Prelims
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Stanley Cup
Pairings were re-seeded after the first and second rounds.
The 1981 Hartford Whalers, coached by Don Blackburn (15-29-16) and Larry Pleau (6-12-2), missed the playoffs after finishing the NHL regular season in 4th place in the Wales Conference Norris Division with a 21-41-18 record.