Photo Credit: Sports List of the Day

By Zane Miller

On Saturday, May 24th, 1980, the New York Islanders defeated the Philadelphia Flyers at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York to win the 67th Stanley Cup Finals four games to two. It was the first Stanley Cup championship for the Islanders franchise, and the fourth that was won in New York. These are the top five players that I felt most stood out during the series.

5. #19 Rick MacLeish (Flyers)- F

Photo Credit: Atlantic City Press

MacLeish scored player of the game in game five, earning two goals as the Flyers took the 6-3 win.

4. #17 Paul Holmgren (Flyers)- F

Photo Credit: NHL Auctions

Holmgren earned player of the game honors in game two, as he scored a hat trick with three goals in the Flyers’ 8-3 victory.

3. #9 Clark Gillies (Islanders)- F

Photo Credit: NHL Auctions

Gillies got player of the game in game four, as he earned a goal and two assists as the Islanders went on to win it 5-2.

2. #23 Bobby Nystrom (Islanders)- F

Photo Credit: NHL Auctions

Nystrom earned player of the game honors in game six, picking up a pair of goals as the Islanders won 5-4 in overtime to take home the Stanley Cup.

1. #5 Denis Potvin (Islanders)- D

Photo Credit: Charmy - Wikipedia

Potvin grabbed player of the game in games one and three, as he scored two goals and one assist in the Islanders’ 4-3 overtime win, followed in game three with two goals and two assists as the Islanders claimed a 6-2 victory.

Players of the Game Breakdown:

Link to stats database: https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1980-new-york-islanders-vs-philadelphia-flyers-stanley-cup-final.html

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