# 1981–82 Los Angeles Kings season

The 1981–82 Los Angeles Kings season, was the Kings' 15th season in the National Hockey League. It saw the Kings make the playoffs, winning the first round before falling in the second round to the Vancouver Canucks. The first round upset of the heavily favored Edmonton Oilers is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in NHL history.

## Offseason

The Kings were moved to the Smythe Division. The Kings now were in a division with western teams.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS |
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 48 | 17 | 15 | 417 | 295 | 111 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 30 | 33 | 17 | 290 | 286 | 77 |
| Calgary Flames | 80 | 29 | 34 | 17 | 334 | 345 | 75 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 24 | 41 | 15 | 314 | 369 | 63 |
| Colorado Rockies | 80 | 18 | 49 | 13 | 241 | 362 | 49 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Smythe Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Smythe Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CGY
COL
EDM
LAK
VAN
Total
Calgary
—6−22−5−14−3−13−3−215−13−4
Colorado
2−6—2−5−12−4−22−4−28−19−5
Edmonton
5−2−15−2−1—5−1−25−2−120−7−5
Los Angeles
3−4−14−2−21−5−2—3−2−311−13−8
Vancouver
3−3−24−2−22−5−12−3−3—11−13−8
Vs. Norris Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
WIN
Total
Calgary
0−2−11−1−10−1−21−21−0−21−24−8−6
Colorado
2−10−30−1−21−20−1−21−24−10−4
Edmonton
1−1−12−0−12−0−13−02−12−112−3−3
Los Angeles
0−32−10−2−12−11−20−35−12−1
Vancouver
2−11−1−11−1−11−22−0−12−19−6−3
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Calgary
1−1−12−0−12−11−23−09−4−2
Colorado
0−30−32−0−10−2−11−23−10−2
Edmonton
0−1−22−12−0−10−1−21−25−5−5
Los Angeles
0−31−20−2−11−21−0−23−9−3
Vancouver
1−21−1−12−0−11−21−1−16−6−3
Vs. Patrick Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Calgary
0−1−20−2−10−31−0−20−31−9−5
Colorado
0−2−10−2−11−20−32−13−10−2
Edmonton
1−1−13−02−13−02−0−111−2−2
Los Angeles
2−11−20−2−11−1−11−1−15−7−3
Vancouver
1−20−32−0–10–2−11−1−14–8–3 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 7, 1981 | 1–4 | New York Islanders (1981–82) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | L | October 10, 1981 | 4–7 | Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 0–2–0 |
| 3 | W | October 13, 1981 | 4–3 | Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | W | October 15, 1981 | 10–2 | Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | L | October 17, 1981 | 4–5 | Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 2–3–0 |
| 6 | W | October 20, 1981 | 9–6 | @ New York Islanders (1981–82) | 3–3–0 |
| 7 | W | October 21, 1981 | 5–2 | @ New York Rangers (1981–82) | 4–3–0 |
| 8 | L | October 24, 1981 | 3–6 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 4–4–0 |
| 9 | L | October 25, 1981 | 4–9 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 4–5–0 |
| 10 | W | October 27, 1981 | 8–7 | Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 5–5–0 |
| 11 | W | October 29, 1981 | 4–3 | Washington Capitals (1981–82) | 6–5–0 |
| 12 | L | October 31, 1981 | 4–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 6–6–0 |
| 13 | L | November 4, 1981 | 4–5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 6–7–0 |
| 14 | L | November 5, 1981 | 2–10 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 6–8–0 |
| 15 | L | November 7, 1981 | 4–9 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 6–9–0 |
| 16 | W | November 10, 1981 | 4–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 7–9–0 |
| 17 | W | November 12, 1981 | 5–2 | St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 8–9–0 |
| 18 | L | November 14, 1981 | 2–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 8–10–0 |
| 19 | W | November 18, 1981 | 8–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 9–10–0 |
| 20 | L | November 19, 1981 | 3–6 | @ Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 9–11–0 |
| 21 | L | November 21, 1981 | 1–7 | Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) | 9–12–0 |
| 22 | L | November 25, 1981 | 4–11 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 9–13–0 |
| 23 | L | November 26, 1981 | 1–7 | @ Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 9–14–0 |
| 24 | W | November 28, 1981 | 3–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 10–14–0 |
| 25 | L | December 2, 1981 | 3–4 | New York Rangers (1981–82) | 10–15–0 |
| 26 | L | December 5, 1981 | 2–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 10–16–0 |
| 27 | T | December 9, 1981 | 5–5 | Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 10–16–1 |
| 28 | W | December 12, 1981 | 7–5 | Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 11–16–1 |
| 29 | W | December 15, 1981 | 4–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) | 12–16–1 |
| 30 | L | December 16, 1981 | 6–7 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 12–17–1 |
