# 1981–82 Minnesota North Stars season

The 1981–82 Minnesota North Stars season was their 15th season. Dino Ciccarelli, in his second season, scored 55 goals, a franchise record. Minnesota won their first division title, but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Chicago Black Hawks.

## Regular season

Glen Sonmor took a temporary leave of absence in January 1982, leaving assistant coach Murray Oliver in charge for four games, three of which the North Stars won.

### 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 :

## Playoffs

The North Stars lost in the first round to Chicago. The Black Hawks won the best-of-five series, three games to one.

## Schedule and results

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

## Draft picks

Minnesota'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 | 13 | Ron Meighan | Canada | Niagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL) |
| 2 | 27 | Dave Donnelly | Canada | St. Albert Saints (AJHL) |
| 2 | 31 | Mike Sands | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL) |
| 2 | 33 | Tom Hirsch | United States | Patrick Henry High School (USHS-MN) |
| 2 | 34 | Dave Preuss | United States | St. Thomas Academy (USHS-MN) |
| 2 | 41 | Jali Wahlsten | Finland | TPS (Finland) |
| 4 | 69 | Terry Tait | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |
| 4 | 76 | Jim Malwitz | United States | Grand Rapids High School (USHS-MN) |
| 5 | 97 | Kelly Hubbard | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 6 | 118 | Paul Guay | United States | Mount Saint Charles Academy (USHS-RI) |
| 7 | 139 | Jim Archibald | Canada | Moose Jaw Canucks (SJHL) |
| 8 | 160 | Kari Kanervo | Finland | TPS (Finland) |
| 9 | 181 | Scott Bjugstad | United States | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 10 | 202 | Steve Kudebeh | United States | Breck School (USHS-MN) |