1979–80 Boston Bruins season

The 1979–80 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 56th season. In the first round of the NHL Draft, the Bruins drafted defenseman Ray Bourque. The Bruins had two coaches during the season, Fred Creighton had a record of 40 wins, 20 losses and 13 ties, while Harry Sinden had 6 wins and 1 loss. The Bruins lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champions for the second season in a row, this time it was the New York Islanders in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The last remaining active member of the 1979–80 Boston Bruins was defenseman Ray Bourque, who retired after the 2000–01 season, right after winning the Stanley Cup as a member of the Colorado Avalanche.

Offseason Don Cherry was fired after the 1978–79 season. Fred Creighton, former coach of the Atlanta Flames was brought in to coach the Bruins.

Regular season General Manager Harry Sinden fired Coach Creighton with 15 days to go in the regular season despite the Bruins' winning record with Creighton. Sinden, who had coached before, took over coaching duties as well.

Divisional standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

| 1 ||W || October 11, 1979|| 4–0|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1979–80)|| 1–0–0

| 2 ||W || October 13, 1979|| 5–2|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1979–80)|| 2–0–0

| 3 ||L || October 14, 1979|| 1–4|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80)|| 2–1–0

| 4 ||W || October 18, 1979|| 3–2|| align="left"| New York Islanders (1979–80)|| 3–1–0

| 5 ||W || October 20, 1979|| 5–4|| align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1979–80)|| 4–1–0

| 6 ||T || October 23, 1979|| 5–5|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80)|| 4–1–1

| 7 ||L || October 26, 1979|| 2–3|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80)|| 4–2–1

| 8 ||W || October 28, 1979|| 4–1|| align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80)|| 5–2–1

| 9 ||T || October 30, 1979|| 4–4|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80)|| 5–2–2

| 10 ||T || November 2, 1979|| 3–3|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80)|| 5–2–3

| 11 ||W || November 4, 1979|| 2–1|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80)|| 6–2–3

| 12 ||W || November 8, 1979|| 4–2|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1979–80)|| 7–2–3

| 13 ||W || November 10, 1979|| 6–1|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80)|| 8–2–3

| 14 ||W || November 11, 1979|| 6–3|| align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1979–80)|| 9–2–3

| 15 ||W || November 15, 1979|| 3–2|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (1979–80)|| 10–2–3

| 16 ||W || November 17, 1979|| 2–0|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80)|| 11–2–3

| 17 ||W || November 18, 1979|| 5–4|| align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1979–80)|| 12–2–3

| 18 ||W || November 20, 1979|| 5–3|| align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80)|| 13–2–3

| 19 ||W || November 22, 1979|| 7–4|| align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1979–80)|| 14–2–3

| 20 ||L || November 24, 1979|| 1–3|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80)|| 14–3–3

| 21 ||W || November 25, 1979|| 4–2|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1979–80)|| 15–3–3

| 22 ||L || November 27, 1979|| 2–5|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1979–80)|| 15–4–3

| 23 ||L || December 1, 1979|| 3–6|| align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80)|| 15–5–3

| 24 ||L || December 2, 1979|| 3–5|| align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1979–80)|| 15–6–3

| 25 ||T || December 4, 1979|| 2–2|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80)|| 15–6–4

| 26 ||L || December 6, 1979|| 3–4|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1979–80)|| 15–7–4

| 27 ||W || December 9, 1979|| 5–3|| align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1979–80)|| 16–7–4

| 28 ||T || December 13, 1979|| 6–6|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1979–80)|| 16–7–5

| 29 ||L || December 15, 1979|| 1–2|| align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80)|| 16–8–5

| 30 ||W || December 16, 1979|| 5–1|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80)|| 17–8–5

| 31 ||W || December 20, 1979|| 10–0|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80)|| 18–8–5

| 32 ||L || December 22, 1979|| 2–5|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80)|| 18–9–5

| 33 ||W || December 23, 1979|| 4–3|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1979–80)|| 19–9–5

| 34 ||W || December 26, 1979|| 5–3|| align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80)|| 20–9–5

| 35 ||L || December 30, 1979|| 3–5|| align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80)|| 20–10–5

| 36 ||L || January 2, 1980|| 1–2|| align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80)|| 20–11–5

| 37 ||W || January 4, 1980|| 2–1|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80)|| 21–11–5

| 38 ||T || January 8, 1980|| 2–2|| align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80)|| 21–11–6

| 39 ||L || January 10, 1980|| 4–7|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1979–80)|| 21–12–6

| 40 ||W || January 12, 1980|| 5–3|| align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1979–80)|| 22–12–6

| 41 ||W || January 13, 1980|| 6–2|| align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1979–80)|| 23–12–6

| 42 ||W || January 16, 1980|| 3–1|| align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80)|| 24–12–6

| 43 ||W || January 17, 1980|| 7–1|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1979–80)|| 25–12–6

| 44 ||W || January 19, 1980|| 6–3|| align="left"| New York Rangers (1979–80)|| 26–12–6

| 45 ||W || January 21, 1980|| 3–0|| align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1979–80)|| 27–12–6

| 46 ||W || January 24, 1980|| 4–3|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1979–80)|| 28–12–6

| 47 ||W || January 26, 1980|| 6–4|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80)|| 29–12–6

| 48 ||L || January 27, 1980|| 3–5|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80)|| 29–13–6

| 49 ||L || January 30, 1980|| 2–8|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80)|| 29–14–6

| 50 ||W || January 31, 1980|| 4–2|| align="left"| New York Islanders (1979–80)|| 30–14–6

| 51 ||W || February 2, 1980|| 7–2|| align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1979–80)|| 31–14–6

