1979–80 Atlanta Flames season

1979–80 Atlanta Flames
Division 4th Patrick
1979–80 record 35–32–13
Goals for 282
Goals against 269
Team information
General Manager Cliff Fletcher
Coach Al MacNeil
Captain Jean Pronovost
Alternate captains None
Arena Omni Coliseum
Average attendance 10,016 (66.1%)
Team leaders
Goals Kent Nilsson (40)
Assists Kent Nilsson (53)
Points Kent Nilsson (98)
Penalties in minutes Willi Plett (231)
Wins Dan Bouchard (23)
Goals against average Dan Bouchard (3.18)
<1978–79

1980–81 >

The 1979–80 Atlanta Flames season was the eighth and final season in Atlanta for the franchise. The franchise was bought and moved to Calgary, Alberta to become the Calgary Flames.

Offseason

  • Al MacNeil left his position as head coach of the Canadiens farm club, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, to become head coach of the Atlanta Flames.[1]
  • Boom Boom Geoffrion left his position as a broadcaster with the Flames to become the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens.[2]

Regular season

Final standings

Patrick Division
  GP W L T GF GA Pts
Philadelphia Flyers 80 48 12 20 327 254 116
New York Islanders 80 39 28 13 281 247 91
New York Rangers 80 38 32 10 308 284 86
Atlanta Flames 80 35 32 13 282 269 83
Washington Capitals 80 27 40 13 261 293 67

[3]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.

Schedule and results

No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1WOctober 10, 19795–3 @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) 1–0–0
2LOctober 11, 19791–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) 1–1–0
3WOctober 13, 19799–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) 2–1–0
4LOctober 16, 19791–5 @ New York Islanders (1979–80) 2–2–0
5LOctober 18, 19792–6 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) 2–3–0
6TOctober 20, 19792–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) 2–3–1
7LOctober 23, 19793–5 Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) 2–4–1
8WOctober 26, 19797–3 Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) 3–4–1
9WOctober 27, 19793–0 @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) 4–4–1
10WOctober 30, 19793–1 Colorado Rockies (1979–80) 5–4–1
11TNovember 2, 19794–4 Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) 5–4–2
12TNovember 3, 19793–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) 5–4–3
13WNovember 6, 19798–0 Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) 6–4–3
14WNovember 9, 19795–2 New York Islanders (1979–80) 7–4–3
15LNovember 11, 19793–6 @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) 7–5–3
16LNovember 13, 19793–5 Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) 7–6–3
17LNovember 15, 19791–5 @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) 7–7–3
18WNovember 16, 19794–2 New York Rangers (1979–80) 8–7–3
19WNovember 18, 19794–2 @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) 9–7–3
20WNovember 21, 19794–1 Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) 10–7–3
21WNovember 23, 19794–1 Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) 11–7–3
22LNovember 25, 19792–4 @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) 11–8–3
23LNovember 27, 19793–5 Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) 11–9–3
24LDecember 4, 19792–6 Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) 11–10–3
25LDecember 5, 19791–6 @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) 11–11–3
26LDecember 7, 19791–4 @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) 11–12–3
27WDecember 9, 19795–4 @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) 12–12–3
28TDecember 12, 19795–5 @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) 12–12–4
29WDecember 14, 19793–2 Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) 13–12–4
30LDecember 15, 19791–8 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) 13–13–4
31LDecember 21, 19791–5 St. Louis Blues (1979–80) 13–14–4
32WDecember 22, 19797–3 @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) 14–14–4
33LDecember 26, 19793–5 Boston Bruins (1979–80) 14–15–4
34LDecember 28, 19792–4 Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) 14–16–4
35LDecember 29, 19792–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) 14–17–4
36LJanuary 4, 19803–6 Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) 14–18–4
37TJanuary 6, 19805–5 @ New York Rangers (1979–80) 14–18–5
38WJanuary 8, 19802–0 Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) 15–18–5
39WJanuary 11, 19804–3 Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) 16–18–5
40LJanuary 12, 19803–5 @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) 16–19–5
41LJanuary 14, 19802–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) 16–20–5
42WJanuary 16, 19805–3 @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) 17–20–5
43WJanuary 17, 19804–1 @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) 18–20–5
44WJanuary 19, 19804–2 @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) 19–20–5
45TJanuary 21, 19803–3 Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) 19–20–6
46LJanuary 22, 19802–4 Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) 19–21–6
47TJanuary 25, 19804–4 Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) 19–21–7
48WJanuary 26, 19804–3 @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) 20–21–7
49LJanuary 28, 19801–6 @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) 20–22–7
50WJanuary 30, 19804–1 @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) 21–22–7
51WFebruary 1, 19804–2 Washington Capitals (1979–80) 22–22–7
52WFebruary 2, 19805–3 Hartford Whalers (1979–80) 23–22–7
53WFebruary 8, 19804–2 @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) 24–22–7
54WFebruary 10, 19806–1 @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) 25–22–7
55TFebruary 13, 19802–2 @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) 25–22–8
56TFebruary 16, 19802–2 @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) 25–22–9
57LFebruary 17, 19802–3 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) 25–23–9
58TFebruary 19, 19804–4 Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) 25–23–10
59WFebruary 21, 19803–0 Washington Capitals (1979–80) 26–23–10
60LFebruary 23, 19805–6 Hartford Whalers (1979–80) 26–24–10
61TFebruary 26, 19803–3 Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) 26–24–11
62WMarch 1, 19804–1 Colorado Rockies (1979–80) 27–24–11
63WMarch 5, 19803–1 @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) 28–24–11
64WMarch 7, 19809–3 @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) 29–24–11
65WMarch 9, 19805–2 @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) 30–24–11
66LMarch 10, 19802–5 Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) 30–25–11
67TMarch 13, 19802–2 Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) 30–25–12
68WMarch 15, 19804–3 Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) 31–25–12
69WMarch 17, 19805–1 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) 32–25–12
70LMarch 18, 19803–6 @ New York Islanders (1979–80) 32–26–12
71WMarch 20, 19808–4 St. Louis Blues (1979–80) 33–26–12
72LMarch 22, 19802–5 Boston Bruins (1979–80) 33–27–12
73LMarch 23, 19802–4 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) 33–28–12
74LMarch 25, 19804–5 Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) 33–29–12
75WMarch 28, 19804–2 New York Rangers (1979–80) 34–29–12
76LMarch 30, 19802–4 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) 34–30–12
77LApril 1, 19802–5 Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) 34–31–12
78WApril 2, 19807–3 @ New York Rangers (1979–80) 35–31–12
79LApril 4, 19803–7 New York Islanders (1979–80) 35–32–12
80TApril 5, 19804–4 @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) 35–32–13

