View source for 1985–86 Hartford Whalers season

{{short description|National Hockey League team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox ice hockey team season
| League = NHL
| Season = 1985–86
| year = 1985
| Team = Hartford Whalers
| Division = [[Adams Division|Adams]]
| DivisionRank = 4th
| Conference = [[Wales Conference|Wales]]
| ConferenceRank = 7th
| Record = 40–36–4
| HomeRecord = 21–17–2
| RoadRecord = 19–19–2
| GoalsFor = 332
| GoalsAgainst = 302
| GeneralManager = [[Emile Francis]]
| Coach = [[Jack Evans (ice hockey)|Jack Evans]]
| Captain = [[Ron Francis]]
| AltCaptain = 
| Arena = [[Hartford Civic Center]]
| Attendance = 12,769 (84.4%) <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=6045 |title=Hartford Whalers Yearly Attendance Graph |website=hockeydb.com}}</ref>
| MinorLeague = [[Binghamton Whalers]] ([[American Hockey League|AHL]]) <br /> [[Salt Lake Golden Eagles]] ([[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|IHL]])
| GoalsLeader = [[Sylvain Turgeon]] (45)
| AssistsLeader = [[Ron Francis]] (53)
| PointsLeader = [[Sylvain Turgeon]] (79)
| PlusMinusLeader = [[Joel Quenneville]] (+23)
| PIMLeader = [[Torrie Robertson]] (358)
| WinsLeader = [[Mike Liut]] (27)
| GAALeader = [[Mike Liut]] (3.61)
| DivisionWin = 
| PresidentsTrophy = 
| ConferenceWin = 
| StanleyCup = 
}}

The '''[[1985–86 NHL season|1985–86]] [[Hartford Whalers]] [[season (sports)|season]]''' saw the Whalers finish in fourth place in the [[Adams Division]] with a record of 40 wins, 36 losses, and 4 ties for 84 points. They beat the [[Quebec Nordiques]] in the Adams Division Semifinals in three games, for their first and only playoff series victory in franchise history. They lost the Adams Division Finals in seven games to the [[Montreal Canadiens]]. Because the Whalers made it to the Adams Division Finals, the 1985–86 season is considered by many to be the most successful in Whalers history.

==Offseason==
At the [[1985 NHL Entry Draft]] held at [[Maple Leaf Gardens]] in [[Toronto]], the Hartford Whalers selected defenseman [[Dana Murzyn]] from the [[Calgary Wranglers (WHL)|Calgary Wranglers]] of the [[Western Hockey League|WHL]] with their first round, fifth overall draft pick. In 72 games with the Wranglers, Murzyn scored 32 goals, 92 points and accumulated 233 penalty minutes during the 1984–85 season. In eight playoff games, Murzyn had a goal and 12 points. Some other notable picks by the Whalers included goaltender [[Kay Whitmore]] from the [[Peterborough Petes]] in the second round, and right winger [[Shane Churla]] from the [[Medicine Hat Tigers]] in the sixth round.

On September 19, the Whalers signed free agent center [[John Newberry (ice hockey)|John Newberry]]. In 16 games with the [[Montreal Canadiens]] during the 1984–85 season, Newberry had four assists. With the [[Sherbrooke Canadiens]] of the [[American Hockey League|AHL]], Newberry scored 23 goals and 63 points in 58 games.

Hartford acquired defenseman [[Tim Bothwell]] in a trade with the [[St. Louis Blues]] on October 4, as the Whalers sent cash to the Blues to complete the trade. Bothwell scored four goals and 26 points in 79 with the Blues during the 1984–85 season. He also had a +27 rating, and over the past two seasons, Bothwell was a +49.

Three days later, on October 7, Hartford traded defenseman [[Chris Kotsopoulos]] to the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] in exchange for left winger [[Stew Gavin]]. Gavin scored 12 goals and 25 points in 73 games with Toronto in 1984–85. In 268 career games to date, Gavin scored 34 goals and 82 points since beginning his career in the 1980–81 season.

== Draft picks ==
{{See also|List of Hartford Whalers draft picks}}
Below are the Hartford Whalers' selections at the [[1985 NHL Entry Draft]], which were held on June 15, 1985. It was held at the [[Metro Toronto Convention Centre]] in [[Toronto]].

{| class="wikitable"
! Round
! #
! Player
! Pos.
! Nationality
! College/junior/club team (League)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|5
| [[Dana Murzyn]]
| D
| {{flagu|Canada}}
| [[Calgary Wranglers (WHL)|Calgary Wranglers]] (WHL)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|26
| [[Kay Whitmore]]
| G
| {{flagu|Canada}}
| Peterborough Petes (OHL)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|4
| style="text-align:center;"|68
| Gary Callaghan
| C
| {{flagu|Canada}}
| Belleville Bulls (OHL)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|6
| style="text-align:center;"|110
| [[Shane Churla]]
| RW
| {{flagu|Canada}}
| Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|7
| style="text-align:center;"|131
| [[Chris Brant]]
| LW
| {{flagu|Canada}}
| Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|8
| style="text-align:center;"|152
| Brian Puhalski
| LW
| {{flagu|Canada}}
| Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|9
| style="text-align:center;"|173
| Greg Dornbach
| C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| Miami University (CCHA)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|10
| style="text-align:center;"|194
| Paul Tory
| RW
| {{flagu|Canada}}
| University of Illinois at Chicago (CCHA)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|11
| style="text-align:center;"|215
| Jerry Pawloski
| D
| {{flagu|United States}}
| Harvard University (ECAC)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|12
| style="text-align:center;"|236
| Bruce Hill
| LW
| {{flagu|Canada}}
| University of Denver (WCHA)
|}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1985e.html |title=1985 NHL Entry Draft |website=hockeydb.com}}</ref>

==Roster==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ 1985–86 Hartford Whalers
|-
!style="color:white; background:#127d2f; {{box-shadow border|a|#1d227b|2px}}; width:40px" colspan=8 | Roster
|-
!style="color:white; background:#127d2f; {{box-shadow border|a|#1d227b|2px}}; width:40px"|[[Number (sports)#Ice hockey|No.]] !!style="color:white; background:#127d2f; {{box-shadow border|a|#1d227b|2px}}; width:40px"|[[Nationality|Nat]] !!style="color:white; background:#127d2f; {{box-shadow border|a|#1d227b|2px}}; width:40px"|Player !!style="color:white; background:#127d2f; {{box-shadow border|a|#1d227b|2px}}; width:40px"|[[Position (team sports)|Pos]] !!style="color:white; background:#127d2f; {{box-shadow border|a|#1d227b|2px}}; width:40px"|[[Shot (ice hockey)|S]]/[[Glove (ice hockey)#Goaltender's golves|G]] !!style="color:white; background:#127d2f; {{box-shadow border|a|#1d227b|2px}}; width:40px"|Age !!style="color:white; background:#127d2f; {{box-shadow border|a|#1d227b|2px}}; width:40px"|Acquired !!style="color:white; background:#127d2f; {{box-shadow border|a|#1d227b|2px}}; width:40px"|Birthplace
|-
! 20 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[John Anderson (ice hockey)|John Anderson]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]] || L/– || 28 || [[1985–86 NHL season|1986]] || [[Toronto]]
|-
! 44 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Dave Babych]] || [[Defenceman|D]] || L/– || 24 || [[1985–86 NHL season|1985]] || [[Edmonton|Edmonton, Alberta]]
|-
! 17 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Wayne Babych]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || R/– || 27 || [[1985–86 NHL season|1986]] || [[Edmonton|Edmonton, Alberta]]
|-
! 24 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Tim Bothwell]] || [[Defenceman|D]] || L/– || 30 || [[1985–86 NHL season|1985]] || [[Vancouver]]
|-
! 34 || {{flagicon|USA}} || [[Jack Brownschidle]] || [[Defenceman|D]] || L/– || 30 || [[1983–84 NHL season|1983]] || [[Buffalo, New York]]
|-
! 21 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Sylvain Côté]] || [[Defenceman|D]] || R/– || 20 || [[1984 NHL Entry Draft|1984]] || [[Quebec City|Quebec City, Quebec]]
|-
! 25 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Bob Crawford (ice hockey)|Bob Crawford]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || R/– || 26 || [[1983–84 NHL season|1983]] || [[Belleville, Ontario]]
|-
! 11 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Kevin Dineen]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || R/– || 22 || [[1984 NHL Entry Draft|1984]] || [[Quebec City|Quebec City, Quebec]]
|-
! 12 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Dean Evason]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || R/– || 21 || [[1984–85 NHL season|1984]] || [[Flin Flon|Flin Flon, Manitoba]]
|-
! 29 || {{flagicon|USA}} || [[Paul Fenton (ice hockey)|Paul Fenton]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]] || L/– || 26 || [[1984–85 NHL season|1984]] || [[Springfield, Massachusetts]]
|-
! 26 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Ray Ferraro]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || L/– || 21 || [[1982 NHL Entry Draft|1982]] || [[Trail, British Columbia]]
|-
! 10 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Ron Francis]] ([[Captain (ice hockey)|C]]) || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || L/– || 22 || [[1981 NHL Entry Draft|1981]] || [[Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario]]
|-
! 14 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Bill Gardner (ice hockey)|Bill Gardner]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || L/– || 25 || [[1985–86 NHL season|1985]] || [[Toronto]]
|-
! 7 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Stewart Gavin|Stew Gavin]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || R/– || 25 || [[1985–86 NHL season|1985]] || [[Ottawa|Ottawa, Ontario]]
|-
! 20 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Mike Hoffman (ice hockey, born 1963)|Mike Hoffman]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]] || L/– || 22 || [[1981 NHL Entry Draft|1981]] || [[Cambridge, Ontario]]
|-
! 27 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Doug Jarvis]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || L/– || 30 || [[1985–86 NHL season|1985]] || [[Peterborough, Ontario]]
|-
! 18 || {{flagicon|USA}} || [[Scot Kleinendorst]] || [[Defenceman|D]] || L/– || 26 || [[1984–85 NHL season|1984]] || [[Grand Rapids, Minnesota]]
|-
! 28 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Paul Lawless]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]] || L/– || 21 || [[1982 NHL Entry Draft|1982]] || [[Scarborough, Ontario]]
|-
! 1 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Mike Liut]] || [[Goaltender|G]] || –/L || 30 || [[1984–85 NHL season|1985]] || [[Weston, Toronto|Weston, Ontario]]
|-
! 23 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Paul MacDermid]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || R/– || 22 || [[1981 NHL Entry Draft|1981]] || [[Chesley, Ontario]]
|-
! 14 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Greg Malone (ice hockey)|Greg Malone]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || L/– || 29 || [[1985–86 NHL season|1985]] || [[Fredericton|Fredericton, New Brunswick]]
|-
! 25 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Mike McEwen (ice hockey)|Mike McEwen]] || [[Defenceman|D]] || L/– || 29 || [[1985–86 NHL season|1985]] || [[Hornepayne|Hornepayne, Ontario]]
|-
! 4 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Dana Murzyn]] || [[Defenceman|D]] || L/– || 19 || [[1985 NHL Entry Draft|1985]] || [[Calgary|Calgary, Alberta]]
|-
! 17 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Ray Neufeld]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || R/– || 26 || [[1979 NHL Entry Draft|1979]] || [[Saint Boniface, Winnipeg|Saint Boniface, Manitoba]]
|-
! 33 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[John Newberry (ice hockey)|John Newberry]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || L/– || 23 || [[1985–86 NHL season|1985]] || [[Port Alberni|Port Alberni, British Columbia]]
|-
! 6 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Mark Paterson (ice hockey)|Mark Paterson]] || [[Defenceman|D]] || L/– || 21 || [[1982 NHL Entry Draft|1982]] || [[Ottawa|Ottawa, Ontario]]
|-
! 22 || {{flagicon|SWE}} || [[Jörgen Pettersson (ice hockey)|Jörgen Pettersson]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]] || L/– || 29 || [[1985–86 NHL season|1985]] || [[Gothenburg|Gothenburg, Sweden]]
|-
! 3 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Joel Quenneville]] || [[Defenceman|D]] || L/– || 27 || [[1983–84 NHL season|1983]] || [[Windsor, Ontario]]
|-
! 32 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Torrie Robertson]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]] || L/– || 24 || [[1983–84 NHL season|1983]] || [[Victoria, British Columbia]]
|-
! 5 || {{flagicon|SWE}} || [[Ulf Samuelsson]] || [[Defenceman|D]] || L/– || 21 || [[1982 NHL Entry Draft|1982]] || [[Fagersta|Fagerstad, Sweden]]
|-
! 38 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Brad Shaw]] || [[Defenceman|D]] || R/– || 21 || [[1985–86 NHL season|1985]] || [[Cambridge, Ontario]]
|-
! 8 || {{flagicon|FIN}} || [[Risto Siltanen]] || [[Defenceman|D]] || R/– || 27 || [[1982–83 NHL season|1982]] || [[Tampere|Tampere, Finland]]
|-
! 15 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Dave Tippett]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]] || L/– || 24 || [[1983–84 NHL season|1983]] || [[Moosomin, Saskatchewan]]
|-
! 16 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Sylvain Turgeon]] || [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]] || L/– || 21 || [[1983 NHL Entry Draft|1983]] || [[Rouyn-Noranda|Noranda, Quebec]]
|-
! 31 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Steve Weeks]] || [[Goaltender|G]] || –/L || 27 || [[1984–85 NHL season|1984]] || [[Scarborough, Ontario]]
|-
! 20 || {{flagicon|CAN}} || [[Mike Zuke]] || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || R/– || 31 || [[1983–84 NHL season|1983]] || [[Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario]]
|-
!style="color:white; background:#127d2f; {{box-shadow border|a|#1d227b|2px}}; width:40px" colspan=8 | Head Coach
|-
|colspan=8 | [[Jack Evans (ice hockey)|Jack Evans]]
|-
!style="color:white; background:#127d2f; {{box-shadow border|a|#1d227b|2px}}; width:40px" colspan=8 | Assistant Coach
|-
|colspan=8 | [[Claude Larose (ice hockey, born 1942)|Claude Larose]]
|-
!style="color:white; background:#127d2f; {{box-shadow border|a|#1d227b|2px}}; width:40px" colspan=8 | Head Trainer
|-
|colspan=8 | Tom Woodcock
|-
!style="color:white; background:#127d2f; {{box-shadow border|a|#1d227b|2px}}; width:40px" colspan=8 | Assistant Trainer<br>Equipment Manager
|-
|colspan=8 | Skip Cunningham
|}

