One dynasty ended and another one began in the 1979-80 NHL season. The Montreal Canadiens saw their run of four straight Stanley Cup come to an end. The 1980 New York Islanders were the team that stepped into the void and not only won the Cup, but began their own string of four consecutive championships. […]
It was a year of change in the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens’ dynasty ended. The postseason expanded to 16 teams and allowed the Edmonton Oilers, with their 18-year-old star Wayne Gretzky to get in the playoffs. And the New York Islanders won their first Stanley Cup
This is part of a series of sports history articles aimed at preserving the best moments of the modern sports era, from 1976 to the present. The focus is team sports—college & pro basketball and football, major league baseball and hockey. This article offers a snapshot of 1980 sports, a year that dynasties end in the NHL & college football, Magic Johnson electrify the NBA as a rookie and the Philadelphia Phillies complete a memorable ride to a World Series title.