1980–81 Minnesota North Stars season

The 1980–81 Minnesota North Stars season was the North Stars' 14th season. Although the North Stars finished the season with one less win and one less point than the previous year, they made a surprise appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals against the New York Islanders, which they lost 4 games to 1.

Offseason

NHL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	College/junior/club team
1	16	Brad Palmer (F)	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WHL)

Regular season

Season standings

Adams Division
	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PIM	PTS
Buffalo Sabres	80	39	20	21	327	250	1194	99
Boston Bruins	80	37	30	13	316	272	1836	87
Minnesota North Stars	80	35	28	17	291	263	1624	87
Quebec Nordiques	80	30	32	18	314	318	1524	78
Toronto Maple Leafs	80	28	37	15	322	367	1830	71

^[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

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 11, 1980	9–3	Hartford Whalers (1980–81)	1–0–0
2	W	October 15, 1980	3–2	Boston Bruins (1980–81)	2–0–0
3	T	October 17, 1980	5–5	@ Colorado Rockies (1980–81)	2–0–1
4	L	October 18, 1980	2–6	@ Calgary Flames (1980–81)	2–1–1
5	W	October 22, 1980	4–2	Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)	3–1–1
6	W	October 24, 1980	4–2	@ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)	4–1–1
7	W	October 25, 1980	4–1	Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)	5–1–1
8	T	October 29, 1980	2–2	St. Louis Blues (1980–81)	5–1–2
9	W	November 1, 1980	6–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)	6–1–2
10	W	November 2, 1980	8–3	Calgary Flames (1980–81)	7–1–2
11	L	November 7, 1980	2–3	@ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)	7–2–2
12	W	November 9, 1980	7–1	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)	8–2–2
13	T	November 11, 1980	6–6	@ New York Islanders (1980–81)	8–2–3
14	W	November 12, 1980	5–1	@ Hartford Whalers (1980–81)	9–2–3
15	W	November 15, 1980	5–2	Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)	10–2–3
16	L	November 17, 1980	1–2	New York Islanders (1980–81)	10–3–3
17	W	November 19, 1980	3–2	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)	11–3–3
18	T	November 20, 1980	1–1	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)	11–3–4
19	L	November 22, 1980	2–6	Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)	11–4–4
20	L	November 26, 1980	2–5	@ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)	11–5–4
21	W	November 29, 1980	4–2	@ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)	12–5–4
22	W	December 1, 1980	5–3	@ New York Rangers (1980–81)	13–5–4
23	T	December 3, 1980	3–3	@ Washington Capitals (1980–81)	13–5–5
24	T	December 6, 1980	3–3	Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)	13–5–6
25	T	December 7, 1980	1–1	Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)	13–5–7
26	L	December 9, 1980	1–4	@ St. Louis Blues (1980–81)	13–6–7
27	L	December 10, 1980	2–7	Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)	13–7–7
28	W	December 13, 1980	4–3	Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)	14–7–7
29	L	December 15, 1980	3–6	Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)	14–8–7
30	L	December 17, 1980	2–4	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)	14–9–7
31	T	December 20, 1980	3–3	New York Rangers (1980–81)	14–9–8
32	W	December 23, 1980	6–2	@ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)	15–9–8
33	W	December 26, 1980	5–3	@ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)	16–9–8
34	W	December 27, 1980	6–4	Colorado Rockies (1980–81)	17–9–8
35	W	December 30, 1980	6–5	Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)	18–9–8
36	W	January 3, 1981	3–0	Washington Capitals (1980–81)	19–9–8
37	T	January 4, 1981	2–2	@ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)	19–9–9
38	T	January 7, 1981	1–1	Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)	19–9–10
39	L	January 9, 1981	2–4	@ Colorado Rockies (1980–81)	19–10–10
40	W	January 10, 1981	3–2	Washington Capitals (1980–81)	20–10–10
41	L	January 12, 1981	3–4	@ Boston Bruins (1980–81)	20–11–10
42	T	January 14, 1981	1–1	@ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)	20–11–11
43	W	January 17, 1981	7–1	Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)	21–11–11
44	W	January 19, 1981	6–3	Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)	22–11–11
45	W	January 21, 1981	2–1	@ Washington Capitals (1980–81)	23–11–11
46	L	January 22, 1981	4–5	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)	23–12–11
47	W	January 24, 1981	6–1	Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)	24–12–11
48	W	January 26, 1981	3–2	Calgary Flames (1980–81)	25–12–11
49	L	January 28, 1981	1–3	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)	25–13–11
50	T	January 29, 1981	3–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)	25–13–12
51	L	January 31, 1981	3–7	New York Rangers (1980–81)	25–14–12
52	L	February 4, 1981	2–6	@ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)	25–15–12
53	L	February 5, 1981	0–7	@ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)	25–16–12
54	T	February 7, 1981	5–5	@ New York Islanders (1980–81)	25–16–13
55	T	February 8, 1981	3–3	@ New York Rangers (1980–81)	25–16–14
56	L	February 12, 1981	3–4	Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)	25–17–14
57	W	February 14, 1981	7–4	Hartford Whalers (1980–81)	26–17–14
58	W	February 15, 1981	7–2	Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)	27–17–14
59	W	February 18, 1981	6–2	Colorado Rockies (1980–81)	28–17–14
60	W	February 20, 1981	5–3	@ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)	29–17–14
61	L	February 21, 1981	3–5	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)	29–18–14
62	L	February 23, 1981	1–4	New York Islanders (1980–81)	29–19–14
63	L	February 25, 1981	2–3	@ Hartford Whalers (1980–81)	29–20–14
64	L	February 26, 1981	1–5	@ Boston Bruins (1980–81)	29–21–14
65	L	February 28, 1981	2–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)	29–22–14
66	T	March 4, 1981	3–3	Boston Bruins (1980–81)	29–22–15
67	W	March 7, 1981	8–5	Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)	30–22–15
68	T	March 9, 1981	1–1	Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)	30–22–16
69	W	March 11, 1981	3–1	Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)	31–22–16
70	L	March 12, 1981	3–6	@ Calgary Flames (1980–81)	31–23–16
71	L	March 14, 1981	4–10	@ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)	31–24–16
72	L	March 18, 1981	3–5	Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)	31–25–16
73	T	March 20, 1981	1–1	@ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)	31–25–17
74	W	March 22, 1981	9–3	Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)	32–25–17
75	L	March 24, 1981	3–4	Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)	32–26–17
76	L	March 28, 1981	2–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)	32–27–17
77	W	March 29, 1981	4–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)	33–27–17
78	W	March 31, 1981	6–3	St. Louis Blues (1980–81)	34–27–17
79	W	April 4, 1981	5–0	@ St. Louis Blues (1980–81)	35–27–17
80	L	April 5, 1981	4–8	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)	35–28–17

