The 1985–86 New York Islanders season was the 14th season for the franchise in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

Offseason

Regular season

* January 28: In a 9–2 victory over the

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

Denis Potvin Denis Charles Potvin (born October 29, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and Captain (ice hockey), team captain for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is a four-time Stanley Cup winner as a ...

breaks

Bobby Orr Robert Gordon Orr (born March 20, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time. Orr used his skating speed, scoring, and play-making abilities to revolutionize the ...

's NHL career record for goals by a defenseman.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , W, , October 12, 1985, , 5–4 OT, , align="left", @

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

( 1985–86) , , 1–0–0 , - , 2, , L, , October 14, 1985, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

( 1985–86) , , 1–1–0 , - , 3, , L, , October 16, 1985, , 4–6 , , align="left", @

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1985–86) , , 1–2–0 , - , 4, , W, , October 19, 1985, , 5–4 , , align="left",

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 1985–86) , , 2–2–0 , - , 5, , T, , October 22, 1985, , 2–2 OT, , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 2–2–1 , - , 6, , W, , October 24, 1985, , 6–5 , , align="left",

Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques (, pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated "Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association (1972–1979) an ...

( 1985–86) , , 3–2–1 , - , 7, , W, , October 26, 1985, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1985–86) , , 4–2–1 , - , 8, , L, , October 29, 1985, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 4–3–1 , - , - , 9, , L, , November 1, 1985, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

( 1985–86) , , 4–4–1 , - , 10, , W, , November 2, 1985, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 5–4–1 , - , 11, , T, , November 5, 1985, , 4–4 OT, , align="left",

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...

( 1985–86) , , 5–4–2 , - , 12, , W, , November 6, 1985, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 6–4–2 , - , 13, , W, , November 9, 1985, , 3–2 , , align="left",

New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...

( 1985–86) , , 7–4–2 , - , 14, , L, , November 12, 1985, , 2–3 , , align="left",

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

( 1985–86) , , 7–5–2 , - , 15, , T, , November 16, 1985, , 4–4 OT, , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 7–5–3 , - , 16, , L, , November 17, 1985, , 4–5 OT, , align="left", @

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 1985–86) , , 7–6–3 , - , 17, , W, , November 19, 1985, , 8–6 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 8–6–3 , - , 18, , T, , November 21, 1985, , 4–4 OT, , align="left", @

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

( 1985–86) , , 8–6–4 , - , 19, , L, , November 23, 1985, , 0–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 8–7–4 , - , 20, , W, , November 24, 1985, , 4–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 9–7–4 , - , 21, , T, , November 27, 1985, , 4–4 OT, , align="left", @

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

( 1985–86) , , 9–7–5 , - , 22, , W, , November 29, 1985, , 4–1 , , align="left", @

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...

( 1985–86) , , 10–7–5 , - , 23, , L, , November 30, 1985, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 10–8–5 , - , - , 24, , T, , December 3, 1985, , 4–4 OT, , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 10–8–6 , - , 25, , L, , December 6, 1985, , 3–7 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 10–9–6 , - , 26, , L, , December 7, 1985, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 10–10–6 , - , 27, , W, , December 10, 1985, , 7–4 , , align="left",

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

( 1985–86) , , 11–10–6 , - , 28, , T, , December 11, 1985, , 4–4 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 11–10–7 , - , 29, , T, , December 14, 1985, , 2–2 OT, , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 11–10–8 , - , 30, , W, , December 17, 1985, , 7–3 , , align="left",

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

( 1985–86) , , 12–10–8 , - , 31, , T, , December 20, 1985, , 2–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 12–10–9 , - , 32, , L, , December 21, 1985, , 4–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 12–11–9 , - , 33, , W, , December 23, 1985, , 6–3 , , align="left", @

Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its 25-year existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1 ...

