-4 Schedule and results Regular season background:#fff; border-top:#003087 5px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 5px solid; 1979–80 regular season1979-80 New York Islanders Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYI/1980_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 11, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; October: 4–3–2 (home: 3–1–1; road: 1–2–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |1||October 11, 1979||2–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) ||0–1–0 || 1979020007 L |- |2||October 13, 1979||2–5 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) ||0–2–0 || 1979020014 L |- |3||October 16, 1979||5–1 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1979–80) ||1–2–0 || 1979020030 W |- |4||October 18, 1979||2–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) ||1–3–0 || 1979020039 L |- |5||October 20, 1979||6–1 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1979–80) ||2–3–0 || 1979020047 W |- |6||October 23, 1979||3–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) ||2–3–1 || 1979020060 T |- |7||October 26, 1979||2–1 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) ||3–3–1 || 1979020074 W |- |8||October 27, 1979||6–4 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) ||4–3–1 || 1979020079 W |- |9||October 31, 1979||2–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) ||4–3–2 || 1979020097 T |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; November: 2–8–2 (home: 2–2–0; road: 0–5–2) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |10||November 2, 1979||5–7 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) ||4–4–2 || 1979020106 L |- |11||November 4, 1979||4–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) ||4–4–3 || 1979020119 T |- |12||November 6, 1979||4–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) ||5–4–3 || 1979020125 W |- |13||November 9, 1979||2–5 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80) ||5–5–3 || 1979020137 L |- |14||November 10, 1979||2–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) ||5–6–3 || 1979020141 L |- |15||November 13, 1979||10–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1979–80) ||6–6–3 || 1979020155 W |- |16||November 17, 1979||4–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) ||6–7–3 || 1979020174 L |- |17||November 20, 1979||3–6 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) ||6–8–3 || 1979020189 L |- |18||November 21, 1979||1–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) ||6–9–3 || 1979020194 L |- |19||November 24, 1979||4–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) ||6–9–4 || 1979020207 T |- |20||November 28, 1979||4–7 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) ||6–10–4 || 1979020229 L |- |21||November 30, 1979||3–5 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) ||6–11–4 || 1979020237 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; December: 7–4–2 (home: 4–1–1; road: 3–3–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |22||December 2, 1979||4–0 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) ||7–11–4 || 1979020249 W |- |23||December 4, 1979||1–5 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) ||7–12–4 || 1979020255 L |- |24||December 6, 1979||4–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1979–80) ||8–12–4 || 1979020267 W |- |25||December 8, 1979||6–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) ||9–12–4 || 1979020275 W |- |26||December 9, 1979||4–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1979–80) ||9–13–4 || 1979020280 L |- |27||December 11, 1979||4–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) ||10–13–4 || 1979020289 W |- |28||December 12, 1979||3–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) ||10–13–5 || 1979020293 T |- |29||December 15, 1979||3–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) ||10–13–6 || 1979020306 T |- |30||December 18, 1979||3–2 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1979–80) ||11–13–6 || 1979020321 W |- |31||December 22, 1979||2–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1979–80) ||12–13–6 || 1979020339 W |- |32||December 23, 1979||0–8 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) ||12–14–6 || 1979020348 L |- |33||December 27, 1979||7–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) ||13–14–6 || 1979020359 W |- |34||December 30, 1979||2–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) ||13–15–6 || 1979020376 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; January: 10–4–1 (home: 8–2–1; road: 2–2–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |35||January 2, 1980||3–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) ||14–15–6 || 1979020384 W |- |36||January 3, 1980||3–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) ||14–16–6 || 1979020389 L |- |37||January 5, 1980||3–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1979–80) ||15–16–6 || 1979020396 W |- |38||January 8, 1980||3–0 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) ||16–16–6 || 1979020411 W |- |39||January 9, 1980||2–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) ||16–17–6 || 1979020416 L |- |40||January 12, 1980||5–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1979–80) ||17–17–6 || 1979020429 W |- |41||January 15, 1980||5–2 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) ||18–17–6 || 1979020444 W |- |42||January 17, 1980||9–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) ||19–17–6 || 1979020456 W |- |43||January 19, 1980||3–1 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) ||20–17–6 || 1979020464 W |- |44||January 22, 1980||2–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) ||21–17–6 || 1979020478 W |- |45||January 23, 1980||5–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) ||22–17–6 || 1979020484 W |- |46||January 26, 1980||3–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1979–80) ||23–17–6 || 1979020494 W |- |47||January 27, 1980||1–7 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) ||23–18–6 || 1979020503 L |- |48||January 29, 1980||2–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) ||23–18–7 || 1979020512 T |- |49||January 31, 1980||2–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) ||23–19–7 || 1979020524 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; February: 6–6–1 (home: 3–2–1; road: 3–4–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |50||February 2, 1980||3–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) ||24–19–7 || 1979020530 W |- |51||February 3, 1980||3–5 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) ||24–20–7 || 1979020540 L |- |52||February 7, 1980||4–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) ||25–20–7 || 1979020551 W |- |53||February 9, 1980||5–0 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) ||26–20–7 || 1979020559 W |- |54||February 12, 1980||0–0 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) ||26–20–8 || 1979020575 T |- |55||February 14, 1980||5–3 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) ||27–20–8 || 1979020582 W |- |56||February 16, 1980||2–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) ||27–21–8 || 1979020589 L |- |57||February 17, 1980||2–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) ||27–22–8 || 1979020597 L |- |58||February 19, 1980||4–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) ||27–23–8 || 1979020605 L |- |59||February 21, 1980||2–5 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) ||27–24–8 || 1979020617 L |- |60||February 23, 1980||3–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) ||28–24–8 || 1979020623 W |- |61||February 24, 1980||2–8 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1979–80) ||28–25–8 || 1979020631 L |- |62||February 27, 1980||5–3 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) ||29–25–8 || 1979020643 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; March: 8–3–4 (home: 5–1–1; road: 3–2–3) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |63||March 1, 1980||3–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) ||29–26–8 || 1979020655 L |- |64||March 2, 1980||0–0 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) ||29–26–9 || 1979020664 T |- |65||March 4, 1980||6–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) ||30–26–9 || 1979020672 W |- |66||March 6, 1980||5–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) ||31–26–9 || 1979020682 W |- |67||March 8, 1980||3–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1979–80) ||31–27–9 || 1979020688 L |- |68||March 9, 1980||1–3 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) ||31–28–9 || 1979020696 L |- |69||March 11, 1980||4–1 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1979–80) ||32–28–9 || 1979020706 W |- |70||March 15, 1980||6–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1979–80) ||33–28–9 || 1979020722 W |- |71||March 16, 1980||6–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) ||34–28–9 || 1979020731 W |- |72||March 18, 1980||6–3 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1979–80) ||35–28–9 || 1979020738 W |- |73||March 22, 1980||4–4 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) ||35–28–10 || 1979020757 T |- |74||March 23, 1980||1–1 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) ||35–28–11 || 1979020765 T |- |75||March 25, 1980||5–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) ||36–28–11 || 1979020774 W |- |76||March 28, 1980||2–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) ||36–28–12 || 1979020789 T |- |77||March 30, 1980||9–6 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) ||37–28–12 || 1979020798 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; April: 2–0–1 (home: 1–0–0; road: 1–0–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |78||April 1, 1980||1–1 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) ||37–28–13 || 1979020807 T |- |79||April 4, 1980||7–3 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80) ||38–28–13 || 1979020823 W |- |80||April 5, 1980||2–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1979–80) ||39–28–13 || 1979020826 W |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black W #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black L #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black T Playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#003087 5px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 5px solid; 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; Preliminary Round vs. (12) Los Angeles Kings – Islanders win 3–1 Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Attendance Series Recap |- | 1 || April 8, 1980 || Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) ||8–1 || || Smith || 13,862 || 1–0 || 1979030151 W |- | 2 || April 9, 1980 || Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) ||3–6 || || Resch || 14,047 || 1–1 || 1979030152 L |- | 3 || April 11, 1980 || @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) ||4–3 || OT 6:55 || Smith || 11,690 || 2–1 || 1979030153 W |- | 4 || April 12, 1980 || @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) ||6–0 || || Smith || 11,089 || 3–1 || 1979030154 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; Quarterfinals vs. (4) Boston Bruins – Islanders win 4–1 Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Attendance Series Recap |- | 1 || April 16, 1980 || @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) ||2–1 || OT 1:02 || Smith || 10,910 || 1–0 || 1979030241 W |- | 2 || April 17, 1980 || @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) ||5–4 || OT 1:24 || Smith || 13,134 || 2–0 || 1979030242 W |- | 3 || April 19, 1980 || Boston Bruins (1979–80) ||5–3 || || Smith || 14,995 || 3–0 || 1979030243 W |- | 4 || April 21, 1980 || Boston Bruins (1979–80) ||3–4 || OT 17:13 || Smith || 14,995 || 3–1 || 1979030244 L |- | 5 || April 22, 1980 || @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) ||4–2 || || Smith || 14,673 || 4–0 || 1979030245 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; Semifinals vs. (2) Buffalo Sabres – Islanders win 4–2 Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Attendance Series Recap |- | 1 || April 29, 1980 || @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) ||4–1 || || Smith || 16,433 || 1–0 || 1979030321 W |- | 2 || May 1, 1980 || @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) ||2–1 || 2OT 21:20 || Smith || 16,433 || 2–0 || 1979030322 W |- | 3 || May 3, 1980 || Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) ||7–4 || || Smith || 14,995 || 3–0 || 1979030323 W |- | 4 || May 6, 1980 || Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) ||4–7 || || Smith || 14,995 || 3–1 || 1979030324 L |- | 5 || May 8, 1980 || @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) ||0–2 || || Resch || 16,433 || 3–2 || 1979030325 L |- | 6 || May 10, 1980 || Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) ||5–2 || || Smith || 14,995 || 4–2 || 1979030326 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; Stanley Cup Finals vs. (1) Philadelphia Flyers – Islanders win 4–2 Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Attendance Series Recap |- | 1 || May 13, 1980 || @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) ||4–3 || OT 4:07 || Smith || 17,077 || 1–0 || 1979030411 W |- | 2 || May 15, 1980 || @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) ||3–8 || || Smith || 17,077 || 1–1 || 1979030412 L |- | 3 || May 17, 1980 || Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) ||6–2 || || Smith || 14,995 || 2–1 || 1979030413 W |- | 4 || May 19, 1980 || Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) ||5–2 || || Smith || 14,995 || 3–1 || 1979030414 W |- | 5 || May 22, 1980 || @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) ||3–6 || || Smith || 17,077 || 3–2 || 1979030415 L |- | 6 || May 24, 1980 || Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) ||5–4 || OT 7:11 || Smith || 14,995 || 4–2 || 1979030416 W |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black W #fcc Loss 1px solid black L Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Bryan Trottier C 78 42 62 104 68311506 Mike Bossy RW 75 51 41 92 12281608 Clark Gillies LW 73 19 35 54 4929705 Anders Kallur RW 76 22 30 52 1612542 John Tonelli LW 77 14 30 44 498302 Denis Potvin D 31 8 33 41 4413400 Bob Bourne C 73 15 25 40 525301 Bob Nystrom RW 67 21 18 39 944204 Stefan Persson ice hockey D 73 4 35 39 7613200 Wayne Merrick C 70 13 22 35 1612204 Billy Harris ice hockey, born 1952 RW 67 15 15 30 370212 Duane Sutter RW 56 15 9 24 555001 Dave Lewis ice hockey D 62 5 16 21 5410000 Garry Howatt LW 77 8 11 19 219-3001 Bob Lorimer D 74 3 16 19 5332001 Dave Langevin D 76 3 13 16 10911010 Gord Lane D 55 2 14 16 15210001 Jean Potvin D 32 2 13 15 26-12200 Steve Tambellini C 45 5 8 13 4-1000 Butch Goring C 12 6 5 11 27010 Lorne Henning C 39 3 6 9 6-10000 Mike Kaszycki C 16 1 4 5 153000 Yvon Vautour RW 17 3 1 4 24-6001 Ken Morrow D 18 0 3 3 44000 Chico Resch G 45 0 3 3 40000 Billy Smith ice hockey G 38 1 0 1 390000 Richard Brodeur G 2 0 0 0 00000 Mike Hordy D 9 0 0 0 70000 Randy Johnston ice hockey D 4 0 0 0 4-2000 Garth MacGuigan C 2 0 0 0 21000 Alex McKendry W 2 0 0 0 0-1000Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SO Chico Resch 2606 45 23 14 6 132 3.04 3 Billy Smith ice hockey 2114 38 15 14 7 104 2.95 2 Richard Brodeur 80 2 1 0 0 6 4.50 0 Team: 4800 80 39 28 13 242 3.02 5 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Bryan Trottier C 21 12 17 29 16422 Mike Bossy RW 16 10 13 23 8601 Bob Bourne C 21 10 10 20 10521 Butch Goring C 21 7 12 19 2100 Denis Potvin D 21 6 13 19 24401 Bob Nystrom RW 20 9 9 18 50003 John Tonelli LW 21 7 9 16 18000 Clark Gillies LW 21 6 10 16 63102 Stefan Persson ice hockey D 21 5 10 15 16400 Duane Sutter RW 21 3 7 10 74000 Lorne Henning C 21 3 4 7 2031 Wayne Merrick C 21 2 4 6 2001 Garry Howatt LW 21 3 1 4 84001 Alex McKendry W 6 2 2 4 0000 Gord Lane D 21 1 3 4 85000 Bob Lorimer D 21 1 3 4 41001 Ken Morrow D 20 1 2 3 12001 Dave Langevin D 21 0 3 3 32000 Chico Resch G 4 0 0 0 0000 Billy Smith ice hockey G 20 0 0 0 11000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LGAGAA SO Billy Smith ice hockey 1198 20 15 4 56 2.80 1 Chico Resch 120 4 0 2 9 4.50 0 Team: 1318 21 15 6 65 2.96 1 hockey-reference.com 2009-07-13 1979-80 New York Islanders Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYI/1980.html Note: Pos = Position; 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 Bryan Trottier, Conn Smythe Trophy Draft picks Round Pick Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team117Duane Sutter (RW) Canada Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)225Tomas Jonsson (D) Sweden Modo Hockey (Sweden)238Billy Carroll (C) Canada London Knights (OMJHL)359Roland Melanson (G) Canada Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL)480Tim Lockridge (D) Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)5101Glen Duncan (LW) Canada Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL)6122John Gibb (D) Canada Bowling Green University (CCHA) References External links Islanders on Hockey Database Montreal Canadiens1979 New York Islanders1981 New York IslandersStanley Cup Champions 1980 1979-80 Category:1979–80 NHL season by team Category:1979 in sports in New York (state) Category:1980 in sports in New York (state) Category:1980 Stanley Cup 1979-80 New York Islanders season