1980–81 Edmonton Oilers season

1980–81 Edmonton Oilers
Division	4th Smythe
Conference	8th Campbell
1980–81 record	29–35–16
Home record	17–13–10
Road record	12–22–6
Goals for	328 (6th)
Goals against	327 (15th)
Team information
General manager	Glen Sather
Coach	Bryan Watson (Oct-Nov) Glen Sather (Nov-Apr)
Captain	Blair MacDonald (Oct-Mar) Lee Fogolin (Mar-Apr)
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Northlands Coliseum
Average attendance	17,423 (99.7%)
Minor league affiliate(s)	Wichita Wind (CHL)
Team leaders
Goals	Wayne Gretzky (55)
Assists	Wayne Gretzky (109)
Points	Wayne Gretzky (164)
Penalty minutes	Pat Price (193)
Plus/minus	Wayne Gretzky (+41)
Wins	Eddie Mio (16)
Goals against average	Gary Edwards (3.62)
← 1979–80 1981–82 →

The 1980–81 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' second season in the NHL, and they finished with 74 points, a 5-point improvement from their 1st season.

Wayne Gretzky ran away with the Art Ross Trophy, awarded to the leading scorer, as he finished with 164 points, 29 points ahead of runner-up Marcel Dionne of the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky also won his second consecutive Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the NHL. His 164 points were an NHL record, previously held by Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins in the 1970–71 NHL season when he scored 152 points. Youngsters Jari Kurri and Mark Messier have very good offensive seasons, finishing 2nd and 3rd on the Oilers scoring list.

Eddie Mio got the majority of action in the Oilers goal, playing in a team high 43 games and having 16 wins, which set a franchise record.

In the playoffs, the Oilers faced the heavily favoured Montreal Canadiens in the first round, and they shocked the hockey world by sweeping Montreal in 3 games. In the quarter-finals, the Oilers played the defending Stanley Cup Champion and heavily favored New York Islanders and took them to 6 games before being eliminated.

Season standings[]

Smythe Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
St. Louis Blues	80	45	18	17	352	281	107
Chicago Black Hawks	80	31	33	16	304	315	78
Vancouver Canucks	80	28	32	20	289	301	76
Edmonton Oilers	80	29	35	16	328	327	74
Colorado Rockies	80	22	45	13	258	344	57
Winnipeg Jets	80	9	57	14	246	400	32

^[1]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Schedule and results[]

