1980–81 St. Louis Blues season

Last updated

1980–81 St. Louis Blues
Smythe Division champions
Division1st Smythe
Conference2nd Campbell
1980–81 record45–18–17
Home record29–7–4
Road record16–11–13
Goals for352
Goals against281
Team information
General manager Emile Francis
Coach Red Berenson
Captain Brian Sutter
Alternate captains None
Arena Checkerdome
Team leaders
Goals Wayne Babych (54)
Assists Bernie Federko (73)
Points Bernie Federko (104)
Penalty minutes Brian Sutter (232)
Wins Mike Liut (33)
Goals against average Mike Liut (3.35)
  1979–80
1981–82  

The 1980–81 St. Louis Blues season was the 14th for the franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. The Blues won the Smythe Division for the first time in four seasons, with a record of 45 wins, 18 losses and 17 ties, good for 107 points, and second place overall in the entire NHL. This was the first time that the Blues had ever accumulated 100 or more points in a season. The Blues defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in a five-game preliminary round, before losing the quarter-finals in six games to the New York Rangers.

Contents

Regular season

Final standings

Smythe Division
GPWLTGFGAPts
St. Louis Blues 80451817352281107
Chicago Black Hawks 8031331630431578
Vancouver Canucks 8028322028930176
Edmonton Oilers 8029351632832774
Colorado Rockies 8022451325834457
Winnipeg Jets 809571424640032

[1] 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.

League standings [2]
RDivGPWLTGFGAPts
1p – New York Islanders PTK80481814355260110
2x – St. Louis Blues SMY80451817352281107
3y – Montreal Canadiens NRS80452213332232103
4 Los Angeles Kings NRS8043241333729099
5x – Buffalo Sabres ADM8039202132725099
6 Philadelphia Flyers PTK8041241531324997
7 Calgary Flames PTK8039271432929892
8 Boston Bruins ADM8037301331627287
9 Minnesota North Stars ADM8035281729126387
10 Chicago Black Hawks SMY8031331630431578
11 Quebec Nordiques ADM8030321831431878
12 Vancouver Canucks SMY8028322028930176
13 New York Rangers PTK8030361431231774
14 Edmonton Oilers SMY8029351632832774
15 Pittsburgh Penguins NRS8030371330234573
16 Toronto Maple Leafs ADM8028371532236771
17 Washington Capitals PTK8026361828631770
18 Hartford Whalers NRS8021411829237260
19 Colorado Rockies SMY8022451325834457
20 Detroit Red Wings NRS8019431825233956
21 Winnipeg Jets SMY809571424640032

Divisions:ADM – Adams, NRS – Norris, PTK – Patrick, SMY – Smythe

bold – The top 16 teams in the league qualified for the playoffs, regardless of division or conference.
x – Won division; y – Won Conference (and division); p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and conference and division)

