The 1985–86 Minnesota North Stars season was the North Stars' 19th season.
Coached by Lorne Henning, the team compiled a record of 38–33–9 for 85 points, to finish the regular season 2nd in the Norris Division.[1][2][3][4] In the playoffs they lost the division semi-finals 3–2 to the St. Louis Blues.
Offseason
Regular season
Final standings
[5]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.
Record vs. opponents
Norris Division record vs. opponents
|
Vs. Campbell Conference
|
Vs. Norris Division
| 1985–86 NHL records[6]
|
| Team
|
CHI
|
DET
|
MIN
|
STL
|
TOR
|
Total
|
| Chicago
|
— |
6−2 |
3−3−2 |
5−3 |
2−6 |
16−14−2
|
| Detroit
|
2−6 |
— |
1−6−1 |
2−5−1 |
3−4−1 |
8−21−3
|
|
|
3−3−2 |
6−1−1 |
— |
4−3−1 |
7−0−1 |
20−7−5
|
| St. Louis
|
3−5 |
5−2−1 |
3−4−1 |
— |
3−3−2 |
14−14−4
|
| Toronto
|
6−2 |
4−3−1 |
0−7−1 |
3−3−2 |
— |
13−15−4
|
|
Vs. Smythe Division
| 1985–86 NHL records
|
| Team
|
CGY
|
EDM
|
LAK
|
VAN
|
WIN
|
Total
|
| Chicago
|
2−1 |
0−3 |
1−0−2 |
3−0 |
2−1 |
8−5−2
|
| Detroit
|
0−2−1 |
0−3 |
2−1 |
0−3 |
0−3 |
2−12−1
|
|
|
2−0−1 |
1−2 |
1−2 |
1−2 |
1−2 |
6−8−1
|
| St. Louis
|
2−1 |
1−1−1 |
1−1−1 |
3−0 |
2−1 |
9−4−2
|
| Toronto
|
1−2 |
1−2 |
1−2 |
0−2−1 |
1−1−1 |
4−9−2
|
|
Vs. Wales Conference
|
Vs. Adams Division
| 1985–86 NHL records
|
| Team
|
BOS
|
BUF
|
HFD
|
MTL
|
QUE
|
Total
|
| Chicago
|
2−1 |
2−1 |
2−1 |
0−2−1 |
1−2 |
7−7−1
|
| Detroit
|
1−2 |
1−1−1 |
1−2 |
0−3 |
1−2 |
4−10−1
|
|
|
0−3 |
1−2 |
2−1 |
1−1−1 |
1−2 |
5−9−1
|
| St. Louis
|
2−1 |
1−2 |
1−1−1 |
2−1 |
2−1 |
8−6−1
|
| Toronto
|
0−2−1 |
2−1 |
0−3 |
1−2 |
0−3 |
3−11−1
|
|
Vs. Patrick Division
| 1985–86 NHL records
|
| Team
|
NJD
|
NYI
|
NYR
|
PHI
|
PIT
|
WSH
|
Total
|
| Chicago
|
1−2 |
2−0−1 |
3−0 |
0−2−1 |
1−1−1 |
1−2 |
8−7−3
|
| Detroit
|
0−2−1 |
0−3 |
0−3 |
1−2 |
1−2 |
1−2 |
3−14−1
|
|
|
2−1 |
2−0−1 |
2−1 |
0−2−1 |
0−3 |
1−2 |
7−9−2
|
| St. Louis
|
2−1 |
1−1−1 |
1−1−1 |
1−2 |
1−2 |
0−3 |
6−10−2
|
| Toronto
|
2−1 |
0−3 |
1−2 |
1−2 |
0−3 |
1−2 |
5−13−0
|
|
|
Schedule and results
| 1985–86 regular season[7]
|
| Game |
Result |
Date |
Score |
Opponent |
Record
|
| 1 |
T |
October 10, 1985 |
6–6 OT |
@ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) |
0–0–1
|
| 2 |
L |
October 12, 1985 |
2–6 |
Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) |
0–1–1
|
| 3 |
L |
October 15, 1985 |
2–3 |
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) |
0–2–1
|
| 4 |
W |
October 17, 1985 |
10–1 |
Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) |
1–2–1
|
| 5 |
L |
October 19, 1985 |
3–7 |
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) |
1–3–1
|
| 6 |
W |
October 22, 1985 |
5–4 |
St. Louis Blues (1985–86) |
2–3–1
|
| 7 |
T |
October 23, 1985 |
4–4 OT |
@ St. Louis Blues (1985–86) |
2–3–2
|
| 8 |
W |
October 26, 1985 |
7–5 |
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) |
3–3–2
|
| 9 |
L |
October 27, 1985 |
2–3 |
@ Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) |
3–4–2
|
| 10 |
L |
October 30, 1985 |
5–6 |
Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) |
3–5–2
|
|
| Game |
Result |
Date |
Score |
Opponent |
Record
|
| 11 |
L |
November 2, 1985 |
1–3 |
Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) |
3–6–2
|
| 12 |
T |
November 6, 1985 |
3–3 OT |
Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) |
3–6–3
|
| 13 |
W |
November 9, 1985 |
4–3 OT |
New York Rangers (1985–86) |
4–6–3
|
| 14 |
L |
November 10, 1985 |
1–2 |
@ Boston Bruins (1985–86) |
4–7–3
|
| 15 |
L |
November 13, 1985 |
2–5 |
@ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) |
4–8–3
|
| 16 |
L |
November 16, 1985 |
2–4 |
Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) |
4–9–3
|
| 17 |
T |
November 17, 1985 |
5–5 OT |
@ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) |
4–9–4