1980–81 Game Log
October: 2–4–3 (Home: 1–3–2 ; Road: 1–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 10 Quebec Nordiques 7 – 4 Edmonton Oilers LoPresti 17,334 0–1–0 0 [2] 2 October 12 Colorado Rockies 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,500 0–2–0 0 [3] 3 October 15 Edmonton Oilers 0 – 2 Buffalo Sabres Low 16,433 0–3–0 0 [4] 4 October 18 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 5 New York Islanders Low 15,782 0–3–1 1 [5] 5 October 19 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 2 New York Rangers Low 17,425 1–3–1 3 [6] 6 October 22 Calgary Flames 3 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,396 2–3–1 5 [7] 7 October 24 Minnesota North Stars 4 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,314 2–4–1 5 [8] 8 October 26 Los Angeles Kings 4 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,290 2–4–2 6 [9] 9 October 29 Toronto Maple Leafs 4 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,475 2–4–3 7 [10]
November: 4–8–2 (Home: 2–2–2 ; Road: 2–6–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 1 Washington Capitals 2 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,308 2–4–4 8 [11] 11 November 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 4 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,211 2–4–5 9 [12] 12 November 5 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 4 Vancouver Canucks Low 12,364 2–5–5 9 [13] 13 November 7 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 2 Winnipeg Jets Low 12,744 3–5–5 11 [14] 14 November 9 St. Louis Blues 6 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,474 3–6–5 11 [15] 15 November 13 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 8 Philadelphia Flyers Low 17,077 3–7–5 11 [16] 16 November 15 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 4 Toronto Maple Leafs Low 16,485 3–8–5 11 [17] 17 November 16 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 4 Chicago Black Hawks Mio 10,105 4–8–5 13 [18] 18 November 19 Vancouver Canucks 6 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,341 4–9–5 13 [19] 19 November 23 Buffalo Sabres 3 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,474 5–9–5 15 [20] 20 November 25 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 4 Colorado Rockies Low 6,107 5–10–5 15 [21] 21 November 26 Chicago Black Hawks 3 – 10 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,283 6–10–5 17 [22] 22 November 28 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 6 Hartford Whalers Mio 11,073 6–11–5 17 [23] 23 November 29 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 6 Boston Bruins Low 10,362 6–12–5 17 [24]
December: 2–9–1 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 0–6–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 5 New York Rangers 5 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,300 6–13–5 17 [25] 25 December 7 Hartford Whalers 4 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,215 7–13–5 19 [26] 26 December 10 New York Islanders 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,474 7–14–5 19 [27] 27 December 13 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 4 Montreal Canadiens Low 16,149 7–15–5 19 [28] 28 December 14 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 6 Quebec Nordiques Mio 9,346 7–16–5 19 [29] 29 December 16 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 4 Detroit Red Wings Mio 11,307 7–17–5 19 [30] 30 December 17 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 5 Washington Capitals Low 7,596 7–18–5 19 [31] 31 December 20 Montreal Canadiens 3 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,474 8–18–5 21 [32] 32 December 23 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 7 Los Angeles Kings Mio 8,513 8–19–5 21 [33] 33 December 27 Detroit Red Wings 4 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,447 8–19–6 22 [34] 34 December 28 Philadelphia Flyers 2 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,474 8–20–6 22 [35] 35 December 30 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 5 Calgary Flames Mio 7,243 8–21–6 22 [36]
January: 7–4–3 (Home: 5–1–2 ; Road: 2–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 36 January 2 Boston Bruins 5 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,474 9–21–6 24 [37] 37 January 3 Toronto Maple Leafs 1 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,474 10–21–6 26 [38] 38 January 7 Washington Capitals 3 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,310 11–21–6 28 [39] 39 January 9 Hartford Whalers 6 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,474 11–21–7 29 [40] 40 January 11 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 3 Quebec Nordiques Mio 10,532 12–21–7 31 [41] 41 January 12 Edmonton Oilers 0 – 5 Montreal Canadiens Mio 15,922 12–22–7 31 [42] 42 January 14 Edmonton Oilers 7 – 4 Toronto Maple Leafs Mio 16,485 13–22–7 33 [43] 43 January 16 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 5 Buffalo Sabres Mio 16,433 13–22–8 34 [44] 44 January 17 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 7 St. Louis Blues Mio 15,266 13–23–8 34 [45] 45 January 21 Vancouver Canucks 1 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,474 14–23–8 36 [46] 46 January 23 New York Rangers 7 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,474 14–24–8 36 [47] 47 January 24 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 6 Minnesota North Stars Low 15,651 14–25–8 36 [48] 48 January 28 Montreal Canadiens 1 – 9 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,474 15–25–8 38 [49] 49 January 30 Chicago Black Hawks 2 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,574 16–25–8 40 [50]
February: 5–7–2 (Home: 4–3–1 ; Road: 1–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 50 February 1 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 7 Washington Capitals Mio 15,889 16–26–8 40 [51] 51 February 3 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 3 St. Louis Blues Mio 11,260 16–26–9 41 [52] 52 February 4 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 6 Chicago Black Hawks Mio 10,397 16–27–9 41 [53] 53 February 6 Winnipeg Jets 4 – 10 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,455 17–27–9 43 [54] 54 February 8 Calgary Flames 10 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,490 17–28–9 43 [55] 55 February 13 Quebec Nordiques 4 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,490 17–29–9 43 [56] 56 February 15 Buffalo Sabres 2 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Edwards 17,077 17–29–10 44 [57] 57 February 18 St. Louis Blues 2 – 9 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,490 18–29–10 46 [58] 58 February 20 Boston Bruins 5 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Edwards 17,490 18–30–10 46 [59] 59 February 21 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 1 Winnipeg Jets Mio 14,873 19–30–10 48 [60] 60 February 24 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 5 Los Angeles Kings Edwards 9,066 19–31–10 48 [61] 61 February 25 Philadelphia Flyers 2 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,490 20–31–10 50 [62] 62 February 27 Detroit Red Wings 2 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,490 21–31–10 52 [63] 63 February 28 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 3 Colorado Rockies Mio 8,837 21–32–10 52 [64]
March: 6–3–5 (Home: 1–1–2 ; Road: 5–2–3) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 3 Edmonton Oilers 8 – 8 New York Islanders Mio 15,008 21–32–11 53 [65] 65 March 4 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 5 New York Rangers Mio 17,418 21–32–12 54 [66] 66 March 7 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 3 Philadelphia Flyers Edwards 17,077 22–32–12 56 [67] 67 March 8 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 6 Pittsburgh Penguins Mio 12,099 22–33–12 56 [68] 68 March 12 New York Islanders 5 – 0 Edmonton Oilers Edwards 17,490 22–34–12 56 [69] 69 March 15 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 3 Calgary Flames Mio 7,226 22–34–13 57 [70] 70 March 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 6 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,490 23–34���13 59 [71] 71 March 18 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 3 Minnesota North Stars Edwards 12,261 24–34–13 61 [72] 72 March 20 Minnesota North Stars 1 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Edwards 17,490 24–34–14 62 [73] 73 March 21 Los Angeles Kings 6 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Edwards 17,490 24–34–15 63 [74] 74 March 23 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 7 Boston Bruins Moog 9,909 24–35–15 63 [75] 75 March 25 Edmonton Oilers 7 – 2 Hartford Whalers Edwards 11,405 25–35–15 65 [76] 76 March 28 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 2 Detroit Red Wings Edwards 15,041 26–35–15 66 [77] 77 March 29 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 2 Pittsburgh Penguins Moog 12,966 27–35–15 68 [78]
April: 2–0–1 (Home: 1–0–1 ; Road: 1–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 1 Colorado Rockies 4 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Edwards 17,490 27–35–16 70 [79] 79 April 3 Edmonton Oilers 7 – 2 Vancouver Canucks Moog 16,413 28–35–16 72 [80] 80 April 4 Winnipeg Jets 2 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Edwards 17,490 29–35–16 74 [81] Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs[]