==Regular season==
===October===
Hartford began the 1985–86 season on the road against the [[Buffalo Sabres]] on October 10. The Whalers, led by two goals by [[Kevin Dineen]], overcame a 3–0 deficit to defeat the Sabres 5–4. Two nights later, on October 12, the Whalers hosted the [[New York Rangers]] for their home opener, and were led by two goals by [[Ron Francis]] and [[Ray Ferraro]], as well as 33 saves by [[Mike Liut]], as Hartford defeated New York 8–2 in front of 15,142 fans at the Civic Center.

The Whalers dropped their next game to the [[Quebec Nordiques]], however, they would win their following two games, including a wild 11–6 victory over the [[Montreal Canadiens]], to open the season 4–1–0. Hartford then began a four-game road trip, in which they dropped their first three games before salvaging a victory over the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]], bringing their record to 5–4–0.

In their final game of the month, Hartford defeated the [[Quebec Nordiques]] on home ice, finishing October with a 6–4–0 record, as they earned 12 points. The Whalers sat in third place in the Adams Division, five points behind the first place [[Quebec Nordiques]].

===November===
Hartford got off to a tough start in November, losing their first three games, including blowout losses of 8–1 to the [[Los Angeles Kings]] and 8–3 to the [[Montreal Canadiens]]. The Whalers ended their losing streak with a 4–3 win over the [[Quebec Nordiques]] as they stormed back from a 3–0 third period deficit to take the victory.

The Whalers won their next game against the [[Minnesota North Stars]], however, this followed by another three game losing skid, dropping the Whalers to a record of 8–10–0 and falling into last place in the Adams Division. On November 21, the Whalers acquired defenseman [[Dave Babych]] from the [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]] in exchange for right winger [[Ray Neufeld]]. Babych had four goals and 16 points in 19 games with the Jets at the time of the trade. A high-scoring defenseman, Babych had recorded at least 60 points in three of his four previous seasons, including 74 points in 79 games with Winnipeg in 1982–83.

The trade sparked the Whalers to a huge 8–1 win over the [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]] on November 23, as [[Ron Francis]] led the way with a hat trick. In their next game, the Whalers shutout the [[Los Angeles Kings]] 9–0, as [[Mike Liut]] earned the shutout with 30 saves.

The Whalers won their third game in row on November 29, defeating the [[Vancouver Canucks]] 5–4, however, the [[Edmonton Oilers]] snapped the Whalers winning streak the next night, as they defeated Hartford 8–5.

Hartford struggled to a 5–7–0 record in November, dropping their overall record to 11–11–0 through their first 22 games. The Whalers were in last place in the Adams Division, three points behind the [[Montreal Canadiens]] for the final playoff spot.

===December===
The Whalers opened December the same way they closed November, as Hartford lost by a score of 8–5, this time to the [[Calgary Flames]], on December 4. Two days later, Hartford acquired center [[Doug Jarvis]] from the [[Washington Capitals]] for left winger [[Jörgen Pettersson (ice hockey)|Jörgen Pettersson]]. Jarvis, who began his NHL career with the [[Montreal Canadiens]] in the 1975–76 season, had never missed a game in his career, as he had played in 825 games in a row at the time of the trade. Jarvis was a four time [[Stanley Cup]] champion with the Canadiens, winning the Cup in 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. He was traded to the [[Washington Capitals]] prior to the 1982–83 season, and won the [[Selke Trophy]] in 1984. Jarvis had a goal and three points in 25 games with Washington to begin the 1985–86 season.

In their next six games after the trade, the Whalers posted a record of 4–1–1 to climb over the .500 mark with an overall record of 15–13–1, pulling the Whalers within one point of the [[Buffalo Sabres]] for the fourth and final playoff position in the Adams Division.

Hartford dropped two of their final three games before Christmas, however, the Whalers rebounded by winning their first three games after the Christmas break, before dropping their final game of December.

The Whalers posted a record of 8–5–1 record during December, bringing their overall record to 19–16–1 through 36 games. The Whalers were tied with the [[Buffalo Sabres]] for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Adams Division. They were also only three points behind the first place [[Montreal Canadiens]], as three points separated first and last place in the division.

===January===
Hartford dropped their first two games on January, losing to the [[Quebec Nordiques]] and [[Edmonton Oilers]], bringing their overall losing streak to three games. The Whalers ended their losing skid with a 9–1 win over the [[Calgary Flames]], as [[Dean Evason]] and [[Kevin Dineen]] each scored hat tricks in the victory. Hartford won their next game against the [[Vancouver Canucks]], before dropping two in a row.

On January 17, the Whalers acquired [[Wayne Babych]], the older brother of Whalers defenseman [[Dave Babych]], from the [[Quebec Nordiques]], in exchange for [[Greg Malone (ice hockey)|Greg Malone]]. Babych, who was acquired by Quebec from the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] earlier in the season, had six goals and 11 points in 15 games with the Nordiques. His best season came in 1980–81, while as a member of the [[St. Louis Blues]], Babych scored 54 goals and 96 points in 78 games. During that season, he led the NHL with 40 even strength goals.

The trade marked the beginning of a five-game winning streak, as that evening, the Whalers defeated the [[Quebec Nordiques]] 11–6. On January 21, the Whalers shutout the [[New York Rangers]] 5–0, as [[Steve Weeks]] stopped all 19 shots he faced.

The Whalers winning streak came to an end on January 27, as the [[Boston Bruins]] defeated Hartford 6–3. Two nights later, in the Whalers final game of the month, the club lost to the [[Boston Bruins]] 5–4 in overtime.

Hartford earned a record of 7–6–0 during January, which was their second consecutive winning month of the season. Their overall record at the end of January was 26–22–1, as the club had 53 points and sat in the fourth and final playoff spot in the Adams Division, two points ahead of the fifth place [[Buffalo Sabres]].

===February===
The Whalers continued their winless skid into February, as Hartford began February with a 0–7–1 record in their first eight games, bringing their overall winless skid to 10 games (0–9–1). During this slump, the club acquired center [[Bill Gardner (ice hockey)|Bill Gardner]] from the [[Chicago Black Hawks]] in exchange for a third round draft pick in the [[1987 NHL Entry Draft]]. Gardner scored three goals and 13 points in 46 games with Chicago during the 1985–86 season.

The winless skid dropped the Whalers overall record to 26–29–2 following their 4–1 loss to the [[Minnesota North Stars]] on February 15. This dropped the club into last place in the Adams Division, six points behind the fourth place [[Buffalo Sabres]].

On February 18, the Whalers earned their first win of February, a 5–4 victory over the [[Vancouver Canucks]]. The next night, the Whalers defeated the [[Buffalo Sabres]] 6–4, bringing their winning streak to two games. This came to an abrupt end, as Hartford lost their remaining three games of February.

The Whalers posted a record of 2–10–1 during February, dropping their overall record to 28–32–2. The club had earned 59 points and sat in last place, six points behind the [[Buffalo Sabres]] for the final playoff position in the Adams Division.

===March/April===
Hartford opened March with another loss, as the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] defeated Hartford 8–2 on March 1, extending their losing streak to four games. Hartford broke out of their slump, by winning their next three games, including two over the [[Buffalo Sabres]], to improve their record to 31–33–2, cutting the Sabres lead to four points.

On March 8, the Whalers acquired right winger [[John Anderson (ice hockey)|John Anderson]] from the [[Quebec Nordiques]] for defenseman [[Risto Siltanen]]. Anderson had 21 goals and 49 points in 65 games with the Nordiques in 1985–86, his first season with the club. He previously appeared in 534 games with the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] from 1977 to 1985, scoring 189 goals and 393 points with the Maple Leafs. That evening, the Whalers, despite an assist from Anderson, lost to the Nordiques 6–3, ending their winning streak at three games.

Following a 5–2 win over the [[Montreal Canadiens]] on March 10, the Whalers acquired defenseman [[Mike McEwen (ice hockey)|Mike McEwen]] from the [[New York Rangers]] for right winger [[Bob Crawford (ice hockey, born 1959)|Bob Crawford]]. McEwen was acquired by New York from the [[Detroit Red Wings]] earlier in the season, and between the two clubs, he two goals and 17 points in 45 games. McEwen was a member of the [[New York Islanders]] from 1980 to 1984, winning three [[Stanley Cup]] championships in 1981, 1982, and 1983.

On March 13, the [[New York Islanders]] defeated Hartford 5–2, dropping the Whalers record to 32–35–2, as Hartford was now six points behind the [[Buffalo Sabres]] for the final playoff position. On March 15, the Whalers crushed the [[Chicago Black Hawks]] 11–4, which began an eight-game unbeaten streak in which the Whalers earned a record of 6–0–2. On April 1, the Whalers met the [[Buffalo Sabres]], with both teams tied for fourth place in the Adams Division. After [[Ray Ferraro]] gave the Whalers a 1–0 lead, the Sabres scored three in a row, taking a 3–1 lead in the second period. Hartford, clinging onto their playoff hopes, scored four goals in a row, including two goals by [[Kevin Dineen]], to defeat the Sabres 5–3 and take over fourth place.

The Whalers ended the season with two wins in their final three games to clinch the fourth and final playoff position in the Adams Division. The club earned a record of 12–4–2 in their final 18 games, bringing their overall record to 40–36–4. The 40 victories and 84 points were franchise records, breaking the previous record of 30 wins set in 1984–85, and 73 points set in their inaugural season in 1979–80. This ended the Whalers five year playoff drought, as the club clinched their first playoff berth since 1980.

