The 1980–81 Calgary Flames season was the first season in Calgary and ninth for the Flames in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flames moved to southern Alberta from Atlanta, where the franchise was known as the Atlanta Flames for the first eight years of its existence. The Flames became the third major-league team to represent the city of Calgary after the Calgary Tigers of the 1920s, and the Calgary Cowboys, which had folded in 1977.
The Flames were purchased for $16 million USD by Nelson Skalbania in the spring of 1980. Before the sale was even announced, he had already sold 50% of the franchise to a group of Calgary-based investors including Harley Hotchkiss and Normie Kwong. In May 1980, it was announced that the franchise was moving to Calgary.Zeman, p. 92. While the Cowboys could not manage 2,000 season tickets three years previous, the Flames sold 10,000 full and half-season ticket packages in 1980, selling out the Stampede Corral for every game played there.Zeman, p. 94.
Despite the move west, the Flames remained in the East-coast-centered Patrick Division. For practical purposes however, the anomaly was academic. At the time, the league played a balanced schedule and used a league-wide playoff format. This arrangement would only last one more season before the league re-aligned to reflect its geography.
Calgary's first NHL game was played October 9, ending as a 5–5 tie to the Quebec Nordiques. The Flames finished third in their division and qualified for the playoffs. The franchise, which had won just two playoff games in Atlanta, won two playoff series in their first year in Calgary. After sweeping the Chicago Black Hawks, Calgary then downed the Philadelphia Flyers in seven games before falling to the Minnesota North Stars in the league semi-final.
Kent Nilsson led the Flames in scoring, and his 82 assists and 131 points remain franchise records to this day. Nilsson was also the Flames lone representative at the 1981 All-Star Game.All-Star Selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 22.
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 9 || Quebec || 5 – 5 || Calgary || OT || 0–0–1 || 1 || 7,243
| 2 || October 11 || Calgary || 2 – 6 || Colorado || || 0–1–1 || 1 || 7,564
| 3 || October 12 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Chicago || OT || 0–1–2 || 2 || 10,923
| 4 || October 14 || Los Angeles || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || 1–1–2 || 4 || 7,126
| 5 || October 16 || Boston || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || 2–1–2 || 6 || 7,229
| 6 || October 18 || Minnesota || 2 – 6 || Calgary || || 3–1–2 || 8 || 7,139
| 7 || October 22 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Edmonton || || 3–2–2 || 8 || 17,396
| 8 || October 23 || Toronto || 5 – 4 || Calgary || || 3–3–2 || 8 || 7,243
| 9 || October 25 || Calgary || 8 – 2 || Pittsburgh || || 4–3–2 || 10 || 9,363
| 10 || October 28 || Calgary || 0 – 8 || Philadelphia || || 4–4–2 || 10 || 17,077
| 11 || October 30 || Calgary || 3 – 1 || Boston || || 5–4–2 || 12 || 8,774
| 12 || November 1 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || St. Louis || || 6–4–2 || 14 || 12,559
| 13 || November 2 || Calgary || 3 – 8 || Minnesota || || 6–5–2 || 14 || 11,531
| 14 || November 5 || Calgary || 5 – 5 || Winnipeg || OT || 6–5–3 || 15 || 10,500
| 15 || November 8 || St. Louis || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || 7–5–3 || 17 || 7,243
| 16 || November 11 || NY Rangers || 3 – 7 || Calgary || || 8–5–3 || 19 || 7,243
| 17 || November 13 || Chicago || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 8–5–4 || 20 || 7,243
| 18 || November 16 || Colorado || 4 – 3 || Calgary || || 8–6–4 || 20 || 7,243
| 19 || November 20 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Washington || || 8–7–4 || 20 || 8,721
| 20 || November 22 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Quebec || OT || 8–7–5 || 21 || 10,185
| 21 || November 25 || Calgary || 5 – 4 || Montreal || || 9–7–5 || 23 || 16,020
| 22 || November 27 || Calgary || 3 – 6 || Buffalo || || 9–8–5 || 23 || 16,433
| 23 || November 29 || Calgary || 3 – 9 || St. Louis || || 9–9–5 || 23 || 15,541
| 24 || November 30 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || Winnipeg || || 10–9–5 || 25 || 12,867
