The 1980–81 Montreal Canadiens season was 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 ...

(NHL)'s

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 ...

' 72nd

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

of play. The Canadiens lost just once in their last twenty-seven home games. The Canadiens earned at least 100 regular season points for the seventh consecutive season. Montreal qualified for the

1981 Stanley Cup playoffs The 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs, the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL) began on April 8, after the conclusion of the 1980–81 NHL season. The playoffs concluded on May 21 with the champion New York Islanders defeating the Mi ...

and were eliminated in the NHL's preliminary round by the

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 ...

three games to none, in what was considered a major upset. Four days after the Canadiens were eliminated, head coach

Claude Ruel Claude Ruel (September 12, 1938 – February 9, 2015) was a professional ice hockey coach for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Ruel grew up playing hockey in Sherbrooke. He was considered to be a promising young d ...

resigned.

Offseason

Regular season

* Guy Lafleur, as a result of recovery from a car accident, appeared in only 51 games and scored 27 goals. It was the first time since the 1973–74 season that he failed to score 50 goals or more in a season.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , L, , October 11, 1980, , 4–5 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 0–1–0 , - , 2, , L, , October 12, 1980, , 2–3 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 0–2–0 , - , 3, , T, , October 15, 1980, , 3–3 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 0–2–1 , - , 4, , W, , October 18, 1980, , 4–1 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–2–1 , - , 5, , L, , October 19, 1980, , 1–2 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–3–1 , - , 6, , L, , October 21, 1980, , 3–4 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–4–1 , - , 7, , W, , October 23, 1980, , 7–2 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 2–4–1 , - , 8, , L, , October 25, 1980, , 2–5 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 2–5–1 , - , 9, , L, , October 28, 1980, , 4–6 , , align="left", @

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

( 1980–81) , , 2–6–1 , - , 10, , W, , October 30, 1980, , 8–2 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 3–6–1 , - , - , 11, , W, , November 1, 1980, , 7–4 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 4–6–1 , - , 12, , W, , November 4, 1980, , 5–4 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 5–6–1 , - , 13, , L, , November 6, 1980, , 2–3 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 5–7–1 , - , 14, , W, , November 8, 1980, , 3–0 , , 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. ...

