The Montreal Canadiens had the highest goal differential by a team in 1980-81, with a differential of 100 goals.

	TEAM	DIFF	SEASON	GP	W	L	T	PTS	PTS%	G	GA	PP%	PK%	S/GP	S%	SA/GP	SV%
1	Canadiens	100	1980-81	80	45	22	13	103	.644	332	232	24.1	81.7	33.86	12.3	26.44	.890
2	Islanders	95	1980-81	80	48	18	14	110	.688	355	260	29.3	79.3	30.21	14.7	30.23	.892
3	Sabres	77	1980-81	80	39	20	21	99	.619	327	250	23.9	83.2	31.00	13.2	27.94	.888
4	Blues	71	1980-81	80	45	18	17	107	.669	352	281	24.2	82.0	30.39	14.5	31.75	.889
5	Flyers	64	1980-81	80	41	24	15	97	.606	313	249	27.0	80.2	33.09	11.8	28.99	.893
6	Kings	47	1980-81	80	43	24	13	99	.619	337	290	24.6	77.4	27.85	15.1	30.68	.882
7	Bruins	44	1980-81	80	37	30	13	87	.544	316	272	25.4	76.8	29.00	13.6	24.84	.863
8	Flames	31	1980-81	80	39	27	14	92	.575	329	298	27.1	80.6	27.13	15.2	33.16	.888
9	North Stars	28	1980-81	80	35	28	17	87	.544	291	263	21.6	78.9	32.23	11.3	29.88	.890
10	Oilers	1	1980-81	80	29	35	16	74	.463	328	327	22.2	75.4	29.84	13.7	29.51	.861
11	Nordiques	-4	1980-81	80	30	32	18	78	.488	314	318	23.8	76.3	28.63	13.7	30.31	.869
12	Rangers	-5	1980-81	80	30	36	14	74	.463	312	317	17.8	78.7	30.74	12.7	27.78	.857
13	Black Hawks	-11	1980-81	80	31	33	16	78	.488	304	315	22.3	75.1	32.06	11.9	33.84	.884
14	Canucks	-12	1980-81	80	28	32	20	76	.475	289	301	20.6	76.0	31.08	11.6	30.09	.875
15	Capitals	-31	1980-81	80	26	36	18	70	.438	286	317	18.8	73.9	29.31	12.2	31.61	.875
16	Penguins	-43	1980-81	80	30	37	13	73	.456	302	345	23.1	73.4	32.59	11.6	30.65	.859
17	Maple Leafs	-45	1980-81	80	28	37	15	71	.444	322	367	25.3	77.4	34.31	11.7	33.55	.863
18	Whalers	-80	1980-81	80	21	41	18	60	.375	292	372	18.7	75.6	28.75	12.7	35.39	.869
19	Rockies	-86	1980-81	80	22	45	13	57	.356	258	344	21.1	75.3	29.59	10.9	29.30	.853
20	Red Wings	-87	1980-81	80	19	43	18	56	.350	252	339	19.0	74.1	30.85	10.2	29.95	.859
21	Jets	-154	1980-81	80	9	57	14	32	.200	246	400	17.3	74.2	28.28	10.9	34.90	.857