# 1981–82 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1981–82 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's 73rd season. The club finished with over 100 points in the regular season, and were third overall in the NHL standings. The season involved being eliminated in the Adams Division semi-final versus the Quebec Nordiques 3 games to 2.

## Offseason

Montreal along with Hartford were moved to the Adams Division which was a more geographical grouping of teams, including Boston, Buffalo and Quebec. Before the 1981 NHL entry draft, general manager Irving Grundman announced that Bob Berry would be the new head coach of the Canadiens.
Bob Gainey is named captain, following Serge Savard's signing with the Winnipeg Jets.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PIM | PTS |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 46 | 17 | 17 | 360 | 223 | 1463 | 109 |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 43 | 27 | 10 | 323 | 285 | 1266 | 96 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 39 | 26 | 15 | 307 | 273 | 1425 | 93 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 33 | 31 | 16 | 356 | 345 | 1757 | 82 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 21 | 41 | 18 | 264 | 351 | 1493 | 60 |
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

Adams Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Boston
—5–2–14–2–20–7–14–413–15–4
Buffalo
2–5–1—4–1–33–2–34–3–113–11–8
Hartford
2–4–21–4–3—0–7–12–3–35–18–9
Montreal
7–0–12–3–37–0–1—3–3–219–6–7
Quebec
4–43–4–13–2–33–3–2—13–13–6
Vs. Patrick Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Boston
2–12–11–21–1–13–09–5–1
Buffalo
2–10–2–11–22–13–08–6–1
Hartford
0–2–11–1–10−30–2–11–22–10–3
Montreal
1–22–12–12–11–28–7–0
Quebec
1–1–11–1–11–1–10–32–0–15–6–4
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
WIN
Total
Boston
1−22−0−11−21−1–13−03−011−5−2
Buffalo
2−13−01−1−12−12−0−11−0−211−3−4
Hartford
1–1–12–0–11–22–13–02−111−5−2
Montreal
2−0−12−11–0−22−0−12–0−11−0−210−1−7
Quebec
2−13−00−2–12−11−1–12−0−110−5−3
Vs. Smythe Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CGY
COL
EDM
LAK
VAN
Total
Boston
1−1−13−01−0–23−02−110−2−3
Buffalo
0−2−13–01−22−11−1−17−6−2
Hartford
1–20–2–10–2–12–0–10–2–13–8–4
Montreal
2−12−0−11−0−22–12−19−3−3
Quebec
0−32−12−10–1–21–1−15−7−3 :

## Schedule and results

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

## Playoffs

The Canadiens were seeded 3rd overall in the playoffs, while their opponents, the Quebec Nordiques were seeded 10th overall. The clubs were 27 points apart in the league standings. The fifth and final game of the series went into overtime. Twenty-two seconds into overtime, Nordiques' Dale Hunter scored against Canadiens goalie Rick Wamsley to clinch the series.

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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Keith Acton | C | 78 | 36 | 52 | 88 | 88 | 48 | 10 | 0 | 5 |
| Guy Lafleur | RW | 66 | 27 | 57 | 84 | 24 | 33 | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| Mark Napier | RW | 80 | 40 | 41 | 81 | 14 | 49 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| Mario Tremblay | RW | 80 | 33 | 40 | 73 | 66 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| Pierre Mondou | C | 73 | 35 | 33 | 68 | 57 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 4 |
| Larry Robinson | D | 71 | 12 | 47 | 59 | 41 | 57 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Steve Shutt | LW | 57 | 31 | 24 | 55 | 40 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Doug Jarvis | C | 80 | 20 | 28 | 48 | 20 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Bob Gainey | LW | 79 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 24 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Rejean Houle | W | 51 | 11 | 32 | 43 | 34 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Rod Langway | D | 66 | 5 | 34 | 39 | 116 | 66 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Doug Wickenheiser | C | 56 | 12 | 23 | 35 | 43 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Doug Risebrough | C | 59 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 116 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Brian Engblom | D | 76 | 4 | 29 | 33 | 76 | 78 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Hunter | RW | 71 | 18 | 11 | 29 | 143 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Robert Picard | D | 62 | 2 | 26 | 28 | 106 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Gaston Gingras | D | 34 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 28 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Craig Laughlin | RW | 36 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 33 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Pierre Larouche | C | 22 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 0 | -3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Guy Lapointe | D | 47 | 1 | 19 | 20 | 72 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Nilan | RW | 49 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 204 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Gilbert Delorme | D | 60 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 55 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Wamsley | G | 38 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Brubaker | LW | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Denis Herron | G | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Holden | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Kitchen | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Orleski | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Richard Sevigny | G | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Rick Wamsley | 2206 | 38 | 23 | 7 | 7 | 101 | 2.75 | 2 |
| Denis Herron | 1547 | 27 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 68 | 2.64 | 3 |
| Richard Sevigny | 1027 | 19 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 53 | 3.10 | 0 |
| Mark Holden | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 46 | 17 | 17 | 222 | 2.78 | 5 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Pierre Mondou | C | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Mario Tremblay | RW | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mark Napier | RW | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Keith Acton | C | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rejean Houle | W | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Guy Lafleur | RW | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Risebrough | C | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rod Langway | D | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Nilan | RW | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Robert Picard | D | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Engblom | D | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Jarvis | C | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Bob Gainey | LW | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gaston Gingras | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Kitchen | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Laughlin | RW | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Robinson | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Brubaker | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Hunter | RW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Wamsley | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Rick Wamsley | 300 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 2.20 | 0 |
| Team: | 300 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 2.20 | 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

| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/junior/club team |
| 1 | 7 | Mark Hunter | Canada | Brantford Alexanders (OMJHL) |
| 1 | 18 | Gilbert Delorme | Canada | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) |
| 1 | 19 | Jan Ingman | Sweden | Färjestad BK (Sweden) |
| 2 | 32 | Lars Eriksson | Sweden | Brynäs IF (Sweden) |
| 2 | 40 | Chris Chelios | United States | Moose Jaw Canucks (SJHL) |
| 3 | 46 | Dieter Hegen | West Germany | EVS Kaufbeuren (West Germany) |
| 4 | 82 | Kjell Dahlin | Sweden | Timra IK (Sweden) |
| 5 | 88 | Steve Rooney | United States | Canton High School (USHS-MA) |
| 6 | 124 | Tom Anastos | United States | Paddock Pool Saints (GLJHL) |
| 7 | 145 | Tom Kurvers | United States | University of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA) |
| 8 | 166 | Paul Gess | United States | Bloomington Jefferson High School (USHS-MN) |
| 9 | 187 | Scott Ferguson | United States | Edina West High School (USHS-MN) |
| 10 | 208 | Dan Burrows | Canada | Belleville Bulls (OPJHL) |