( 1980–81) , , 6–7–1 , - , 15, , W, , November 11, 1980, , 8–2 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 7–7–1 , - , 16, , W, , November 12, 1980, , 8–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 8–7–1 , - , 17, , T, , November 14, 1980, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 8–7–2 , - , 18, , W, , November 16, 1980, , 5–1 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 9–7–2 , - , 19, , W, , November 19, 1980, , 5–4 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 10–7–2 , - , 20, , W, , November 20, 1980, , 7–3 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 11–7–2 , - , 21, , W, , November 22, 1980, , 7–3 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 12–7–2 , - , 22, , L, , November 25, 1980, , 4–5 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 12–8–2 , - , 23, , L, , November 27, 1980, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 12–9–2 , - , 24, , L, , November 29, 1980, , 2–4 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 12–10–2 , - , - , 25, , W, , December 3, 1980, , 6–5 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 13–10–2 , - , 26, , L, , December 4, 1980, , 2–3 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 13–11–2 , - , 27, , W, , December 6, 1980, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 14–11–2 , - , 28, , L, , December 10, 1980, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 14–12–2 , - , 29, , W, , December 11, 1980, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 15–12–2 , - , 30, , W, , December 13, 1980, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 16–12–2 , - , 31, , T, , December 17, 1980, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 16–12–3 , - , 32, , W, , December 18, 1980, , 4–0 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 17–12–3 , - , 33, , L, , December 20, 1980, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 17–13–3 , - , 34, , T, , December 23, 1980, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 17–13–4 , - , 35, , W, , December 27, 1980, , 7–4 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 18–13–4 , - , 36, , W, , December 28, 1980, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 19–13–4 , - , 37, , W, , December 30, 1980, , 4–0 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 20–13–4 , - , - , 38, , W, , January 2, 1981, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 21–13–4 , - , 39, , W, , January 3, 1981, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 22–13–4 , - , 40, , W, , January 6, 1981, , 6–2 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 23–13–4 , - , 41, , W, , January 8, 1981, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 24–13–4 , - , 42, , T, , January 10, 1981, , 5–5 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 24–13–5 , - , 43, , W, , January 12, 1981, , 5–0 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 25–13–5 , - , 44, , W, , January 15, 1981, , 7–3 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 26–13–5 , - , 45, , L, , January 17, 1981, , 5–6 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 26–14–5 , - , 46, , L, , January 19, 1981, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 26–15–5 , - , 47, , L, , January 21, 1981, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 26–16–5 , - , 48, , W, , January 24, 1981, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 27–16–5 , - , 49, , L, , January 28, 1981, , 1–9 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 27–17–5 , - , 50, , T, , January 29, 1981, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 27–17–6 , - , 51, , L, , January 31, 1981, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 27–18–6 , - , - , 52, , W, , February 3, 1981, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 28–18–6 , - , 53, , W, , February 5, 1981, , 7–0 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 29–18–6 , - , 54, , W, , February 7, 1981, , 6–2 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 30–18–6 , - , 55, , T, , February 12, 1981, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 30–18–7 , - , 56, , W, , February 14, 1981, , 6–1 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 31–18–7 , - , 57, , T, , February 15, 1981, , 5–5 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 31–18–8 , - , 58, , W, , February 19, 1981, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 32–18–8 , - , 59, , W, , February 21, 1981, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 33–18–8 , - , 60, , W, , February 22, 1981, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 34–18–8 , - , 61, , T, , February 24, 1981, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 34–18–9 , - , 62, , W, , February 26, 1981, , 6–0 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 35–18–9 , - , 63, , W, , February 28, 1981, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 36–18–9 , - , - , 64, , T, , March 1, 1981, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 36–18–10 , - , 65, , W, , March 4, 1981, , 9–3 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 37–18–10 , - , 66, , L, , March 7, 1981, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 37–19–10 , - , 67, , T, , March 9, 1981, , 1–1 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 37–19–11 , - , 68, , W, , March 11, 1981, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 38–19–11 , - , 69, , W, , March 12, 1981, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 39–19–11 , - , 70, , W, , March 14, 1981, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 40–19–11 , - , 71, , T, , March 17, 1981, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 40–19–12 , - , 72, , L, , March 18, 1981, , 3–9 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 40–20–12 , - , 73, , W, , March 21, 1981, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 41–20–12 , - , 74, , T, , March 22, 1981, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 41–20–13 , - , 75, , W, , March 26, 1981, , 8–2 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 42–20–13 , - , 76, , L, , March 28, 1981, , 2–6 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 42–21–13 , - , 77, , L, , March 29, 1981, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 42–22–13 , - , 78, , W, , March 31, 1981, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 43–22–13 , - , - , 79, , W, , April 3, 1981, , 6–1 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 44–22–13 , - , 80, , W, , April 5, 1981, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 45–22–13 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

The Canadiens were swept in three games by the

. In Game One of the series,

Wayne Gretzky Wayne Douglas Gretzky ( ; born January 26, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999. Nicknamed "the Great One ...

had five assists. This was a single game playoff record.

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Goaltending

Playoffs

Scoring

Goaltending

Awards and records

Transactions

The Canadiens were involved in the following transactions during the 1980–81 season.

Trades

Free agent signings

Draft picks

The 1980 NHL entry draft was hosted at the Montreal Forum. It would mark the first time that an NHL arena hosted the event.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1980-81 Montreal Canadiens Season Montreal Canadiens seasons Montreal Canadiens season, 1980-81 Norris Division champion seasons

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

Eastern Conference (NHL) championship seasons 1980 in Montreal 1981 in Montreal

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Playoffs

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Goaltending

Playoffs

Scoring

Goaltending

Awards and records

Transactions

Trades

Free agent signings

Draft picks

See also

References