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

1980–81 regular season [4]
October
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
1WOctober 9, 19808–6 Hartford Whalers (1980–81)1–0–0
2LOctober 11, 19801–5 Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)1–1–0
3TOctober 14, 19805–5@ New York Islanders (1980–81)1–1–1
4WOctober 15, 19802–1@ New York Rangers (1980–81)2–1–1
5WOctober 18, 19803–2 Boston Bruins (1980–81)3–1–1
6WOctober 21, 19804–3 Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)4–1–1
7LOctober 22, 19803–9@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)4–2–1
8WOctober 24, 19803–2@ Washington Capitals (1980–81)5–2–1
9TOctober 25, 19803–3 Washington Capitals (1980–81)5–2–2
10WOctober 28, 19805–4 New York Rangers (1980–81)6–2–2
11TOctober 29, 19802–2@ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)6–2–3
November
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
12LNovember 1, 19802–3 Calgary Flames (1980–81)6–3–3
13WNovember 2, 19805–3@ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)7–3–3
14WNovember 5, 19806–1 Hartford Whalers (1980–81)8–3–3
15LNovember 8, 19802–4@ Calgary Flames (1980–81)8–4–3
16WNovember 9, 19806–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)9–4–3
17WNovember 11, 19808–2@ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)10–4–3
18LNovember 14, 19801–5@ Colorado Rockies (1980–81)10–5–3
19WNovember 15, 19805–3@ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)11–5–3
20LNovember 18, 19802–7 New York Islanders (1980–81)11–6–3
21WNovember 22, 19806–2 Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)12–6–3
22WNovember 25, 19805–3 Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)13–6–3
23WNovember 26, 19806–4@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)14–6–3
24TNovember 28, 19801–1@ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)14–6–4
25WNovember 29, 19809–3 Calgary Flames (1980–81)15–6–4
December
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
26WDecember 2, 19805–2 Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)16–6–4
27WDecember 6, 19805–2 Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)17–6–4
28WDecember 9, 19804–1 Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)18–6–4
29LDecember 11, 19802–5 Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)18–7–4
30WDecember 13, 19809–4 Colorado Rockies (1980–81)19–7–4
31LDecember 14, 19804–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)19–8–4
32LDecember 17, 19801–4@ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)19–9–4
33WDecember 18, 19807–3@ Boston Bruins (1980–81)20–9–4
34WDecember 20, 19805–2 Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)21–9–4
35WDecember 23, 19806–3 Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)22–9–4
36TDecember 27, 19804–4@ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)22–9–5
37WDecember 28, 19803–2@ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)23–9–5
38WDecember 30, 19805–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)24–9–5
January
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
39WJanuary 3, 19816–3 Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)25–9–5
40WJanuary 6, 19816–3 Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)26–9–5
41TJanuary 8, 19815–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)26–9–6
42TJanuary 10, 19816–6 Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)26–9–7
43WJanuary 12, 19815–2@ Hartford Whalers (1980–81)27–9–7
44LJanuary 14, 19813–6@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)27–10–7
45WJanuary 17, 19817–6 Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)28–10–7
46TJanuary 21, 19816–6@ Hartford Whalers (1980–81)28–10–8
47LJanuary 22, 19813–7@ Boston Bruins (1980–81)28–11–8
48WJanuary 24, 19814–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)29–11–8
49WJanuary 27, 19817–1 Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)30–11–8
50LJanuary 31, 19812–3 Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)30–12–8
February
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
51WFebruary 1, 19814–1@ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)31–12–8
52TFebruary 3, 19813–3 Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)31–12–9
53WFebruary 5, 19818–4 Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)32–12–9
54WFebruary 7, 19819–2 Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)33–12–9
55TFebruary 8, 19813–3@ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)33–12–10
56TFebruary 12, 19813–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)33–12–11
57TFebruary 14, 19811–1@ New York Islanders (1980–81)33–12–12
58WFebruary 15, 19815–4@ New York Rangers (1980–81)34–12–12
59WFebruary 17, 19815–2@ Calgary Flames (1980–81)35–12–12
60LFebruary 18, 19812–9@ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)35–13–12
61WFebruary 21, 19814–1 Colorado Rockies (1980–81)36–13–12
62TFebruary 24, 19812–2 Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)36–13–13
63WFebruary 25, 19813–2@ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)37–13–13
64WFebruary 28, 19817–4 Washington Capitals (1980–81)38–13–13
March
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
65TMarch 1, 19814–4@ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)38–13–14
66WMarch 3, 19814–2 Boston Bruins (1980–81)39–13–14
67WMarch 7, 19817–2 New York Rangers (1980–81)40–13–14
68WMarch 8, 19817–0@ Colorado Rockies (1980–81)41–13–14
69TMarch 11, 19815–5@ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)41–13–15
70LMarch 12, 19813–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)41–14–15
71WMarch 14, 19815–3 Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)42–14–15
72LMarch 18, 19812–6@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)42–15–15
73TMarch 21, 19813–3@ Washington Capitals (1980–81)42–15–16
74WMarch 22, 19816–5@ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)43–15–16
75LMarch 24, 19813–5 New York Islanders (1980–81)43–16–16
76WMarch 28, 19817–4 Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)44–16–16
77LMarch 31, 19813–6@ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)44–17–16
April
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
78WApril 2, 19816–4 Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)45–17–16
79LApril 4, 19810–5 Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)45–18–16
80TApril 5, 19815–5@ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)45–18–17

Legend:   Win (2 points)  Loss (0 points)  Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