===Season standings===
{{1985–86 NHL Adams Division standings |team=HAR}}

===Record vs opponents===
{{1985–86 NHL Record vs. opponents (Adams)|team=HFD}}

==Schedule and results==
===Regular season===
{{Game log start|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 5px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 5px solid;|title= 1985–86 game log: 40–36–4 (Home: 21–17–2; Road: 19–19–2)}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 2px solid;|title=October: 6–4–0 (home: 3–0–0; road: 3–4–0)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| OT| Decision| Location| Attendance| Record| Points| Recap}}
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 || October 10, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo Sabres]] || 5–4 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Buffalo Memorial Auditorium]] || 12,278 || 1–0–0 || 2 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Buffalo Sabres – October 10th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-hfd/1985/10/10/1985020002 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 || October 12, 1985 || [[1985–86 New York Rangers season|New York Rangers]] || 8–2 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 15,142 || 2–0–0 || 4 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=New York Rangers – Hartford Whalers – October 12th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-nyr/1985/10/12/1985020012 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 3 || October 15, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec Nordiques]] || 1–4 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Quebec Coliseum]] || 12,666 || 2–1–0 || 4 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Quebec Nordiques – October 15th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-que/1985/10/15/1985020029 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 4 || October 17, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 New Jersey Devils season|New Jersey Devils]] || 4–3 || OT || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Brendan Byrne Arena]] || 7,962 || 3–1–0 || 6 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – New Jersey Devils – October 17th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-njd/1985/10/17/1985020039 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 5 || October 19, 1985 || [[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] || 11–6 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 13,048 || 4–1–0 || 8 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Montreal Canadiens – Hartford Whalers – October 19th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1985/10/19/1985020046 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 6 || October 23, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Chicago Black Hawks season|Chicago Black Hawks]] || 2–9 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Chicago Stadium]] || 14,971 || 4–2–0 || 8 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Chicago Black Hawks – October 23rd, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-hfd/1985/10/23/1985020062 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 7 || October 24, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia Flyers]] || 0–3 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Spectrum (arena)|The Spectrum]] || 17,053 || 4–3–0 || 8 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Philadelphia Flyers – October 24th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-phi/1985/10/24/1985020070 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 8 || October 26, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] || 3–5 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Montreal Forum]] || 16,735 || 4–4–0 || 8 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Montreal Canadiens – October 26th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1985/10/26/1985020078 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 9 || October 29, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh Penguins]] || 4–3 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Pittsburgh Civic Arena]] || 6,793 || 5–4–0 || 10 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Pittsburgh Penguins – October 29th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-pit/1985/10/29/1985020091 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 10 || October 30, 1985 || [[1985–86 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec Nordiques]] || 6–4 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 11,014 || 6–4–0 || 12 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Quebec Nordiques – Hartford Whalers – October 30th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-que/1985/10/30/1985020095 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|-
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 2px solid;|title=November: 5–7–0 (home: 2–4–0; road: 3–3–0)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| OT| Decision| Location| Attendance| Record| Points| Recap}}
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 11 || November 2, 1985 || [[1985–86 Los Angeles Kings season|Los Angeles Kings]] || 1–8 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 12,024 || 6–5–0 || 12 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Los Angeles Kings – Hartford Whalers – November 2nd, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-lak/1985/11/02/1985020107 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 12 || November 5, 1985 || [[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] || 3–8 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 10,820 || 6–6–0 || 12 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Montreal Canadiens – Hartford Whalers – November 5th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1985/11/05/1985020120 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 13 || November 7, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Boston Bruins season|Boston Bruins]] || 1–2 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Boston Garden]] || 12,787 || 6–7–0 || 12 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Boston Bruins – November 7th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-hfd/1985/11/07/1985020132 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 14 || November 9, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec Nordiques]] || 4–3 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Quebec Coliseum]] || 14,552 || 7–7–0 || 14 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Quebec Nordiques – November 9th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-que/1985/11/09/1985020140 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 15 || November 13, 1985 || [[1985–86 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota North Stars]] || 5–2 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 9,732 || 8–7–0 || 16 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Minnesota North Stars – Hartford Whalers – November 13th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mns/1985/11/13/1985020156 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 16 || November 16, 1985 || [[1985–86 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia Flyers]] || 2–5 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 15,142 || 8–8–0 || 16 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Philadelphia Flyers – Hartford Whalers – November 16th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-phi/1985/11/16/1985020168 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 17 || November 19, 1985 || [[1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo Sabres]] || 0–2 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 10,027 || 8–9–0 || 16 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Buffalo Sabres – Hartford Whalers – November 19th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-hfd/1985/11/19/1985020183 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 18 || November 21, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia Flyers]] || 0–3 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Spectrum (arena)|The Spectrum]] || 17,211 || 8–10–0 || 16 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Philadelphia Flyers – November 21st, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-phi/1985/11/21/1985020196 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 19 || November 23, 1985 || [[1985–86 Winnipeg Jets season|Winnipeg Jets]] || 8–1 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 11,957 || 9–10–0 || 18 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Winnipeg Jets – Hartford Whalers – November 23rd, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-win/1985/11/23/1985020203 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 20 || November 27, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Los Angeles Kings season|Los Angeles Kings]] || 9–0 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|The Forum]] || 8,888 || 10–10–0 || 20 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Los Angeles Kings – November 27th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-lak/1985/11/27/1985020219 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 21 || November 29, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver Canucks]] || 5–4 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Pacific Coliseum]] || 9,276 || 11–10–0 || 22 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Vancouver Canucks – November 29th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-van/1985/11/29/1985020228 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 22 || November 30, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton Oilers]] || 5–8 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Northlands Coliseum]] || 17,304 || 11–11–0 || 22 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Edmonton Oilers – November 30th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/edm-vs-hfd/1985/11/30/1985020235 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|-
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 2px solid;|title=December: 8–5–1 (home: 5–2–0; road: 3–3–1)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| OT| Decision| Location| Attendance| Record| Points| Recap}}
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 23 || December 4, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Calgary Flames season|Calgary Flames]] || 5–8 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Olympic Saddledome]] || 16,672 || 11–12–0 || 22 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Calgary Flames – December 4th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/cgy-vs-hfd/1985/12/04/1985020252 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 24 || December 7, 1985 || [[1985–86 Boston Bruins season|Boston Bruins]] || 7–2 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 15,126 || 12–12–0 || 24 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Boston Bruins – Hartford Whalers – December 7th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-hfd/1985/12/07/1985020266 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 25 || December 11, 1985 || [[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] || 1–3 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 11,262 || 12–13–0 || 24 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Montreal Canadiens – Hartford Whalers – December 11th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1985/12/11/1985020286 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 26 || December 13, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo Sabres]] || 6–4 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Buffalo Memorial Auditorium]] || 11,519 || 13–13–0 || 26 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Buffalo Sabres – December 13th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-hfd/1985/12/13/1985020296 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 27 || December 14, 1985 || [[1985–86 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh Penguins]] || 5–4 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 10,938 || 14–13–0 || 28 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Pittsburgh Penguins – Hartford Whalers – December 14th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-pit/1985/12/14/1985020299 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#ffc;"
| 28 || December 16, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] || 4–4 || OT || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Montreal Forum]] || 16,296 || 14–13–1 || 29 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Montreal Canadiens – December 16th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1985/12/16/1985020313 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 29 || December 18, 1985 || [[1985–86 Calgary Flames season|Calgary Flames]] || 4–3 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 9,929 || 15–13–1 || 31 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Calgary Flames – Hartford Whalers – December 18th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/cgy-vs-hfd/1985/12/18/1985020320 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 30 || December 19, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Boston Bruins season|Boston Bruins]] || 1–2 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Boston Garden]] || 10,244 || 15–14–1 || 31 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Boston Bruins – December 19th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-hfd/1985/12/19/1985020326 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 31 || December 21, 1985 || [[1985–86 New Jersey Devils season|New Jersey Devils]] || 7–6 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 11,229 || 16–14–1 || 33 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=New Jersey Devils – Hartford Whalers – December 21st, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-njd/1985/12/21/1985020336 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 32 || December 23, 1985 || [[1985–86 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]] || 3–6 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 14,263 || 16–15–1 || 33 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=New York Islanders – Hartford Whalers – December 23rd, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-nyi/1985/12/23/1985020348 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 33 || December 26, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]] || 4–3 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Nassau Coliseum]] || 16,152 || 17–15–1 || 35 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – New York Islanders – December 26th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-nyi/1985/12/26/1985020352 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 34 || December 28, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto Maple Leafs]] || 6–3 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Maple Leaf Gardens]] || 16,285 || 18–15–1 || 37 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Toronto Maple Leafs – December 28th, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-tor/1985/12/28/1985020361 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 35 || December 29, 1985 || [[1985–86 Detroit Red Wings season|Detroit Red Wings]] || 5–2 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 12,762 || 19–15–1 || 39 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Detroit Red Wings – Hartford Whalers – December 29rd, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-hfd/1985/12/29/1985020370 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 36 || December 31, 1985 || @ [[1985–86 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec Nordiques]] || 1–5 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Quebec Coliseum]] || 13,644 || 19–16–1 || 39 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Quebec Nordiques – December 31st, 1985 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-que/1985/12/31/1985020376 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|-
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 2px solid;|title=January: 7–6–0 (home: 3–3–0; road: 4–3–0)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| OT| Decision| Location| Attendance| Record| Points| Recap}}
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 37 || January 2, 1986 || [[1985–86 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec Nordiques]] || 2–3 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 11,664 || 19–17–1 || 39 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Quebec Nordiques – Hartford Whalers – January 2nd, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-que/1986/01/02/1985020385 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 38 || January 4, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton Oilers]] || 3–4 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Northlands Coliseum]] || 17,282 || 19–18–1 || 39 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Edmonton Oilers – January 4th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/edm-vs-hfd/1986/01/04/1985020393 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 39 || January 7, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Calgary Flames season|Calgary Flames]] || 9–1 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Olympic Saddledome]] || 16,762 || 20–18–1 || 41 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Calgary Flames – January 7th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/cgy-vs-hfd/1986/01/07/1985020409 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 40 || January 10, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver Canucks]] || 4–3 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Pacific Coliseum]] || 9,539 || 21–18–1 || 43 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Vancouver Canucks – January 10th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-van/1986/01/10/1985020422 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 41 || January 12, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Chicago Black Hawks season|Chicago Black Hawks]] || 2–4 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Chicago Stadium]] || 17,301 || 21–19–1 || 43 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Chicago Black Hawks – January 12th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-hfd/1986/01/12/1985020435 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 42 || January 15, 1986 || [[1985–86 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton Oilers]] || 1–4 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 15,126 || 21–20–1 || 43 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Edmonton Oilers – Hartford Whalers – January 15th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/edm-vs-hfd/1986/01/15/1985020446 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 43 || January 17, 1986 || [[1985–86 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec Nordiques]] || 11–6 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 12,486 || 22–20–1 || 45 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Quebec Nordiques – Hartford Whalers – January 17th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-que/1986/01/17/1985020455 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 44 || January 18, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec Nordiques]] || 11–6 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Quebec Coliseum]] || 15,012 || 23–20–1 || 47 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Quebec Nordiques – January 18th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-que/1986/01/18/1985020461 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 45 || January 20, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 New York Rangers season|New York Rangers]] || 5–0 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Madison Square Garden]] || 17,419 || 24–20–1 || 49 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – New York Rangers – January 20th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-nyr/1986/01/20/1985020474 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 46 || January 23, 1986 || [[1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto Maple Leafs]] || 4–1 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 12,035 || 25–20–1 || 51 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Toronto Maple Leafs – Hartford Whalers – January 23rd, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-tor/1986/01/23/1985020487 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 47 || January 25, 1986 || [[1985–86 Winnipeg Jets season|Winnipeg Jets]] || 7–2 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 12,471 || 26–20–1 || 53 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Winnipeg Jets – Hartford Whalers – January 25th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-win/1986/01/25/1985020497 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 48 || January 27, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Boston Bruins season|Boston Bruins]] || 3–6 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Boston Garden]] || 10,496 || 26–21–1 || 53 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Boston Bruins – December 27th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-hfd/1986/01/27/1985020505 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 49 || January 29, 1986 || [[1985–86 Boston Bruins season|Boston Bruins]] || 4–5 || OT || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 14,756 || 26–22–1 || 53 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Boston Bruins – Hartford Whalers – January 29th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-hfd/1986/01/29/1985020514 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|-
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 2px solid;|title=February: 2–10–1 (home: 1–6–0; road: 1–4–1)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| OT| Decision| Location| Attendance| Record| Points| Recap}}
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 50 || February 1, 1986 || [[1985–86 New York Rangers season|New York Rangers]] || 1–3 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 15,126 || 26–23–1 || 53 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=New York Rangers – Hartford Whalers – February 1st, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-nyr/1986/02/01/1985020529 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 51 || February 2, 1986 || [[1985–86 Washington Capitals season|Washington Capitals]] || 4–5 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 12,473 || 26–24–1 || 53 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Washington Capitals – Hartford Whalers – February 2nd, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-wsh/1986/02/02/1985020538 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center; background:#bbcaff;"
| colspan="11" | '''[[38th National Hockey League All-Star Game|38th All-Star Game in Hartford, Connecticut]]'''
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 52 || February 6, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Detroit Red Wings season|Detroit Red Wings]] || 3–4 || OT || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Joe Louis Arena]] || 16,758 || 26–25–1 || 53 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Detroit Red Wings – February 6th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-hfd/1986/02/06/1985020547 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 53 || February 8, 1986 || [[1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo Sabres]] || 2–4 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 14,088 || 26–26–1 || 53 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Buffalo Sabres – Hartford Whalers – February 8th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-hfd/1986/02/08/1985020555 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 54 || February 9, 1986 || [[1985–86 New Jersey Devils season|New Jersey Devils]] || 3–6 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 10,609 || 26–27–1 || 53 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=New Jersey Devils – Hartford Whalers – February 9th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-njd/1986/02/09/1985020564 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#ffc;"
| 55 || February 11, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis Blues]] || 4–4 || OT || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[St. Louis Arena]] || 10,877 || 26–27–2 || 54 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – St. Louis Blues – February 11th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-stl/1986/02/11/1985020571 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 56 || February 14, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Winnipeg Jets season|Winnipeg Jets]] || 4–5 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Winnipeg Arena]] || 14,620 || 26–28–2 || 54 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Winnipeg Jets – February 14th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-win/1986/02/14/1985020584 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 57 || February 15, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota North Stars]] || 1–4 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Met Center]] || 12,726 || 26–29–2 || 54 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Minnesota North Stars – February 15th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mns/1986/02/15/1985020589 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 58 || February 18, 1986 || [[1985–86 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver Canucks]] || 5–4 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 10,812 || 27–29–2 || 56 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Vancouver Canucks – Hartford Whalers – February 18th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-van/1986/02/18/1985020605 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 59 || February 19, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo Sabres]] || 6–4 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Buffalo Memorial Auditorium]] || 15,624 || 28–29–2 || 58 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Buffalo Sabres – February 19th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-hfd/1986/02/19/1985020609 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 60 || February 22, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] || 3–6 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Montreal Forum]] || 17,671 || 28–30–2 || 58 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Montreal Canadiens – February 22nd, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/02/22/1985020624 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 61 || February 23, 1986 || [[1985–86 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis Blues]] || 2–8 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 12,117 || 28–31–2 || 58 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Louis Blues – Hartford Whalers – February 23rd, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-stl/1986/02/23/1985020630 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 62 || February 26, 1986 || [[1985–86 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota North Stars]] || 2–5 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 11,042 || 28–32–2 || 58 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Minnesota North Stars – Hartford Whalers – February 26th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mns/1986/02/26/1985020642 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|-
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 2px solid;|title=March: 9–3–2 (home: 5–2–2; road: 4–1–0)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| OT| Decision| Location| Attendance| Record| Points| Recap}}
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 63 || March 1, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh Penguins]] || 1–5 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Pittsburgh Civic Arena]] || 16,033 || 28–33–2 || 58 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Pittsburgh Penguins – March 1st, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-pit/1986/03/01/1985020656 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref> L4
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 64 || March 2, 1986 || [[1985–86 Boston Bruins season|Boston Bruins]] || 4–1 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 13,806 || 29–33–2 || 60 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Boston Bruins – Hartford Whalers – March 2nd, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-hfd/1986/03/02/1985020664 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 65 || March 5, 1986 || [[1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo Sabres]] || 5–1 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 13,019 || 30–33–2 || 62 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Buffalo Sabres – Hartford Whalers – March 5th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-hfd/1986/03/05/1985020678 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 66 || March 7, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo Sabres]] || 6–2 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Buffalo Memorial Auditorium]] || 15,764 || 31–33–2 || 64 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Buffalo Sabres – March 7th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-hfd/1986/03/07/1985020689 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 67 || March 8, 1986 || [[1985–86 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec Nordiques]] || 3–6 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 13,616 || 31–34–2 || 64 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Quebec Nordiques – Hartford Whalers – March 8th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-que/1986/03/08/1985020692 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 68 || March 10, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] || 5–2 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Montreal Forum]] || 16,616 || 32–34–2 || 66 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Montreal Canadiens – March 10th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/03/10/1985020705 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 69 || March 13, 1986 || [[1985–86 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]] || 2–3 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 13,140 || 32–35–2 || 66 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=New York Islanders – Hartford Whalers – March 13th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-nyi/1986/03/13/1985020719 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 70 || March 15, 1986 || [[1985–86 Chicago Black Hawks season|Chicago Black Hawks]] || 11–4 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 12,233 || 33–35–2 || 68 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Chicago Black Hawks – Hartford Whalers – March 15th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-hfd/1986/03/15/1985020726 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 71 || March 18, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Detroit Red Wings season|Detroit Red Wings]] || 6–4 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Joe Louis Arena]] || 15,640 || 34–35–2 || 70 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Detroit Red Wings – March 18th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-hfd/1986/03/18/1985020742 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 72 || March 19, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis Blues]] || 5–2 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[St. Louis Arena]] || 8,377 || 35–35–2 || 72 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – St. Louis Blues – March 19th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-stl/1986/03/19/1985020746 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 73 || March 22, 1986 || [[1985–86 Los Angeles Kings season|Los Angeles Kings]] || 6–3 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 12,198 || 36–35–2 || 74 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Los Angeles Kings – Hartford Whalers – March 22nd, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-lak/1986/03/22/1985020761 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#ffc;"
| 74 || March 23, 1986 || [[1985–86 Boston Bruins season|Boston Bruins]] || 5–5 || OT || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 15,126 || 36–35–3 || 75 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Boston Bruins – Hartford Whalers – March 23rd, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-hfd/1986/03/23/1985020768 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 75 || March 26, 1986 || [[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] || 3–0 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 13,877 || 37–35–3 || 77 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Montreal Canadiens – Hartford Whalers – March 26th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/03/26/1985020779 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#ffc;"
| 76 || March 29, 1986 || [[1985–86 Washington Capitals season|Washington Capitals]] || 6–6 || OT || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 14,266 || 37–35–4 || 78 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Washington Capitals – Hartford Whalers – March 29th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-wsh/1986/03/29/1985020793 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|-
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 2px solid;|title=April: 3–1–0 (home: 2–0–0; road: 1–1–0)| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| OT| Decision| Location| Attendance| Record| Points| Recap}}
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 77 || April 1, 1986 || [[1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo Sabres]] || 5–3 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 15,126 || 38–35–4 || 80 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Buffalo Sabres – Hartford Whalers – April 1st, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-hfd/1986/04/01/1985020806 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 78 || April 3, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Washington Capitals season|Washington Capitals]] || 2–4 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Capital Centre (Landover, Maryland)|Capital Centre]] || 14,155 || 38–36–4 || 80 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Washington Capitals – April 3rd, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-wsh/1986/04/03/1985020821 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 79 || April 5, 1986 || [[1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto Maple Leafs]] || 7–1 || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || [[Hartford Civic Center]] || 15,126 || 39–36–4 || 82 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Toronto Maple Leafs – Hartford Whalers – April 5th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-tor/1986/04/05/1985020825 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 80 || April 6, 1986 || @ [[1985–86 Boston Bruins season|Boston Bruins]] || 4–3 || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || [[Boston Garden]] || 12,787 || 40–36–4 || 84 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Boston Bruins – April 6th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-hfd/1986/04/06/1985020833 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|-
{{Game log section end}}
|-
| [https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/HAR/1986.html 1985–86 schedule]
{{legend2|#cfc|Win (2 Points)|border=1px solid #000000}}
{{legend2|#fcc|Loss (0 points)|border=1px solid #000000}}
{{legend2|#ffc|Tie (1 point)|border=1px solid #000000}}
{{Game log end}}