In Game One of the series versus Montreal, Wayne Gretzky had five assists. This was a single game playoff record.^[82]

1981 Stanley Cup Playoffs
1981 Preliminary Round Edmonton Oilers won series 3–0 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 8 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 3 Montreal Canadiens Moog 15,792 1–0 [1] 2 April 9 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 1 Montreal Canadiens Moog 15,527 2–0 [2] 3 April 11 Montreal Canadiens 2 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,490 3–0 [3]
1981 Quarter-final New York Islanders won series 4–2 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 16 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 8 New York Islanders Moog 15,008 0–1 [4] 2 April 17 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 6 New York Islanders Moog 15,008 0–2 [5] 3 April 19 New York Islanders 2 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,490 1–2 [6] 4 April 20 New York Islanders 5 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,490 1–3 [7] 5 April 22 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 3 New York Islanders Moog 15,008 2–3 [8] 6 April 24 New York Islanders 5 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,490 2–4 [9]

Season stats[]

Scoring leaders[]

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Wayne Gretzky	80	55	109	164	28
Jari Kurri	75	32	43	75	40
Mark Messier	72	23	40	63	102
Brett Callighen	55	25	35	60	32
Glenn Anderson	58	30	23	53	24

Goaltending[]

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	SO	GAA
Gary Edwards	15	729	5	3	4	44	0	3.62
Andy Moog	7	313	3	3	0	20	0	3.83
Eddie Mio	43	2393	16	15	9	155	0	3.89
Ron Low	24	1260	5	13	3	93	0	4.43
Pete LoPresti	2	105	0	1	0	8	0	4.57

Playoff stats[]

Scoring leaders[]

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Wayne Gretzky	9	7	14	21	4
Glenn Anderson	9	5	7	12	12
Jari Kurri	9	5	7	12	4
Brett Callighen	9	4	4	8	6
Paul Coffey	9	4	3	7	22

Goaltending[]

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	GAA
Andy Moog	9	526	5	4	32	0	3.65
Gary Edwards	1	20	0	0	2	0	6.00

Awards and records[]

Records[]

• 164: A NHL record for most points in a single season by Wayne Gretzky.

