1980–81 Colorado Rockies season

The 1980–81 Colorado Rockies season was the Rockies' fifth season, and seventh season of the franchise. Bill MacMillan was hired to coach the team, replacing Don Cherry. Like five of the previous six seasons, the Rockies did not qualify for the playoffs.

1980–81 Colorado Rockies
Division	5th Smythe
Conference	10th Campbell
1980–81 record	22–45–13
Home record	15–16–9
Road record	7–29–4
Goals for	258
Goals against	344
Team information
General manager	Ray Miron
Coach	Bill MacMillan
Captain	Rene Robert (Oct.–Jan.) Lanny McDonald (Jan.–Apr.)
Alternate captains	None
Arena	McNichols Sports Arena
Average attendance	8,889
Team leaders
Goals	Lanny McDonald (35)
Assists	Lanny McDonald (46)
Points	Lanny McDonald (81)
Penalty minutes	Rob Ramage (193)
Wins	Al Smith (9)
Goals against average	Phil Myre (3.44)
← 1979–80 1981–82 →

Regular season

Final standings

Smythe Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
St. Louis Blues	80	45	18	17	352	281	107
Chicago Black Hawks	80	31	33	16	304	315	78
Vancouver Canucks	80	28	32	20	289	301	76
Edmonton Oilers	80	29	35	16	328	327	74
Colorado Rockies	80	22	45	13	258	344	57
Winnipeg Jets	80	9	57	14	246	400	32

^[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.

League standings^[2]

R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – New York Islanders	PTK	80	48	18	14	355	260	110
2	x – St. Louis Blues	SMY	80	45	18	17	352	281	107
3	y – Montreal Canadiens	NRS	80	45	22	13	332	232	103
4	Los Angeles Kings	NRS	80	43	24	13	337	290	99
5	x – Buffalo Sabres	ADM	80	39	20	21	327	250	99
6	Philadelphia Flyers	PTK	80	41	24	15	313	249	97
7	Calgary Flames	PTK	80	39	27	14	329	298	92
8	Boston Bruins	ADM	80	37	30	13	316	272	87
9	Minnesota North Stars	ADM	80	35	28	17	291	263	87
10	Chicago Black Hawks	SMY	80	31	33	16	304	315	78
11	Quebec Nordiques	ADM	80	30	32	18	314	318	78
12	Vancouver Canucks	SMY	80	28	32	20	289	301	76
13	New York Rangers	PTK	80	30	36	14	312	317	74
14	Edmonton Oilers	SMY	80	29	35	16	328	327	74
15	Pittsburgh Penguins	NRS	80	30	37	13	302	345	73
16	Toronto Maple Leafs	ADM	80	28	37	15	322	367	71
17	Washington Capitals	PTK	80	26	36	18	286	317	70
18	Hartford Whalers	NRS	80	21	41	18	292	372	60
19	Colorado Rockies	SMY	80	22	45	13	258	344	57
20	Detroit Red Wings	NRS	80	19	43	18	252	339	56
21	Winnipeg Jets	SMY	80	9	57	14	246	400	32

Divisions: ADM – Adams, NRS – Norris, PTK – Patrick, SMY – Smythe

bold – The top 16 teams in the league qualified for the playoffs, regardless of division or conference.
x – Won division; y – Won Conference (and division); p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and conference and division)

