1979–80 Atlanta Flames season

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.

1979–80 Atlanta Flames
Division4th Patrick
ConferenceCampbell
1979–80 record35–32–13
Goals for282
Goals against269
Team information
General managerCliff Fletcher
CoachAl MacNeil
CaptainJean Pronovost
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaOmni Coliseum
Average attendance10,016 (66.1%)
Team leaders
GoalsKent Nilsson (40)
AssistsKent Nilsson (53)
PointsKent Nilsson (93)
Penalty minutesWilli Plett (231)
WinsDan Bouchard (23)
Goals against averageDan Bouchard (3.18)

Offseason

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Regular season

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Final standings

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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.

League standings[4]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 p – Philadelphia Flyers PTK 80 48 12 20 327 254 116
2 y – Buffalo Sabres ADM 80 47 17 16 318 201 110
3 x – Montreal Canadiens NRS 80 47 20 13 328 240 107
4 Boston Bruins ADM 80 46 21 13 310 234 105
5 New York Islanders PTK 80 39 28 13 281 247 91
6 Minnesota North Stars ADM 80 36 28 16 311 253 88
7 x – Chicago Black Hawks SMY 80 34 27 19 241 250 87
8 New York Rangers PTK 80 38 32 10 308 284 86
9 Atlanta Flames PTK 80 35 32 13 282 269 83
10 St. Louis Blues SMY 80 34 34 12 266 278 80
11 Toronto Maple Leafs ADM 80 35 40 5 304 327 75
12 Los Angeles Kings NRS 80 30 36 14 290 313 74
13 Pittsburgh Penguins NRS 80 30 37 13 251 303 73
14 Hartford Whalers NRS 80 27 34 19 303 312 73
15 Vancouver Canucks SMY 80 27 37 16 256 281 70
16 Edmonton Oilers SMY 80 28 39 13 301 322 69
17 Washington Capitals PTK 80 27 40 13 261 293 67
18 Detroit Red Wings NRS 80 26 43 11 268 306 63
19 Quebec Nordiques ADM 80 25 44 11 248 313 61
20 Winnipeg Jets SMY 80 20 49 11 214 314 51
21 Colorado Rockies SMY 80 19 48 13 234 308 51

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

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Patrick Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference

