1981 Stanley Cup
The Islanders repeated as Stanley Cup champions in five games over the Minnesota North Stars.
The 1981 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1980–81 season, and the culmination of the 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Minnesota North Stars, making their first Finals appearance, and the defending champion New York Islanders, in their second Finals appearance. The Islanders defeated the North Stars in five games to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
Quick Facts
- Championship year
- 1980-81
- Head coach
- Al Arbour
- Captain
- Denis Potvin
- Finals opponent
- Minnesota North Stars
- Series result
- 4-2
- Key contributors
- Mike Bossy
- Bryan Trottier
- Billy Smith
- Denis Potvin
- Year
- 1981
- Core line
- Mike Bossy
- Bryan Trottier
- Clark Gillies
Lore & Background
The Islanders became the sixth franchise to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. This would be the last all-American Finals until 1991, when the North Stars faced the Pittsburgh Penguins. Butch Goring won the Conn Smythe Trophy as Most Valuable Player in the playoffs.
Reader's Guide
Minnesota defeated the Boston Bruins 3–0, the Buffalo Sabres 4–1 and the Calgary Flames 4–2 to advance to the Final. New York defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3–0, the Edmonton Oilers 4–2, and the New York Rangers 4–0 to reach the Final. The Islanders won the series in five games.
Did You Know?
- Dino Ciccarelli of the North Stars set a rookie record (since tied by Ville Leino in 2010), scoring twenty-one points (14 goals and seven assists) during the year's playoffs.
- Butch Goring recorded a hat trick in game three.
- Billy Smith made 24 saves in game five to clinch the series.
- The series aired on CBC in Canada and on the USA Network in the United States, with USA simulcasting the CBC feed.
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