# 1979–80 St. Louis Blues season

The 1979–80 St. Louis Blues season was the 13th in franchise history. It involved the team returning to the NHL playoffs for the first time in three seasons, following the team's 34-34-12 record during the regular-season, good for 80 points. The season started the team's run of 25 consecutive seasons of playoff appearances, a record for any non-Original Six NHL franchise.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 80 | 34 | 27 | 19 | 241 | 250 | 87 |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 266 | 278 | 80 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 27 | 37 | 16 | 256 | 281 | 70 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 28 | 39 | 13 | 301 | 322 | 69 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 20 | 49 | 11 | 214 | 314 | 51 |
| Colorado Rockies | 80 | 19 | 48 | 13 | 234 | 308 | 51 |
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.
League standings :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Philadelphia Flyers | PTK | 80 | 48 | 12 | 20 | 327 | 254 | 116 |
| 2 | y – Buffalo Sabres | ADM | 80 | 47 | 17 | 16 | 318 | 201 | 110 |
| 3 | x – Montreal Canadiens | NRS | 80 | 47 | 20 | 13 | 328 | 240 | 107 |
| 4 | Boston Bruins | ADM | 80 | 46 | 21 | 13 | 310 | 234 | 105 |
| 5 | New York Islanders | PTK | 80 | 39 | 28 | 13 | 281 | 247 | 91 |
| 6 | Minnesota North Stars | ADM | 80 | 36 | 28 | 16 | 311 | 253 | 88 |
| 7 | x – Chicago Black Hawks | SMY | 80 | 34 | 27 | 19 | 241 | 250 | 87 |
| 8 | New York Rangers | PTK | 80 | 38 | 32 | 10 | 308 | 284 | 86 |
| 9 | Atlanta Flames | PTK | 80 | 35 | 32 | 13 | 282 | 269 | 83 |
| 10 | St. Louis Blues | SMY | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 266 | 278 | 80 |
| 11 | Toronto Maple Leafs | ADM | 80 | 35 | 40 | 5 | 304 | 327 | 75 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Kings | NRS | 80 | 30 | 36 | 14 | 290 | 313 | 74 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NRS | 80 | 30 | 37 | 13 | 251 | 303 | 73 |
| 14 | Hartford Whalers | NRS | 80 | 27 | 34 | 19 | 303 | 312 | 73 |
| 15 | Vancouver Canucks | SMY | 80 | 27 | 37 | 16 | 256 | 281 | 70 |
| 16 | Edmonton Oilers | SMY | 80 | 28 | 39 | 13 | 301 | 322 | 69 |
| 17 | Washington Capitals | PTK | 80 | 27 | 40 | 13 | 261 | 293 | 67 |
| 18 | Detroit Red Wings | NRS | 80 | 26 | 43 | 11 | 268 | 306 | 63 |
| 19 | Quebec Nordiques | ADM | 80 | 25 | 44 | 11 | 248 | 313 | 61 |
| 20 | Winnipeg Jets | SMY | 80 | 20 | 49 | 11 | 214 | 314 | 51 |
| 21 | Colorado Rockies | SMY | 80 | 19 | 48 | 13 | 234 | 308 | 51 |
Divisions: ADM – Adams, NRS – Norris, PTK – Patrick, SMY – Smythe
bold – The top 16 teams in the league qualified for the playoffs, regardless of division or conference. x – Won division; y – Won Conference (and division); p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and conference and division)

