1979–80 Boston Bruins season

NHL team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1979–80 1979 Boston Bruins Wales 3rd Adams 2nd 46–21–13 27–9–4 19–12–9 310 234 Harry Sinden Fred Creighton Harry Sinden Wayne Cashman None Boston Garden 12,365 (84.3%) Rick Middleton, Peter McNab (40) Rick Middleton (52) Rick Middleton (92) Terry O'Reilly (265) Gerry Cheevers (24) Gilles Gilbert (2.73) The 1979–80 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 56th season. In the first round of the NHL Draft, the Bruins drafted defenseman Ray Bourque. The Bruins had two coaches during the season, Fred Creighton had a record of 40 wins, 20 losses and 13 ties, while Harry Sinden had 6 wins and 1 loss. The Bruins lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champions for the second season in a row, this time it was the New York Islanders in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The last remaining active member of the 1979–80 Boston Bruins was defenseman Ray Bourque, who retired after the 2000–01 season, right after winning the Stanley Cup as a member of the Colorado Avalanche. 2 Offseason Don Cherry was fired after the 1978–79 season. Fred Creighton, former coach of the Atlanta Flames was brought in to coach the Bruins. Regular season General Manager Harry Sinden fired Coach Creighton with 15 days to go in the regular season despite the Bruins' winning record with Creighton. Sinden, who had coached before, took over coaching duties as well. Divisional standings BOS BOS Record vs. opponents BOS Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#010101 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 5px solid; 1979–80 regular season1979-80 Boston Bruins Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1980_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 3, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- | 1 ||W || October 11, 1979|| 4–0|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1979–80)|| 1–0–0 |- | 2 ||W || October 13, 1979|| 5–2|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1979–80)|| 2–0–0 |- | 3 ||L || October 14, 1979|| 1–4|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80)|| 2–1–0 |- | 4 ||W || October 18, 1979|| 3–2|| align="left"| New York Islanders (1979–80)|| 3–1–0 |- | 5 ||W || October 20, 1979|| 5–4|| align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1979–80)|| 4–1–0 |- | 6 ||T || October 23, 1979|| 5–5|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80)|| 4–1–1 |- | 7 ||L || October 26, 1979|| 2–3|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80)|| 4–2–1 |- | 8 ||W || October 28, 1979|| 4–1|| align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80)|| 5–2–1 |- | 9 ||T || October 30, 1979|| 4–4|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80)|| 5–2–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- | 10 ||T || November 2, 1979|| 3–3|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80)|| 5–2–3 |- | 11 ||W || November 4, 1979|| 2–1|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80)|| 6–2–3 |- | 12 ||W || November 8, 1979|| 4–2|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1979–80)|| 7–2–3 |- | 13 ||W || November 10, 1979|| 6–1|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80)|| 8–2–3 |- | 14 ||W || November 11, 1979|| 6–3|| align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1979–80)|| 9–2–3 |- | 15 ||W || November 15, 1979|| 3–2|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (1979–80)|| 10–2–3 |- | 16 ||W || November 17, 1979|| 2–0|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80)|| 11–2–3 |- | 17 ||W || November 18, 1979|| 5–4|| align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1979–80)|| 12–2–3 |- | 18 ||W || November 20, 1979|| 5–3|| align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80)|| 13–2–3 |- | 19 ||W || November 22, 1979|| 7–4|| align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1979–80)|| 14–2–3 |- | 20 ||L || November 24, 1979|| 1–3|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80)|| 14–3–3 |- | 21 ||W || November 25, 1979|| 4–2|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1979–80)|| 15–3–3 |- | 22 ||L || November 27, 1979|| 2–5|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1979–80)|| 15–4–3 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- | 23 ||L || December 1, 1979|| 3–6|| align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80)|| 15–5–3 |- | 24 ||L || December 2, 1979|| 3–5|| align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1979–80)|| 15–6–3 |- | 25 ||T || December 4, 1979|| 2–2|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80)|| 15–6–4 |- | 26 ||L || December 6, 1979|| 3–4|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1979–80)|| 