• 153: A new NHL record for most points in a single season by Wayne Gretzky on March 29, 1981.

• 109: A NHL record for most assists in a single season by Wayne Gretzky.

• 103: A new NHL record for most assists in a single season by Wayne Gretzky on April 1, 1981.

Milestones[]

Regular Season
Player	Milestone	Reached
Glenn Anderson	1st NHL Game	October 10, 1980
Paul Coffey
Jari Kurri	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
Glenn Anderson	1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	October 12, 1980
Jari Kurri	1st NHL Goal	October 18, 1980
Paul Coffey	1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	October 19, 1980
Blair MacDonald	100th NHL Point
Dave Semenko	1st NHL Hat-trick
Paul Coffey	1st NHL Goal	October 22, 1980
Doug Hicks	300th NHL PIM
Matti Hagman	100th NHL Game	November 3, 1980
Wayne Gretzky	100th NHL Assist	November 7, 1980
Charlie Huddy	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	November 15, 1980
Paul Coffey	1st NHL Gordie Howe hat trick	November 16, 1980
Charlie Huddy	1st NHL Goal
Don Murdoch	100th NHL Assist
Dave Lumley	100th NHL Game	November 25, 1980
Blair MacDonald
Wayne Gretzky	100th NHL Game	November 26, 1980
Dave Hunter
Jari Kurri	1st NHL Hat-trick
John Hughes	200th NHL PIM	November 28, 1980
Kevin Lowe	100th NHL PIM	December 7, 1980
Mark Messier	100th NHL Game	December 10, 1980
Tom Roulston	1st NHL Game
Curt Brackenbury	100th NHL PIM	December 16, 1980
Don Murdoch	100th NHL Assist
Tom Roulston	1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point
Lee Fogolin	100th NHL Point	December 20, 1980
Wayne Gretzky	3rd NHL Hat-trick	December 23, 1980
Andy Moog	1st NHL Game
Andy Moog	1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	December 28, 1980
Lee Fogolin	600th NHL PIM	December 30, 1980
Dave Semenko	100th NHL Game
Kevin Lowe	100th NHL Game	January 2, 1981
Risto Siltanen
Andy Moog	1st NHL Win
Pat Price	100th NHL Point
Wayne Gretzky	200th NHL Point	January 7, 1981
Jari Kurri	2nd NHL Hat-trick	January 11, 1981
Doug Hicks	100th NHL Assist	January 17, 1981
Stan Weir	500th NHL Game	January 23, 1981
Jari Kurri	3rd NHL Hat-trick	January 28, 1981
Roy Sommer	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point
Pat Price	300th NHL Game	January 30, 1981
Curt Brackenbury	100th NHL Game	February 1, 1981
Wayne Gretzky	4th NHL Hat-trick 2nd NHL Natural Hat-trick	February 6, 1981
Wayne Gretzky	5th NHL Hat-trick 3rd NHL Natural Hat-trick 1st Five-Goal NHL Game	February 18, 1981
Glenn Anderson	1st NHL Hat-trick 1st NHL Natural Hat-trick	February 21, 1981
Mark Messier	200th NHL PIM	February 25, 1981
Curt Brackenbury	200th NHL PIM	February 27, 1981
Dave Lumley	200th NHL PIM	February 28, 1981
Brett Callighen	100th NHL Point	March 3, 1981
Mark Messier	1st NHL Gordie Howe Hat-trick	March 4, 1981
Tom Roulston	1st NHL Assist
Brett Callighen	100th NHL Game	March 7, 1981
Wayne Gretzky	100th NHL Goal 6th NHL Hat-trick 1st Four-Goal NHL Game
Wayne Gretzky	50th Goal in 69 Games	March 15, 1981
Brett Callighen	100th NHL PIM	March 16, 1981
Mark Messier	1st NHL Hat-trick
Glenn Anderson	2nd NHL Hat-trick	March 25, 1981
Dave Hunter	200th NHL PIM	March 29, 1981
Dave Semenko
Wayne Gretzky	300th NHL Point	April 4, 1981
Risto Siltanen	1st NHL Hat-trick

