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.

1980–81 Minnesota North Stars
Division	3rd Adams
Conference	5th Wales
1980–81 record	35–28–17
Goals for	291
Goals against	263
Team information
General manager	Lou Nanne
Coach	Glen Sonmor
Captain	Paul Shmyr
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Met Center
Team leaders
Goals	Steve Payne (30)
Assists	Bobby Smith (64)
Points	Bobby Smith (93)
Penalty minutes	Greg Smith (126)
Plus/minus	Steve Payne (+14)
Wins	Don Beaupre (18)
Goals against average	Don Beaupre (3.20)

Offseason

NHL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	College/junior/club team
1	16	Brad Palmer (F)	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WHL)
2	37	Don Beaupre (G)	Canada	Sudbury Wolves (OHA)
4	79	Mark Huglen (D)	United States	Roseau High School (USHS-MN)
5	100	David Jensen (D)	United States	University of Minnesota (WCHA)
6	121	Danny Zavarise (D)	Canada	Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)
7	142	Bill Stewart (RW)	Canada	University of Denver (WCHA)
8	163	Jeff Walters (RW)	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OMJHL)
9	184	Bob Lakso (LW)	United States	Aurora-Hoyt Lakes High School (USHS-MN)
10	205	Dave Richter (D)	Canada	University of Michigan (WCHA)

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

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

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