1981–82 Minnesota North Stars season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1981–82
Year:	1981
Team:	Minnesota North Stars
Conference:	Campbell
Conferencerank:	2nd
Division:	Norris
Divisionrank:	1st
Record:	37-23-20
Goalsfor:	346
Goalsagainst:	288
Generalmanager:	Lou Nanne
Coach:	Glen Sonmor
Captain:	Tim Young
Altcaptain:	None
Arena:	Met Center
Attendance:	15,220
Minorleague:	Nashville South Stars (CHL)
Goalsleader:	Dino Ciccarelli (55)
Assistsleader:	Bobby Smith (71)
Pointsleader:	Bobby Smith (114)
Pimleader:	Dino Ciccarelli (138)
Winsleader:	Gilles Meloche (26)
Gaaleader:	Lindsay Middlebrook (3.00)
Divisionwin:	Yes

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.

Playoffs

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

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

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

Player statistics

Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Defencemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

Draft picks

Minnesota's draft picks at the 1981 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec.

Round		Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	13	Ron Meighan		Niagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL)
2	27	Dave Donnelly		St. Albert Saints (AJHL)
2	31	Mike Sands		Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL)
2	33	Tom Hirsch		Patrick Henry High School (USHS-MN)
2	34	Dave Preuss		St. Thomas Academy (USHS-MN)
2	41	Jali Wahlsten		TPS (Finland)
4	69	Terry Tait		Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL)
4	76	Jim Malwitz		Grand Rapids High School (USHS-MN)
5	97	Kelly Hubbard		Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
6	118	Paul Guay		Mount Saint Charles Academy (USHS-RI)
7	139	Jim Archibald		Moose Jaw Canucks (SJHL)
8	160	Kari Kanervo		TPS (Finland)
9	181	Scott Bjugstad		University of Minnesota (WCHA)
10	202	Steve Kudebeh		Breck School (USHS-MN)

External links

• North Stars on Hockey Database