The 1980 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1979–80 season, and the culmination of the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the New York Islanders in their first-ever Final appearance and the Philadelphia Flyers, in their fourth Final appearance, and first since 1976. The Islanders would win the best-of-seven series, four games to two, to win their first Stanley Cup championship and the third for a post-1967 expansion team after Philadelphia's Cup wins in 1974 and 1975.
Paths to the Final
New York defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3–1, the Boston Bruins 4–1 and the Buffalo Sabres 4–2 to advance to the Final.
Philadelphia defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3–0, the New York Rangers 4–1 and the Minnesota North Stars 4–1 to make it to the Final. The Flyers were one of the four Philadelphia professional sports teams to play for their respective sports' championships in the 1980 season. The 76ers would lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980 NBA Finals, the Phillies would then beat the Kansas City Royals in the World Series, and the Eagles later lost Super Bowl XV to the Oakland Raiders in January 1981.
Game summaries
Game one
In game one, Denis Potvin scored twice, including the game-winning goal in overtime, which was the first power-play overtime goal in Stanley Cup Final history. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st PHI Mel Bridgman (2) Unassisted 10:31 1–0 PHI NYI Mike Bossy (7) – pp Bryan Trottier (14) 12:02 1–1 2nd NYI Denis Potvin (2) Clark Gillies (5) and Butch Goring (10) 02:20 2–1 NYI PHI Bobby Clarke (5) – pp Bill Barber (6) and Reggie Leach (4) 17:08 2–2 3rd PHI Rick MacLeish (7) Paul Holmgren (7) 13:10 3–2 PHI NYI Stefan Persson (3) – pp Mike Bossy (7) and Denis Potvin (10) 17:08 3–3 OT NYI Denis Potvin (3) – pp John Tonelli (7) and Bob Nystrom (9) 04:07 4–3 NYI Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st NYI Duane Sutter Elbowing 09:36 2:00 PHI Behn Wilson High-sticking 09:36 2:00 PHI Bob Dailey Tripping 11:51 2:00 2nd NYI Duane Sutter Fighting – major 02:56 5:00 PHI Jimmy Watson Fighting – major 02:56 5:00 PHI Ken Linseman Hooking 12:00 2:00 NYI Bob Lorimer Hooking 16:08 2:00 3rd PHI Bobby Clarke Tripping 02:33 2:00 NYI Stefan Persson Holding 10:49 2:00 PHI Al Hill Hooking 14:35 2:00 OT PHI Jimmy Watson Holding 02:08 2:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 OT Total 15 9 11 1 36 9 12 11 1 33
Game two
After the Islanders drew first blood in game two, Paul Holmgren recorded a hat trick, Bobby Clarke and Bob Dailey each recorded three points for Philadelphia, and the Flyers cruised to an 8–3 victory to tie the series. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st NYI Butch Goring (5) Clark Gillies (6) and Duane Sutter (5) 03:23 1–0 NYI PHI Paul Holmgren (7) – pp Brian Propp (8) and Bob Dailey (11) 07:22 1–1 PHI Bob Kelly (1) Behn Wilson (6) and Bobby Clarke (10) 08:37 2–1 PHI PHI Bobby Clarke (6) Jimmy Watson (14) and Bill Barber (7) 17:23 3–1 PHI 2nd PHI Bill Barber (12) Bobby Clarke (11) and Reggie Leach (5) 01:06 4–1 PHI NYI Bryan Trottier (9) – pp Mike Bossy (8) 03:28 4–2 PHI PHI Paul Holmgren (8) – pp Ken Linseman (12) and Bill Barber (8) 04:13 5–2 PHI PHI Brian Propp (3) – pp Bob Dailey (12) and Bobby Clarke (12) 15:47 6–2 PHI 3rd PHI Tom Gorence (3) Bob Dailey (13) and Mel Bridgman (7) 01:40 7–2 PHI PHI Paul Holmgren (9) Ken Linseman (13) and Behn Wilson (7) 04:19 8–2 PHI NYI Butch Goring (6) – pp Bob Bourne (7) and Stefan Persson (7) 15:00 8–3 PHI Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st PHI Tom Gorence Hooking 04:09 2:00 NYI Stefan Persson Tripping 05:37 2:00 PHI Ken Linseman Elbowing 09:31 2:00 PHI Behn Wilson Holding 12:10 2:00 