===Playoffs===
{{Main|1986 Stanley Cup playoffs}}
{| class="toccolours" style="width:90%; clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan="10" style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 5px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 5px solid;"|1986 Stanley Cup playoffs
|-
| colspan="10"|
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
|-
! colspan="10" style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 2px solid;"|Adams Division Semifinals vs. (A1) [[1985–86 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec Nordiques]]: Hartford won 3–0
|- style="background:#ddd;"
! # !! Date !! Visitor !! Score !! Home !! OT !! Decision !! Attendance !! Series !! Recap
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 || April 9, 1986 || Hartford || 3–2 || Quebec || OT || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || 14,504 || 1–0 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Quebec Nordiques – April 9th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-que/1986/04/09/1985030111 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 || April 10, 1986 || Hartford || 4–1 || Quebec || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || 14,562 || 2–0 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Quebec Nordiques – April 10th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-que/1986/04/10/1985030112 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 3 || April 12, 1986 || Quebec || 4–9 || Hartford || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || 15,126 || 3–0 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Quebec Nordiques – Hartford Whalers – April 12th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-que/1986/04/12/1985030113 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|}
|-
| colspan="10"|
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
|-
! colspan="10" style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 2px solid;"|Adams Division Finals vs. (A2) [[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]]: Montreal won 4–3
|- style="background:#ddd;"
! # !! Date !! Visitor !! Score !! Home !! OT !! Decision !! Attendance !! Series !! Recap
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 || April 17, 1986 || Hartford || 4–1 || Montreal || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || 17,145 || 1–0 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Montreal Canadiens – April 17th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/04/17/1985030211 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 2 || April 19, 1986 || Hartford || 1–3 || Montreal || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || 17,657 || 1–1 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Montreal Canadiens – April 19th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/04/19/1985030212 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 3 || April 21, 1986 || Montreal || 4–1 || Hartford || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || 15,126 || 1–2 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Montreal Canadiens – Hartford Whalers – April 21st, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/04/21/1985030213 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 4 || April 23, 1986 || Montreal || 1–2 || Hartford || OT || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || 15,126 || 2–2 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Montreal Canadiens – Hartford Whalers – April 23rd, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/04/23/1985030214 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 5 || April 25, 1986 || Hartford || 3–5 || Montreal || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || 17,660 || 2–3 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Montreal Canadiens – April 25th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/04/25/1985030215 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 6 || April 27, 1986 || Montreal || 0–1 || Hartford || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || 15,126 || 3–3 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Montreal Canadiens – Hartford Whalers – April 27th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/04/27/1985030216 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 7 || April 29, 1986 || Hartford || 1–2 || Montreal || OT || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || 17,546 || 3–4 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Montreal Canadiens – April 29th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/04/29/1985030217 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|}
|-
| colspan="10" style="text-align:center;"|
'''''Legend''''':
{{legend2|#cfc|Win|border=1px solid #ccffcc}}
{{legend2|#fcc|Loss|border=1px solid #ffcccc}}
|}

===Detailed records===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; width:35em;margin: 0.5em auto;"
! colspan="8" style="text-align:left; background:#c60c30;color:#fff"| '''Prince of Wales Conference'''
|-
! Opponent || W || L || T || PTS || WP || GS || GA
|-
! colspan="8" style="text-align:left; background:#c60c30;color:#fff"| '''Adams Division'''
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Boston Bruins season|Boston Bruins]] || 3 || 4 || 1 || 7 || {{winpct|3|4|1|leading_zero=y}} || 29 || 26
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo Sabres]] || 6 || 2 || 0 || 12 || {{winpct|6|2|0|leading_zero=y}} || 35 || 24
|-
| style="text-align:left"| '''Hartford Whalers''' ||colspan=7 style="background:darkgray;"|
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] || 3 || 4 || 1 || 7 || {{winpct|3|4|1|leading_zero=y}} || 33 || 34
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec Nordiques]] || 4 || 4 || 0 || 8 || {{winpct|5|1|2|leading_zero=y}} || 33 || 33
|-
! Division Total || 16 || 14 || 2 || 34 || {{winpct|16|14|2|leading_zero=y}} || 130 || 117
|-
! colspan="8" style="text-align:left; background:#c60c30;color:#fff"| '''Patrick Division'''
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 New Jersey Devils season|New Jersey Devils]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|2|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 14 || 15
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]] || 1 || 2 || 0 || 2 || {{winpct|1|2|0|leading_zero=y}} || 9 || 12
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 New York Rangers season|New York Rangers]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|2|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 14 || 5
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia Flyers]] || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || {{winpct|0|3|0|leading_zero=y}} || 2 || 11
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh Penguins]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|2|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 10 || 12
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Washington Capitals season|Washington Capitals]] || 0 || 2 || 1 || 1 || {{winpct|0|2|1|leading_zero=y}} || 12 || 15
|-
! Division Total || 7 || 10 || 1 || 15 || {{winpct|7|10|1|leading_zero=y}} || 61 || 70
|-
! Conference Total || 23 || 24 || 3 || 49 || {{winpct|23|24|3|leading_zero=y}} || 191 || 187
|}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align: center"
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:left; background:#03224c;color:#fff"| '''Clarence Campbell Conference'''
|-
! Opponent || W || L || T || PTS || WP || GS || GA
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:left; background:#03224c;color:#fff"| '''Norris Division'''
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Chicago Black Hawks season|Chicago Black Hawks]] || 1 || 2 || 0 || 2 || {{winpct|1|2|0|leading_zero=y}} || 15 || 17
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Detroit Red Wings season|Detroit Red Wings]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|2|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 14 || 10
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota North Stars]] || 1 || 2 || 0 || 2 || {{winpct|1|2|0|leading_zero=y}} || 8 || 11
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis Blues]] || 1 || 1 || 1 || 3 || {{winpct|1|1|1|leading_zero=y}} || 11 || 14
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto Maple Leafs]] || 3 || 0 || 0 || 6 || {{winpct|3|0|0|leading_zero=y}} || 17 || 5
|-
! Division Total || 8 || 6 || 1 || 17 || {{winpct|8|6|1|leading_zero=y}} || 65 || 57
|-
! Opponent || W || L || T || PTS || WP || GS || GA
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:left; background:#03224c;color:#fff"| '''Smythe Division'''
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Calgary Flames season|Calgary Flames]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|2|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 18 || 12
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton Oilers]] || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || {{winpct|0|3|0|leading_zero=y}} || 9 || 16
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Los Angeles Kings season|Los Angeles Kings]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|2|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 16 || 11
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver Canucks]] || 3 || 0 || 0 || 6 || {{winpct|3|0|0|leading_zero=y}} || 14 || 11
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Winnipeg Jets season|Winnipeg Jets]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|2|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 19 || 8
|-
! Division Total || 9 || 6 || 0 || 18 || {{winpct|9|6|0|leading_zero=y}} || 76 || 58
|-
! Conference Total || 17 || 12 || 1 || 35 || {{winpct|17|12|1|leading_zero=y}} || 141 || 115
|-
! NHL Total || 40 || 36 || 4 || 84 || {{winpct|40|36|4|leading_zero=y}} || 332 || 302
|}
{{col-end}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; width:38em;margin: 0.5em auto;"
|-
! width="28%" | Month
! width="12%" | Games
! width="12%" | Won
! width="12%" | Lost
! width="12%" | Tie
! width="12%" | Points
! width="12%" | Win %
! width="12%" | GS
! width="12%" | GA
|-
| October || 10 || 6 || 4 || 0 || 12 || {{winpct|6|4|0|leading_zero=y}} || 44 || 43
|-
| November || 12 || 5 || 7 || 0 || 10 || {{winpct|5|7|0|leading_zero=y}} || 43 || 46
|-
| December || 14 || 8 || 5 || 1 || 17 || {{winpct|8|5|1|leading_zero=y}} || 59 || 55
|-
| January || 13 || 7 || 6 || 0 || 14 || {{winpct|7|6|0|leading_zero=y}} || 60 || 41
|-
| February || 13 || 2 || 10 || 1 || 5 || {{winpct|2|10|1|leading_zero=y}} || 40 || 62
|-
| March || 14 || 9 || 3 || 2 || 20 || {{winpct|9|3|2|leading_zero=y}} || 68 || 44
|-
| April || 4 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 6 || {{winpct|3|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 18 || 11
|-
| Total || 80 || 40 || 36 || 4 || 84 || {{winpct|40|36|4|leading_zero=y}} || 332 || 302
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; width:38em;margin: 0.5em auto;"
|-
! width="12%" |
! width="12%" | Games
! width="12%" | Won
! width="12%" | Lost
! width="12%" | Tie
! width="12%" | Points
! width="12%" | Win %
! width="12%" | GS
! width="12%" | GA
|-
! Home
| 40 || 21 || 17 || 2 || 44 || {{winpct|21|17|2|leading_zero=y}} || 181 || 153
|-
! Away
| 40 || 19 || 19 || 2 || 40 || {{winpct|19|19|2|leading_zero=y}} || 151 || 149
|-
! Total || 80 || 40 || 36 || 4 || 84 || {{winpct|40|36|4|leading_zero=y}} || 332 || 302
|}