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 80 40 53 98 10 4 0 0 0 2
Guy Chouinard 16 76 31 46 77 22 4 1 3 4 4
Bob MacMillan 11 77 22 39 61 10 4 0 0 0 9
Ken Houston 6 80 23 31 54 100 4 1 1 2 10
Eric Vail 27 77 28 25 53 22 4 3 1 4 2
Paul Reinhart 23 79 9 38 47 31 - - - - -
Jean Pronovost 9 80 24 19 43 31 4 0 0 0 2
Ivan Boldirev‡ 12 52 16 24 40 20 - - - - -
Phil Russell 3 80 5 31 36 115 4 0 1 1 6
Garry Unger 17/7 79 5 25 30 39 4 0 3 3 2
Willi Plett 25 76 13 19 32 231 4 1 0 1 15
Don Lever† 12 28 14 16 30 4 4 1 1 2 0
Pekka Rautakallio 4 79 5 25 30 18 4 0 1 1 2
Bill Clement 10 64 7 14 21 32 4 0 0 0 4
Bob Murdoch 20 80 5 16 21 48 4 1 1 2 2
Darcy Rota‡ 18 44 10 8 18 49 - - - - -
Paul Henderson 15/19 30 7 6 13 6 4 0 0 0 0
Brad Marsh 5 80 2 9 11 119 4 0 1 1 2
Dave Shand 8 74 3 7 10 104 4 0 1 1 0
Curt Bennett 2 21 1 3 4 0 - - - - -
Bobby Lalonde‡ 7 3 0 1 1 2 - - - - -
Dan Bouchard 30 53 0 1 1 34 4 0 0 0 2
Bobby Gould 22 1 0 0 0 0 - - - - -
Earl Ingarfield 21 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 0
Gord Wappel 24 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 4
Reggie Lemelin 1 3 0 0 0 0 - - - - -
Rick Adduono 17 3 0 0 0 2 - - - - -
Dave Gorman 15 3 0 0 0 0 - - - - -
Serge Beaudoin 24 3 0 0 0 0 - - - - -
Jim Craig 1 4 0 0 0 0 - - - - -
Brad Smith 24 4 0 0 0 4 - - - - -
Pat Riggin 31 25 0 0 0 0 - - - - -

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Atlanta. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
‡Traded mid-season.

Goaltending

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
Dan Bouchard 30 53 3076 23 19 10 163 2 3.18 4 240 1 3 14 0 3.49
Pat Riggin 31 25 1368 11 9 2 73 0 3.20 - - - - - - -.--
Jim Craig 1 4 206 1 2 1 13 0 3.79 - - - - - - -.--
Reggie Lemelin 1 3 150 0 2 0 15 0 6.00 - - - - - - -.--

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1979–80 season.

Trades

May 24, 1979 To Atlanta Flames
Curt Bennett		 To St. Louis Blues
Bobby Simpson
October 10, 1979 To Atlanta Flames
Garry Unger		 To St. Louis Blues
Ed Kea
Red Laurence
2nd round pick in 1981 (Hakan Nordin)
October 23, 1979 To Atlanta Flames
Future considerations		 To Boston Bruins
Bobby Lalonde
February 8, 1980 To Atlanta Flames
Don Lever
Brad Smith		 To Vancouver Canucks
Ivan Boldirev
Darcy Rota

Free agents

Player Former team
D Pekka Rautakallio Assat Pori (SM-liiga)
D Serge Beaudoin Birmingham Bulls (WHA)
RW Dave Gorman Birmingham Bulls (WHA)
LW Paul Henderson Birmingham Bulls (WHA)
C Rick Adduono Birmingham Bulls (WHA)
LW Earl Ingarfield Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)
Player New team
G Yves Belanger Boston Bruins

Expansion draft

Player Selected by
LW John Gould Edmonton Oilers
D Rick Hodgson Hartford Whalers
C Gene Carr Winnipeg Jets
This sports-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team
1 12. Paul Reinhart (D)  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHA)
2 23. Mike Perovich (D)  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
2 33. Pat Riggin (G)  Canada London Knights (OHA)
3 54. Tim Hunter (RW)  Canada Seattle Breakers (WHL)
4 75. Jim Peplinski (RW)  Canada Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
5 96. Brad Kempthorne (F)  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
6 117. Glenn Johnson (C)  Canada University of Denver (NCAA)

References

  1. ↑ The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D’Arcy Jenish, p.236, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
  2. ↑ The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D’Arcy Jenish, p.237, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
  3. ↑ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.