Record vs. opponents

Smythe Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Smythe Division 1980–81 NHL records[3] Team CHI COL EDM STL VAN WIN Total Chicago — 2−2 1−3 1−2−1 2−2 3−1 9−10−1 Colorado 2−2 — 3−0−1 1−3 0−2−2 1−2−1 7−9−4 Edmonton 3−1 0−3−1 — 1−2−1 2−2 4−0 10−8−2 St. Louis 2−1−1 3−1 2−1−1 — 4−0 2−0−2 13−3−4 Vancouver 2−2 2−0−2 2−2 0−4 — 2−0−2 8−8−4 Winnipeg 1−3 2−1−1 0−4 0−2−2 0−2−2 — 3−12−5 Vs. Patrick Division 1980–81 NHL records Team CGY NYI NYR PHI WSH Total Chicago 1−0−3 0−4 1−2−1 1−1−2 1−1−2 4−8−8 Colorado 3−1 1−3 3−1 0−4 0−3−1 7−12−1 Edmonton 1−2−1 0−2−2 1−2−1 2−2 1−2−1 5−10−5 St. Louis 2−2 0−2−2 4−0 0−3−1 2−0−2 8−7−5 Vancouver 1−3 1−3 1−2−1 2−1−1 1−1−2 6−10−4 Winnipeg 0−3−1 0−3−1 1−3 1−3 0−3−1 2−15−3 Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Adams Division 1980–81 NHL records Team BOS BUF MIN QUE TOR Total Chicago 1−3 2−2 2−2 3−0−1 1−2−1 9−9−2 Colorado 1−2−1 0−3−1 1−2−1 2−2 1−1−2 5−10−5 Edmonton 1−3 1−1−2 1−2−1 1−3 2−1−1 6−10−4 St. Louis 3−1 3−0−1 1−2−1 2−1−1 3−1 12−5−3 Vancouver 2−2 1−1−2 1−2−1 1−1−2 3−0−1 8−6−6 Winnipeg 0−2−2 0−4 0−4 1−1−2 2−2 3−13−4 Vs. Norris Division 1980–81 NHL records Team DET HFD LAK MTL PIT Total Chicago 1−1−2 3−0−1 0−2−2 2−2 3−1 9−6−5 Colorado 1−2−1 1−2−1 0−3−1 0−4 1−3 3−14−3 Edmonton 2−1−1 2−1−1 0−2−2 2−2 2−1−1 8−7−5 St. Louis 4−0 3−0−1 2−0−2 1−1−2 2−2 12−3−5 Vancouver 2−1−1 1−1−2 0−4 0−2−2 3−0−1 6−8−6 Winnipeg 0−3−1 0−3−1 0−4 1−3 0−4 1−17−2