| 25 || December 4 || Winnipeg || 3 – 1 || Calgary || || 11–9–5 || 27 || 7,077
| 26 || December 6 || Hartford || 5 – 3 || Calgary || || 11–10–5 || 27 || 7,083
| 27 || December 8 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || Los Angeles || || 12–10–5 || 29 || 7,673
| 28 || December 11 || Buffalo || 4 – 8 || Calgary || || 13–10–5 || 31 || 7,226
| 29 || December 13 || NY Islanders || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 13–10–6 || 32 || 7,243
| 30 || December 18 || Montreal || 4 – 0 || Calgary || || 13–11–6 || 32 || 7,243
| 31 || December 20 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || 13–11–7 || 33 || 7,123
| 32 || December 22 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || NY Rangers || || 14–11–7 || 35 || 17,418
| 33 || December 23 || Calgary || 2 – 2|| NY Islanders || OT || 14–11–8 || 36 || 14,950
| 34 || December 26 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Colorado || || 14–12–8 || 36 || 11,849
| 35 || December 27 || Philadelphia || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || 15–12–8 || 38 || 7,243
| 36 || December 30 || Edmonton || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || 16–12–8 || 40 || 7,243
| 37 || January 2 || Los Angeles || 6 – 7 || Calgary || || 17–12–8 || 42 || 7,243
| 38 || January 4 || Toronto || 5 – 8 || Calgary || || 18–12–8 || 44 || 7,243
| 39 || January 5 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Los Angeles || || 18–13–8 || 44 || 8,256
| 40 || January 8 || Washington || 0 – 6 || Calgary || || 19–13–8 || 46 || 7,243
| 41 || January 10 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Detroit || || 19–14–8 || 46 || 16,014
| 42 || January 11 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Chicago || || 19–15–8 || 46 || 8,667
| 43 || January 13 || NY Rangers || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 19–15–9 || 47 || 7,226
| 44 || January 15 || Detroit || 0 – 10 || Calgary || || 20–15–9 || 49 || 7,226
| 45 || January 17 || Winnipeg || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || 21–15–9 || 51 || 7,243
| 46 || January 19 || Calgary || 3 – 6 || NY Rangers || || 21–16–9 || 51 || 17,415
| 47 || January 20 || Calgary || 0 – 5 || NY Islanders || || 21–17–9 || 51 || 15,008
| 48 || January 23 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || Hartford || || 22–17–9 || 53 || 10,206
| 49 || January 24 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Pittsburgh || || 22–18–9 || 53 || 9,360
| 50 || January 26 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || || 22–19–9 || 53 || 11,971
| 51 || January 29 || Montreal || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 22–19–10 || 54 || 7,243
| 52 || January 31 || Chicago || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || 22–19–11 || 55 || 7,223
| 53 || February 1 || Calgary || 2 – 6 || Vancouver || || 22–20–11 || 55 || 15,716
| 54 || February 5 || Washington || 5 – 2 || Calgary || || 23–20–11 || 57 || 7,226
| 55 || February 7 || Pittsburgh || 4 – 5 || Calgary || || 24–20–11 || 59 || 7,222
| 56 || February 8 || Calgary || 10 – 4 || Edmonton || || 25–20–11 || 61 || 17,490
| 57 || February 12 || Quebec || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || 26–20–11 || 63 || 7,225
| 58 || February 14 || Buffalo || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 26–20–12 || 64 || 7,226
| 59 || February 17 || St. Louis || 5 – 2 || Calgary || || 26–21–12 || 64 || 7,226
| 60 || February 19 || Philadelphia || 4 – 5 || Calgary || || 27–21–12 || 66 || 7,225
| 61 || February 21 || Boston || 2 – 7 || Calgary || || 28–21–12 || 68 || 7,226
| 62 || February 22 || Calgary || 5 – 3 || Vancouver || || 29–21–12 || 70 || 13,456
| 63 || February 25 || NY Islanders || 4 – 11 || Calgary || || 30–21–12 || 72 || 7,226
| 64 || February 27 || Hartford || 1 – 5 || Calgary || || 31–21–12 || 74 || 7,226
| 65 || March 3 || Calgary || 6 – 3 || Washington || || 32–21–12 || 76 || 8,164
| 66 || March 4 || Calgary || 0 – 4 || Buffalo || || 32–22–12 || 76 || 16,298
| 67 || March 7 || Calgary || 6 – 4 || Toronto || || 32–22–12 || 78 || 16,485
| 68 || March 8 || Calgary || 5 – 4 || Hartford || || 33–22–12 || 80 || 10,171
| 69 || March 10 || Vancouver || 2 – 11 || Calgary || || 35–22–12 || 82 || 7,226
