1981 Stanley Cup Finals

The 1981 Stanley Cup Finals were played from May 12 to May 21, 1981 between the Minnesota North Stars in their first Finals appearance and the defending champion New York Islanders, in their second Finals appearance. The Islanders would win the best-of-seven series four games to one, to win their second Stanley Cup.

Paths to the Final

Minnesota defeated the Boston Bruins 3–0, the Buffalo Sabres 4–1 and the Calgary Flames 4–2 to advance to the finals. New York defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3–0, the Edmonton Oilers 4–2, and the New York Rangers 4–0 to make it to the finals.

The series

Dino Ciccarelli of the Stars scored a rookie record 14 goals, 7 assists for 21 points during the year's playoffs.

New York Islanders vs. Minnesota North Stars

"New York wins the series 4–1."

"Butch Goring won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP."

New York Islanders 1981 Stanley Cup champions

Stanley Cup champion
centers=*11 Wayne Merrick
*14 Bob Bourne
*19 Bryan Trottier
*25 Billy Carroll
*91 Robert Butch Goring
defence=*5 Denis Potvin (Captain)
*3 Jean Potvin††
*4 Bob Lorimer
*6 Ken Morrow
*7 Stefan Persson
*16 Mike McEwen
*24 Gord Lane
*26 Dave Langevin
goaltenders=*1 Roland Melanson
*31 Billy Smith
wingers=*8 Garry Howatt
*9 Clark Gillies
*12 Duane Sutter
*22 Mike Bossy
*23 Bob Nystrom
*27 John Tonelli
*28 Anders Kallur
*29 Hector Marini
non-players=
*Bill Torrey (President/General Manager)
*John Pickett (Chairman/Owner)
*Al Arbour (Head Coach), #10 Lorne Henning (playing-Ass't Coach)†
*Jim Devellano (Chief Scout), Gerry Ehman (Western Scout)
*Harry Boyd, Maurice Sabageno (Scouts)
* Ron Waske (Trainer), Jim Pickard (Ass't Trainer)
* Steve Corais (Director of Public Relations)^.
engraving-notes=
*^-Steve Corais was included on the team, but name was left off the Stanley Cup.
*† Lorne Henning played nine regular season and one playoff game. He was the last playing-coach to win the Stanley Cup.
*†† Jean Potvin 18 games regular season games, and did not dress in the playoffs. He spent the rest of year as a broadcaster. Potvin's name was put on the cup in 1981, even though he did not officially qualify.
*A new ring was created in 1993 for the winners from 1979 to 1991. New York Islanders was misspelled. NEW YORK ILANDERS missing the first "S". Name was spelt correctly on the Replica Cup also created in 1993.

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ee also

* List of Stanley Cup champions
* 1980–81 NHL season

References

*
* Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Triumph Books, 12, 50. ISBN 1–55168–261–3.