===Playoffs===
{{Main|1986 Stanley Cup playoffs}}
{| class="toccolours" style="width:90%; clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan="10" style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 5px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 5px solid;"|1986 Stanley Cup playoffs
|-
| colspan="10"|
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
|-
! colspan="10" style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 2px solid;"|Adams Division Semifinals vs. (A1) [[1985–86 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec Nordiques]]: Hartford won 3–0
|- style="background:#ddd;"
! # !! Date !! Visitor !! Score !! Home !! OT !! Decision !! Attendance !! Series !! Recap
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 || {{dow tooltip|April 9, 1986}} || Hartford || 3–2 || Quebec || OT || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || 14,504 || 1–0 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Quebec Nordiques – April 9th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-que/1986/04/09/1985030111 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 || {{dow tooltip|April 10, 1986}} || Hartford || 4–1 || Quebec || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || 14,562 || 2–0 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Quebec Nordiques – April 10th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-que/1986/04/10/1985030112 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 3 || {{dow tooltip|April 12, 1986}} || Quebec || 4–9 || Hartford || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || 15,126 || 3–0 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Quebec Nordiques – Hartford Whalers – April 12th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-que/1986/04/12/1985030113 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|}
|-
| colspan="10"|
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%;"
|-
! colspan="10" style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 2px solid;"|Adams Division Finals vs. (A2) [[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]]: Montreal won 4–3
|- style="background:#ddd;"
! # !! Date !! Visitor !! Score !! Home !! OT !! Decision !! Attendance !! Series !! Recap
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 || {{dow tooltip|April 17, 1986}} || Hartford || 4–1 || Montreal || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || 17,145 || 1–0 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Montreal Canadiens – April 17th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/04/17/1985030211 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 2 || {{dow tooltip|April 19, 1986}} || Hartford || 1–3 || Montreal || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || 17,657 || 1–1 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Montreal Canadiens – April 19th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/04/19/1985030212 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 3 || {{dow tooltip|April 21, 1986}} || Montreal || 4–1 || Hartford || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || 15,126 || 1–2 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Montreal Canadiens – Hartford Whalers – April 21st, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/04/21/1985030213 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 4 || {{dow tooltip|April 23, 1986}} || Montreal || 1–2 || Hartford || OT || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || 15,126 || 2–2 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Montreal Canadiens – Hartford Whalers – April 23rd, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/04/23/1985030214 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 5 || {{dow tooltip|April 25, 1986}} || Hartford || 3–5 || Montreal || || [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] || 17,660 || 2–3 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Montreal Canadiens – April 25th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/04/25/1985030215 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 6 || {{dow tooltip|April 27, 1986}} || Montreal || 0–1 || Hartford || || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || 15,126 || 3–3 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Montreal Canadiens – Hartford Whalers – April 27th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/04/27/1985030216 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 7 || {{dow tooltip|April 29, 1986}} || Hartford || 1–2 || Montreal || OT || [[Mike Liut|Liut]] || 17,546 || 3–4 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers – Montreal Canadiens – April 29th, 1986 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/hfd-vs-mtl/1986/04/29/1985030217 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 20, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>
|}
|-
| colspan="10" style="text-align:center;"|
'''''Legend''''':
{{legend2|#cfc|Win|border=1px solid #ccffcc}}
{{legend2|#fcc|Loss|border=1px solid #ffcccc}}
|}

===Detailed records===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; width:35em;margin: 0.5em auto;"
! colspan="8" style="text-align:left; background:#c60c30;color:#fff"| '''Prince of Wales Conference'''
|-
! Opponent || W || L || T || PTS || WP || GS || GA
|-
! colspan="8" style="text-align:left; background:#c60c30;color:#fff"| '''Adams Division'''
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Boston Bruins season|Boston Bruins]] || 3 || 4 || 1 || 7 || {{winpct|3|4|1|leading_zero=y}} || 29 || 26
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo Sabres]] || 6 || 2 || 0 || 12 || {{winpct|6|2|0|leading_zero=y}} || 35 || 24
|-
| style="text-align:left"| '''Hartford Whalers''' ||colspan=7 style="background:darkgray;"|
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] || 3 || 4 || 1 || 7 || {{winpct|3|4|1|leading_zero=y}} || 33 || 34
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec Nordiques]] || 4 || 4 || 0 || 8 || {{winpct|5|1|2|leading_zero=y}} || 33 || 33
|-
! Division Total || 16 || 14 || 2 || 34 || {{winpct|16|14|2|leading_zero=y}} || 130 || 117
|-
! colspan="8" style="text-align:left; background:#c60c30;color:#fff"| '''Patrick Division'''
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 New Jersey Devils season|New Jersey Devils]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|2|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 14 || 15
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]] || 1 || 2 || 0 || 2 || {{winpct|1|2|0|leading_zero=y}} || 9 || 12
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 New York Rangers season|New York Rangers]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|2|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 14 || 5
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia Flyers]] || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || {{winpct|0|3|0|leading_zero=y}} || 2 || 11
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh Penguins]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|2|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 10 || 12
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Washington Capitals season|Washington Capitals]] || 0 || 2 || 1 || 1 || {{winpct|0|2|1|leading_zero=y}} || 12 || 15
|-
! Division Total || 7 || 10 || 1 || 15 || {{winpct|7|10|1|leading_zero=y}} || 61 || 70
|-
! Conference Total || 23 || 24 || 3 || 49 || {{winpct|23|24|3|leading_zero=y}} || 191 || 187
|}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align: center"
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:left; background:#03224c;color:#fff"| '''Clarence Campbell Conference'''
|-
! Opponent || W || L || T || PTS || WP || GS || GA
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:left; background:#03224c;color:#fff"| '''Norris Division'''
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Chicago Black Hawks season|Chicago Black Hawks]] || 1 || 2 || 0 || 2 || {{winpct|1|2|0|leading_zero=y}} || 15 || 17
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Detroit Red Wings season|Detroit Red Wings]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|2|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 14 || 10
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota North Stars]] || 1 || 2 || 0 || 2 || {{winpct|1|2|0|leading_zero=y}} || 8 || 11
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis Blues]] || 1 || 1 || 1 || 3 || {{winpct|1|1|1|leading_zero=y}} || 11 || 14
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto Maple Leafs]] || 3 || 0 || 0 || 6 || {{winpct|3|0|0|leading_zero=y}} || 17 || 5
|-
! Division Total || 8 || 6 || 1 || 17 || {{winpct|8|6|1|leading_zero=y}} || 65 || 57
|-
! Opponent || W || L || T || PTS || WP || GS || GA
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:left; background:#03224c;color:#fff"| '''Smythe Division'''
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Calgary Flames season|Calgary Flames]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|2|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 18 || 12
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton Oilers]] || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || {{winpct|0|3|0|leading_zero=y}} || 9 || 16
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Los Angeles Kings season|Los Angeles Kings]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|2|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 16 || 11
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver Canucks]] || 3 || 0 || 0 || 6 || {{winpct|3|0|0|leading_zero=y}} || 14 || 11
|-
| style="text-align:left"| [[1985–86 Winnipeg Jets season|Winnipeg Jets]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 4 || {{winpct|2|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 19 || 8
|-
! Division Total || 9 || 6 || 0 || 18 || {{winpct|9|6|0|leading_zero=y}} || 76 || 58
|-
! Conference Total || 17 || 12 || 1 || 35 || {{winpct|17|12|1|leading_zero=y}} || 141 || 115
|-
! NHL Total || 40 || 36 || 4 || 84 || {{winpct|40|36|4|leading_zero=y}} || 332 || 302
|}
{{col-end}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; width:38em;margin: 0.5em auto;"
|-
! width="28%" | Month
! width="12%" | Games
! width="12%" | Won
! width="12%" | Lost
! width="12%" | Tie
! width="12%" | Points
! width="12%" | Win %
! width="12%" | GS
! width="12%" | GA
|-
| October || 10 || 6 || 4 || 0 || 12 || {{winpct|6|4|0|leading_zero=y}} || 44 || 43
|-
| November || 12 || 5 || 7 || 0 || 10 || {{winpct|5|7|0|leading_zero=y}} || 43 || 46
|-
| December || 14 || 8 || 5 || 1 || 17 || {{winpct|8|5|1|leading_zero=y}} || 59 || 55
|-
| January || 13 || 7 || 6 || 0 || 14 || {{winpct|7|6|0|leading_zero=y}} || 60 || 41
|-
| February || 13 || 2 || 10 || 1 || 5 || {{winpct|2|10|1|leading_zero=y}} || 40 || 62
|-
| March || 14 || 9 || 3 || 2 || 20 || {{winpct|9|3|2|leading_zero=y}} || 68 || 44
|-
| April || 4 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 6 || {{winpct|3|1|0|leading_zero=y}} || 18 || 11
|-
| Total || 80 || 40 || 36 || 4 || 84 || {{winpct|40|36|4|leading_zero=y}} || 332 || 302
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; width:38em;margin: 0.5em auto;"
|-
! width="12%" |
! width="12%" | Games
! width="12%" | Won
! width="12%" | Lost
! width="12%" | Tie
! width="12%" | Points
! width="12%" | Win %
! width="12%" | GS
! width="12%" | GA
|-
! Home
| 40 || 21 || 17 || 2 || 44 || {{winpct|21|17|2|leading_zero=y}} || 181 || 153
|-
! Away
| 40 || 19 || 19 || 2 || 40 || {{winpct|19|19|2|leading_zero=y}} || 151 || 149
|-
! Total || 80 || 40 || 36 || 4 || 84 || {{winpct|40|36|4|leading_zero=y}} || 332 || 302
|}

==Playoffs==
===Whalers 3, Nordiques 0===
The Whalers opened the [[1986 Stanley Cup playoffs]] against the [[Quebec Nordiques]] in a best-of-five series. Quebec finished the regular season with a 43-31-6 record, earning 92 points, and finishing in first place in the [[Adams Division]]. In 1985, the Nordiques reached the [[Wales Conference]] finals, where they lost to the [[Philadelphia Flyers]]. The 1986 post-season was the Whalers first playoff appearance since 1980.

