1980–81 New York Rangers season

The 1980–81 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 55th season. In the regular season, the Rangers finished in fourth place in the Patrick Division with 74 points and earned a berth in the playoffs. New York won series with the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues to reach the NHL semi-finals, where the team was defeated by the New York Islanders in a four-game sweep.[1]

1980–81 New York Rangers
Division4th Patrick
ConferenceT-7th Campbell
1980–81 record30–36–14
Goals for312
Goals against317
Team information
General managerFred Shero
Craig Patrick
CoachFred Shero
Craig Patrick
CaptainWalt Tkaczuk
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Average attendance17,293
Team leaders
GoalsEd Johnstone/Anders Hedberg (30)
AssistsRon Greschner (41)
PointsAnders Hedberg (70)
Penalty minutesBarry Beck (231)
WinsDoug Soetaert (16)
Goals against averageSteve Weeks (2.00)

Regular season

Fred Shero, citing a drinking problem, chose to resign as coach. Craig Patrick, the Rangers' director of operations, replaced him. Craig Patrick became the third generation of the Patrick family to coach the Rangers, after Lester Patrick, Lynn Patrick and Muzz Patrick.[2]

Halfway through the season, veteran Phil Esposito decided to retire. He retired after 18 seasons, the last six with the Rangers. He finished his career with 717 goals and 1,590 points.[3]

Final standings
Patrick Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
New York Islanders80481814355260110
Philadelphia Flyers8041241531324997
Calgary Flames8039271432929892
New York Rangers8030361431231774
Washington Capitals8026361828631770

[4]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.