( 1985–86) , , 13–11–9 , - , 34, , L, , December 26, 1985, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 13–12–9 , - , 35, , W, , December 28, 1985, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 14–12–9 , - , 36, , L, , December 29, 1985, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 14–13–9 , - , 37, , W, , December 31, 1985, , 5–4 OT, , align="left", @

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

( 1985–86) , , 15–13–9 , - , - , 38, , W, , January 2, 1986, , 7–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 16–13–9 , - , 39, , L, , January 4, 1986, , 1–4 , , align="left",

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

( 1985–86) , , 16–14–9 , - , 40, , L, , January 7, 1986, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 16–15–9 , - , 41, , W, , January 9, 1986, , 9–0 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 17–15–9 , - , 42, , W, , January 11, 1986, , 8–2 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 18–15–9 , - , 43, , L, , January 15, 1986, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 18–16–9 , - , 44, , W, , January 17, 1986, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 19–16–9 , - , 45, , L, , January 18, 1986, , 0–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 19–17–9 , - , 46, , W, , January 21, 1986, , 7–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 20–17–9 , - , 47, , W, , January 24, 1986, , 7–5 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 21–17–9 , - , 48, , T, , January 25, 1986, , 3–3 OT, , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 21–17–10 , - , 49, , W, , January 28, 1986, , 9–2 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 22–17–10 , - , 50, , W, , January 30, 1986, , 8–4 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 23–17–10 , - , - , 51, , W, , February 1, 1986, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 24–17–10 , - , 52, , W, , February 2, 1986, , 3–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 25–17–10 , - , 53, , L, , February 5, 1986, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 25–18–10 , - , 54, , W, , February 8, 1986, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 26–18–10 , - , 55, , W, , February 11, 1986, , 1–0 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 27–18–10 , - , 56, , L, , February 13, 1986, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 27–19–10 , - , 57, , W, , February 15, 1986, , 6–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 28–19–10 , - , 58, , L, , February 18, 1986, , 4–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 28–20–10 , - , 59, , L, , February 21, 1986, , 1–5 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 28–21–10 , - , 60, , W, , February 22, 1986, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 29–21–10 , - , 61, , L, , February 26, 1986, , 2–7 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 29–22–10 , - , 62, , W, , February 28, 1986, , 6–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 30–22–10 , - , - , 63, , L, , March 1, 1986, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 30–23–10 , - , 64, , W, , March 4, 1986, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 31–23–10 , - , 65, , L, , March 8, 1986, , 2–6 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 31–24–10 , - , 66, , L, , March 9, 1986, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 31–25–10 , - , 67, , W, , March 11, 1986, , 8–4 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 32–25–10 , - , 68, , W, , March 13, 1986, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 33–25–10 , - , 69, , W, , March 15, 1986, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 34–25–10 , - , 70, , L, , March 16, 1986, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 34–26–10 , - , 71, , W, , March 18, 1986, , 6–2 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 35–26–10 , - , 72, , W, , March 20, 1986, , 7–1 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 36–26–10 , - , 73, , T, , March 22, 1986, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 36–26–11 , - , 74, , L, , March 25, 1986, , 0–2 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 36–27–11 , - , 75, , W, , March 28, 1986, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 37–27–11 , - , 76, , T, , March 29, 1986, , 4–4 OT, , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 37–27–12 , - , - , 77, , L, , April 1, 1986, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 37–28–12 , - , 78, , W, , April 2, 1986, , 7–2 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 38–28–12 , - , 79, , W, , April 5, 1986, , 7–1 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 39–28–12 , - , 80, , L, , April 6, 1986, , 7–9 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 39–29–12 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

The Islanders lost in their best-of-five series in the first round to the

. Round 1: New York Islanders (3) vs. Washington Capitals (2) Game 1- Islanders 1, Capitals 3 Game 2- Islanders 2, Capitals 5 Game 3- Capitals 3, Islanders 1 Washington wins series 3-0

Player statistics

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; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

New York's draft picks at the 1985 NHL entry draft held at the

Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre (originally and still colloquially Metro Convention Centre, and sometimes MTCC), is a convention complex located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada along Front Street (Toronto), Front Street West in the former Railway Lan ...

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:New York Islanders, 1985-86 1985-86 1985–86 NHL season by team 1985 in sports in New York (state) 1986 in sports in New York (state)