Preliminary vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

April 8Pittsburgh Penguins2–4St. Louis Blues Checkerdome Recap  
Greg Malone (1) – 00:15First period04:48 – ppMike Zuke (1)
15:58 – Tony Currie (1)
Rod Schutt (1) – 13:21Second period14:44 – Jorgen Pettersson (1)
No scoringThird period19:59 – enMike Crombeen (1)
Greg Millen 44 saves / 47 shotsGoalie stats Mike Liut 24 saves / 26 shots
April 9Pittsburgh Penguins6–4St. Louis Blues Checkerdome Recap  
No scoringFirst period02:35 – ppJoe Micheletti (1)
Randy Carlyle (1) – 02:03
Gregg Sheppard (1) – 04:58
Mario Faubert (1) – pp – 06:59
George Ferguson (1) – 11:13
Second period03:11 – Tony Currie (2)
Rod Schutt (2) – 00:35
Randy Carlyle (2) – 03:06
Third period10:49 – Blair Chapman (1)
16:04 – ppBernie Federko (1)
Greg Millen 19 saves / 23 shotsGoalie stats Mike Liut 24 saves / 30 shots
April 11St. Louis Blues5–4Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Civic Arena Recap  
Brian Sutter (1) – pp – 11:51First period07:04 – ppRod Schutt (3)
Ralph Klassen (1) – 06:36
Wayne Babych (1) – 09:58
Bernie Federko (2) – pp – 14:38
Second period08:57 – Mike Bullard (1)
10:31 – Mark Johnson (1)
Bernie Federko (3) – 15:54Third period05:08 – ppGregg Sheppard (2)
Mike Liut 27 saves / 31 shotsGoalie stats Greg Millen 27 saves / 32 shots
April 12St. Louis Blues3–6Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Civic Arena Recap  
Ralph Klassen (2) – 05:53
Mike Zuke (2) – pp – 07:10
First period14:52 – ppMike Bullard (2)
Mike Zuke (3) – pp – 13:55Second period07:45 – ppMark Johnson (2)
11:49 – shRandy Carlyle (3)
No scoringThird period00:44 – Mike Bullard (3)
09:21 – Randy Carlyle (4)
14:02 – Pat Price (1)
Mike Liut 28 saves / 34 shotsGoalie stats Greg Millen 21 saves / 24 shots
April 14Pittsburgh Penguins3–42OTSt. Louis Blues Checkerdome Recap  
Paul Gardner (1) – pp – 07:48First periodNo scoring
George Ferguson (2) – 15:06Second period11:17 – Brian Sutter (2)
16:06 – ppBernie Federko (4)
Greg Malone (2) – 10:36Third period03:34 – Rick Lapointe (1)
No scoringSecond overtime period05:16 – Mike Crombeen (2)
Greg Millen 48 saves / 52 shotsGoalie stats Mike Liut 48 saves / 51 shots
St. Louis won series 3–2

Quarterfinals vs. New York Rangers

April 16New York Rangers3–6St. Louis Blues Checkerdome Recap  
Lance Nethery (2) – 07:21First period11:15 – ppBernie Federko (5)
14:55 – Brian Sutter (3)
17:39 – Blair Chapman (2)
Lance Nethery (3) – 01:34Second period08:56 – Mike Crombeen (3)
16:42 – Bernie Federko (6)
19:42 – Mike Zuke (4)
Jere Gillis (1) – 05:39Third periodNo scoring
Steve Baker 22 saves / 28 shotsGoalie stats Mike Liut 28 saves / 31 shots
April 17New York Rangers6–4St. Louis Blues Checkerdome Recap  
Barry Beck (2)– sh – 03:07First period01:22 – Jorgen Pettersson (2)
02:16 – Larry Patey (1)
18:06 – ppBrian Sutter (4)
Dean Talafous (2) – 16:24Second periodNo scoring
Jere Gillis (2) – 07:30
Anders Hedberg (4) – ps – 08:29
Mike Allison (2) – 10:16
Ron Duguay (6) – 19:13
Third period15:04 – Brian Sutter (5)
Steve Baker 25 saves / 29 shotsGoalie stats Mike Liut 24 saves / 30 shots
April 19St. Louis Blues3–6New York Rangers Madison Square Garden Recap  
Wayne Babych (2) – pp – 02:47First period00:40 – Ron Greschner (2)
Bill Stewart (1) – 15:35Second period05:13 – ppUlf Nilsson (6)
06:41 – Barry Beck (3)
13:49 – ppMike Allison (3)
17:36 – Steve Vickers (1)
Tony Currie (3) – 00:34Third period02:23 – Lance Nethery (4)
Mike Liut 25 saves / 31 shotsGoalie stats Steve Baker 14 saves / 17 shots
April 20St. Louis Blues1–4New York Rangers Madison Square Garden Recap  
Tony Currie (4) – pp – 07:40First period06:14 – Anders Hedberg (4)
18:37 – Ron Duguay (7)
No scoringSecond period09:01 – ppSteve Vickers (2)
No scoringThird period03:24 – Steve Vickers (3)
Mike Liut 24 saves / 28 shotsGoalie stats Steve Baker 33 saves / 34 shots
April 22New York Rangers3–4St. Louis Blues Checkerdome Recap  
Ron Greschner (3) – 06:35
Ulf Nilsson (7) – pp – 10:06
First period14:17 – ppBrian Sutter (6)
Carol Vadnais (1) – 02:54Second period08:25 – Larry Patey (2)
14:55 – Jorgen Pettersson (3)
No scoringThird period06:09 – pp – Jorgen Pettersson (4)
Steve Baker 26 saves / 30 shotsGoalie stats Mike Liut 34 saves / 37 shots
April 24St. Louis Blues4–7New York Rangers Madison Square Garden Recap  
No scoringFirst period03:27 – Steve Vickers (4)
05:49 – Anders Hedberg (6)
16:10 – shRon Duguay (8)
Bernie Federko (7) – 02:16
Rick Lapointe (2) – 03:14
Bernie Federko (8) – 04:06
Second period01:59 – Barry Beck (4)
17:03 – Lance Nethery (5)
Ed Kea (1) – 06:00Third period04:31 – Peter Wallin (1)
14:54 – Ulf Nilsson (8)
Mike Liut 13 saves / 20 shotsGoalie stats Steve Baker 11 saves / 15 shots
New York won series 4–2