Vs. Campbell Conference

Vs. Wales Conference

Schedule and results
1980–81 Game Log
October: 3–7–1 (Home: 2–3–0; Road: 1–4–1)
GameOctoberOpponentScoreRecord
19@ Boston Bruins7–20–1–0
211@ Toronto Maple Leafs8–31–1–0
312Pittsburgh Penguins6–31–2–0
415St. Louis Blues2–11–3–0
518@ Washington Capitals8–21–4–0
619Edmonton Oilers4–21–5–0
722Vancouver Canucks3–22–5–0
825@ Detroit Red Wings4–22–6–0
926Detroit Red Wings7–63–6–0
1028@ St. Louis Blues5–43–7–0
1130@ Philadelphia Flyers3–33–7–1
November: 3–7–3 (Home: 2–2–2; Road: 1–5–1)
GameNovemberOpponentScoreRecord
121@ Montreal Canadiens7–43–8–1
132Los Angeles Kings6–33–9–1
145@ Chicago Black Hawks3–33–9–2
158@ Vancouver Canucks6–43–10–2
1610@ Los Angeles Kings4–13–11–2
1711@ Calgary Flames7–33–12–2
1814Pittsburgh Penguins3–33–12–3
1916Hartford Whalers7–34–12–3
2019Philadelphia Flyers5–14–13–3
2122@ New York Islanders6–44–14–3
2223Vancouver Canucks2–24–14–4
2326Boston Bruins6–45–14–4
2429@ Pittsburgh Penguins4–26–14–4
December: 7–6–1 (Home: 3–4–0; Road: 4–2–1)
GameDecemberOpponentScoreRecord
251Minnesota North Stars5–36–15–4
263@ Winnipeg Jets4–37–15–4
275@ Edmonton Oilers5–18–15–4
287Chicago Black Hawks5–49–15–4
2910Washington Capitals6–210–15–4
3012@ Colorado Rockies4–311–15–4
3114@ Chicago Black Hawks2–111–16–4
3217Winnipeg Jets8–212–16–4
3320@ Minnesota North Stars3–312–16–5
3422Calgary Flames3–212–17–5
3526@ Washington Capitals7–312–18–5
3628Montreal Canadiens5–212–19–5
3730@ Quebec Nordiques6–313–19–5
3831Colorado Rockies6–413–20–5
January: 6–4–3 (Home: 2–1–2; Road: 4–3–1)
GameJanuaryOpponentScoreRecord
392New York Islanders3–114–20–5
404Quebec Nordiques2–214–20–6
419Buffalo Sabres3–314–20–7
4211Toronto Maple Leafs5–314–21–7
4313@ Calgary Flames4–414–21–8
4415@ Colorado Rockies4–314–22–8
4518@ Buffalo Sabres4–014–23–8
4619Calgary Flames6–315–23–8
4721@ Winnipeg Jets5–115–24–8
4823@ Edmonton Oilers7–416–24–8
4924@ Vancouver Canucks7–517–24–8
5028@ Los Angeles Kings6–218–24–8
5131@ Minnesota North Stars7–319–24–8
February: 5–7–1 (Home: 5–2–1; Road: 0–5–0)
GameFebruaryOpponentScoreRecord
522Los Angeles Kings3–219–25–8
534New York Islanders9–320–25–8
545@ Boston Bruins6–320–26–8
558Minnesota North Stars3–320–26–9
5612Winnipeg Jets8–621–26–9
5714@ Toronto Maple Leafs6–321–27–9
5815St. Louis Blues5–421–28–9
5918Toronto Maple Leafs8–322–28–9
6019@ Detroit Red Wings7–322–29–9
6121Washington Capitals6–423–29–9
6222@ Hartford Whalers6–523–30–9
6325Buffalo Sabres6–324–30–9
6428@ Pittsburgh Penguins6–424–31–9
March: 4–4–5 (Home: 2–1–5; Road: 2–2–0)
GameMarchOpponentScoreRecord
651Montreal Canadiens4–424–31–10
664Edmonton Oilers5–524–31–11
677@ St. Louis Blues7–224–32–11
688Detroit Red Wings4–424–32–12
6910@ Quebec Nordiques6–424–33–12
7011Colorado Rockies4–324–34–12
7114Hartford Whalers6–225–34–12
7218Boston Bruins3–226–34–12
7321@ Hartford Whalers6–427–34–12
7422Quebec Nordiques7–727–34–13
7525@ Buffalo Sabres4–227–35–13
7628@ Montreal Canadiens6–228–35–13
7730Philadelphia Flyers0–028–35–14
April: 2–1–0 (Home: 1–0–0; Road: 1–1–0)
GameAprilOpponentScoreRecord
782@ New York Islanders2–128–36–14
793Chicago Black Hawks3–129–36–14
805@ Philadelphia Flyers2–030–36–14

Playoffs
Main article: 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs

Key:   Win   Loss

1981 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Player statistics
Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season
Player GP TOI W L T GA GAA SO
Doug Soetaert392320161671523.930
Steve Baker2112601065733.482
John Davidson10560171485.140
Wayne Thomas10600361343.400
Steve Weeks16001022.000
Playoffs
Player GP TOI W L GA GAA SO
Steve Baker1482677554.000
Steve Weeks1140014.290

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.

[6]

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at the Montreal Forum.[7][8]

Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 14 Jim Malone F  Canada Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
2 35 Mike Allison RW  Canada Sudbury Wolves (OHA)
4 77 Kurt Kleinendorst C  United States Providence College (NCAA)
5 98 Scot Kleinendorst D  United States Providence College (NCAA)
6 119 Reijo Ruotsalainen D  Finland Karpat (SM-liiga)
7 140 Bob Scurfield C  Canada Western Michigan University (NCAA)
8 161 Bart Wilson D  Canada Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
9 182 Chris Wray RW  United States Boston College (NCAA)
10 203 Anders Backstrom D  Sweden Brynas (Elitserien)

References
  1. "1980–81 New York Rangers Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  2. McFarlane, p. 204
  3. McFarlane, p. 205
  4. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
  5. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  6. "1980–81 New York Rangers". hockeydb.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  7. "1980 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  8. "NHL Draft History". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on January 28, 2001. Retrieved April 28, 2012.

Bibliography
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