2nd PHI Andre Dupont Hooking 03:03 2:00 NYI Ken Morrow Interference 04:02 2:00 PHI Behn Wilson Roughing 05:27 2:00 NYI Bob Lorimer High-sticking 12:54 2:00 PHI Brian Propp High-sticking 12:54 2:00 NYI Garry Howatt Tripping 13:58 2:00 NYI Gord Lane High-sticking – major 14:12 5:00 NYI Billy Smith Slashing 14:12 2:00 PHI Bill Barber Slashing 14:12 2:00 PHI Bill Barber High-sticking – major 14:12 5:00 3rd PHI Jack McIlhargey Tripping 01:55 2:00 NYI Duane Sutter Slashing 05:00 2:00 NYI Duane Sutter Fighting – major 07:01 5:00 NYI Duane Sutter Misconduct 07:01 10:00 PHI Mel Bridgman Fighting – major 07:01 5:00 PHI Mel Bridgman Misconduct 07:01 10:00 PHI Behn Wilson Cross-checking 14:13 5:00 PHI Behn Wilson Roughing 14:13 2:00 PHI Behn Wilson Game misconduct 14:13 10:00 NYI Gord Lane Slashing 19:10 2:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total 10 5 8 31 10 16 5 23
Game three
In game three, the Islanders connected on all five of their power plays, with Denis Potvin recording 4 points, and giving the Islanders a 6–2 victory and a 2–1 lead in the series. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st NYI Lorne Henning (3) – sh Bob Bourne (8) 02:38 1–0 NYI NYI Denis Potvin (4) – pp Unassisted 07:43 2–0 NYI NYI Bryan Trottier (10) – pp Mike Bossy (9) and Denis Potvin (11) 13:04 3–0 NYI NYI Mike Bossy (8) – pp Clark Gillies (7) and Denis Potvin (12) 14:29 4–0 NYI 2nd NYI Clark Gillies (5) – pp Stefan Persson (8) 15:41 5–0 NYI NYI Denis Potvin (5) – pp Stefan Persson (9) and Mike Bossy (10) 17:25 6–0 NYI 3rd PHI Bobby Clarke (7) Reggie Leach (6) and Mike Busniuk (4) 09:48 6–1 NYI PHI Mike Busniuk (1) Mel Bridgman (8) 11:32 6–2 NYI Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st NYI Duane Sutter Hooking 01:01 2:00 NYI Dave Langevin Interference 04:11 2:00 PHI Bob Kelly Tripping 06:54 2:00 NYI Clark Gillies Tripping 09:32 2:00 PHI Rick MacLeish Slashing 12:24 2:00 PHI Bob Dailey Holding 12:56 2:00 NYI John Tonelli Hooking 16:46 2:00 2nd NYI Gord Lane Slashing 01:21 2:00 NYI Bob Nystrom Fighting – major 10:45 5:00 NYI Stefan Persson Roughing 10:45 2:00 PHI Mike Busniuk Fighting – major 10:45 5:00 NYI Clark Gillies Roughing 13:32 2:00 PHI Behn Wilson High-sticking 13:32 2:00 PHI Ken Linseman Slashing 14:15 2:00 NYI Garry Howatt Roughing 16:43 2:00 NYI Garry Howatt Misconduct 16:43 10:00 NYI Gord Lane Fighting – major 16:43 5:00 NYI Gord Lane Misconduct 16:43 10:00 PHI Tom Gorence Roughing 16:43 2:00 PHI Tom Gorence Misconduct 16:43 10:00 PHI Jack McIlhargey Fighting – major 16:43 5:00 PHI Jack McIlhargey Misconduct 16:43 10:00 PHI Bill Barber High-sticking 17:18 2:00 NYI Bob Nystrom High-sticking 19:23 2:00 NYI Bob Nystrom Roughing 19:23 2:00 PHI Ken Linseman Roughing 19:23 2:00 3rd NYI Duane Sutter Roughing 19:31 2:00 PHI Behn Wilson Roughing 19:31 2:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total 9 8 15 32 12 21 7 40
Game four
In game four, Clark Gillies recorded three points for New York, and the Islanders defeated the Flyers by a score of 5–2, giving them a commanding 3–1 lead in the series. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st NYI Mike Bossy (9) – pp Clark Gillies (8) and Bryan Trottier (15) 07:23 1–0 NYI NYI Butch Goring (7) Clark Gillies (9) and Duane Sutter (6) 13:06 2–0 NYI 2nd PHI John Paddock (1) Rick MacLeish (8) and Behn Wilson (8) 01:35 2–1 NYI 3rd NYI Bryan Trottier (11) Garry Howatt (1) 06:06 3–1 NYI PHI Ken Linseman (4) Brian Propp (9) and Tom Gorence (3) 11:53 3–2 NYI NYI Bobby Nystrom (7) Bob Bourne (9) 12:35 4–2 NYI NYI Clark Gillies (6) Duane Sutter (7) 14:08 5–2 NYI Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st NYI Billy Smith Slashing 03:47 2:00 PHI Tom Gorence Holding 05:56 2:00 NYI Mike Bossy Tripping 16:50 2:00 2nd PHI Jack McIlhargey Interference 01:48 2:00 NYI Denis Potvin High-sticking 02:36 2:00 NYI Dave Langevin Fighting – major 03:06 5:00 PHI Mel Bridgman Fighting – major 03:06 5:00 NYI Dave Langevin Holding 13:45 2:00 PHI Andre Dupont Tripping 16:19 2:00 NYI Stefan Persson Hooking 17:55 2:00 3rd PHI Norm Barnes Holding 00:44 2:00 PHI Jack McIlhargey Holding 09:16 2:00 PHI Norm Barnes Hooking 17:42 2:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total 13 11 12 36 9 8 10 27
