New York Islanders vs New York Rangers
Playoffs · Saturday, May 2, 1981 · Madison Square Garden
Game summary
The New York Islanders beat the New York Rangers 5–1 on Saturday, May 2, 1981 at Madison Square Garden. The Islanders outshot the Rangers 31–25.
Goals came from Mike Bossy, Bob Bourne, Ken Morrow, Bobby Nystrom, Peter Wallin and Wayne Merrick.
Billy Smith made 24 saves on 25 shots for the win; Steve Baker stopped 26 of 31.
Scoring
1st period
Mike Bossy (11)Clark Gillies (6), Denis Potvin (13)1–014:36 NYI · 
Bob Bourne (3)Mike McEwen (7), Bryan Trottier (12)2–018:33 NYI ·
2nd period
Ken Morrow (2)Bobby Nystrom (2)3–015:31 NYI
Bobby Nystrom (4)Wayne Merrick (6)4–019:55 NYI
3rd period
Peter Wallin (2)Tom Laidlaw (4)4–105:13 NYR
Wayne Merrick (3)John Tonelli (3), Bobby Nystrom (3)5–114:54 NYI
Team stats
NYINYR
3125
0%0%
2/60/5
1012
00
00
00
00
Penalties
- 4:54 into the first period
Ron Duguay · tripping2 min - 9:57 into the first period
Clark Gillies · holding2 min - 13:51 into the first periodNick Fotiu · elbowing2 min
- 15:03 into the first periodJohn Tonelli · tripping2 min
- 15:16 into the first periodRon Duguay · tripping2 min
- 4:44 into the second periodWayne Merrick · hooking2 min
- 7:47 into the second periodNick Fotiu · roughing2 min
- 9:37 into the second periodButch Goring · hooking2 min
- 11:21 into the second periodTom Laidlaw · roughing2 min
- 11:42 into the second periodMike Allison · hooking2 min
- 16:44 into the second periodDave Langevin · interference2 min
Season series
New York Islanders
| 23Bobby NystromR | 1 | 2 | 3 | +3 | 6 | – |
| 11Wayne MerrickC | 1 | 1 | 2 | +2 | 3 | – |
| 9Clark GilliesL | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 14Bob BourneC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | – |
| 19Bryan TrottierC | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | – |
| 22Mike BossyR | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | – |
| 27John TonelliL | 0 | 1 | 1 | +2 | 0 | – |
| 5Denis PotvinD | 0 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 1 | – |
| 6Ken MorrowD | 1 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 2 | – |
| 16Mike McEwenD | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | – |
| 12Duane SutterR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 25Billy CarrollC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | – |
| 28Anders KallurC | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | – |
| 91Butch GoringC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – |
| 4Bob LorimerD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – |
| 24Gord LaneD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – |
| 26Dave LangevinD | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 | – |
| Goalie | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Roland MelansonG | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 31Billy SmithG | W | 25 | 1 | .960 |
New York Rangers
| 25Peter WallinR | 1 | 0 | 1 | +1 | 3 | – |
| 2Tom LaidlawD | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 3 | – |
| 6Jere GillisL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – |
| 8Steve VickersL | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | – |
| 10Ron DuguayC | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 | – |
| 11Ulf NilssonC | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 1 | – |
| 12Don MaloneyL | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 1 | – |
| 14Mike AllisonR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – |
| 15Anders HedbergR | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 3 | – |
| 19Dean TalafousC | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 | – |
| 21Lance NetheryC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 22Nick FotiuL | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 | – |
| 3Barry BeckD | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 | – |
| 4Ron GreschnerD | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 3 | – |
| 5Carol VadnaisD | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 3 | – |
| 23Ed HospodarD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 24Chris KotsopoulosD | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | – |
| Goalie | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31Steve WeeksG | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 35Steve BakerG | L | 31 | 5 | .839 |