# 1981–82 St. Louis Blues season

The 1981–82 St. Louis Blues season was the 15th for the franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. The Blues finished the regular-season with a record of 32 wins, 40 losses and eight ties, good for 72 points, and qualified for the playoffs with their third-place finish. The Blues defeated the Jets, three games to one in the division semi-finals, before losing the Norris Division final to the Black Hawks in six games.

## Offseason

Prior to the season, realignment took place in the NHL, as the Blues were assigned to the new-look James Norris Division in the Clarence Campbell Conference, along with the Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota North Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Winnipeg Jets.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Norris Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 37 | 23 | 20 | 346 | 288 | 94 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 33 | 33 | 14 | 319 | 332 | 80 |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 32 | 40 | 8 | 315 | 349 | 72 |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 80 | 30 | 38 | 12 | 332 | 363 | 72 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 20 | 44 | 16 | 298 | 380 | 56 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 21 | 47 | 12 | 270 | 351 | 54 |
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

Norris Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
WIN
Total
Chicago
—3−3−13−3−12−4−13−42−3−213−17−5
Detroit
3−3−1—1−62−53−3−12−3−211−20−4
Minnesota
3−3−16−1—3−3−14−0−33−3−119−10−6
St. Louis
4−2−15−23−3−1—5−21−4−218−13−4
Toronto
4−33−3−10−4−32−5—2−4−111−19−5
Winnipeg
3−2−23−2−23−3−14−1−24−2−1—17−10−8
Vs. Smythe Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CGY
COL
EDM
LAK
VAN
Total
Chicago
2−0−11−21−1−13−01−28−5−2
Detroit
1−1−13−00−2−11−21−1−16−6−3
Minnesota
1−0−21−0−20−2−12−0−11−1−15−3−7
St. Louis
2−12−10−31−22−17−8−0
Toronto
0−1−21−0−21−22−10−2−14−6−5
Winnipeg
2−12−11−23−01−29−6−0
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Chicago
2−11−21−1−10−2−11−25−8−2
Detroit
0−2−10−30−2−11−20−31−12−2
Minnesota
2−11−1−12−10−1−22−0−17−4−4
St. Louis
1−1−11−21−20−2−11−24−9−2
Toronto
0−30−2−10−30−2−11−1−11−11−3
Winnipeg
0−30−1−21−20−1−20−2−11−9−5
Vs. Patrick Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Chicago
0−30−31−1−11−0−22−14−8−3
Detroit
0−31−20−2−12−10−1−23−9−3
Minnesota
0−2−11−21−1−12−12−0−16−6−3
St. Louis
0−2−10−2−10−32−11−23−10−2
Toronto
0−31−1−11−21−0−21−24−8−3
Winnipeg
1−21−1−12–11–21−26–8–1 :

## Schedule and results

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

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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Bernie Federko | C | 74 | 30 | 62 | 92 | 70 | -10 | 11 | 0 | 6 |
| Blake Dunlop | C | 77 | 25 | 53 | 78 | 32 | -9 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| Brian Sutter | LW | 74 | 39 | 36 | 75 | 239 | -2 | 14 | 0 | 3 |
| Jorgen Pettersson | LW | 77 | 38 | 31 | 69 | 28 | -8 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| Perry Turnbull | C | 79 | 33 | 26 | 59 | 161 | -15 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Joe Mullen | RW | 45 | 25 | 34 | 59 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 3 |
| Mike Zuke | C | 76 | 13 | 40 | 53 | 41 | -18 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Wayne Babych | RW | 51 | 19 | 25 | 44 | 51 | -12 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Tony Currie | RW | 48 | 18 | 22 | 40 | 17 | -7 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Jack Brownschidle | D | 80 | 5 | 33 | 38 | 26 | -5 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Mike Crombeen | RW | 71 | 19 | 8 | 27 | 32 | -10 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Larry Patey | C | 70 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 97 | -10 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Rick Lapointe | D | 71 | 2 | 20 | 22 | 127 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Nill | RW | 61 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 127 | -13 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Rik Wilson | D | 48 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 24 | -10 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Blair Chapman | RW | 18 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Kea | D | 78 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 62 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Micheletti | D | 20 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 28 | -2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Pavese | D | 42 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 101 | -14 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ralph Klassen | C | 45 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 6 | -3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bill Baker | D | 35 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 50 | -8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kari Eloranta | D | 12 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Guy Lapointe | D | 8 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 4 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Stewart | D | 22 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 25 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Reeds | RW | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Perry Anderson | LW | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alain Vigneault | D | 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 43 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Richie Hansen | C | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Liut | G | 64 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Crawford | RW | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Edwards | G | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerry Hart | D | 35 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 102 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alain Lemieux | C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Campbell | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Hanlon | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Heinz | G | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Neil LaBatte | C/D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Skidmore | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Mike Liut | 3691 | 64 | 28 | 28 | 7 | 250 | 4.06 | 2 |
| Rick Heinz | 433 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 35 | 4.85 | 0 |
| Gary Edwards | 480 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 45 | 5.63 | 0 |
| Paul Skidmore | 120 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3.00 | 0 |
| Glen Hanlon | 76 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 6.32 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 32 | 40 | 8 | 344 | 4.30 | 2 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Joe Mullen | RW | 10 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bernie Federko | C | 10 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Brian Sutter | LW | 10 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Larry Patey | C | 10 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wayne Babych | RW | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Perry Turnbull | C | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Crombeen | RW | 10 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Blake Dunlop | C | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ralph Klassen | C | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jorgen Pettersson | LW | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerry Hart | D | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Pavese | D | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rik Wilson | D | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Perry Anderson | LW | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Kea | D | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Zuke | C | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Brownschidle | D | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Guy Lapointe | D | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Mark Reeds | RW | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Baker | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blair Chapman | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kari Eloranta | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Hanlon | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Lapointe | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Liut | G | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Mike Liut | 494 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 27 | 3.28 | 0 |
| Glen Hanlon | 109 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 4.95 | 0 |
| Team: | 603 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 36 | 3.58 | 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 1981 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 20 | Marty Ruff | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) |
| 2 | 36 | Hakan Nordin | Canada | Färjestad BK (Sweden) |
| 3 | 62 | Gord Donnelly | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 104 | Mike Hickey | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL) |
| 6 | 125 | Peter Aslin | Sweden | AIK (Sweden) |
| 7 | 146 | Erik Holmberg | Sweden | Södertälje SK (Sweden) |
| 8 | 167 | Alain Vigneault | Canada | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (OMJHL) |
| 9 | 188 | Dan Wood | Canada | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
| 10 | 209 | Richard Zemlak | Canada | Spokane Flyers (WHL) |