Schedule and results

1980–81 regular season[4]
October: 4–4–2 (home: 3–1–2; road: 1–3–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 1 October 11 Calgary 2–6 Colorado Smith 7,564 1–0–0 2 2 October 12 Colorado 3–2 Edmonton Smith 17,500 2–0–0 4 3 October 14 Quebec 1–4 Colorado Smith 4,627 3–0–0 6 4 October 17 Minnesota 5–5 Colorado Smith 10,202 3–0–1 7 5 October 18 Colorado 3–4 Los Angeles Smith 8,776 3–1–1 7 6 October 22 Colorado 0–3 Hartford Smith 9,595 3–2–1 7 7 October 23 Colorado 1–5 Detroit Åström 9,024 3–3–1 7 8 October 25 Chicago 3–5 Colorado Smith 11,672 4–3–1 9 9 October 28 Los Angeles 8–4 Colorado Smith 6,284 4–4–1 9 10 October 30 Washington 5–5 Colorado Åström 5,207 4–4–2 10
November: 5–6–2 (home: 2–2–2; road: 3–4–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 11 November 1 Colorado 5–4 Toronto Smith 5–4–2 12 12 November 2 Colorado 5–4 Quebec Smith 6–4–2 14 13 November 5 Colorado 3–5 Buffalo Smith 6–5–2 14 14 November 6 Hartford 3–3 Colorado Åström 6–5–3 15 15 November 8 Toronto 3–3 Colorado Smith 6–5–4 16 16 November 11 Montreal 8–2 Colorado Smith 6–6–4 16 17 November 14 St. Louis 1–5 Colorado Åström 7–6–4 18 18 November 16 Colorado 4–3 Calgary Smith 8–6–4 20 19 November 20 Colorado 2–4 Boston Smith 8–7–4 20 20 November 22 Colorado 2–4 Pittsburgh Åström 8–8–4 20 21 November 25 Edmonton 3–4 Colorado Smith 9–8–4 22 22 November 28 Philadelphia 7–4 Colorado Smith 9–9–4 22 23 November 30 Colorado 1–4 Buffalo Åström 9–10–4 22
December: 4–9–2 (home: 2–1–2; road: 2–8–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 24 December 2 Colorado 1–5 N.Y. Islanders Smith 9–11–4 22 25 December 4 N.Y. Islanders 3–4 Colorado Åström 10–11–4 24 26 December 6 Colorado 6–8 Washington Smith 10–12–4 24 27 December 7 Colorado 2–4 Philadelphia Åström 10–13–5 25 28 December 9 Buffalo 4–4 Colorado Åström 10–13–5 25 29 December 12 N.Y. Rangers 4–3 Colorado Åström 10–14–5 25 30 December 13 Colorado 4–9 St. Louis Smith 10–15–5 25 31 December 17 Colorado 6–1 Chicago Åström 11–15–5 27 32 December 18 Colorado 0–2 Philadelphia Åström 11–16–5 27 33 December 20 Detroit 3–3 Colorado Åström 11–16–6 28 34 December 23 Colorado 4–5 Winnipeg Smith 11–17–6 28 35 December 26 Calgary 2–5 Colorado Åström 12–17–6 30 36 December 27 Colorado 4–6 Minnesota Smith 12–18–6 30 37 December 30 Colorado 3–9 N.Y. Islanders Åström 12–19–6 30 38 December 31 Colorado 6–4 N.Y. Rangers Kaarela 13–18–6 32
January: 3–8–2 (home: 3–4–1; road: 0–4–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 39 January 3 Boston 1–4 Colorado Kaarela 14–19–6 34 40 January 6 Vancouver 7–3 Colorado Kaarela 14–20–6 34 41 January 7 Colorado 2–6 Chicago Åström 14–21–6 34 42 January 9 Minnesota 2–4 Colorado Åström 15–21–6 36 43 January 12 Washington 2–1 Colorado Åström 15–22–6 36 44 January 13 Colorado 3–3 Vancouver Smith 15–22–7 37 45 January 15 N.Y. Rangers 3–4 Colorado Åström 16–22–7 39 46 January 17 Vancouver 5–2 Colorado Smith 16–23–7 39 47 January 23 Winnipeg 2–2 Colorado Åström 16–23–8 40 48 January 24 Colorado 2–6 Detroit Smith 16–24–8 40 49 January 26 Colorado 3–5 Boston Åström 16–25–8 40 50 January 28 Colorado 3–6 Hartford Smith 16–26–8 40 51 January 30 Philadelphia 7–4 Colorado Åström 16–27–8 40
February: 2–8–2 (home: 2–3–2; road: 0–5–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 52 February 3 Montreal 5–2 Colorado Åström 16–28–8 40 53 February 6 Pittsburgh 4–6 Colorado Smith 17–28–8 42 54 February 8 Toronto 6–6 Colorado Åström 17–28–9 43 33rd All-Star Game in Inglewood, CA 55 February 12 Boston 3–3 Colorado Smith 17–28–10 44 56 February 14 Chicago 4–3 Colorado Smith 17–29–10 44 57 February 17 Quebec 6–3 Colorado Smith 17–30–10 44 58 February 18 Colorado 2–6 Minnesota Åström 17–31–10 44 59 February 21 Colorado 1–4 St. Louis Smith 17–32–10 44 60 February 22 Colorado 4–9 Pittsburgh Smith 17–33–10 44 61 February 25 Colorado 5–9 Toronto Kaarela 17–34–10 44 62 February 26 Colorado 0–6 Montreal Åström 17–35–10 44 63 February 28 Edmonton 1–3 Colorado Myre 18–35–10 46