### Record vs. opponents

Smythe Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Smythe Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Chicago
—3−0−11−31−2−11−1−22−28−8−4
Colorado
0−3−1—2−20−2−21−2−11−2−14−11−5
Edmonton
3−12−2—0−3−11−2−11−2−17−10−3
St. Louis
2−1−12−0−23−0−1—3−11−1−211−3−6
Vancouver
1−1−22−1−12−1−11−3—2−1−18−7−5
Winnipeg
2−22−1−11−2−12−21−2−1—8−9−3
Vs. Patrick Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Chicago
2−0−21−2−12−1−10−2−22−27−7−6
Colorado
0−41−31−1−21−2−11−1−24−11−5
Edmonton
1−2−12−1−11−30−3−13−17−10−3
St. Louis
1−31−30−40−2−22−24−14−2
Vancouver
2−22−1−10−41−31−36−13−1
Winnipeg
0−40−2−22−20−40−3−12−15−3
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Chicago
2−21−1−22−1−12−1−14−011−5−4
Colorado
1−2−11−31−31−30−3−14−14−2
Edmonton
0−41−2−11−1−22−22−1−16−10−4
St. Louis
1−1−22−21−32−22−28−10−2
Vancouver
0−1−30−1−32−1−12−21−35−8−7
Winnipeg
1−30−3−11−2−12−20−44−14−2
Vs. Norris Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Chicago
3−11−1−20−3−12−22−0−28−7−5
Colorado
3−11−2−10−41−32−27−12−1
Edmonton
1−2−11−2−12−1−11−33−18−9−3
St. Louis
2−1−12−23−12−22−1−111−7−2
Vancouver
2−21−1−22−22−21−2−18−9−3
Winnipeg
1−32−22−1−11−30−46−13−1 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 9, 1979 | 5–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | T | October 11, 1979 | 3–3 | @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 1–0–1 |
| 3 | L | October 13, 1979 | 3–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 1–1–1 |
| 4 | L | October 17, 1979 | 1–5 | Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 1–2–1 |
| 5 | W | October 20, 1979 | 3–2 | Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 2–2–1 |
| 6 | T | October 23, 1979 | 5–5 | Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 2–2–2 |
| 7 | L | October 24, 1979 | 2–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 2–3–2 |
| 8 | L | October 27, 1979 | 0–3 | Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 2–4–2 |
| 9 | T | October 28, 1979 | 2–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 2–4–3 |
| 10 | W | October 30, 1979 | 2–1 | Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 3–4–3 |
| 11 | L | November 1, 1979 | 1–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 3–5–3 |
| 12 | W | November 3, 1979 | 4–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 4–5–3 |
| 13 | L | November 7, 1979 | 4–7 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 4–6–3 |
| 14 | W | November 10, 1979 | 5–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 5–6–3 |
| 15 | L | November 11, 1979 | 1–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 5–7–3 |
| 16 | L | November 13, 1979 | 2–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 5–8–3 |
| 17 | L | November 14, 1979 | 2–7 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 5–9–3 |
| 18 | T | November 17, 1979 | 3–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 5–9–4 |
| 19 | L | November 18, 1979 | 3–5 | @ New York Rangers (1979–80) | 5–10–4 |
| 20 | W | November 20, 1979 | 6–3 | New York Islanders (1979–80) | 6–10–4 |
| 21 | L | November 21, 1979 | 2–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 6–11–4 |
| 22 | W | November 24, 1979 | 4–3 | Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 7–11–4 |
| 23 | L | November 25, 1979 | 3–6 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 7–12–4 |
| 24 | W | November 27, 1979 | 4–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 8–12–4 |
| 25 | L | November 29, 1979 | 2–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 8–13–4 |
| 26 | L | December 1, 1979 | 0–2 | New York Rangers (1979–80) | 8–14–4 |
| 27 | L | December 4, 1979 | 2–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 8–15–4 |
| 28 | L | December 6, 1979 | 2–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 8–16–4 |
| 29 | W | December 8, 1979 | 5–1 | Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 9–16–4 |
| 30 | T | December 11, 1979 | 3–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 9–16–5 |
| 31 | L | December 15, 1979 | 1–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 9–17–5 |
| 32 | W | December 18, 1979 | 5–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 10–17–5 |
| 33 | W | December 21, 1979 | 5–1 | @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 11–17–5 |
| 34 | L | December 22, 1979 | 3–7 | Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 11–18–5 |
| 35 | T | December 26, 1979 | 3–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 11–18–6 |
| 36 | W | December 27, 1979 | 3–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 12–18–6 |
| 37 | W | December 29, 1979 | 3–0 | Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 13–18–6 |
| 38 | W | January 3, 1980 | 6–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 14–18–6 |
| 39 | L | January 5, 1980 | 1–3 | @ New York Islanders (1979–80) | 14–19–6 |
| 40 | W | January 8, 1980 | 6–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 15–19–6 |
| 41 | W | January 10, 1980 | 7–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 16–19–6 |
| 42 | W | January 12, 1980 | 8–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 17–19–6 |
| 43 | T | January 13, 1980 | 1–1 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 17–19–7 |
| 44 | W | January 15, 1980 | 2–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 18–19–7 |
| 45 | L | January 16, 1980 | 3–7 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 18–20–7 |
| 46 | W | January 19, 1980 | 3–1 | @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 19–20–7 |
| 47 | L | January 22, 1980 | 1–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 19–21–7 |
| 48 | T | January 26, 1980 | 4–4 | Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 19–21–8 |
| 49 | T | January 27, 1980 | 6–6 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 19–21–9 |
| 50 | W | January 29, 1980 | 3–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 20–21–9 |
| 51 | W | January 30, 1980 | 4–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 21–21–9 |
| 52 | L | February 2, 1980 | 0–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 21–22–9 |
| 53 | W | February 3, 1980 | 4–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 22–22–9 |
| 54 | W | February 6, 1980 | 6–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 23–22–9 |
| 55 | W | February 9, 1980 | 3–2 | Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 24–22–9 |
| 56 | L | February 11, 1980 | 2–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 24–23–9 |
| 57 | W | February 14, 1980 | 6–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 25–23–9 |
| 58 | T | February 17, 1980 | 5–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 25–23–10 |
| 59 | W | February 19, 1980 | 3–1 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 26–23–10 |
| 60 | L | February 23, 1980 | 2–3 | New York Islanders (1979–80) | 26–24–10 |
| 61 | W | February 26, 1980 | 5–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 27–24–10 |
| 62 | L | February 29, 1980 | 0–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 27–25–10 |
| 63 | L | March 1, 1980 | 3–6 | Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 27–26–10 |
| 64 | W | March 3, 1980 | 5–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 28–26–10 |
| 65 | L | March 5, 1980 | 5–7 | @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 28–27–10 |
| 66 | T | March 8, 1980 | 2–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 28–27–11 |
| 67 | L | March 9, 1980 | 4–9 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 28–28–11 |
| 68 | W | March 12, 1980 | 3–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 29–28–11 |
| 69 | L | March 15, 1980 | 2–6 | @ New York Islanders (1979–80) | 29–29–11 |
| 70 | L | March 16, 1980 | 2–5 | @ New York Rangers (1979–80) | 29–30–11 |
| 71 | T | March 18, 1980 | 3–3 | Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 29–30–12 |
| 72 | L | March 20, 1980 | 4–8 | @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 29–31–12 |
| 73 | W | March 22, 1980 | 6–2 | Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 30–31–12 |
| 74 | W | March 24, 1980 | 7–5 | @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 31–31–12 |
| 75 | L | March 26, 1980 | 2–4 | @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 31–32–12 |
| 76 | L | March 27, 1980 | 1–7 | @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 31–33–12 |
| 77 | L | March 29, 1980 | 3–4 | New York Rangers (1979–80) | 31–34–12 |
| 78 | W | April 1, 1980 | 5–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 32–34–12 |
| 79 | W | April 5, 1980 | 6–0 | Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 33–34–12 |
| 80 | W | April 6, 1980 | 5–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 34–34–12 |