Game five
With Philadelphia facing elimination in game five, Brian Propp and Ken Linseman each recorded three points, giving the Flyers a 6–3 victory to send the series to a game six back in Uniondale. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st NYI Stefan Persson (4) – pp Mike Bossy (11) 10:58 1–0 NYI 2nd PHI Bobby Clarke (8) Behn Wilson (9) and Reggie Leach (7) 01:45 1–1 PHI Ken Linseman (4) Brian Propp (9) and Tom Gorence (3) 11:53 2–1 PHI NYI Bryan Trottier (12) Mike Bossy (12) and Stefan Persson (10) 16:16 2–2 PHI Mike Busniuk (2) Brian Propp (10) and Ken Linseman (14) 17:04 3–2 PHI 3rd PHI Rick MacLeish (9) Mel Bridgman (9) 09:43 4–2 PHI PHI Brian Propp (4) – pp Ken Linseman (15) and Paul Holmgren (8) 12:33 5–2 PHI NYI Stefan Persson (5) Butch Goring (11) and Denis Potvin (13) 14:57 5–3 PHI PHI Paul Holmgren (10) Ken Linseman (16) 17:26 6–3 PHI Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st PHI Paul Holmgren High-sticking 02:48 2:00 NYI Clark Gillies Interference 03:44 2:00 NYI Gord Lane Slashing 09:03 2:00 PHI Paul Holmgren Slashing 09:03 2:00 PHI Andre Dupont Holding 10:40 2:00 PHI Brian Propp Slashing 15:24 2:00 2nd NYI Stefan Persson Interference 09:26 2:00 3rd PHI Jack McIlhargey Hooking 01:43 2:00 NYI Bob Lorimer Hooking 02:36 2:00 PHI Bob Kelly Interference 10:03 2:00 NYI Ken Morrow Slashing 12:03 2:00 NYI Ken Morrow Unsportsmanlike conduct 12:03 2:00 PHI Ken Linseman High-sticking 13:00 2:00 NYI Garry Howatt Fighting – major 19:52 5:00 NYI Billy Smith Slashing – major 19:52 5:00 PHI Bench (served by Brian Propp) Delay of game 19:52 2:00 PHI Mel Bridgman Elbowing 19:52 2:00 PHI Mel Bridgman Roughing 19:52 2:00 PHI Mel Bridgman Fighting – major 19:52 5:00 PHI Mel Bridgman Misconduct 19:52 10:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total 10 15 13 38 6 13 12 31
Game six
In game six, Bob Nystrom scored the Cup winner in overtime, his fourth career overtime goal, at the time putting him alone behind Maurice Richard's six on the all-time overtime goal-scoring list. Ken Morrow joined the Islanders after winning the Olympic gold medal with the United States and added the Stanley Cup to cap a remarkable season.
The deciding game six was marred by one of the most infamous blown official calls in NHL playoff history. With the game tied 1–1, the Islanders Butch Goring picked up a drop pass from New York left wing Clark Gillies which had clearly gone back over the Flyers' defensive zone blue line into center ice. Linesman Leon Stickle waved the play as on-side, and Goring threaded a pass to right wing Duane Sutter who beat Philadelphia goalie Pete Peeters for a 2–1 New York lead. The Flyers argued vehemently to no avail. Everyone on both sides except Goring and Sutter appeared to relax as if play had been blown dead once the puck went over the blue line. Flyers captain Mel Bridgman stated the play changed the momentum of the game at a critical time even though the Flyers scored shortly afterwards to tie the score 2–2. Stickle admitted after the game that he had blown the call. Ultimately, it was the Flyers lack of discipline and the resulting Islander power play goals that were the difference in the series.
Bryan Trottier was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP, recording 29 points in 21 games.