March: 4–9–1 (home: 3–5–0; road: 1–4–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 64 March 3 Hartford 4–5 Colorado Myre 19–35–10 48 65 March 6 Los Angeles 3–1 Colorado Myre 19–36–10 48 66 March 8 St. Louis 7–0 Colorado Myre 19–37–10 48 67 March 10 Colorado 3–4 Washington Myre 19–38–10 48 68 March 11 Colorado 4–3 N.Y. Rangers Resch 20–38–10 50 69 March 14 Colorado 1–2 Montreal Resch 20–39–10 50 70 March 15 Colorado 0–3 Quebec Myre 20–40–10 50 71 March 18 Colorado 3–4 Winnipeg Resch 20–41–10 50 72 March 20 N.Y. Islanders 5–3 Colorado Resch 20–42–10 50 73 March 21 Pittsburgh 3–1 Colorado Myre 20–43–10 50 74 March 24 Detroit 4–7 Colorado Resch 21–43–10 52 75 March 25 Colorado 4–4 Vancouver Myre 21–43–11 53 76 March 27 Buffalo 5–3 Colorado Resch 21–44–11 53 77 March 29 Winnipeg 1–2 Colorado Myre 22–44–11 55
April: 0–1–2 (home: 0–0–0; road: 0–1–2) Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 78 April 1 Colorado 4–4 Edmonton Resch 22–44–12 56 79 April 2 Colorado 5–3 Calgary Myre 22–45–12 56 80 April 4 Colorado 5–5 Los Angeles Resch 22–45–13 57
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Lanny McDonald	RW	80	35	46	81	56	-27	11	0	2
Merlin Malinowski	C	69	25	37	62	61	-24	4	0	1
Rob Ramage	D	79	20	42	62	193	-46	12	1	3
Mike McEwen	D	65	11	35	46	84	-33	5	0	1
Lucien DeBlois	C	74	26	16	42	78	-42	9	1	2
Paul Gagne	LW	61	25	16	41	12	-24	9	0	2
Walt McKechnie	C	53	15	23	38	18	-7	2	2	2
Yvon Vautour	RW	74	15	19	34	143	-20	3	0	0
Joel Quenneville	D	71	10	24	34	86	-24	3	0	1
Randy Pierce	RW	55	9	21	30	52	-28	3	0	3
Ron Delorme	C	65	11	16	27	70	-11	3	0	0
Rene Robert	RW	28	8	11	19	30	-13	4	0	0
Mike Gillis	LW	51	11	7	18	54	-21	1	0	2
Steve Tambellini	C	13	6	12	18	2	-1	2	0	1
Ed Cooper	LW	47	7	7	14	46	-6	1	0	2
Craig Norwich	D	11	3	11	14	10	4	1	0	0
Doug Berry	C	46	3	10	13	9	-15	0	1	0
Jack Valiquette	C	25	3	9	12	7	-12	0	0	0
Barry Smith	C	62	4	4	8	4	-2	0	0	0
Mike Kitchen	D	75	1	7	8	100	-38	0	0	0
Jack Hughes	D	38	2	5	7	91	-22	1	0	0
Trevor Johansen	D	35	0	7	7	18	-20	0	0	0
Bob Miller	C	22	5	1	6	15	-19	2	0	0
Bobby Crawford	RW	15	1	3	4	6	4	0	0	0
Bobby Sheehan	C	41	1	3	4	10	-5	0	0	0
Bob Attwell	RW	15	0	4	4	0	1	0	0	0
Les Auge	D	6	0	3	3	4	-3	0	0	0
Bill Baker	D	13	0	3	3	12	0	0	0	0
Gary Dillon	C	13	1	1	2	29	-6	0	0	0
Mario Giallonardo	D	15	0	2	2	4	1	0	0	0
Terry Harper	D	15	0	2	2	8	-3	0	0	0
Al Smith	G	37	0	2	2	51	0	0	0	0
Hardy Astrom	G	30	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0
Peter Sturgeon	LW	4	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0
Dave Watson	LW	13	0	1	1	8	-2	0	0	0
Aaron Broten	LW/C	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mike Christie	D	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Jari Kaarela	G	5	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
Phil Myre	G	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Chico Resch	G	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dean Turner	D	4	0	0	0	4	-4	0	0	0
Joe Ward	C	4	0	0	0	2	-2	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
Al Smith	1909	37	9	18	4	151	4.75	0
Hardy Astrom	1642	30	6	15	6	103	3.76	0
Phil Myre	580	10	3	6	1	33	3.41	0
Jari Kaarela	220	5	2	2	0	22	6.00	0
Chico Resch	449	8	2	4	2	28	3.74	0
Team:	4800	80	22	45	13	337	4.21	0

^[5]

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;

Draft picks

Colorado's draft picks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	19	Paul Gagne	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OHA)
2	22	Joe Ward	Canada	Seattle Breakers (WHL)
4	64	Rick LaFerriere	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OMJHL)
5	85	Ed Cooper	Canada	Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
6	106	Aaron Broten	United States	University of Minnesota (WCHA)
7	127	Dan Fascinato	Canada	Ottawa 67's (OMJHL)
8	148	Andre Hidi	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OMJHL)
9	169	Shawn MacKenzie	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL)
10	190	Bob Jansch	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WHL)

See also

• 1980–81 NHL season