|
| 18 |
T |
November 19, 1985 |
3–3 OT |
@ Calgary Flames (1985–86) |
4–9–5
|
| 19 |
L |
November 21, 1985 |
2–4 |
St. Louis Blues (1985–86) |
4–10–5
|
| 20 |
W |
November 23, 1985 |
4–2 |
Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) |
5–10–5
|
| 21 |
W |
November 25, 1985 |
4–3 |
@ Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) |
6–10–5
|
| 22 |
T |
November 27, 1985 |
4–4 OT |
New York Islanders (1985–86) |
6–10–6
|
| 23 |
L |
November 29, 1985 |
1–4 |
Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) |
6–11–6
|
| 24 |
L |
November 30, 1985 |
3–4 |
@ St. Louis Blues (1985–86) |
6–12–6
|
|
| Game |
Result |
Date |
Score |
Opponent |
Record
|
| 25 |
W |
December 3, 1985 |
9–2 |
Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) |
7–12–6
|
| 26 |
L |
December 7, 1985 |
4–8 |
@ Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) |
7–13–6
|
| 27 |
L |
December 9, 1985 |
4–6 |
New Jersey Devils (1985–86) |
7–14–6
|
| 28 |
W |
December 11, 1985 |
10–2 |
@ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) |
8–14–6
|
| 29 |
T |
December 14, 1985 |
6–6 OT |
Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) |
8–14–7
|
| 30 |
W |
December 17, 1985 |
6–3 |
Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) |
9–14–7
|
| 31 |
L |
December 19, 1985 |
3–4 OT |
Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) |
9–15–7
|
| 32 |
L |
December 21, 1985 |
2–5 |
@ Boston Bruins (1985–86) |
9–16–7
|
| 33 |
W |
December 22, 1985 |
8–3 |
@ New Jersey Devils (1985–86) |
10–16–7
|
| 34 |
W |
December 26, 1985 |
6–5 |
@ Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) |
11–16–7
|
| 35 |
W |
December 28, 1985 |
3–1 |
New York Rangers (1985–86) |
12–16–7
|
| 36 |
W |
December 31, 1985 |
6–3 |
Calgary Flames (1985–86) |
13–16–7
|
|
| Game |
Result |
Date |
Score |
Opponent |
Record
|
| 37 |
W |
January 2, 1986 |
3–2 |
Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) |
14–16–7
|
| 38 |
L |
January 5, 1986 |
2–6 |
@ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) |
14–17–7
|
| 39 |
W |
January 7, 1986 |
3–2 |
@ New York Islanders (1985–86) |
15–17–7
|
| 40 |
L |
January 10, 1986 |
3–4 |
Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) |
15–18–7
|
| 41 |
W |
January 11, 1986 |
5–3 |
Washington Capitals (1985–86) |
16–18–7
|
| 42 |
T |
January 14, 1986 |
3–3 OT |
Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) |
16–18–8
|
| 43 |
W |
January 16, 1986 |
4–3 |
St. Louis Blues (1985–86) |
17–18–8
|
| 44 |
W |
January 18, 1986 |
5–2 |
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) |
18–18–8
|
| 45 |
L |
January 19, 1986 |
2–3 |
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) |
18–19–8
|
| 46 |
L |
January 21, 1986 |
5–7 |
@ Washington Capitals (1985–86) |
18–20–8
|
| 47 |
L |
January 23, 1986 |
2–5 |
Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) |
18–21–8
|
| 48 |
L |
January 25, 1986 |
3–6 |
Washington Capitals (1985–86) |
18–22–8
|
| 49 |
W |
January 27, 1986 |
6–2 |
New Jersey Devils (1985–86) |
19–22–8
|
| 50 |
L |
January 29, 1986 |
3–4 |
@ Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) |
19–23–8
|
| 51 |
L |
January 31, 1986 |
5–10 |
@ Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) |
19–24–8
|
|
| Game |
Result |
Date |
Score |
Opponent |
Record
|
| 52 |
W |
February 6, 1986 |
8–7 OT |
Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) |
20–24–8
|
| 53 |
T |
February 8, 1986 |
3–3 OT |
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) |
20–24–9
|
| 54 |
W |
February 10, 1986 |
4–3 OT |
@ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) |
21–24–9
|
| 55 |
W |
February 11, 1986 |
4–2 |
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) |
22–24–9
|
| 56 |
L |
February 13, 1986 |
3–5 |
