1981–82 New York Islanders season

NHL hockey team season (won 3rd Stanley Cup) March 2026 August 2023 December 2024 NHL 1981–82 1981 New York Islanders Wales 1st Patrick 1st 54–16–10 33–3–4 21–13–6 385 250 Bill Torrey Al Arbour Denis Potvin None Nassau Coliseum  15,049 Indianapolis Checkers (CHL) Mike Bossy (64) Mike Bossy (83) Mike Bossy (147) Brent Sutter (114) Billy Smith (32) Billy Smith (2.97) yes Yes yes The 1981–82 New York Islanders season was the 10th season in the franchise's history. It involved winning the Stanley Cup. 2 Offseason NHL draft 1981 NHL Entry Draft Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)121Paul BoutilierCanadaSherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)242Gord DineenCanadaSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL)357Ron HandyCanadaSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL)363Neal CoulterCanadaToronto Marlboros (OMJHL)484Todd LumbardCanadaBrandon Wheat Kings (WHL)594Jacques SylvestreCanadaSorel Eperviers (QMJHL)5105Moe LemayCanadaOttawa 67's (OMJHL)6126Chuck BrimmerCanadaKingston Canadians (OMJHL)7147Teppo VirtaTPS (Finland)8168Bill DowdCanadaOttawa 67's (OMJHL)9189Scott MacLellanCanadaBurlington Cougars (CBJHL)10210Dave RandersonCanadaStratford Cullitons (MWJBHL) Regular season Season standings NYI Record vs. opponents NYI Schedule and results Regular season background:#fff; border-top:#003087 5px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 5px solid; 1981–82 regular season1981-82 New York Islanders Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYI/1982_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 24, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||W||October 7, 1981||4–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) ||1–0–0 |- |2||T||October 10, 1981||2–2 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1981–82) ||1–0–1 |- |3||W||October 14, 1981||4–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) ||2–0–1 |- |4||W||October 15, 1981||4–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) ||3–0–1 |- |5||W||October 17, 1981||5–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1981–82) ||4–0–1 |- |6||L||October 20, 1981||6–9 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) ||4–1–1 |- |7||W||October 23, 1981||4–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1981–82) ||5–1–1 |- |8||W||October 24, 1981||6–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1981–82) ||6–1–1 |- |9||W||October 27, 1981||4–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) ||7–1–1 |- |10||T||October 29, 1981||6–6 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) ||7–1–2 |- |11||W||October 31, 1981||2–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) ||8–1–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |12||T||November 3, 1981||2–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1981–82) ||8–1–3 |- |13||L||November 7, 1981||2–6 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) ||8–2–3 |- |14||W||November 10, 1981||5–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) ||9–2–3 |- |15||W||November 11, 1981||4–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) ||10–2–3 |- |16||T||November 14, 1981||5–5 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) ||10–2–4 |- |17||L||November 15, 1981||4–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) ||10–3–4 |- |18||L||November 17, 1981||2–7 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) ||10–4–4 |- |19||W||November 21, 1981||4–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1981–82) ||11–4–4 |- |20||W||November 22, 1981||7–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1981–82) ||12–4–4 |- |21||W||November 24, 1981||3–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1981–82) ||13–4–4 |- |22||W||November 26, 1981||9–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1981–82) ||14–4–4 |- |23||L||November 28, 1981||4–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) ||14–5–4 |- |24||L||November 29, 1981||2–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) ||14–6–4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |25||W||December 5, 1981||8–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) ||15–6–4 |- |26||L||December 6, 1981||2–5 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) ||15–7–4 |- |27||L||December 9, 1981||3–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) ||15–8–4 |- |28||T||December 12, 1981||3–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1981–82) ||15–8–5 |- |29||L||December 13, 1981||3–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) ||15–9–5 |- |30||W||December 15, 1981||10–7 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) ||16–9–5 |- |31||W||December 17, 1981||4–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1981–82) ||17–9–5 |- |32||W||December 19, 1981||5–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) ||18–9–5 |- |33||W||December 20, 1981||5–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) ||19–9–5 |- |34||W||December 22, 1981||5–2 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) ||20–9–5 |- |35||W||December 26, 1981||4–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) ||21–9–5 |- |36||L||December 29, 1981||4–5 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) ||21–10–5 |- |37||L||December 30, 1981||4–6 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1981–82) ||21–11–5 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |38||W||January 