| 70 || March 12 || Minnesota || 3 – 6 || Calgary || || 36–22–12 || 84 || 7,226
| 71 || March 15 || Edmonton || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || 36–22–13 || 85 || 7,226
| 72 || March 19 || Calgary || 6 – 3 || Detroit || || 37–22–13 || 87 || 12,117
| 73 || March 21 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Boston || || 37–23–13 || 87 || 11,452
| 74 || March 22 || Calgary || 2 – 6 || Philadelphia || || 37–24–13 || 87 || 17,077
| 75 || March 25 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Quebec || || 37–25–13 || 87 || 14,970
| 76 || March 26 || Calgary || 2 – 8 || Montreal || || 37–26–13 || 87 || 16,464
| 77 || March 28 || Calgary || 5 – 9 || Toronto || || 37–27–13 || 87 || 16,485
| 78 || March 31 || Detroit || 5 – 5 || Calgary || OT || 37–27–14 || 88 || 7,226
| 79 || April 2 || Colorado || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || 38–27–14 || 90 || 7,226
| 80 || April 4 || Vancouver || 5 – 6 || Calgary || || 39–27–14 || 92 || 7,226
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 8 || Chicago || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || Calgary leads 1–0 || 7,226
| 2 || April 9 || Chicago || 2 – 6 || Calgary || || Calgary leads 2–0 || 7,226
| 3 || April 11 || Calgary || 5 – 4 || Chicago || 2OT || Calgary wins 3–0 || 12,482
| 1 || April 16 || Calgary || 0 – 4 || Philadelphia || || Philadelphia leads 1–0 || 17,077
| 2 || April 17 || Calgary || 5 – 4 || Philadelphia || || Series tied 1–1 || 17,077
| 3 || April 19 || Philadelphia || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Calgary leads 2–1 || 7,226
| 4 || April 20 || Philadelphia || 4 – 5 || Calgary || || Calgary leads 3–1 || 7,226
| 5 || April 22 || Calgary || 4 – 9 || Philadelphia || || Calgary leads 3–2 || 17,077
| 6 || April 24 || Philadelphia || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Series tied 3–3 || 7,226
| 7 || April 26 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || Philadelphia || || Calgary wins 4–3 || 17,077
| 1 || April 28 || Minnesota || 4 – 1 || Calgary || || Minnesota leads 1–0 || 7,226
| 2 || April 30 || Minnesota || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || Series tied 1–1 || 7,226
| 3 || May 3 || Calgary || 4 – 6 || Minnesota || || Minnesota leads 2–1 || 15,784
| 4 || May 5 || Calgary || 4 – 7 || Minnesota || || Minnesota leads 3–1 || 15,784
| 5 || May 7 || Minnesota || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Minnesota leads 3–2 || 7,226
| 6 || May 9 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Minnesota || || Minnesota wins 4–2 || 15,784
Legend:
Player statistics
Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Regular season Playoffs Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM Kent Nilsson 14 8049821312616314174 Guy Chouinard 16 523152832416314174 Willi Plett 25 7838306823915841289 Paul Reinhart 23 7418496752161141516 Eric Vail 27 642836642360000 Bob MacMillan 11 77283563471686147 Don Lever 12 622631575616471120 Pekka Rautakallio 4 7611455664162466 Jim Peplinski 24 801325381081623511 Kevin LaVallee 15 771520351682354 Bill Clement 10 7812203233162136 Ken Houston 6 421515309316781530 Phil Russell 5 80623291041627929 Bob Murdoch 20 7431922541614536 Dan Labraaten† 21 2797161351014 Jamie Hislop† 17 29691511163035 Brad Marsh 22 801121387160558 Bert Wilson 8 5057129410000 Brad Smith 18 45741165 – – – – – Alex McKendry 26 3636919 – – – – – Earl Ingarfield‡ 21 162356 – – – – – Denis Cyr 9 101450 – – – – – Randy Holt 7 480551651322452 Dan Bouchard‡ 30 140446 – – – – – Dave Hindmarch 18 1101060002 Greg Meredith 29 31010 – – – – – Mike Dwyer 29 4011411010 Gord Wappel 2 70114 – – – – – Rejean Lemelin 1 29011260000 Pat Riggin 31 420117110000 Tony Curtale 3 20000 – – – – – Bobby Gould 19 30000113144 Steve Konroyd 3 40004 – – – – –
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only. ‡Traded mid-season. Bold denotes franchise record.
Goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average Regular season Playoffs Player # GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA GP TOI W L GA SO GAA Rejean Lemelin 129162914678823.246366332203.61 Pat Riggin 314224112116415403.8311629633703.53 Dan Bouchard 30147604535104.06 – – – – – – –.--
Transactions The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1980–81 season.
Trades