@ St. Louis Blues (1985–86) |
22–25–9
|
| 57 |
W |
February 15, 1986 |
4–1 |
Hartford Whalers (1985–86) |
23–25–9
|
| 58 |
L |
February 16, 1986 |
3–5 |
Boston Bruins (1985–86) |
23–26–9
|
| 59 |
W |
February 19, 1986 |
6–5 |
@ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) |
24–26–9
|
| 60 |
W |
February 21, 1986 |
5–2 |
Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) |
25–26–9
|
| 61 |
W |
February 23, 1986 |
4–3 |
Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) |
26–26–9
|
| 62 |
L |
February 24, 1986 |
1–5 |
@ New York Rangers (1985–86) |
26–27–9
|
| 63 |
W |
February 26, 1986 |
5–2 |
@ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) |
27–27–9
|
|
| Game |
Result |
Date |
Score |
Opponent |
Record
|
| 64 |
W |
March 1, 1986 |
5–4 |
New York Islanders (1985–86) |
28–27–9
|
| 65 |
W |
March 3, 1986 |
8–5 |
@ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) |
29–27–9
|
| 66 |
W |
March 5, 1986 |
5–3 |
Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) |
30–27–9
|
| 67 |
L |
March 8, 1986 |
2–4 |
Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) |
30–28–9
|
| 68 |
W |
March 11, 1986 |
4–0 |
Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) |
31–28–9
|
| 69 |
W |
March 13, 1986 |
3–2 |
@ St. Louis Blues (1985–86) |
32–28–9
|
| 70 |
L |
March 15, 1986 |
2–3 |
@ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) |
32–29–9
|
| 71 |
W |
March 17, 1986 |
6–5 OT |
St. Louis Blues (1985–86) |
33–29–9
|
| 72 |
W |
March 19, 1986 |
6–5 |
@ Calgary Flames (1985–86) |
34–29–9
|
| 73 |
L |
March 21, 1986 |
4–5 OT |
@ Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) |
34–30–9
|
| 74 |
L |
March 22, 1986 |
2–6 |
@ Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) |
34–31–9
|
| 75 |
L |
March 24, 1986 |
0–1 |
Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) |
34–32–9
|
| 76 |
W |
March 26, 1986 |
6–1 |
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) |
35–32–9
|
| 77 |
W |
March 29, 1986 |
5–4 |
@ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) |
36–32–9
|
|
|
|
|
Legend:
Win (2 points)
Loss (0 points)
Tie (1 point)
|
Playoffs
Player statistics
Awards and records
Transactions
Draft picks
Minnesota's draft picks at the 1985 NHL entry draft held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
| Round
|
#
|
Player
|
Nationality
|
College/Junior/Club team (League)
|
| 3 |
51 |
Stephane Roy |
Canada |
Granby Bisons (QMJHL)
|
| 4 |
69 |
Mike Berger |
Canada |
Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)
|
| 5 |
90 |
Dwight Mullins |
Canada |
Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)
|
| 6 |
111 |
Mike Mullowney |
United States |
Deerfield Academy (USHS-MA)
|
| 7 |
132 |
Mike Kelfer |
United States |
St. John's School (USHS-MA)
|
| 8 |
153 |
Ross Johnson |
Canada |
Rochester Mayo High School (USHS-MA)
|
| 9 |
174 |
Tim Helmer |
Canada |
Ottawa 67's (OHL)
|
| 10 |
195 |
Gordie Ernst |
United States |
Cranston East High School (USHS-RI)
|
| 11 |
216 |
Ladislav Lubina |
Czechoslovakia |
LTC Pardubice (Czechoslovakia)
|
| 12 |
237 |
Tommy Sjödin |
Sweden |
Timra IK (Sweden)
|
See also
References
- ^ "Willi Plett scored two goals Saturday night to lift... – UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ Hafner, Dan (April 6, 1986). "NHL Roundup : Liut Tends to Business; Hartford Makes Playoffs, 7-1". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "Stanley Cup Playoff Notebook – UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ Harris, Lisa (April 16, 1986). "Stanley Cup Playoff Roundup". UPI. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
- ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ "1985-86 Minnesota North Stars Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2025.