2, 1982||5–3 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) ||22–11–5 |- |39||W||January 4, 1982||4–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) ||23–11–5 |- |40||W||January 7, 1982||5–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) ||24–11–5 |- |41||W||January 9, 1982||3–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) ||25–11–5 |- |42||L||January 14, 1982||4–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) ||25–12–5 |- |43||T||January 17, 1982||2–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1981–82) ||25–12–6 |- |44||L||January 20, 1982||2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1981–82) ||25–13–6 |- |45||W||January 21, 1982||6–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) ||26–13–6 |- |46||W||January 23, 1982||6–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1981–82) ||27–13–6 |- |47||W||January 26, 1982||9–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) ||28–13–6 |- |48||W||January 27, 1982||6–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) ||29–13–6 |- |49||W||January 30, 1982||4–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) ||30–13–6 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |50||W||February 2, 1982||7–6 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1981–82) ||31–13–6 |- |51||W||February 4, 1982||5–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1981–82) ||32–13–6 |- |52||W||February 6, 1982||6–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) ||33–13–6 |- |53||W||February 7, 1982||7–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) ||34–13–6 |- |54||W||February 11, 1982||8–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) ||35–13–6 |- |55||W||February 13, 1982||8–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) ||36–13–6 |- |56||W||February 14, 1982||9–1 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) ||37–13–6 |- |57||W||February 16, 1982||6–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) ||38–13–6 |- |58||W||February 18, 1982||7–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) ||39–13–6 |- |59||W||February 20, 1982||3–2 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1981–82) ||40–13–6 |- |60||L||February 21, 1982||3–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) ||40–14–6 |- |61||W||February 23, 1982||5–1 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) ||41–14–6 |- |62||W||February 25, 1982||4–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) ||42–14–6 |- |63||T||February 27, 1982||5–5 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) ||42–14–7 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |64||W||March 1, 1982||9–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) ||43–14–7 |- |65||W||March 2, 1982||6–3 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1981–82) ||44–14–7 |- |66||W||March 4, 1982||10–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) ||45–14–7 |- |67||W||March 6, 1982||6–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1981–82) ||46–14–7 |- |68||W||March 9, 1982||6–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) ||47–14–7 |- |69||T||March 10, 1982||4–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) ||47–14–8 |- |70||L||March 13, 1982||0–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) ||47–15–8 |- |71||W||March 17, 1982||5–2 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1981–82) ||48–15–8 |- |72||T||March 20, 1982||3–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1981–82) ||48–15–9 |- |73||W||March 21, 1982||3–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1981–82) ||49–15–9 |- |74||W||March 23, 1982||8–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1981–82) ||50–15–9 |- |75||W||March 25, 1982||3–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) ||51–15–9 |- |76||W||March 27, 1982||5–4 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1981–82) ||52–15–9 |- |77||W||March 29, 1982||7–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1981–82) ||53–15–9 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FC4C02 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |78||T||April 1, 1982||3–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) ||53–15–10 |- |79||W||April 3, 1982||6–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) ||54–15–10 |- |80||L||April 4, 1982||2–7 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) ||54–16–10 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Mike Bossy RW 80 64 83 147 226917010 Bryan Trottier C 80 50 79 129 887018210 John Tonelli LW 80 35 58 93 5748505 Clark Gillies LW 79 38 39 77 7539805 Denis Potvin D 60 24 37 61 83381114 Bob Bourne C 76 27 26 53 7727522 Duane Sutter RW 77 18 35 53 10023400 Mike McEwen Mike McEwen (ice hockey) D 73 10 39 49 5030101 Bob Nystrom RW 74 22 25 47 10313004 Brent Sutter C 43 21 22 43 11428301 Stefan Persson Stefan Persson (ice hockey) D 70 6 37 43 9935302 Anders Kallur RW 58 18 22 40 185233 Wayne Merrick C 68 12 27 39 204103 Tomas Jonsson D 70 9 25 34 5126001 Butch Goring C 67 15 17 32 10-3151 Billy Carroll C 72 9 20 29 3212031 Dave Langevin D 73 1 20 21 8234000 Ken Morrow D 75 1 18 19 5653000 Hector Marini RW 30 4 9 13 533101 Gord Lane D 51 0 13 13 9826000 Greg Gilbert LW 1 1 0 1 00000 Billy Smith Billy Smith (ice hockey) G 46 0 1 1 240000 Paul Boutilier D 1 0 0 0 00000 Neil Hawryliw RW 1 0 0 0 00000 Roland Melanson G 36 0 0 0 