| 52 ||T || February 3, 1980|| 3–3|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80)|| 31–14–7

| 53 ||W || February 7, 1980|| 8–6|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80)|| 32–14–7

| 54 ||W || February 9, 1980|| 5–2|| align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80)|| 33–14–7

| 55 ||L || February 10, 1980|| 2–3|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1979–80)|| 33–15–7

| 56 ||T || February 14, 1980|| 3–3|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80)|| 33–15–8

| 57 ||W || February 16, 1980|| 5–3|| align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80)|| 34–15–8

| 58 ||L || February 20, 1980|| 0–3|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80)|| 34–16–8

| 59 ||T || February 23, 1980|| 4–4|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80)|| 34–16–9

| 60 ||W || February 24, 1980|| 4–2|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80)|| 35–16–9

| 61 ||W || February 27, 1980|| 6–3|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80)|| 36–16–9

| 62 ||L || February 28, 1980|| 2–5|| align="left"| New York Rangers (1979–80)|| 36–17–9

| 63 ||W || March 1, 1980|| 4–0|| align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1979–80)|| 37–17–9

| 64 ||L || March 2, 1980|| 1–2|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1979–80)|| 37–18–9

| 65 ||W || March 5, 1980|| 5–3|| align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80)|| 38–18–9

| 66 ||W || March 8, 1980|| 5–3|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1979–80)|| 39–18–9

| 67 ||T || March 9, 1980|| 1–1|| align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1979–80)|| 39–18–10

| 68 ||L || March 12, 1980|| 4–6|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1979–80)|| 39–19–10

| 69 ||W || March 13, 1980|| 4–2|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1979–80)|| 40–19–10

| 70 ||T || March 15, 1980|| 2–2|| align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1979–80)|| 40–19–11

| 71 ||T || March 16, 1980|| 3–3|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (1979–80)|| 40–19–12

| 72 ||T || March 18, 1980|| 3–3|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80)|| 40–19–13

| 73 ||L || March 19, 1980|| 4–7|| align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80)|| 40–20–13

| 74 ||W || March 22, 1980|| 5–2|| align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80)|| 41–20–13

| 75 ||W || March 23, 1980|| 7–2|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80)|| 42–20–13

| 76 ||W || March 27, 1980|| 7–1|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1979–80)|| 43–20–13

| 77 ||W || March 30, 1980|| 3–1|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1979–80)|| 44–20–13

| 78 ||W || April 2, 1980|| 5–2|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80)|| 45–20–13

| 79 ||L || April 5, 1980|| 1–6|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80)|| 45–21–13

| 80 ||W || April 6, 1980|| 4–2|| align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1979–80)|| 46–21–13

Legend:

Playoffs Lost quarter-finals (4–1) to New York Islanders Won Preliminary round (3–2) over Pittsburgh Penguins

Player statistics

Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG RW 80 40 52 92 2431904 C 74 40 38 78 10241109 C 67 28 45 73 8111401 D 80 17 48 65 7352321 RW 71 19 42 61 26517305 D 76 14 33 47 3937605 C 80 16 25 41 539012 LW 79 21 19 40 20820003 LW 77 23 16 39 17020102 RW 57 10 28 38 4223112 C 71 10 25 35 2814120 LW 44 11 21 32 19-3312 C 46 11 17 28 816002 D 78 8 18 26 6222002 D 72 10 13 23 597100 D 32 5 16 21 2711202 LW 69 9 11 20 1107002 D 72 5 11 16 94-3101 LW 32 4 11 15 04011 RW 20 8 6 14 8-1400 D 52 0 5 5 4514000 RW 17 1 3 4 160000 G 33 0 1 1 100000 G 1 0 0 0 00000 G 8 0 0 0 00000 G 42 0 0 0 620000 RW 1 0 0 0 00000 D 3 0 0 0 2-4000 G 1 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO 2479 42 24 11 7 116 2.81 4 1933 33 20 9 3 88 2.73 1 328 8 2 0 3 19 3.48 0 40 1 0 0 0 2 3.00 0 20 1 0 1 0 5 15.00 0 Team: 4800 80 46 21 13 230 2.87 5

Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG C 10 8 6 14 2301 D 10 2 9 11 27000 RW 10 3 6 9 69201 D 10 3 6 9 4000 RW 9 3 5 8 2011 RW 10 4 2 6 5000 LW 10 3 3 6 32100 C 10 3 2 5 4010 C 10 2 3 5 7000 LW 10 2 3 5 4001 D 10 0 3 3 9000 LW 10 0 3 3 65000 D 10 1 1 2 28000 D 6 1 1 2 2000 D 10 0 2 2 50000 C 4 0 1 1 2000 G 10 0 0 0 0000 D 4 0 0 0 0000 LW 9 0 0 0 29000 C 3 0 0 0 0000 LW 4 0 0 0 5000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO 619 10 4 6 32 3.10 0 Team: 619 10 4 6 32 3.10 0

Awards and records Ray Bourque, Calder Memorial Trophy Winner

Draft picks Boston's picks at the 1980 NHL entry draft were as follows: Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)1 8 Ray Bourque Defense Verdun Éperviers (QMJHL)1 15 Brad McCrimmon Defense Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)236Doug MorrisonRight wingLethbridge Broncos (WHL)357Keith CrowderRight wingPeterborough Petes (OMJHL)478Larry MelnykDefenseNew Westminster Bruins (WHL)599Marco BaronGoaltenderMontreal Juniors (QMJHL)6120Mike KrushelnyskiCenterMontreal Juniors (QMJHL)

See also 1979–80 NHL season

References Bruins on Database Hockey Bruins on Hockey Database Bruins on Hockey Reference