1981–82 Minnesota North Stars season

1981–82 Minnesota North Stars
Norris Division champions
Division1st Norris
Conference2nd Campbell
1981–82 record37–23–20
Home record21–7–12
Road record16–16–8
Goals for346
Goals against288
Team information
General managerLou Nanne
CoachGlen Sonmor
CaptainTim Young
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaMet Center
Average attendance15,220
Minor league affiliate(s)Nashville South Stars (CHL)
Team leaders
GoalsDino Ciccarelli (55)
AssistsBobby Smith (71)
PointsBobby Smith (114)
Penalty minutesDino Ciccarelli (138)
WinsGilles Meloche (26)
Goals against averageLindsay Middlebrook (3.00)

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.

Offseason

Prior to the season, realignment of the NHL's divisions took place, which saw the North Stars leave the Adams Division and join the Norris Division. They would join alongside the Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets.

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
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

[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.

Record vs. opponents

Norris Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference

Vs. Wales Conference


Schedule and results

Regular season

1981–82 regular season[3]
October
Game Result 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
November
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
December
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
January
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
February
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
March
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
April
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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

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

Playoffs

1982 Stanley Cup playoffs[3]
Norris Division Semifinals vs. (N4) Chicago Black Hawks – Black Hawks win 3–1
Game Date Visitor Score Home Series
1 April 7 Chicago Black Hawks 3–2 Minnesota North Stars 1–0
2 April 8 Chicago Black Hawks 5–3 Minnesota North Stars 2–0
3 April 10 Minnesota North Stars 7–1 Chicago Black Hawks 2–1
4 April 11 Minnesota North Stars 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1

Legend:   Win   Loss

Playoffs

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

Player statistics

Skaters

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

Player GP G A Pts +/- PIM
Bobby Smith 80 43 71 114 +10 82
Dino Ciccarelli 76 55 51 106 +14 138
Neal Broten 73 38 60 98 +14 42
Steve Payne 74 33 45 78 +20 76
Craig Hartsburg 76 17 60 77 +11 117
Al MacAdam 79 18 43 61 +9 37
Steve Christoff 69 26 29 55 +9 14
Brad Palmer 72 22 23 45 -13 18
Tom McCarthy 40 12 30 42 +10 36
Tim Young 50 10 31 41 +1 67
Gordie Roberts 79 4 30 34 -3 119
Brad Maxwell 51 10 21 31 +6 96
Mike Eaves 25 11 10 21 +2 0
Kent-Erik Andersson 70 9 12 21 -5 18
Fred Barrett 69 1 15 16 -12 89
Anders Håkansson 72 12 4 16 -11 29
Curt Giles 74 3 12 15 +15 87
Jack Carlson 57 8 4 12 -5 103
Bill Nyrop 42 4 8 12 +14 35
Ken Solheim 29 4 5 9 -8 4
Gary Sargent 15 0 5 5 +5 18
Kevin Maxwell 12 1 4 5 -1 8
Mark Johnson 10 2 2 4 -4 10
Murray Brumwell 21 0 3 3 E 18
Dan Poulin 3 1 1 2 +1 2
Ron Meighan 7 1 1 2 -1 2
Tom Younghans 3 1 0 1 +1 0

[4]

Goaltending

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

Player GP W L T SO GAA
Gilles Meloche 51 26 15 9 1 3.48
Don Beaupre 28 11 8 9 0 3.71
Lindsay Middlebrook 3 0 0 2 0 3.00

Awards and records

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)

References

  1. ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
  2. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "1981-82 Minnesota North Stars Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  4. ^ "1981-82 Minnesota North Stars Roster and Statistics".
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