15–7–4 |- | 27 ||W || December 9, 1979|| 5–3|| align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1979–80)|| 16–7–4 |- | 28 ||T || December 13, 1979|| 6–6|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1979–80)|| 16–7–5 |- | 29 ||L || December 15, 1979|| 1–2|| align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80)|| 16–8–5 |- | 30 ||W || December 16, 1979|| 5–1|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80)|| 17–8–5 |- | 31 ||W || December 20, 1979|| 10–0|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80)|| 18–8–5 |- | 32 ||L || December 22, 1979|| 2–5|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80)|| 18–9–5 |- | 33 ||W || December 23, 1979|| 4–3|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1979–80)|| 19–9–5 |- | 34 ||W || December 26, 1979|| 5–3|| align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80)|| 20–9–5 |- | 35 ||L || December 30, 1979|| 3–5|| align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80)|| 20–10–5 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- | 36 ||L || January 2, 1980|| 1–2|| align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80)|| 20–11–5 |- | 37 ||W || January 4, 1980|| 2–1|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80)|| 21–11–5 |- | 38 ||T || January 8, 1980|| 2–2|| align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80)|| 21–11–6 |- | 39 ||L || January 10, 1980|| 4–7|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1979–80)|| 21–12–6 |- | 40 ||W || January 12, 1980|| 5–3|| align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1979–80)|| 22–12–6 |- | 41 ||W || January 13, 1980|| 6–2|| align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1979–80)|| 23–12–6 |- | 42 ||W || January 16, 1980|| 3–1|| align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80)|| 24–12–6 |- | 43 ||W || January 17, 1980|| 7–1|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1979–80)|| 25–12–6 |- | 44 ||W || January 19, 1980|| 6–3|| align="left"| New York Rangers (1979–80)|| 26–12–6 |- | 45 ||W || January 21, 1980|| 3–0|| align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1979–80)|| 27–12–6 |- | 46 ||W || January 24, 1980|| 4–3|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1979–80)|| 28–12–6 |- | 47 ||W || January 26, 1980|| 6–4|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80)|| 29–12–6 |- | 48 ||L || January 27, 1980|| 3–5|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80)|| 29–13–6 |- | 49 ||L || January 30, 1980|| 2–8|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80)|| 29–14–6 |- | 50 ||W || January 31, 1980|| 4–2|| align="left"| New York Islanders (1979–80)|| 30–14–6 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- | 51 ||W || February 2, 1980|| 7–2|| align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1979–80)|| 31–14–6 |- | 52 ||T || February 3, 1980|| 3–3|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80)|| 31–14–7 |- | 53 ||W || February 7, 1980|| 8–6|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80)|| 32–14–7 |- | 54 ||W || February 9, 1980|| 5–2|| align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80)|| 33–14–7 |- | 55 ||L || February 10, 1980|| 2–3|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1979–80)|| 33–15–7 |- | 56 ||T || February 14, 1980|| 3–3|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80)|| 33–15–8 |- | 57 ||W || February 16, 1980|| 5–3|| align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80)|| 34–15–8 |- | 58 ||L || February 20, 1980|| 0–3|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80)|| 34–16–8 |- | 59 ||T || February 23, 1980|| 4–4|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80)|| 34–16–9 |- | 60 ||W || February 24, 1980|| 4–2|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80)|| 35–16–9 |- | 61 ||W || February 27, 1980|| 6–3|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80)|| 36–16–9 |- | 62 ||L || February 28, 1980|| 2–5|| align="left"| New York Rangers (1979–80)|| 36–17–9 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- | 63 ||W || March 1, 1980|| 4–0|| align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1979–80)|| 37–17–9 |- | 64 ||L || March 2, 1980|| 1–2|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1979–80)|| 37–18–9 |- | 65 ||W || March 5, 1980|| 5–3|| align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80)|| 38–18–9 |- | 66 ||W || March 8, 1980|| 5–3|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1979–80)|| 39–18–9 |- | 67 ||T || March 9, 1980|| 1–1|| align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1979–80)|| 39–18–10 |- | 68 ||L || March 12, 1980|| 4–6|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1979–80)|| 39–19–10 |- | 69 ||W || March 13, 1980|| 