Playoffs
Player	Milestone	Reached
Glenn Anderson	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point	April 8, 1981
Paul Coffey
Jari Kurri	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
Garry Lariviere	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
Andy Moog	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Win
Risto Siltanen	1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point	April 9, 1981
Glenn Anderson	1st NHL Assist	April 11, 1981
Paul Coffey
Wayne Gretzky	1st NHL Hat-trick
Matti Hagman	1st NHL Goal
Wayne Gretzky	2nd NHL Hat-trick	April 19, 1981
Doug Hicks	1st NHL Assist	April 20, 1981
Curt Brackenbury	1st NHL Game	April 22, 1981

Transactions[]

Trades[]

June 11, 1980	To Philadelphia Flyers Ron Areshenkoff 10th round pick in 1980 -	To Edmonton Oilers Barry Dean
February 2, 1981	To Minnesota North Stars 3rd round pick in 1982 -	To Edmonton Oilers Gary Edwards
March 10, 1981	To Los Angeles Kings 7th round pick in 1981 -	To Edmonton Oilers Garry Unger
March 10, 1981	To New York Rangers John Hughes	To Edmonton Oilers Ray Markham
March 10, 1981	To Pittsburgh Penguins Pat Price	To Edmonton Oilers Pat Hughes
March 10, 1981	To Vancouver Canucks Blair MacDonald Lars-Gunnar Pettersson	To Edmonton Oilers Garry Lariviere Ken Berry

Free agents[]

Player Former Team D *Tom Bladon Pittsburgh Penguins F Matti Hagman HIFK Helsinki (SM-liiga) D John Blum Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)

Player New Team D John Bednarski Buffalo Sabres F Alex Tidey Los Angeles Kings D Tom Bladon Winnipeg Jets

*Played only one game before becoming a free agent

Draft picks[]

Edmonton's draft picks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1	6	Paul Coffey	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OMJHL)
3	48	Shawn Babcock	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL)
4	69	Jari Kurri	Finland	Jokerit (SM-liiga)
5	90	Walt Poddubny	Canada	Kingston Canadians (OMJHL)
6	111	Mike Winther	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
7	132	Andy Moog	Canada	Billings Bighorns (WHL)
8	153	Rob Polman-Tuin	Canada	Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA)
9	174	Lars-Gunnar Pettersson	Sweden	IF Björklöven (Elitserien)

Roster[]

1980-81 Edmonton Oilers
Goaltenders 1 – Pete LoPresti  30 – Ron Low  31 – Eddie Mio  33 – Gary Edwards  35 – Andy Moog		Defensemen 2 – Lee Fogolin  - C 4 – Kevin Lowe  5 – Doug Hicks  6 – John Hughes  6 – Garry Lariviere  7 – Paul Coffey  8 – Risto Siltanen  22 – Charlie Huddy  23 – Tom Bladon  26 – Pat Price		Wingers 9 – Glenn Anderson  11 – Mark Messier  12 – Dave Hunter  14 – Blair MacDonald  - C 15 – Curt Brackenbury  16 – Pat Hughes  17 – Jari Kurri  20 – Dave Lumley  24 – Peter Driscoll  27 – Dave Semenko  47 – Don Murdoch		Centres 10 – Matti Hagman  18 – Brett Callighen  19 – Don Ashby  21 – Stan Weir  23 – Tom Roulston  28 – Roy Sommer  77 – Garry Unger  99 – Wayne Gretzky  GM: Glen Sather Coach: Bryan Watson (4-9-5) Coach: Glen Sather (25-26-11)

References[]

• SHRP Sports
• The Internet Hockey Database
• National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007