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
Bernie Federko C783173104479924
Wayne Babych RW7854429693141407
Blake Dunlop C802067874016602
Jorgen Pettersson LW623736732414805
Brian Sutter LW78353469232121704
Mike Zuke C7424446857151011
Perry Turnbull C7534225620915505
Tony Currie RW612332553832204
Blair Chapman RW55202646413503
Larry Patey C802223451072083
Rick Lapointe D808253312436003
Joe Micheletti D63427315312301
Jack Brownschidle D7152328125311
Mike Crombeen RW6691423581011
Bill Stewart D602212311419000
Ed Kea D74318216015000
Ralph Klassen C666121823-5010
Craig Norwich D2341216141301
Gerry Hart D63411151329000
Bryan Maxwell D40310131377000
Hartland Monahan RW2542642020
Ed Staniowski G1902200000
Rick Heinz G401100000
Bob Hess D40004-3000
Dick Lamby D10000-1000
Chuck Lefley LW200000000
Mike Liut G6100000000
Paul MacLean RW100001000
Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLTGAGAASO
Mike Liut 3570613314131993.341
Ed Staniowski 1010191033724.280
Rick Heinz 220421182.180
Team:4800804518172793.491

Playoffs

Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIMPPGSHGGWG
Bernie Federko C11810182401
Tony Currie RW11412164100
Joe Micheletti D111111210100
Brian Sutter LW1163977300
Mike Zuke C114594300
Jorgen Pettersson LW114370102
Blair Chapman RW92576000
Larry Patey C1124630000
Rick Lapointe D822412000
Mike Crombeen RW113038002
Ed Kea D1112312000
Jack Brownschidle D110332000
Blake Dunlop C110334000
Wayne Babych RW112028100
Ralph Klassen C112022000
Bill Stewart D410111000
Bryan Maxwell D1101154000
Gerry Hart D1000027000
Mike Liut G110000000
Paul MacLean RW10000000
Hartland Monahan RW10004000
Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLGAGAASO
Mike Liut 6851156504.380
Team:6851156504.380

[5]

Note:
Pos = Position;GP = Games played; G =  Goals; A =  Assists; Pts =  Points; PIM =  Penalty minutes; +/- =  Plus/minus; PPG =  Power-play goals; SHG =  Short-handed goals; GWG =  Game-winning goals
Pos = Position;GP = Games played; 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;

Transactions

The Blues were involved in the following transactions during the 1980–81 season. [6]

Trades

June 19, 1980To St. Louis Blues
Craig Norwich
To Winnipeg Jets
Rick Bowness
October 30, 1980To St. Louis Blues
Bill Stewart
To Buffalo Sabres
Bob Hess
4th round pick in 1981 – Anders Wikberg

Waivers

February 2, 1981To Colorado Rockies
Craig Norwich

Free agent signings

May 8, 1980From Västra Frölunda IF (Sweden)
Jörgen Pettersson
July 14, 1980From Adirondack Red Wings (AHL)
John Taft
November 12, 1980From Quebec Nordiques
Gerry Hart

Draft picks

St. Louis's draft picks at the 1980 NHL entry draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.

Round#PlayerNationalityCollege/Junior/Club team (League)
112 Rik Wilson Flag of the United States.svg United StatesKingston Canadians (OHA)
354 Jim Pavese Flag of the United States.svg United StatesKitchener Rangers (OHA)
475 Bob Brooke Flag of the United States.svg United StatesYale University (ECAC)
596 Alain Lemieux Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaChicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
6117 Perry Anderson Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaKingston Canadians (OMJHL)
7138 Roger Hagglund Flag of Sweden.svg SwedenUmeå (Sweden)
8159Pat RabbittFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaBillings Bighorns (WHL)
9180 Peter Lindgren Flag of Sweden.svg SwedenHammarby (Sweden)
10201John SmythFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaCalgary Wranglers (WHL)

See also

References

  1. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN   9781894801225.
  2. "1980–81 NHL Standings". NHL.com. National Hockey League.
  3. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  4. "1980-81 St. Louis Blues Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  5. "1980-81 St. Louis Blues Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
  6. "Hockey Transactions Search Results".