1980–81 Montreal Canadiens season



The 1980–81 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 72nd season of play. The Canadiens lost just once in their last twenty-seven home games. The Canadiens would earn at least 100 regular season points for the seventh consecutive season. Montreal qualified for the playoffs and were eliminated in the Preliminary round by the Edmonton Oilers 3 games to 0. Four days after the Canadiens were eliminated, head coach Claude Ruel resigned.

Regular Season
Guy Lafleur appeared in only 51 games and scored 27 goals. It was the first time since the 1973–74 Montreal Canadiens season that he failed to score 50 goals or more in a season.

Edmonton Oilers 3, Montreal Canadiens 0
The Canadiens were swept in three games by the Edmonton Oilers. In Game One of the series, Wayne Gretzky had five assists. This was a single game playoff record.

Regular Season

 * Scoring
 * Goaltending

Playoffs

 * Scoring
 * Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals

MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; SO = Shutouts

Awards and Records

 * Prince of Wales Trophy: Montreal Canadiens
 * Frank J. Selke Trophy: Bob Gainey
 * NHL Plus-Minus Award: Brian Engblom
 * William M. Jennings Trophy: Denis Herron, Michel Larocque & Richard Sevigny
 * Larry Robinson, Defense, NHL Second Team All-Star