1981–82 Montreal Canadiens season

1981–82 Montreal Canadiens
Adams Division Champions
Division	1st Adams
Conference	2nd Wales
1981–82 record	46-17-17
Goals for	360
Goals against	223
Team information
General Manager	Irving Grundman
Coach	Bob Berry
Captain	Bob Gainey
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Montreal Forum
Team leaders
Goals	Mark Napier (40)
Assists	Guy Lafleur (57)
Points	Keith Acton (88)
Penalties in minutes	Chris Nilan (204)
Plus/minus	Brian Engblom (+76)
Wins	Rick Wamsley (23)
Goals against average	Denis Herron (2.64)
<1980–81 1982–83>

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

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

^[2]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.

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

^[3]

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.^[4] 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.^[5]

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Acton, KeithKeith Acton	C	78	36	52	88	88	48	10	0	5
Lafleur, GuyGuy Lafleur	RW	66	27	57	84	24	33	9	0	3
Napier, MarkMark Napier	RW	80	40	41	81	14	49	9	0	5
Tremblay, MarioMario Tremblay	RW	80	33	40	73	66	24	7	0	4
Mondou, PierrePierre Mondou	C	73	35	33	68	57	18	8	2	4
Robinson, LarryLarry Robinson	D	71	12	47	59	41	57	5	1	0
Shutt, SteveSteve Shutt	LW	57	31	24	55	40	24	5	0	3
Jarvis, DougDoug Jarvis	C	80	20	28	48	20	34	1	0	4
Gainey, BobBob Gainey	LW	79	21	24	45	24	37	1	3	1
Houle, RejeanRejean Houle	W	51	11	32	43	34	18	2	1	1
Langway, RodRod Langway	D	66	5	34	39	116	66	1	0	1
Wickenheiser, DougDoug Wickenheiser	C	56	12	23	35	43	18	1	0	3
Risebrough, DougDoug Risebrough	C	59	15	18	33	116	23	2	2	2
Engblom, BrianBrian Engblom	D	76	4	29	33	76	78	1	0	0
Hunter, MarkMark Hunter	RW	71	18	11	29	143	10	0	0	5
Picard, RobertRobert Picard	D	62	2	26	28	106	17	2	0	0
Gingras, GastonGaston Gingras	D	34	6	18	24	28	10	3	0	3
Laughlin, CraigCraig Laughlin	RW	36	12	11	23	33	10	2	0	1
Larouche, PierrePierre Larouche	C	22	9	12	21	0	-3	3	0	0
Lapointe, GuyGuy Lapointe	D	47	1	19	20	72	-3	0	0	0
Nilan, ChrisChris Nilan	RW	49	7	4	11	204	6	0	0	1
Delorme, GilbertGilbert Delorme	D	60	3	8	11	55	19	0	0	0
Wamsley, RickRick Wamsley	G	38	0	2	2	4	0	0	0	0
Brubaker, JeffJeff Brubaker	LW	3	0	1	1	32	1	0	0	0
Herron, DenisDenis Herron	G	27	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0
Holden, MarkMark Holden	G	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kitchen, BillBill Kitchen	D	1	0	0	0	7	0	0	0	0
Orleski, DaveDave Orleski	LW	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sevigny, RichardRichard Sevigny	G	19	0	0	0	10	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
Wamsley, RickRick Wamsley	2206	38	23	7	7	101	2.75	2
Herron, DenisDenis Herron	1547	27	12	6	8	68	2.64	3
Sevigny, RichardRichard Sevigny	1027	19	11	4	2	53	3.10	0
Holden, MarkMark 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
Mondou, PierrePierre Mondou	C	5	2	5	7	8	1	1	0
Tremblay, MarioMario Tremblay	RW	5	4	1	5	24	0	0	1
Napier, MarkMark Napier	RW	5	3	2	5	0	1	1	1
Acton, KeithKeith Acton	C	5	0	4	4	16	0	0	0
Houle, RejeanRejean Houle	W	5	0	4	4	6	0	0	0
Lafleur, GuyGuy Lafleur	RW	5	2	1	3	4	2	0	0
Risebrough, DougDoug Risebrough	C	5	2	1	3	11	0	0	0
Langway, RodRod Langway	D	5	0	3	3	18	0	0	0
Nilan, ChrisChris Nilan	RW	5	1	1	2	22	0	0	0
Picard, RobertRobert Picard	D	5	1	1	2	7	0	0	0
Engblom, BrianBrian Engblom	D	5	0	2	2	14	0	0	0
Jarvis, DougDoug Jarvis	C	5	1	0	1	4	0	1	0
Gainey, BobBob Gainey	LW	5	0	1	1	8	0	0	0
Gingras, GastonGaston Gingras	D	5	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
Kitchen, BillBill Kitchen	D	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
Laughlin, CraigCraig Laughlin	RW	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
Robinson, LarryLarry Robinson	D	5	0	1	1	8	0	0	0
Brubaker, JeffJeff Brubaker	LW	2	0	0	0	27	0	0	0
Hunter, MarkMark Hunter	RW	5	0	0	0	20	0	0	0
Wamsley, RickRick Wamsley	G	5	0	0	0	2	0	0	0

Goaltending

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

^[6]

Note:

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

See also

• 1981–82 NHL season

References

1. The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D’Arcy Jenish, p.243, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
2. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
3. "1981–82 Montreal Canadiens Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
4. The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D’Arcy Jenish, p.243, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
5. The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D’Arcy Jenish, p.244, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
6. "1981-82 Montreal Canadiens Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-28.