## Playoffs

1980 Stanley Cup playoffs :

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Bernie Federko | C | 79 | 38 | 56 | 94 | 24 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| Mike Zuke | C | 69 | 22 | 42 | 64 | 30 | -2 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Wayne Babych | RW | 59 | 26 | 35 | 61 | 49 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| Brian Sutter | LW | 71 | 23 | 35 | 58 | 156 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Blair Chapman | RW | 63 | 25 | 26 | 51 | 28 | -5 | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| Blake Dunlop | C | 72 | 18 | 27 | 45 | 28 | -6 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| Jack Brownschidle | D | 77 | 12 | 32 | 44 | 8 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Perry Turnbull | C | 80 | 16 | 19 | 35 | 124 | -11 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Larry Patey | C | 78 | 17 | 17 | 34 | 76 | -18 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Tony Currie | RW | 40 | 19 | 14 | 33 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Ralph Klassen | C | 80 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 10 | -19 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Rick Lapointe | D | 80 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 87 | -24 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mike Crombeen | RW | 71 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 20 | -14 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Ed Kea | D | 69 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 79 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Joe Micheletti | D | 54 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 29 | -5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Hartland Monahan | RW | 72 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 36 | -22 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Chuck Lefley | LW | 28 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Maxwell | D | 57 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 112 | -13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Neil Komadoski | D | 49 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 52 | -22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terry Harper | D | 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Floyd Thomson | LW | 11 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 18 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Simpson | LW | 18 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Bowness | RW | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Laurence | C | 20 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Len Frig | D | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Crawford | RW | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dick Lamby | D | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Stewart | D | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Giroux | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Grant | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Liut | G | 64 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Staniowski | G | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Mike Liut | 3661 | 64 | 32 | 23 | 9 | 194 | 3.18 | 2 |
| Ed Staniowski | 1108 | 22 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 80 | 4.33 | 0 |
| Doug Grant | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.94 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 275 | 3.44 | 2 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Wayne Babych | RW | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Perry Turnbull | C | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Blake Dunlop | C | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bernie Federko | C | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Patey | C | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Lapointe | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Brownschidle | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blair Chapman | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Crombeen | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tony Currie | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Len Frig | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terry Harper | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Kea | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ralph Klassen | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Liut | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Maxwell | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hartland Monahan | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Mullen | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Sutter | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Zuke | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Mike Liut | 193 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 3.73 | 0 |
| Team: | 193 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 3.73 | 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;

## Draft picks

St. Louis's draft picks at the 1979 NHL Entry Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 2 | Perry Turnbull | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 4 | 65 | Bob Crawford | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 86 | Mark Reeds | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
| 6 | 107 | Gilles Leduc | Canada | Verdun Eperviers (QMJHL) |