1981–82 Montreal Canadiens season explained

Team:	Montreal Canadiens
League:	NHL
Season:	1981–82
Year:	1981
Conferencerank:	2nd
Divisionrank:	1st
Record:	46–17–17
Goalsfor:	360
Goalsagainst:	223
Altcaptain:	None
Attendance:	16,587
Goalsleader:	Mark Napier (40)
Assistsleader:	Guy Lafleur (57)
Pointsleader:	Keith Acton (88)
Plusminusleader:	Brian Engblom (+76)
Pimleader:	Chris Nilan (204)
Winsleader:	Rick Wamsley (23)
Gaaleader:	Denis Herron (2.64)
Divisionwin:	Yes

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.^[1] 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

Record vs. opponents

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

^[2]

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.^[3] 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.^[4]

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
	C	78	36	52	88	88	48	10	0	5
	RW	66	27	57	84	24	33	9	0	3
	RW	80	40	41	81	14	49	9	0	5
	RW	80	33	40	73	66	24	7	0	4
	C	73	35	33	68	57	18	8	2	4
	D	71	12	47	59	41	57	5	1	0
	LW	57	31	24	55	40	24	5	0	3
	C	80	20	28	48	20	34	1	0	4
	LW	79	21	24	45	24	37	1	3	1
	W	51	11	32	43	34	18	2	1	1
	D	66	5	34	39	116	66	1	0	1
	C	56	12	23	35	43	18	1	0	3
	C	59	15	18	33	116	23	2	2	2
	D	76	4	29	33	76	78	1	0	0
	RW	71	18	11	29	143	10	0	0	5
	D	62	2	26	28	106	17	2	0	0
	D	34	6	18	24	28	10	3	0	3
	RW	36	12	11	23	33	10	2	0	1
	C	22	9	12	21	0	-3	3	0	0
	D	47	1	19	20	72	-3	0	0	0
	RW	49	7	4	11	204	6	0	0	1
	D	60	3	8	11	55	19	0	0	0
	G	38	0	2	2	4	0	0	0	0
	LW	3	0	1	1	32	1	0	0	0
	G	27	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0
	G	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	D	1	0	0	0	7	0	0	0	0
	LW	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	G	19	0	0	0	10	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
	2206	38	23	7	7	101	2.75	2
	1547	27	12	6	8	68	2.64	3
	1027	19	11	4	2	53	3.10	0
	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
	C	5	2	5	7	8	1	1	0
	RW	5	4	1	5	24	0	0	1
	RW	5	3	2	5	0	1	1	1
	C	5	0	4	4	16	0	0	0
	W	5	0	4	4	6	0	0	0
	RW	5	2	1	3	4	2	0	0
	C	5	2	1	3	11	0	0	0
	D	5	0	3	3	18	0	0	0
	RW	5	1	1	2	22	0	0	0
	D	5	1	1	2	7	0	0	0
	D	5	0	2	2	14	0	0	0
	C	5	1	0	1	4	0	1	0
	LW	5	0	1	1	8	0	0	0
	D	5	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
	D	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
	RW	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
	D	5	0	1	1	8	0	0	0
	LW	2	0	0	0	27	0	0	0
	RW	5	0	0	0	20	0	0	0
	G	5	0	0	0	2	0	0	0

Goaltending

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

^[5]

Draft picks

See main article: 1981 NHL Entry Draft.

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

See also

• 1981–82 NHL season

Notes and References

1. The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.243, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009,
2. Web site: 1981–82 Montreal Canadiens Games. Hockey-reference.com . 2009-06-04 .
3. The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.243, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009,
4. The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.244, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009,
5. Web site: hockey-reference.com . 2009-05-28 . 1981-82 Montreal Canadiens Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com.