The series opened on April 9 at [[Colisée Pepsi|Le Colisée]] in [[Quebec City, Quebec|Quebec City]]. The Nordiques opened the scoring 2:44 into the game on a power play goal by [[Anton Stastny]], however, the Whalers [[Dean Evason]] scored with 49 seconds remaining in the period to tie the game 1-1. The clubs played to a goalless second period, as the game remained tied heading into the third. In the third period, the Whalers [[John Anderson (ice hockey)|John Anderson]] scored on the power play at 9:29, giving Hartford their first lead of the game at 2–1. Just over three minutes later, the Nordiques tied the game on a goal by [[Brent Ashton]], as Quebec tied the game 2–2. The game would go into overtime, as the Whalers [[Sylvain Turgeon]] scored 2:36 into the extra period, as the Whalers defeated the Nordiques 3–2 to win their first ever post-season game, and take a 1–0 series lead. [[Mike Liut]] made 37 saves for the victory.

The second game of the series was played on April 10 in Quebec. The Whalers took an early 1–0 lead on a goal by [[Stew Gavin]] 3:53 into the game. At 8:51 of the first period, [[Paul MacDermid]] scored for Hartford, giving the club a 2–0 lead over Quebec after the first period. In the second period, MacDermid scored his second goal of the game, as Hartford took a 3–0 lead after two periods. In the third period, the Nordiques [[Alain Côté (ice hockey b. 1957)|Alain Cote]] scored 1:39 into the period, cutting the Whalers lead to 3–1. With under five minutes remaining in the period, the Whalers [[Torrie Robertson]] scored, as Hartford won the game 4-1 and took a 2–0 series lead. [[Mike Liut]] was very solid in goal again for the Whalers, as he made 26 saves for the win.

The series shifted back to the [[Hartford Civic Center]] for the third game, as the Whalers pushed the Nordiques on the brink of elimination. The third game of the series was played on April 12. The Whalers opened the scoring 2:29 into the game on a power play goal by [[Kevin Dineen]]. Just under three minutes later, the Whalers [[Dave Tippett]] scored a shorthanded goal to give Hartford a 2–0 lead. The Nordiques [[Alain Lemieux]] cut the Whalers lead to 2–1 with a power play goal midway through the period. At 15:08, the Whalers [[Ron Francis]] restored the two goal lead with his first career playoff goal. Just 44 seconds later, the Nordiques [[Brent Ashton]] cut the Whalers lead down to one with a shorthanded goal, as Hartford held a 3–2 lead. With 40 seconds remaining in the period, the Whalers [[Ray Ferraro]] scored a power play, as Hartford took a 4–2 lead into the first intermission. Early in the second period, [[Ulf Samuelsson]] scored for Hartford, extending their lead to 5–2. At 11:06 of the second period, the Nordiques [[Michel Goulet]] scored a power play goal, cutting the Whalers lead to 5–3. Just over two minutes later, the Whalers [[Ray Ferraro]] scored his second power play goal of the game, as Hartford regained their three-goal lead. Twenty-six seconds after Ferraro's goal, the Whalers [[John Anderson (ice hockey)|John Anderson]] scored on the power play, giving the Whales a commanding 7–3 lead. In the third period, Anderson scored his second goal of the game 7:00 into the period, as Hartford took a lead of 8–3. The Nordiques [[Mark Kumpel]] scored midway through the period, however, the Whalers [[Kevin Dineen]] scored his second goal of the game with under two minutes left, as the Whalers crushed the Nordiques 9–4 to sweep the series and complete the upset. This marked the first time in franchise history that the Whalers had won a series since moving to the NHL.

====Adams Division Semi-finals====
=====(1) Quebec Nordiques vs. (4) Hartford Whalers=====
 {{NHLPlayoffs
  |team1       = Quebec Nordiques
  |team2       = Hartford Whalers
  |stadium1    = [[Colisée de Québec]]
  |stadium2    = [[Hartford Civic Center]]
  |homeright   = yes

  |date1       = April 9
  |score1      = 3 – 2
  |ot1         = 1
  |recap1      = www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/198604090QUE.html
  |home1       = 1
  |won1        = 2
  |1-1-1       = 2:44 - ''pp'' - [[Anton Šťastný|A. Stastny]] (1) - ([[Michel Goulet|Goulet]], [[Peter Andersson (ice hockey, born 1962)|Andersson]])
  |1-1-2       = [[Dean Evason|Evason]] (1) – (Unassisted) – 19:11
  |1-2-1       = ''No scoring''
  |1-2-2       = ''No scoring''
  |1-3-1       = 12:47 - [[Brent Ashton|Ashton]] (1) - ([[Peter Šťastný|P. Stastny]], [[Anton Šťastný|A. Stastny]])
  |1-3-2       = [[John Anderson (ice hockey)|Anderson]] (1) – ([[Ron Francis|Francis]], [[Kevin Dineen|Dineen]]) – 9:29
  |1-4-1       = ''No scoring''
  |1-4-2       = [[Sylvain Turgeon|Turgeon]] (1) – ([[Dean Evason|Evason]], [[Joel Quenneville|Quenneville]]) – 2:36
  |goalie1-1   = [[Clint Malarchuk|Malarchuk]] (0-1) (34 saves / 37 shots)
  |goalie1-2   = [[Mike Liut|Liut]] (1-0) (37 saves / 39 shots)

  |date2       = April 10
  |score2      = 4 – 1
  |recap2      = www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/198604100QUE.html
  |home2       = 1
  |won2        = 2
  |2-1-1       = ''No scoring''
  |2-1-2       = [[Stew Gavin|Gavin]] (1) – ([[Mike McEwen (ice hockey)|McEwen]], [[Scot Kleinendorst|Kleinendorst]]) – 3:53 <br> [[Paul MacDermid|MacDermid]] (1) – ([[Mike McEwen (ice hockey)|McEwen]], [[Doug Jarvis|Jarvis]]) – 8:51
  |2-2-1       = ''No scoring''
  |2-2-2       = [[Paul MacDermid|MacDermid]] (2) – ([[Dave Tippett|Tippett]], [[Doug Jarvis|Jarvis]]) – 8:22
  |2-3-1       = 1:39 – [[Alain Côté (ice hockey, born 1957)|Cote]] (1) – ([[Brent Ashton|Ashton]], [[Paul Gillis|Gillis]])
  |2-3-2       = [[Torrie Robertson|Robertson]] (1) – ([[Ray Ferraro|Ferraro]], [[Wayne Babych|W. Babych]]) – 16:32
  |goalie2-1   = [[Clint Malarchuk|Malarchuk]] (0-2) (27 saves / 31 shots)
  |goalie2-2   = [[Mike Liut|Liut]] (2-0) (26 saves / 27 shots)

  |date3       = April 12
  |score3      = 4 – 9
  |recap3      = www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/198604120HAR.html
  |home3       = 2
  |won3        = 2
  |3-1-1       = [[Alain Lemieux|Lemieux]] (1) – ''pp'' – ([[Michel Goulet|Goulet]], [[Robert Picard|Picard]]) – 8:40 <br> [[Brent Ashton|Ashton]] (2) – ''sh'' – ([[Pat Price (ice hockey)|Price]], [[Paul Gillis|Gillis]]) – 15:52
  |3-1-2       = 2:29 – ''pp'' – [[Kevin Dineen|Dineen]] (1) – ([[Sylvain Turgeon|Turgeon]], [[Dave Babych|D. Babych]]) <br> 5:22 – ''sh'' – [[Dave Tippett|Tippett]] (1) – ([[Ulf Samuelsson|Samuelsson]]) <br> 15:08 – [[Ron Francis|Francis]] (1) – ([[Kevin Dineen|Dineen]], [[Mike McEwen (ice hockey)|McEwen]]) <br> 19:20 – ''pp'' – [[Ray Ferraro|Ferraro]] (1) – ([[John Anderson (ice hockey)|Anderson]], [[Ron Francis|Francis]])
  |3-2-1       = [[Michel Goulet|Goulet]] (1) – ''pp'' – ([[Robert Picard|Picard]], [[Alain Lemieux|Lemieux]]) – 11:06
  |3-2-2       = 2:07 – [[Ulf Samuelsson|Samuelsson]] (1) – ([[John Anderson (ice hockey)|Anderson]]) <br> 13:08 – ''pp'' – [[Ray Ferraro|Ferraro]] (2) – ([[John Anderson (ice hockey)|Anderson]], [[Kevin Dineen|Dineen]]) <br> 13:34 – ''pp'' – [[John Anderson (ice hockey)|Anderson]] (2) – ([[Ray Ferraro|Ferraro]], [[Dave Babych|D. Babych]])
  |3-3-1       = [[Mark Kumpel|Kumpel]] (1) – ([[Risto Siltanen|Siltanen]], [[Alain Lemieux|Lemieux]]) – 11:19
  |3-3-2       = 7:00 – [[John Anderson (ice hockey)|Anderson]] (3) – ([[Kevin Dineen|Dineen]]) <br> 18:23 – [[Kevin Dineen|Dineen]] (2) – ([[John Anderson (ice hockey)|Anderson]], [[Joel Quenneville|Quenneville]])
  |goalie3-1   = [[Mario Gosselin (ice hockey)|Gosselin]] (0-1) (17 saves / 22 shots) <br> [[Clint Malarchuk|Malarchuk]] (9 saves / 13 shots)
  |goalie3-2   = [[Mike Liut|Liut]] (3-0) (29 saves / 33 shots)

  |series =Hartford wins series 3 – 0
 }}

===Canadiens 4, Whalers 3===
The Whalers faced the [[Montreal Canadiens]] in a best-of-seven series to determine the champion of the [[Adams Division]]. Montreal finished the regular season with a 40–33–7 record, earning 87 points and second place in the [[Adams Division]]. In the first round of the post-season, the Canadiens swept the [[Boston Bruins]] in three games. The Whalers and Canadiens had previously met in the post-season during the [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80]] season, as Montreal swept Hartford in the first round of the playoffs.

The series opened on April 17 at the [[Montreal Forum]] in [[Montreal]]. The two clubs skated to a scoreless first period, as [[Mike Liut]] shut the door for the Whalers, making 14 saves during the period. In the second period, Hartford opened the scoring with a goal by [[Stew Gavin]] at 4:24 to take a 1–0 lead. Just over two minutes later, the Whalers struck again, as [[Sylvain Turgeon]] scored to make it 2–0 for the Whalers. Late in the second period, [[John Anderson (ice hockey)|John Anderson]] scored on the power play, as the Whalers took a 3–0 lead into the third period. Midway through the third period, the Canadiens [[Chris Nilan]] ended the shutout bid by Liut, as he scored to cut the Whalers lead to 3–1. The Whalers [[Stew Gavin]] scored his second goal of the game as he scored an empty net goal with 58 seconds left in the period, as Hartford won the game 4–1 and took a 1–0 series lead.

The second game of the series was played on April 19 in Montreal. In the first period, the Canadiens scored first, as [[Stephane Richer (ice hockey forward)|Stephane Richer]] scored on the power play at 12:33 of the period. Just under five minutes later, [[Guy Carbonneau]] of the Canadiens scored to make it 2–0. The Canadiens dominated the Whalers in the first period, outshooting them 15–2. In the second period, the Canadiens [[Guy Carbonneau]] scored his second goal of the game 6:12 into the period, making it 3–0 for Montreal. The Whalers responded with a power play goal by [[Ray Ferraro]] just over a minute later, as Hartford cut the Canadiens lead to 3–1. This would be as close as Hartford would get, as the Canadiens shut down the Whalers for the rest of the game, winning the contest 3–1 and tying the series up at 1–1.

The series shifted to the [[Hartford Civic Center]] for game three, played on April 21. Montreal opened the scoring early in the first period on a goal by [[Kjell Dahlin]] to take a 1–0 lead. Late in the period, the Canadiens [[Stephane Richer (ice hockey forward)|Stephane Richer]] scored on the power play, as Montreal took a 2–0 lead into the first intermission. The Canadiens struck again, as early in the second period, [[Claude Lemieux]] scored as Montreal took a 3–0 lead in the game. The Whalers [[Dave Tippett]] scored just 32 seconds after Lemieux, cutting the Canadiens lead to 3–1. In the third period, Montreal continued to hold off the Whalers, then [[Guy Carbonneau]] scored an empty net goal late in the period, as Montreal won the game 4–1 and took a 2–1 series lead over Hartford.

