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 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. ...

for second line center

Butch Goring Robert Thomas "Butch" Goring (born October 22, 1949) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach. He played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders and Boston Bruins. A four-t ...

. 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 Clark Gillies (April 7, 1954 – January 21, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played for the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League between 1974 and 1988. Gillies served as captain of the Island ...

. Contributions from new teammates, such as wingers

Duane Sutter Duane Calvin Sutter (born March 16, 1960) is a Canadian former National Hockey League player and head coach. He was a four-time Stanley Cup winner with the New York Islanders. He is one of the famed six Sutter brothers to play in the NHL. On Ma ...

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.

Offseason

resigns the team captaincy and is replaced by defenseman

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 ...

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Playoffs

After easily disposing of the

and the

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 ...

in the first two rounds, the Isles faced the

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 ...

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 Robert Thore Nystrom (born October 10, 1952) is a Swedish–Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He played for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1972 to 1986. He is best remembered as having scored t ...

'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 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 ...

, who had gone undefeated for 35 straight games (25–0–10) during the regular season. In Game 1 in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

, the Isles won 4–3 on

's power-play goal in overtime. Leading the series 3–2, they went home to Long Island for Game 6. In that game,

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 The Conn Smythe Trophy () is awarded annually to the most valuable player (MVP) of his team during the National Hockey League's (NHL) Stanley Cup playoffs. It is named after Conn Smythe, the longtime owner, general manager, and head coach of the ...

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.

Schedule and results

Regular season

, - , 1, , October 11, 1979, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 0–1–0 , , , - , 2, , October 13, 1979, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 0–2–0 , , , - , 3, , October 16, 1979, , 5–1 , , align="left",

Atlanta Flames The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta from 1972 until 1980. They played home games in the Omni Coliseum and were members of the West and later Patrick divisions of the National Hockey League (NHL). Along with t ...

( 1979–80) , , 1–2–0 , , , - , 4, , October 18, 1979, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 1–3–0 , , , - , 5, , October 20, 1979, , 6–1 , , 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 ...

( 1979–80) , , 2–3–0 , , , - , 6, , October 23, 1979, , 3–3 , , 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 ...

( 1979–80) , , 2–3–1 , , , - , 7, , October 26, 1979, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 3–3–1 , , , - , 8, , October 27, 1979, , 6–4 , , 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 ...

( 1979–80) , , 4–3–1 , , , - , 9, , October 31, 1979, , 2–2 , , 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 ...

( 1979–80) , , 4–3–2 , , , - , - , 10, , November 2, 1979, , 5–7 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 4–4–2 , , , - , 11, , November 4, 1979, , 4–4 , , 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 ...

( 1979–80) , , 4–4–3 , , , - , 12, , November 6, 1979, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 5–4–3 , , , - , 13, , November 9, 1979, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 5–5–3 , , , - , 14, , November 10, 1979, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 5–6–3 , , , - , 15, , November 13, 1979, , 10–5 , , 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 ...

( 1979–80) , , 6–6–3 , , , - , 16, , November 17, 1979, , 4–5 , , 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 ...

( 1979–80) , , 6–7–3 , , , - , 17, , November 20, 1979, , 3–6 , , 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 ...

( 1979–80) , , 6–8–3 , , , - , 18, , November 21, 1979, , 1–3 , , 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 ...

( 1979–80) , , 6–9–3 , , , - , 19, , November 24, 1979, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 6–9–4 , , , - , 20, , November 28, 1979, , 4–7 , , align="left", @

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...

( 1979–80) , , 6–10–4 , , , - , 21, , November 30, 1979, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 6–11–4 , , , - , - , 22, , December 2, 1979, , 4–0 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 7–11–4 , , , - , 23, , December 4, 1979, , 1–5 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 7–12–4 , , , - , 24, , December 6, 1979, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 8–12–4 , , , - , 25, , December 8, 1979, , 6–1 , , align="left", @

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 ...

( 1979–80) , , 9–12–4 , , , - , 26, , December 9, 1979, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 9–13–4 , , , - , 27, , December 11, 1979, , 4–1 , , 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 ...

( 1979–80) , , 10–13–4 , , , - , 28, , December 12, 1979, , 3–3 , , 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 ...

( 1979–80) , , 10–13–5 , , , - , 29, , December 15, 1979, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 10–13–6 , , , - , 30, , December 18, 1979, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 11–13–6 , , , - , 31, , December 22, 1979, , 2–1 , , 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 ...

( 1979–80) , , 12–13–6 , , , - , 32, , December 23, 1979, , 0–8 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 12–14–6 , , , - , 33, , December 27, 1979, , 7–3 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 13–14–6 , , , - , 34, , December 30, 1979, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 13–15–6 , , , - , - , 35, , January 2, 1980, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 14–15–6 , , , - , 36, , January 3, 1980, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 14–16–6 , , , - , 37, , January 5, 1980, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 15–16–6 , , , - , 38, , January 8, 1980, , 3–0 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 16–16–6 , , , - , 39, , January 9, 1980, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 16–17–6 , , , - , 40, , January 12, 1980, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 17–17–6 , , , - , 41, , January 15, 1980, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 18–17–6 , , , - , 42, , January 17, 1980, , 9–6 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 19–17–6 , , , - , 43, , January 19, 1980, , 3–1 , , 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 ...