| 31 | T | December 19, 1981 | 5–5 | @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 12–17–2 |
| 32 | L | December 20, 1981 | 4–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 12–18–2 |
| 33 | L | December 22, 1981 | 2–4 | @ Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 12–19–2 |
| 34 | W | December 23, 1981 | 8–4 | Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 13–19–2 |
| 35 | T | December 26, 1981 | 2–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 13–19–3 |
| 36 | L | December 27, 1981 | 3–10 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 13–20–3 |
| 37 | L | December 30, 1981 | 2–3 | @ Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 13–21–3 |
| 38 | T | January 2, 1982 | 5–5 | Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 13–21–4 |
| 39 | L | January 5, 1982 | 3–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 13–22–4 |
| 40 | T | January 7, 1982 | 3–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1981–82) | 13–22–5 |
| 41 | L | January 9, 1982 | 3–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 13–23–5 |
| 42 | L | January 10, 1982 | 4–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) | 13–24–5 |
| 43 | L | January 12, 1982 | 1–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 13–25–5 |
| 44 | L | January 14, 1982 | 2–5 | @ Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 13–26–5 |
| 45 | T | January 15, 1982 | 3–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 13–26–6 |
| 46 | T | January 19, 1982 | 4–4 | Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 13–26–7 |
| 47 | T | January 21, 1982 | 3–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 13–26–8 |
| 48 | T | January 23, 1982 | 3–3 | @ Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 13–26–9 |
| 49 | T | January 24, 1982 | 5–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 13–26–10 |
| 50 | T | January 27, 1982 | 4–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 13–26–11 |
| 51 | W | January 30, 1982 | 7–4 | St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 14–26–11 |
| 52 | L | January 31, 1982 | 3–6 | New York Rangers (1981–82) | 14–27–11 |
| 53 | L | February 2, 1982 | 3–5 | Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 14–28–11 |
| 54 | W | February 6, 1982 | 5–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 15–28–11 |
| 55 | L | February 7, 1982 | 2–7 | Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 15–29–11 |
| 56 | T | February 11, 1982 | 4–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 15–29–12 |
| 57 | T | February 13, 1982 | 3–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 15–29–13 |
| 58 | L | February 14, 1982 | 4–6 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 15–30–13 |
| 59 | L | February 17, 1982 | 2–5 | Washington Capitals (1981–82) | 15–31–13 |
| 60 | W | February 20, 1982 | 6–2 | Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 16–31–13 |
| 61 | W | February 24, 1982 | 5–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 17–31–13 |
| 62 | L | February 27, 1982 | 3–5 | Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 17–32–13 |
| 63 | T | March 1, 1982 | 5–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 17–32–14 |
| 64 | W | March 3, 1982 | 4–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 18–32–14 |
| 65 | L | March 6, 1982 | 0–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 18–33–14 |
| 66 | L | March 7, 1982 | 6–7 | @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 18–34–14 |
| 67 | W | March 9, 1982 | 2–0 | @ Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 19–34–14 |
| 68 | W | March 10, 1982 | 3–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 20–34–14 |
| 69 | W | March 13, 1982 | 3–0 | New York Islanders (1981–82) | 21–34–14 |
| 70 | T | March 15, 1982 | 3–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 21–34–15 |
| 71 | W | March 17, 1982 | 9–4 | Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 22–34–15 |
| 72 | W | March 20, 1982 | 7–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 23–34–15 |
| 73 | L | March 22, 1982 | 2–4 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 23–35–15 |
| 74 | L | March 24, 1982 | 3–5 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 23–36–15 |
| 75 | W | March 27, 1982 | 9–4 | Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 24–36–15 |
| 76 | L | March 28, 1982 | 2–6 | Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 24–37–15 |
| 77 | L | March 30, 1982 | 5–7 | @ Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 24–38–15 |
| 78 | L | March 31, 1982 | 3–7 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 24–39–15 |
| 79 | L | April 3, 1982 | 0–6 | Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 24–40–15 |
| 80 | L | April 4, 1982 | 4–7 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 24–41–15 |