The fourth game of the series was played on April 23 in Hartford. The Whalers opened the scoring at 13:53 of the first period, as [[Stew Gavin]] scored against [[Patrick Roy]] of the Canadiens to give Hartford a 1–0 lead. The two clubs played very tight defensively, as after two periods, the score remained 1-0 Hartford, as the shot count was 12-11 for Montreal through two periods. In the third period, the Canadiens [[Mats Naslund]] scored a power play goal at 12:22, as Montreal tied the game 1-1, sending the game into overtime. In the extra period, the Whalers [[Kevin Dineen]] scored 1:07 into the period, leading Hartford to a 2–1 victory and tying the series at 2–2.

The series shifted back to Montreal for the fifth game, played on April 25. Only 2:05 into the game, the Canadiens [[Claude Lemieux]] scored a power play goal, giving the Canadiens a 1–0 lead. At 8:26 of the first period, Montreal's [[Guy Carbonneau]] scored a shorthanded goal, followed by a second power play goal by the Canadiens, this time by [[Mats Naslund]], as Montreal took an early 3–0 in the game. With under five minutes remaining in the period, the Whalers [[Kevin Dineen]] scored, as Montreal took a 3–1 lead after the first period. In the second period, the Whalers [[Kevin Dineen]] scored his second goal of the game at 14:14, cutting the Canadiens lead down to 3–2. Just under two minutes later, [[Mike Lalor]] scored for the Canadiens, as Montreal took a 4–2 lead after two periods. Midway through the third period, the Whalers [[John Anderson (ice hockey)|John Anderson]] scored, as Hartford trailed Montreal by a score of 4–3. The Canadiens managed to hold off the Whalers, as [[Guy Carbonneau]] scored a late goal, as Montreal won the game 5-3 and took a 3–2 series lead.

The series returned to Hartford for the sixth game, with the Whalers facing elimination. The game was played on April 27. In the first period, Montreal fired 14 shots at [[Mike Liut]], however, Liut stopped them all as the game remained scoreless after the first period. In the second period, [[Dean Evason]] finally broke through for the Whalers, as he scored at the 7:30 mark of the period, giving the Whalers a 1–0 lead. The Whalers took this lead into the third period. In the third period, the Whalers were able to hold off the Canadiens, as [[Mike Liut]] made 32 saves for his first career playoff shutout, as the Whalers defeated the Canadiens 1–0 and tied the series up at 3–3.

The seventh and final game of the series was played back in Montreal on April 29. With only 13 seconds left in the first period, the Canadiens [[Mike McPhee]] scored a shorthanded goal, giving the Canadiens a 1–0 lead. The game was played very tight defensively, as Montreal held on to their 1–0 lead late into the third period. The Whalers [[Dave Babych]] broke the shutout bid by [[Patrick Roy]] with under three minutes left in the game, as Hartford tied the game 1-1, sending the contest into overtime. In the extra period, the Canadiens [[Claude Lemieux]] scored on [[Mike Liut]] 5:55 into the extra period, as Montreal won the game 2–1 and won the series, eliminating the Whalers from the post-season.

====Adams Division Finals====
=====(2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (4) Hartford Whalers=====
 {{NHLPlayoffs
  |team1       = Montreal Canadiens
  |team2       = Hartford Whalers
  |stadium1    = [[Montreal Forum]]
  |stadium2    = [[Hartford Civic Center]]
  |homeright   = yes

  |date1       = April 17
  |score1      = 4 – 1
  |recap1      = www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/198604170MTL.html
  |home1       = 1
  |won1        = 2
  |1-1-1       = ''No scoring''
  |1-1-2       = [[Stew Gavin|Gavin]] (2) – ([[Dean Evason|Evason]], [[Sylvain Turgeon|Turgeon]]) – 4:24 <br> [[Sylvain Turgeon|Turgeon]] (2) – ([[Stew Gavin|Gavin]], [[Mike McEwen (ice hockey)|McEwen]]) – 6:44 <br> [[John Anderson (ice hockey)|Anderson]] (4) – ''pp'' – ([[Kevin Dineen|Dineen]], [[Ray Ferraro|Ferraro]]) – 17:21
  |1-2-1       = ''No scoring''
  |1-2-2       = ''No scoring''
  |1-3-1       = 10:42 – ''pp'' – [[Chris Nilan|Nilan]] (1) – ([[Mats Näslund|Naslund]], [[Rick Green (ice hockey)|Green]])
  |1-3-2       = [[Stew Gavin|Gavin]] (3) – ''en'' – ([[Doug Jarvis|Jarvis]], [[Dave Tippett|Tippett]]) – 19:02
  |goalie1-1   = [[Patrick Roy|Roy]] (3-1) (19 saves / 22 shots)
  |goalie1-2   = [[Mike Liut|Liut]] (4-0) (26 saves / 27 shots)

  |date2       = April 19
  |score2      = 1 – 3
  |recap2      = www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/198604190MTL.html
  |home2       = 1
  |won2        = 1
  |2-1-1       = 12:33 – ''pp'' – [[Stéphane Richer (ice hockey forward)|Richer]] (2) – ([[Kjell Dahlin|Dahlin]], [[Larry Robinson|Robinson]]) <br> 17:04 – [[Guy Carbonneau|Carbonneau]] (1) – ([[Chris Nilan|Nilan]])
  |2-1-2       = ''No scoring''
  |2-2-1       = 6:12 – [[Guy Carbonneau|Carbonneau]] (2) – ([[Rick Green (ice hockey)|Green]])
  |2-2-2       = [[Ray Ferraro|Ferraro]] (3) – ''pp'' – ([[Kevin Dineen|Dineen]], [[John Anderson (ice hockey)|Anderson]]) – 7:17
  |2-3-1       = ''No scoring''
  |2-3-2       = ''No scoring''
  |goalie2-1   = [[Patrick Roy|Roy]] (4-1) (24 saves / 25 shots)
  |goalie2-2   = [[Mike Liut|Liut]] (4-1) (27 saves / 30 shots)

  |date3       = April 21
  |score3      = 4 – 1
  |recap3      = www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/198604210HAR.html
  |home3       = 2
  |won3        = 1
  |3-1-1       = [[Kjell Dahlin|Dahlin]] (1) – ([[Bobby Smith (ice hockey)|Smith]], [[Mats Näslund|Naslund]]) – 4:48 <br> [[Stéphane Richer (ice hockey forward)|Richer]] – (3) – ''pp'' – ([[Larry Robinson|Robinson]], [[Kjell Dahlin|Dahlin]]) – 18:43
  |3-1-2       = ''No scoring''
  |3-2-1       = [[Claude Lemieux|Lemieux]] (4) – ([[Brian Skrudland|Skrudland]]) – 4:09
  |3-2-2       = 4:32 – [[Dave Tippett|Tippett]] (2) – ([[Ray Ferraro|Ferraro]], [[Paul MacDermid|MacDermid]])
  |3-3-1       = [[Guy Carbonneau|Carbonneau]] (3) – ''en'' – (Unassisted) – 18:38
  |3-3-2       = ''No scoring''
  |goalie3-1   = [[Patrick Roy|Roy]] (5-1) (20 saves / 21 shots)
  |goalie3-2   = [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] (0-1) (13 saves / 15 shots) <br> [[Mike Liut|Liut]] (5 saves / 6 shots)

  |date4       = April 23
  |score4      = 1 – 2
  |ot4         = 1
  |recap4      = www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/198604230HAR.html
  |home4       = 2
  |won4        = 2
  |4-1-1       = ''No scoring''
  |4-1-2       = 13:53 – [[Stew Gavin|Gavin]] (4) – ([[Sylvain Turgeon|Turgeon]], [[Dean Evason|Evason]])
  |4-2-1       = ''No scoring''
  |4-2-2       = ''No scoring''
  |4-3-1       = [[Mats Näslund|Naslund]] (2) – ''pp'' – ([[Bob Gainey|Gainey]], [[Bobby Smith (ice hockey)|Smith]]) – 12:22
  |4-3-2       = ''No scoring''
  |4-4-1       = ''No scoring''
  |4-4-2       = 1:07 – [[Kevin Dineen|Dineen]] (3) – (Unassisted)
  |goalie4-1   = [[Patrick Roy|Roy]] (5-2) (22 saves / 24 shots)
  |goalie4-2   = [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] (1-1) (18 saves / 19 shots)

  |date5       = April 25
  |score5      = 3 – 5
  |recap5      = www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/198604250MTL.html
  |home5       = 1
  |won5        = 1
  |5-1-1       = 2:05 – ''pp'' – [[Claude Lemieux|Lemieux]] (5) – ([[Chris Chelios|Chelios]], [[Larry Robinson|Robinson]]) <br> 8:26 – ''sh'' – [[Guy Carbonneau|Carbonneau]] (4) – ([[Bob Gainey|Gainey]], [[Craig Ludwig|Ludwig]]) <br> 12:44 – ''pp'' – [[Mats Näslund|Naslund]] (3) – ([[Bobby Smith (ice hockey)|Smith]], [[Bob Gainey|Gainey]])
  |5-1-2       = [[Kevin Dineen|Dineen]] (4) – ([[Ray Ferraro|Ferraro]], [[John Anderson (ice hockey)|Anderson]]) – 15:46
  |5-2-1       = 16:03 – [[Mike Lalor|Lalor]] (1) – ([[Larry Robinson|Robinson]], [[Kjell Dahlin|Dahlin]])
  |5-2-2       = [[Kevin Dineen|Dineen]] (5) – ([[John Anderson (ice hockey)|Anderson]], [[Ulf Samuelsson|Samuelsson]]) – 14:14
  |5-3-1       = 18:41 – [[Guy Carbonneau|Carbonneau]] (5) – ([[Chris Nilan|Nilan]], [[Rick Green (ice hockey)|Green]])
  |5-3-2       = [[John Anderson (ice hockey)|Anderson]] (5) – ([[Ray Ferraro|Ferraro]], [[Kevin Dineen|Dineen]]) – 9:58
  |goalie5-1   = [[Patrick Roy|Roy]] (6-2) (20 saves / 23 shots)
  |goalie5-2   = [[Steve Weeks|Weeks]] (1-2) (25 saves / 30 shots)

  |date6       = April 27
  |score6      = 0 – 1
  |recap6      = www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/198604270HAR.html
  |home6       = 2
  |won6        = 2
  |6-1-1       = ''No scoring''
  |6-1-2       = ''No scoring''
  |6-2-1       = ''No scoring''
  |6-2-2       = 7:30 – [[Kevin Dineen|Dineen]] (6) – ([[John Anderson (ice hockey)|Anderson]], [[Dave Babych|D. Babych]])
  |6-3-1       = ''No scoring''
  |6-3-2       = ''No scoring''
  |goalie6-1   = [[Patrick Roy|Roy]] (6-3) (16 saves / 17 shots)
  |goalie6-2   = [[Mike Liut|Liut]] (5-1) (32 saves / 32 shots)

  |date7       = April 29
  |score7      = 1 – 2
  |ot7         = 1
  |recap7      = www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/198604290MTL.html
  |home7       = 1
  |won7        = 1
  |7-1-1       = 18:47 – ''sh'' – [[Mike McPhee|McPhee]] (2) – (Unassisted)
  |7-1-2       = ''No scoring''
  |7-2-1       = ''No scoring''
  |7-2-2       = ''No scoring''
  |7-3-1       = ''No scoring''
  |7-3-2       = [[Dave Babych|D. Babych]] (1) – ([[Dean Evason|Evason]]) – 17:12
  |7-4-1       = 5:55 – [[Claude Lemieux|Lemieux]] (6) – ([[Mike McPhee|McPhee]], [[Brian Skrudland|Skrudland]])
  |7-4-2       = ''No scoring''
  |goalie7-1   = [[Patrick Roy|Roy]] (7-3) (24 saves / 25 shots)
  |goalie7-2   = [[Mike Liut|Liut]] (5-2) (30 saves / 32 shots)