( 1979–80) , , 20–17–6 , , , - , 44, , January 22, 1980, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 21–17–6 , , , - , 45, , January 23, 1980, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 22–17–6 , , , - , 46, , January 26, 1980, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 23–17–6 , , , - , 47, , January 27, 1980, , 1–7 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 23–18–6 , , , - , 48, , January 29, 1980, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 23–18–7 , , , - , 49, , January 31, 1980, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 23–19–7 , , , - , - , 50, , February 2, 1980, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 24–19–7 , , , - , 51, , February 3, 1980, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 24–20–7 , , , - , 52, , February 7, 1980, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 25–20–7 , , , - , 53, , February 9, 1980, , 5–0 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 26–20–7 , , , - , 54, , February 12, 1980, , 0–0 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 26–20–8 , , , - , 55, , February 14, 1980, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 27–20–8 , , , - , 56, , February 16, 1980, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 27–21–8 , , , - , 57, , February 17, 1980, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 27–22–8 , , , - , 58, , February 19, 1980, , 4–6 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 27–23–8 , , , - , 59, , February 21, 1980, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 27–24–8 , , , - , 60, , February 23, 1980, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 28–24–8 , , , - , 61, , February 24, 1980, , 2–8 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 28–25–8 , , , - , 62, , February 27, 1980, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 29–25–8 , , , - , - , 63, , March 1, 1980, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 29–26–8 , , , - , 64, , March 2, 1980, , 0–0 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 29–26–9 , , , - , 65, , March 4, 1980, , 6–4 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 30–26–9 , , , - , 66, , March 6, 1980, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 31–26–9 , , , - , 67, , March 8, 1980, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 31–27–9 , , , - , 68, , March 9, 1980, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 31–28–9 , , , - , 69, , March 11, 1980, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 32–28–9 , , , - , 70, , March 15, 1980, , 6–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 33–28–9 , , , - , 71, , March 16, 1980, , 6–1 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 34–28–9 , , , - , 72, , March 18, 1980, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 35–28–9 , , , - , 73, , March 22, 1980, , 4–4 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 35–28–10 , , , - , 74, , March 23, 1980, , 1–1 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 35–28–11 , , , - , 75, , March 25, 1980, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 36–28–11 , , , - , 76, , March 28, 1980, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 36–28–12 , , , - , 77, , March 30, 1980, , 9–6 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 37–28–12 , , , - , - , 78, , April 1, 1980, , 1–1 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 37–28–13 , , , - , 79, , April 4, 1980, , 7–3 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 38–28–13 , , , - , 80, , April 5, 1980, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 39–28–13 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

, - , 1 , , April 8, 1980 , ,

( 1979–80) , , 8–1 , , , ,

Smith Smith may refer to: People and fictional characters * Metalsmith, or simply smith, a craftsman fashioning tools or works of art out of various metals * Smith (given name) * Smith (surname), a family name originating in England ** List of people ...

, , 13,862 , , 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , April 9, 1980 , ,

( 1979–80) , , 3–6 , , , , Resch , , 14,047 , , 1–1 , , , - , 3 , , April 11, 1980 , , @

( 1979–80) , , 4–3 , , OT 6:55 , ,

, , 11,690 , , 2–1 , , , - , 4 , , April 12, 1980 , , @

( 1979–80) , , 6–0 , , , ,

, , 11,089 , , 3–1 , , , - , - , 1 , , April 16, 1980 , , @

( 1979–80) , , 2–1 , , OT 1:02 , ,

, , 10,910 , , 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , April 17, 1980 , , @

( 1979–80) , , 5–4 , , OT 1:24 , ,

, , 13,134 , , 2–0 , , , - , 3 , , April 19, 1980 , ,

( 1979–80) , , 5–3 , , , ,

, , 14,995 , , 3–0 , , , - , 4 , , April 21, 1980 , ,

( 1979–80) , , 3–4 , , OT 17:13 , ,

, , 14,995 , , 3–1 , , , - , 5 , , April 22, 1980 , , @

( 1979–80) , , 4–2 , , , ,

, , 14,673 , , 4–0 , , , - , - , 1 , , April 29, 1980 , , @

( 1979–80) , , 4–1 , , , ,

, , 16,433 , , 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , May 1, 1980 , , @

( 1979–80) , , 2–1 , , 2OT 21:20 , ,

, , 16,433 , , 2–0 , , , - , 3 , , May 3, 1980 , ,

( 1979–80) , , 7–4 , , , ,

, , 14,995 , , 3–0 , , , - , 4 , , May 6, 1980 , ,

( 1979–80) , , 4–7 , , , ,

, , 14,995 , , 3–1 , , , - , 5 , , May 8, 1980 , , @

( 1979–80) , , 0–2 , , , , Resch , , 16,433 , , 3–2 , , , - , 6 , , May 10, 1980 , ,

( 1979–80) , , 5–2 , , , ,

, , 14,995 , , 4–2 , , , - , - , 1 , , May 13, 1980 , , @

( 1979–80) , , 4–3 , , OT 4:07 , ,

, , 17,077 , , 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , May 15, 1980 , , @

( 1979–80) , , 3–8 , , , ,

, , 17,077 , , 1–1 , , , - , 3 , , May 17, 1980 , ,

( 1979–80) , , 6–2 , , , ,

, , 14,995 , , 2–1 , , , - , 4 , , May 19, 1980 , ,

( 1979–80) , , 5–2 , , , ,

, , 14,995 , , 3–1 , , , - , 5 , , May 22, 1980 , , @

( 1979–80) , , 3–6 , , , ,

, , 17,077 , , 3–2 , , , - , 6 , , May 24, 1980 , ,

( 1979–80) , , 5–4 , , OT 7:11 , ,

, , 14,995 , , 4–2 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

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;

Awards and records

Bryan Trottier Bryan John Trottier (born July 17, 1956) is a Canadian and American former professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins. He won four Stanley Cups with ...

, Conn Smythe Trophy

Transactions

Draft picks

References

External links

Islanders on Hockey Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:New York Islanders, 1979-80 1979-80 1979–80 NHL season by team 1979 in sports in New York (state) 1980 in sports in New York (state) 1980 Stanley Cup 1979-80 New York Islanders season