140000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SO Billy Smith Billy Smith (ice hockey) 2685 46 32 9 4 133 2.97 0 Roland Melanson 2115 36 22 7 6 114 3.23 0 Team: 4800 80 54 16 10 247 3.09 0 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Bryan Trottier C 19 6 23 29 40202 Mike Bossy RW 19 17 10 27 0603 Denis Potvin D 19 5 16 21 30300 Bob Bourne C 19 9 7 16 36310 John Tonelli LW 19 6 10 16 18101 Stefan Persson Stefan Persson (ice hockey) D 13 1 14 15 9100 Clark Gillies LW 19 8 6 14 34403 Wayne Merrick C 19 6 6 12 6001 Butch Goring C 19 6 5 11 12102 Bob Nystrom RW 15 5 5 10 32000 Duane Sutter RW 19 5 5 10 57002 Mike McEwen Mike McEwen (ice hockey) D 15 3 7 10 18200 Brent Sutter C 19 2 6 8 36000 Anders Kallur RW 19 1 6 7 8010 Dave Langevin D 19 2 4 6 16001 Billy Carroll C 19 2 2 4 8020 Gord Lane D 19 0 4 4 61000 Ken Morrow D 19 0 4 4 8000 Greg Gilbert LW 4 1 1 2 2000 Tomas Jonsson D 10 0 2 2 21000 Roland Melanson G 3 0 0 0 0000 Billy Smith Billy Smith (ice hockey) G 18 0 0 0 6000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LGAGAA SO Billy Smith Billy Smith (ice hockey) 1120 18 15 3 47 2.52 1 Roland Melanson 64 3 0 1 5 4.69 0 Team: 1184 19 15 4 52 2.64 1 hockey-reference.com 2009-07-13 1981-82 New York Islanders Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYI/1982.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; Record winning streak From January 21 to February 20, the Islanders set a National Hockey League record by winning 15 consecutive games. Since regular-season overtime did not yet exist, all of these games had to be (and were) won in regulation time. During the streak, the Islanders outscored the opposition 97-35 for a +62 goal differential over the 15 games. The record was surpassed in 1993 by the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won 17 consecutive games, two of which were in overtime. Playoffs Patrick Division semi-finals Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins The Islanders won the first two games of the best-of-5 series, outscoring Pittsburgh 15–3. The Penguins then came back to even the series with two victories of their own. In Game 5, the Islanders came from behind to win in overtime. The tying and winning goals were both scored by John Tonelli. April 7 Islanders 8, Penguins 1 April 8 Islanders 7, Penguins 2 April 10 Penguins 2, Islanders 1(OT) April 11 Penguins 5, Islanders 2 April 13 Islanders 4, Penguins 3(OT) Islanders win series, 3 games to 2 Patrick Division Finals Islanders vs. New York Rangers After losing the opener, their first loss at home since December 29, the Islanders came back to win the next three games and, eventually, the series in six. The key goals were Bryan Trottier's overtime winner of Game 3 and Dave Langevin's in the third period of Game 6 that proved to be the series clincher. April 15 Rangers 5, Islanders 4 April 16 Islanders 7, Rangers 2 April 18 Islanders 4, Rangers 3(OT) April 19 Islanders 5, Rangers 3 April 21 Rangers 4, Islanders 2 April 23 Islanders 5, Rangers 3 Islanders win series, 4 games to 2 Wales Conference Finals Islanders vs. Quebec Nordiques The Islanders defeated the Nords decisively in the first two games played at the Nassau Coliseum. In Quebec, they won Game 3 in overtime on a goal scored by Wayne Merrick and finished the sweep three days later to advance to the Finals. April 27 Islanders 4, Nordiques 1 April 29 Islanders 5, Nordiques 2 May 1 Islanders 5, Nordiques 4(OT) May 4 Islanders 4, Nordiques 2 Islanders win series, 4 games to 0 Stanley Cup Finals New York Islanders vs. Vancouver Canucks The Canucks had their best chance to win a game in the first one, as a Jim Nill short-handed marker gave them a 5–4 lead with only seven minutes to play in regulation time. However, the Islanders tied it when Mike Bossy banged home a loose puck after goaltender Richard Brodeur had collided with his own defenceman, Harold Snepsts, while trying to smother it. In the dying seconds of the first overtime period, Snepsts attempted to clear the puck up the middle, but it was intercepted by Bossy, who completed his hat trick with two seconds left on the clock to win the game for the Islanders. In game two, the Canucks led 4–3 after two periods, but the Isles came back to win again. The series then shifted to Vancouver, where the Canucks were boosted by a boisterous, towel-waving Vancouver crowd and had a great first period, but failed to score on Billy Smith, who was brilliant. The Islanders went on to win 3–0, and then completed the sweep with a 3–1 victory on May 16 to win their third straight Cup. Mike Bossy scored 7 goals in the four games and won the Conn Smythe Trophy. Date Visitors Score Home Score NotesMay 8 Vancouver 5New York 6 OTMay 11 Vancouver 4 New York 6 May 13 New York3 Vancouver 0 May 16 New York3 Vancouver 1 Islanders win series, 4 games to 0 Awards and records Mike Bossy, Conn Smythe Trophy Mike Bossy, Runner-Up, Lady Byng TrophyNational Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 221, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 0-920445-98-5 References Islanders on Hockey Database New York Islanders1981 New York Islanders1983 New York IslandersStanley Cup Champions 1982 1981-82 Category:1981–82 NHL season by team Category:1981 in sports in New York (state) Category:1982 in sports in New York (state) Category:1982 Stanley Cup 1981-82 1981-82 New York Islanders season 1981-82 New York Islanders season