4–2|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1979–80)|| 40–19–10 |- | 70 ||T || March 15, 1980|| 2–2|| align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1979–80)|| 40–19–11 |- | 71 ||T || March 16, 1980|| 3–3|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (1979–80)|| 40–19–12 |- | 72 ||T || March 18, 1980|| 3–3|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80)|| 40–19–13 |- | 73 ||L || March 19, 1980|| 4–7|| align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80)|| 40–20–13 |- | 74 ||W || March 22, 1980|| 5–2|| align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80)|| 41–20–13 |- | 75 ||W || March 23, 1980|| 7–2|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80)|| 42–20–13 |- | 76 ||W || March 27, 1980|| 7–1|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1979–80)|| 43–20–13 |- | 77 ||W || March 30, 1980|| 3–1|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1979–80)|| 44–20–13 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- | 78 ||W || April 2, 1980|| 5–2|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80)|| 45–20–13 |- | 79 ||L || April 5, 1980|| 1–6|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80)|| 45–21–13 |- | 80 ||W || April 6, 1980|| 4–2|| align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1979–80)|| 46–21–13 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs Lost quarter-finals (4–1) to New York Islanders Won Preliminary round (3–2) over Pittsburgh Penguins Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Rick Middleton RW 80 40 52 92 2431904 Peter McNab C 74 40 38 78 10241109 Jean Ratelle C 67 28 45 73 8111401 Raymond Bourque D 80 17 48 65 7352321 Terry O'Reilly RW 71 19 42 61 26517305 Dick Redmond D 76 14 33 47 3937605 Bob Miller Bob Miller (ice hockey) C 80 16 25 41 539012 Stan Jonathan LW 79 21 19 40 20820003 Al Secord LW 77 23 16 39 17020102 Dwight Foster Dwight Foster (ice hockey) RW 57 10 28 38 4223112 Bobby Lalonde C 71 10 25 35 2814120 Wayne Cashman LW 44 11 21 32 19-3312 Craig MacTavish C 46 11 17 28 816002 Rick Smith Rick Smith (ice hockey) D 78 8 18 26 6222002 Mike Milbury D 72 10 13 23 597100 Brad Park D 32 5 16 21 2711202 John Wensink LW 69 9 11 20 1107002 Brad McCrimmon D 72 5 11 16 94-3101 Don Marcotte LW 32 4 11 15 04011 Bobby Schmautz RW 20 8 6 14 8-1400 Gary Doak D 52 0 5 5 4514000 Tom Songin RW 17 1 3 4 160000 Gilles Gilbert G 33 0 1 1 100000 Marco Baron G 1 0 0 0 00000 Yves Belanger Yves Bélanger (ice hockey) G 8 0 0 0 00000 Gerry Cheevers G 42 0 0 0 620000 Doug Morrison RW 1 0 0 0 00000 Dennis O'Brien Dennis O'Brien (ice hockey) D 3 0 0 0 2-4000 Jim Stewart Jim Stewart (ice hockey) G 1 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO Gerry Cheevers 2479 42 24 11 7 116 2.81 4 Gilles Gilbert 1933 33 20 9 3 88 2.73 1 Yves Belanger Yves Bélanger (ice hockey) 328 8 2 0 3 19 3.48 0 Marco Baron 40 1 0 0 0 2 3.00 0 Jim Stewart Jim Stewart (ice hockey) 20 1 0 1 0 5 15.00 0 Team: 4800 80 46 21 13 230 2.87 5 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Peter McNab C 10 8 6 14 2301 Raymond Bourque D 10 2 9 11 27000 Terry O'Reilly RW 10 3 6 9 69201 Brad Park D 10 3 6 9 4000 Dwight Foster Dwight Foster (ice hockey) RW 9 3 5 8 2011 Rick Middleton RW 10 4 2 6 5000 Wayne Cashman LW 10 3 3 6 32100 Bob Miller Bob Miller (ice hockey) C 10 3 2 5 4010 Craig MacTavish C 10 2 3 5 7000 Don Marcotte LW 10 2 3 5 4001 Dick Redmond D 10 0 3 3 9000 Al Secord LW 10 0 3 3 65000 Brad McCrimmon D 10 1 1 2 28000 Rick Smith Rick Smith (ice hockey) D 6 1 1 2 2000 Mike Milbury D 10 0 2 2 50000 Bobby Lalonde C 4 0 1 1 2000 Gerry Cheevers G 10 0 0 0 0000 Gary Doak D 4 0 0 0 0000 Stan Jonathan LW 9 0 0 0 29000 Jean Ratelle C 3 0 0 0 0000 John Wensink LW 4 0 0 0 5000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO Gerry Cheevers 619 10 4 6 32 3.10 0 Team: 619 10 4 6 32 3.10 0 hockey-reference.com 2009-06-09 1979-80 Boston Bruins Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/1980.html Awards and records Ray Bourque, Calder Memorial Trophy Winner Draft picks Boston's picks at the 1980 NHL entry draft were as follows: Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)1 8 Ray Bourque Defense Canada Verdun Éperviers (QMJHL)1 15 Brad McCrimmon Defense Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)236Doug MorrisonRight wingCanadaLethbridge Broncos (WHL)357Keith CrowderRight wingCanadaPeterborough Petes (OMJHL)478Larry MelnykDefenseCanadaNew Westminster Bruins (WHL)599Marco BaronGoaltenderCanadaMontreal Juniors (QMJHL)6120Mike KrushelnyskiCenterCanadaMontreal Juniors (QMJHL) See also 1979–80 NHL season References Bruins on Database Hockey Bruins on Hockey Database Bruins on Hockey Reference Category:Boston Bruins seasons Boston Bruins Boston Bruins Boston Bruins Bruins Bruins