## Playoffs

Miracle on Manchester

## Player statistics

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Marcel Dionne | C | 78 | 50 | 67 | 117 | 50 | -10 | 17 | 1 | 5 |
| Dave Taylor | RW | 78 | 39 | 67 | 106 | 130 | -4 | 13 | 0 | 3 |
| Jim Fox | RW | 77 | 30 | 38 | 68 | 23 | -15 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Larry Murphy | D | 79 | 22 | 44 | 66 | 95 | -13 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| Steve Bozek | LW | 71 | 33 | 23 | 56 | 68 | -6 | 10 | 0 | 5 |
| Mark Hardy | D | 77 | 6 | 39 | 45 | 130 | -12 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Charlie Simmer | LW | 50 | 15 | 24 | 39 | 42 | -7 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Greg Terrion | LW | 61 | 15 | 22 | 37 | 23 | -12 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Dan Bonar | C | 79 | 13 | 23 | 36 | 111 | -4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bernie Nicholls | C | 22 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 27 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Doug Smith | C | 80 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 64 | -13 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Steve Jensen | LW | 45 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 19 | -14 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ian Turnbull | D | 42 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 81 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| John Paul Kelly | LW | 70 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 100 | -21 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jerry Korab | D | 50 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 91 | -19 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Murphy | RW | 28 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Dean Hopkins | RW | 41 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 102 | -20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Lewis | D | 64 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 75 | -19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trevor Johansen | D | 46 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 69 | -14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Chartraw | D/RW | 33 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 56 | -11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jay Wells | D | 60 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 145 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daryl Evans | LW | 14 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Hangsleben | D | 18 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 65 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Mulvey | LW | 11 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre St. Laurent | C | 16 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Billy Harris | RW | 16 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Martin | LW | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Gruhl | LW | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Sims | D | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Warren Holmes | C | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mario Lessard | G | 52 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Robert Palmer | D | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Blake | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Gibson | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glenn Goldup | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Keans | G | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Morrison | RW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Rutherford | G | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Sheehan | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Mario Lessard | 2933 | 52 | 13 | 28 | 8 | 213 | 4.36 | 2 |
| Doug Keans | 1436 | 31 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 103 | 4.30 | 0 |
| Jim Rutherford | 380 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 6.79 | 0 |
| Mike Blake | 51 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2.35 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 24 | 41 | 15 | 361 | 4.51 | 2 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Daryl Evans | LW | 10 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Marcel Dionne | C | 10 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Charlie Simmer | LW | 10 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Dave Taylor | RW | 10 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Murphy | D | 10 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Bozek | LW | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Doug Smith | C | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dan Bonar | C | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Fox | RW | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bernie Nicholls | C | 10 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jay Wells | D | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dean Hopkins | RW | 10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Lewis | D | 10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Murphy | RW | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Hardy | D | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Chartraw | D/RW | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jerry Korab | D | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mario Lessard | G | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Paul Kelly | LW | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Keans | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brock Tredway | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Mario Lessard | 583 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 41 | 4.22 | 0 |
| Doug Keans | 32 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.88 | 0 |
| Team: | 615 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 42 | 4.10 | 0 |
    Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
    Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

## Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1981–82 season.

### Trades

| August 10, 1981 | To Los Angeles Kings5th round pick in 1983 – Garry Galley | To Edmonton OilersJay McFarlane |
| August 10, 1981 | To Los Angeles KingsBob Gladney 6th round pick in 1983 – Kevin Stevens | To Toronto Maple LeafsDon Luce |
| November 11, 1981 | To Los Angeles KingsIan Turnbull | To Toronto Maple LeafsJohn Gibson Billy Harris |

### Free agent signings

| May 11, 1981 | From Cornell University (ECAC)Brock Tredway |
| July 8, 1981 | From Colorado RockiesBobby Sheehan |
| August 5, 1981 | From Kingston Canadians (OHL)Howard Scruton |
| January 4, 1982 | From Washington CapitalsAlan Hangsleben |
| January 5, 1982 | From Ohio State University (NCAA)Mike Blake |
| April 5, 1982 | From University of North Dakota (WCHA)Phil Sykes |

### Waivers

| October 5, 1981 | From Hartford WhalersAl Sims |
| October 5, 1981 | From Colorado RockiesTrevor Johansen |
| December 30, 1981 | From Pittsburgh PenguinsPaul Mulvey |
| February 19, 1982 | To Toronto Maple LeafsTrevor Johansen |
| February 23, 1982 | To Pittsburgh PenguinsAndré St. Laurent |

## Draft picks

Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1981 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 2 | Doug Smith | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) |
| 2 | 39 | Dean Kennedy | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 4 | 81 | Marty Dallman | Canada | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC) |
| 6 | 123 | Brad Thompson | Canada | London Knights (OMJHL) |
| 7 | 134 | Craig Hurley | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 7 | 144 | Peter Sawkins | United States | St. Paul Academy (USHS-MN) |
| 8 | 165 | Dan Brennan | Canada | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
| 9 | 186 | Al Tuer | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 10 | 207 | Jeff Baikie | Canada | Cornell University (ECAC) |