  |series =Montreal wins series 4 – 3
 }}

== Player statistics ==

=== Skaters ===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 5px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 5px solid;"|Regular season<ref>{{cite web |title=1985–86 Regular season – Hartford Whalers Stats – Skaters |url=https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=season&seasonFrom=19851986&seasonTo=19851986&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.26&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=points,goals,assists&page=0&pageSize=50 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=January 14, 2024}}</ref>
! Player
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}}
! {{abbr|G|Goals}}
! {{abbr|A|Assists}}
! {{abbr|Pts|Points}}
! data-sort-type="number"|{{abbr|+/−|Plus/minus}}
! {{abbr|PIM|Penalty minutes}}
|-
| {{sortname|Sylvain|Turgeon}} || 76 || 45 || 34 || 79 || +1 || 88
|-
| {{sortname|Ron|Francis}} || 53 || 24 || 53 || 77 || +8 || 24
|-
| {{sortname|Ray|Ferraro}} || 76 || 30 || 47 || 77 || +10 || 57
|-
| {{sortname|Kevin|Dineen}} || 57 || 33  || 35 || 68 || +16 || 124
|-
| {{sortname|Stewart|Gavin}} || 76 || 26 || 29 || 55 || +12 || 51
|-
| {{sortname|Dave|Babych}}<sup>†</sup> || 62 || 10 || 43 || 53 || +2 || 36
|-
| {{sortname|Dean|Evason}} || 55 || 20 || 28 || 48 || +12 || 65
|-
| {{sortname|Paul|Lawless}} || 64 || 17 || 21 || 38 || −3 || 20
|-
| {{sortname|Torrie|Robertson}} || 76 || 13 || 24 || 37 || −11 || 358
|-
| {{sortname|Bob|Crawford|dab=ice hockey}}<sup>‡</sup> || 57 || 14 || 20 || 34 || −16 || 16
|-
| {{sortname|Dave|Tippett}} || 80 || 14 || 20 || 34 || +9 || 18
|-
| {{sortname|Risto|Siltanen}}<sup>‡</sup> || 52 || 8 || 22 || 30 || +2 || 30
|-
| {{sortname|Wayne|Babych}}<sup>†</sup> || 37 || 11 || 17 || 28 || +6 || 59
|-
| {{sortname|Dana|Murzyn}} || 78 || 3 || 23 || 26 || +1 || 125
|-
| {{sortname|John|Anderson|dab=ice hockey}}<sup>†</sup> || 14 || 8 || 17 || 25 || +18 || 2
|-
| {{sortname|Joel|Quenneville}} || 80 || 5 || 19 || 24 || +21 || 83
|-
| {{sortname|Doug|Jarvis}}<sup>†</sup> || 57 || 8 || 16 || 24 || +7 || 20
|-
| {{sortname|Ulf|Samuelsson}} || 80 || 5 || 19 || 24 || +7 || 174
|-
| {{sortname|Paul|MacDermid}} || 74 || 13 || 10 || 23 || +1 || 160
|-
| {{sortname|Ray|Neufeld}}<sup>‡</sup> || 16 || 5 || 10 || 15 || −3 || 40
|-
| {{sortname|Greg|Malone|dab=ice hockey}}<sup>‡</sup> || 22 || 6 || 7 || 13 || −5 || 24
|-
| {{sortname|Jörgen|Pettersson|dab=ice hockey}}<sup>‡</sup> || 23 || 5 || 5 || 10 || −11 || 2
|-
| {{sortname|Tim|Bothwell}} || 62 || 2 || 8 || 10 || +11 || 53
|-
| {{sortname|Bill|Gardner|dab=ice hockey}}<sup>†</sup> || 18 || 1 || 8 || 9 || −6 || 4
|-
| {{sortname|Scot|Kleinendorst}} || 41 || 2 || 7 || 9 || +8 || 62
|-
| {{sortname|Mike|McEwen|dab=ice hockey}}<sup>†</sup> || 10 || 3 || 2 || 5 || +5 || 6
|-
| {{sortname|Mike|Hoffman|dab=ice hockey, born 1963}} || 6 || 1 || 2 || 3 || −1 || 2
|-
| {{sortname|Brad|Shaw}} || 8 || 0 || 2 || 2 || −1 || 4
|-
| {{sortname|Mike|Zuke}} || 17 || 0 || 2 || 2 || −2 || 12
|-
| {{sortname|Paul|Fenton|dab=ice hockey}} || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || +1 || 0
|-
| {{sortname|Sylvain|Côté}} || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || +1 || 0
|-
| {{sortname|John|Newberry|dab=ice hockey}} || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || −4 || 0
|-
| {{sortname|Mark|Paterson|dab=ice hockey}} || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || −5 || 5
|-
| {{sortname|Jack|Brownschidle}} || 9 || 0 || 0 || 0 || −4 || 4
|}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000461986.html |title=Hartford Whalers 1985-86 roster and statistics |website=hockeydb.com}}</ref>
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 5px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 5px solid;"|Playoffs<ref>{{cite web |title=1985–86 Playoffs – Hartford Whalers Stats – Skaters |url=https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=season&seasonFrom=19851986&seasonTo=19851986&gameType=3&playerPlayedFor=franchise.26&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=points,goals,assists&page=0&pageSize=50 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=January 14, 2024}}</ref>
! Player
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}}
! {{abbr|G|Goals}}
! {{abbr|A|Assists}}
! {{abbr|Pts|Points}}
! data-sort-type="number"|{{abbr|+/−|Plus/minus}}
! {{abbr|PIM|Penalty minutes}}
|-
| {{sortname|Kevin|Dineen}} || 10 || 6 || 7 || 13 || +2 || 18
|-
| {{sortname|John|Anderson|dab=ice hockey}} || 10 || 5 || 8 || 13 || +3 || 0
|-
| {{sortname|Ray|Ferraro}} || 10 || 3 || 6 || 9 || −1 || 4
|-
| {{sortname|Sylvain|Turgeon}} || 9 || 2 || 3 || 5 || +2 || 4
|-
| {{sortname|Stewart|Gavin}} || 10 || 4 || 1 || 5 || +6 || 13
|-
| {{sortname|Dean|Evason}} || 10 || 1 || 4 || 5 || +4 || 10
|-
| {{sortname|Mike|McEwen|dab=ice hockey}} || 8 || 0 || 4 || 4 || −1 || 6
|-
| {{sortname|Dave|Babych}} || 8 || 1 || 3 || 4 || −1 || 14
|-
| {{sortname|Dave|Tippett}} || 10 || 2 || 2 || 4 || +3 || 4
|-
| {{sortname|Ulf|Samuelsson}} || 10 || 1 || 2 || 3 || +5 || 38
|-
| {{sortname|Paul|MacDermid}} || 10 || 2 || 1 || 3 || +1 || 20
|-
| {{sortname|Doug|Jarvis}} || 10 || 0 || 3 || 3 || +1 || 4
|-
| {{sortname|Ron|Francis}} || 10 || 1 || 2 || 3 || −1 || 4
|-
| {{sortname|Joel|Quenneville}} || 10 || 0 || 2 || 2 || +7 || 12
|-
| {{sortname|Torrie|Robertson}} || 10 || 1 || 0 || 1 || −1 || 67
|-
| {{sortname|Scot|Kleinendorst}} || 10 || 0 || 1 || 1 || +6 || 18
|-
| {{sortname|Wayne|Babych}} || 10 || 0 || 1 || 1 || −2 || 2
|-
| {{sortname|Paul|Lawless}} || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| {{sortname|Dana|Murzyn}} || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || +2 || 10
|-
| {{sortname|Tim|Bothwell}} || 10 || 0 || 0 || 0 || +2 || 8
|}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000461986.html |title=Hartford Whalers 1985-86 roster and statistics |website=hockeydb.com}}</ref>
{{col-end}}

=== Goaltenders ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 5px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 5px solid;"|Regular season<ref>{{cite web |title=1985–86 Regular season – Hartford Whalers Stats – Goalies |url=https://www.nhl.com/stats/goalies?reportType=season&seasonFrom=19851986&seasonTo=19851986&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.26&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=wins,savePct&page=0&pageSize=50 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=January 14, 2024}}</ref>
! Player
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}}
! {{abbr|GS|Games started}}
! {{abbr|TOI|Time on ice}}
! {{abbr|W|Win}}
! {{abbr|L|Loss}}
! {{abbr|T|Tie}}
! {{abbr|GA|Goals against}}
! {{abbr|GAA|Goals against average}}
! {{abbr|SA|Shots against}}
! {{abbr|SV%|Save percentage}}
! {{abbr|SO|Shutouts}}
! {{abbr|G|Goals}}
! {{abbr|A|Assists}}
! {{abbr|PIM|Penalty minutes}}
|-
| {{sortname|Mike|Liut}} || 57 || 56 || 3277:35 || 27 || 23 || 4 || 197 || 3.61 || 1,569 || .874 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 0
|-
| {{sortname|Steve|Weeks}} || 27 || 24 || 1542:20 || 13 || 13 || 0 || 99 || 3.85 || 721 || .863 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 9
|}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000461986.html |title=Hartford Whalers 1985-86 roster and statistics |website=hockeydb.com}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#009A44 5px solid; border-bottom:#005EB8 5px solid;"|Playoffs<ref>{{cite web |title=1985–86 Playoffs – Hartford Whalers Stats – Goalies |url=https://www.nhl.com/stats/goalies?reportType=season&seasonFrom=19851986&seasonTo=19859186&gameType=3&playerPlayedFor=franchise.26&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=wins,savePct&page=0&pageSize=50 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=January 14, 2024}}</ref>
! Player
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} 
! {{abbr|GS|Games started}} 
! {{abbr|TOI|Time on ice}} 
! {{abbr|W|Win}}
! {{abbr|L|Loss}}
! {{abbr|GA|Goals against}}
! {{abbr|GAA|Goals against average}}
! {{abbr|SA|Shots against}}
! {{abbr|SV%|Save percentage}}
! {{abbr|SO|Shutouts}}
! {{abbr|G|Goals}}
! {{abbr|A|Assists}}
! {{abbr|PIM|Penalty minutes}}
|-
| {{sortname|Mike|Liut}} || 8 || 8 || 439:29 || 5 || 2 || 14 || 1.91 || 212 || .938 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| {{sortname|Steve|Weeks}} || 3 || 2 || 167:33 || 1 || 2 || 8 || 2.86 || 56 || .875 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000461986.html |title=Hartford Whalers 1985-86 roster and statistics |website=hockeydb.com}}</ref>
<sup>†</sup>Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Whalers. Stats reflect time with the Whalers only.
<br /><sup>‡</sup>Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Whalers only.
<br />Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

==Transactions==
The Whalers were involved in the following transactions during the [[1985–86 NHL season|1985–86]] season.

===Trades===
{|class="wikitable"
|- 
| October 4, 1985
|  valign="top"|To [[St. Louis Blues]]<hr>Cash
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>[[Tim Bothwell]]
|- style="background:#eee;"
| October 7, 1985
|  valign="top"|To [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]<hr>[[Chris Kotsopoulos]]
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>[[Stew Gavin]]
|-
| November 21, 1985
|  valign="top"|To [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]]<hr>[[Ray Neufeld]]
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>[[Dave Babych]]
|- style="background:#eee;"
| December 6, 1985
|  valign="top"|To [[Washington Capitals]]<hr>[[Jorgen Pettersson (ice hockey)|Jorgen Pettersson]]
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>[[Doug Jarvis]]
|-
| January 17, 1986
|  valign="top"|To [[Quebec Nordiques]]<hr>[[Greg Malone (ice hockey)|Greg Malone]]
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>[[Wayne Babych]]
|- style="background:#eee;"
| February 3, 1986
|  valign="top"|To [[Chicago Black Hawks]]<hr>3rd round pick in [[1987 NHL Entry Draft|1987]] – [[Mike Dagenais]]
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>[[Bill Gardner (ice hockey)|Bill Gardner]]
|-
| March 8, 1986
|  valign="top"|To [[Quebec Nordiques]]<hr>[[Risto Siltanen]]
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>[[John Anderson (ice hockey)|John Anderson]]
|- style="background:#eee;"
| March 11, 1986
|  valign="top"|To [[New York Rangers]]<hr>[[Bob Crawford (ice hockey, born 1959)|Bob Crawford]]
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>[[Mike McEwen (ice hockey)|Mike McEwen]]
|}

===Free agents===
{|class="wikitable"
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#ddd;"
| '''Player''' || '''Former Team'''
|-
| [[John Newberry (ice hockey)|John Newberry]] || [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|}

==Media==
===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Television
|-
! '''Channel''' !! '''Play-by-play''' !! '''Color commentator(s)'''
|-
| [[NBC Sports Boston|SportsChannel New England]] || rowspan="2" |[[Rick Peckham]] || rowspan="2" |[[Gerry Cheevers]] and [[Don Blackburn]]
|-
| [[WVIT]]–TV 30
|}

===Radio===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Radio
|-
! '''Flagship Station''' !! '''Play-by-play''' !! '''Color commentator(s)'''
|-
| [[WTIC (AM)|WTIC]]–AM 1080 || [[Chuck Kaiton]] || [[André Lacroix (ice hockey)|Andre Lacroix]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}<!--added under references heading by script-assisted edit-->

==External links==
*[https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/HAR/1986.html 1985-86 Hartford Whalers at Hockey Reference]

{{Hartford Whalers seasons}}
{{1985–86 NHL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1985-86 Hartford Whalers season}}
[[Category:Hartford Whalers seasons]]
[[Category:1985–86 NHL season by team|Hartford]]
[[Category:1980s in Hartford, Connecticut]]
[[Category:1985 in sports in Connecticut|Hartford]]
[[Category:1986 in sports in Connecticut|Hartford]]