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
Bobby Smith	78	29	64	93	+1	73
Tim Young	74	25	41	66	+6	40
Al MacAdam	78	21	39	60	-6	94
Steve Payne	76	30	28	58	+14	88
Tom McCarthy	62	23	25	48	+3	62
Craig Hartsburg	74	13	30	43	-9	124
Kent-Erik Andersson	77	17	24	41	8	22
Steve Christoff	56	26	13	39	-9	58
Gordie Roberts	50	6	31	37	2	94
Mike Eaves	48	10	24	34	1	18
Dino Ciccarelli	32	18	12	30
Curt Giles
Greg Smith
Glen Sharpley
Mike Fidler
Ron Zanussi
Brad Maxwell
Mike Polich
Fred Barrett
Gary Sargent
Tom Younghans
Paul Shmyr
Jack Carlson
Brad Palmer
Kevin Maxwell
Don Jackson

^[2]

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

Player	GP	W	L	T	SO	GAA

Playoffs

Stanley Cup Finals

New York Islanders vs. Minnesota North Stars

Date	Visitors	Score	Home	Score	Notes
May 12	Minnesota	3	New York	6
May 14	Minnesota	3	New York	6
May 17	New York	7	Minnesota	5
May 19	New York	2	Minnesota	4
May 21	Minnesota	1	New York	5	OT

New York wins the series 4–1.

Roster

1980–1981 Minnesota North Stars Roster

Goaltenders

27 – Gilles Meloche
33 – Don Beaupre

Defencemen

2 – Curt Giles
3 – Fred Barrett
4 – Craig Hartsburg
5 – Brad Maxwell
6 – Murray Brumwell
6 – Paul Shmyr - C
10 – Gordie Roberts
22 – Gary Sargent
23 – Greg Smith
32 – Don Jackson

Wingers

8 – Kent-Erik Andersson
9 – Ron Zanussi
11 – Tom McCarthy
12 – Mike Fidler
14 – Brad Palmer
16 – Mike Polich
20 – Dino Ciccarelli
20 – Rob Flockhart
21 – Jack Carlson
24 – Jim Dobson
24 – Roger Melin
25 – Al MacAdam
26 – Steve Payne
29 – Tom Younghans
31 – Ron Friest
31 – Ken Solheim

Centers

7 – Neal Broten
7 – Glen Sharpley
9 – Kevin Maxwell
15 – Bobby Smith
17 – Tim Young
18 – Mike Eaves
24 – Joe Contini
24 – Jon Fontas
28 – Steve Christoff
GM: Lou Nanne
Coach: Glen Sonmor

References

North Stars on Hockey Database

↑ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
↑ http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MNS/1981.html

1980–81 NHL season

Patrick	Calgary NY Islanders NY Rangers Philadelphia Washington

Adams	Boston Buffalo Minnesota Quebec Toronto

Norris	Detroit Hartford Los Angeles Montreal Pittsburgh

Smythe	Chicago Colorado Edmonton St. Louis Vancouver Winnipeg

See also	Draft All-Star Game Stanley Cup playoffs Stanley Cup Finals

Minnesota North Stars seasons

1960s	1967–68 1968–69 1969–70

1970s	1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80

1980s	1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90

1990s	1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 Dallas

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