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Vs. Wales Conference


Schedule and results

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No. R Date Score Opponent Record Attendance
1 W October 10, 1979 5–3 @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) 1–0–0 10,350
2 L October 11, 1979 1–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) 1–1–0 16,106
3 W October 13, 1979 9–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) 2–1–0 13,358
4 L October 16, 1979 1–5 @ New York Islanders (1979–80) 2–2–0 13,914
5 L October 18, 1979 2–6 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) 2–3–0 17,077
6 T October 20, 1979 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) 2–3–1 12,934
7 L October 23, 1979 3–5 Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) 2–4–1 9,438
8 W October 26, 1979 7–3 Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) 3–4–1 8,420
9 W October 27, 1979 3–0 @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) 4–4–1 12,154
10 W October 30, 1979 3–1 Colorado Rockies (1979–80) 5–4–1 7,135
11 T November 2, 1979 4–4 Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) 5–4–2 11,356
12 T November 3, 1979 3–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) 5–4–3 8,543
13 W November 6, 1979 8–0 Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) 6–4–3 7,296
14 W November 9, 1979 5–2 New York Islanders (1979–80) 7–4–3 14,218
15 L November 11, 1979 3–6 @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) 7–5–3 13,239
16 L November 13, 1979 3–5 Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) 7–6–3 7,892
17 L November 15, 1979 1–5 @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) 7–7–3 16,433
18 W November 16, 1979 4–2 New York Rangers (1979–80) 8–7–3 12,919
19 W November 18, 1979 4–2 @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) 9–7–3 6,361
20 W November 21, 1979 4–1 Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) 10–7–3 8,346
21 W November 23, 1979 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) 11–7–3 13,081
22 L November 25, 1979 2–4 @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) 11–8–3 7,627
23 L November 27, 1979 3–5 Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) 11–9–3 8,394
24 L December 4, 1979 2–6 Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) 11–10–3 8,290
25 L December 5, 1979 1–6 @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) 11–11–3 16,433
26 L December 8, 1979 1–4 @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) 11–12–3 15,379
27 W December 9, 1979 5–4 @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) 12–12–3 12,579
28 T December 12, 1979 5–5 @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) 12–12–4 15,423
29 W December 14, 1979 3–2 Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) 13–12–4 8,544
30 L December 15, 1979 1–8 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) 13–13–4 16,485
31 L December 21, 1979 1–5 St. Louis Blues (1979–80) 13–14–4 8,397
32 W December 22, 1979 7–3 @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) 14–14–4 10,207
33 L December 26, 1979 3–5 Boston Bruins (1979–80) 14–15–4 11,700
34 L December 28, 1979 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) 14–16–4 9,133
35 L December 29, 1979 2–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) 14–17–4 10,416
36 L January 4, 1980 3–6 Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) 14–18–4 9,216
37 T January 6, 1980 5–5 @ New York Rangers (1979–80) 14–18–5 17,415
38 W January 8, 1980 2–0 Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) 15–18–5 6,138
39 W January 11, 1980 4–3 Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) 16–18–5 9,246
40 L January 12, 1980 3–5 @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) 16–19–5 13,376
41 L January 14, 1980 2–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) 16–20–5 16,493
42 W January 16, 1980 5–3 @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) 17–20–5 12,235
43 W January 17, 1980 4–1 @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) 18–20–5 7,511
44 W January 19, 1980 4–2 @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) 19–20–5 14,909
45 T January 21, 1980 3–3 Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) 19–20–6 9,203
46 L January 22, 1980 2–4 Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) 19–21–6 8,004
47 T January 25, 1980 4–4 Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) 19–21–7 11,924
48 W January 26, 1980 4–3 @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) 20–21–7 18,806
49 L January 28, 1980 1–6 @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) 20–22–7 7,627
50 W January 30, 1980 4–1 @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) 21–22–7 10,776
51 W February 1, 1980 4–2 Washington Capitals (1979–80) 22–22–7 9,166
52 W February 2, 1980 5–3 Hartford Whalers (1979–80) 23–22–7 11,040
53 W February 8, 1980 4–2 @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) 24–22–7 15,423
54 W February 10, 1980 6–1 @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) 25–22–7 9,864
55 T February 13, 1980 2–2 @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) 25–22–8 12,032
56 T February 16, 1980 2–2 @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) 25–22–9 15,162
57 L February 17, 1980 2–3 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) 25–23–9 14,835
58 T February 19, 1980 4–4 Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) 25–23–10 6,871
59 W February 21, 1980 3–0 Washington Capitals (1979–80) 26–23–10 6,218
60 L February 23, 1980 5–6 Hartford Whalers (1979–80) 26–24–10 9,868
61 T February 26, 1980 3–3 Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) 26–24–11 10,210
62 W March 1, 1980 4–1 Colorado Rockies (1979–80) 27–24–11 15,156
63 W March 5, 1980 3–1 @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) 28–24–11 9,628
64 W March 7, 1980 9–3 @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) 29–24–11 15,405
65 W March 9, 1980 5–2 @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) 30–24–11 12,412
66 L March 10, 1980 2–5 Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) 30–25–11 7,875
67 T March 13, 1980 2–2 Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) 30–25–12 9,253
68 W March 15, 1980 4–3 Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) 31–25–12 15,156
69 W March 17, 1980 5–1 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) 32–25–12 16,485
70 L March 18, 1980 3–6 @ New York Islanders (1979–80) 32–26–12 14,995
71 W March 20, 1980 8–4 St. Louis Blues (1979–80) 33–26–12 8,446
72 L March 22, 1980 2–5 Boston Bruins (1979–80) 33–27–12 13,474
73 L March 23, 1980 2–4 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) 33–28–12 15,927
74 L March 25, 1980 4–5 Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) 33–29–12 7,914
75 W March 28, 1980 4–2 New York Rangers (1979–80) 34–29–12 14,138
76 L March 30, 1980 2–4 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) 34–30–12 17,077
77 L April 1, 1980 2–5 Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) 34–31–12 9,126
78 W April 2, 1980 7–3 @ New York Rangers (1979–80) 35–31–12 17,415
79 L April 4, 1980 3–7 New York Islanders (1979–80) 35–32–12 12,168
80 T April 5, 1980 4–4 @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) 35–32–13 18,130

[6]

Player statistics

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Skaters

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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

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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

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

Trades

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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

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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

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Player Selected by
LW John Gould Edmonton Oilers
D Rick Hodgson Hartford Whalers
C Gene Carr Winnipeg Jets

Draft picks

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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

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  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.
  4. ^ "1979–80 NHL Standings". NHL.com. National Hockey League.
  5. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  6. ^ "1979-80 Atlanta Flames Results and Schedule". hockeydb.com. Retrieved November 23, 2022.