NHL Historical Replay

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by ThatSeventiesGuy

The Blues as Cup favorites? Sadly, I've heard that song and dance before, and it all ended in tears as usual. Maybe the fictional world will be kinder to them, like it was to the Seals/Barons and Leafs.

The Blues are surely a contender, they have two 5 star goalies. It would make alot of sense to deal either Dan Bouchard or Eddie Mio! There are teams that could use one of them, and the return could be significant...but that probably won't happen.

[George_Bell]

1980-81 NHL Regular Season

It’s evident right away that scoring it going up. Early in the season, games were averaging about 7 gpg. That’s fallen a tiny bit as more of a sample size is collected, but by December first, we are seeing 6.78 goals per game. That’s up more then half a goal from last year, and it’s the highest total since the 1944 season which saw 6.93 gpg.

Gilbert Perreault, one of the least talked about great players is having quite the year. He’s in his 10th season in Vancouver, a team that has had next to no success. Perreault has quietly scored 400 career goals, and has 53 points in 24 games. He has the Canucks in first place, on pace for their best season ever. Perreault has to be the early favourite for MVP.


Perreault is an underrated star!

The LA Kings trade Robbie Ftorek!



The Kings have traded first liner Robbie Ftorek to the Boston Bruins. Ftorek, was least productive member of the Purple Gang. While Guy Lafleur and Butch Goring have been setting league records, Ftorek has putting up pedestrian numbers. Right around a point a game every year(SARCASM). He was off to a bad start, with 15 points in 25 games this season, but becomes one of Boston’s best players right away. LA gets young defenseman, Reijo Ruotsalainen. He’s just 20, playing in his rookie season, drafted 26th overall in the last draft. He's got some really good offensive skills. If things go well, he could be a 60 point guy very soon. Both teams do well here, getting good value.


Ftorek to Boston

Scoring records will be broken again this season. Approaching the midway point, Guy Lafleur, Brian Sutter and Mike Bossy are all scoring more then a goal a game. Dennis Maruk is on pace for over 100 assists and 160 points. 4 other players, including Wayne Gretzky are on pace for over 150 points. It’s a goalies nightmare. Scoring seems to have stabilized at 6.7 goals per game. The top end guys are really scoring more then ever though.


Sutter has 38 goals in 37 games so far for Calgary!

Wayne Gretzky broke his collarbone. He will miss 2-3 months, but hopefully be back for the playoffs. This is the 2nd year in a row Gretzky has suffered a major injury. Hartford will be in a battle for a playoff spot the rest of the way. This opening gives Mark Messier a chance to shine. He takes Gretzky's spot on the first line. Gretzky had 76 points in 39 games.


Gretzky suffers his 2nd major injury!

Washington's Dennis Maruk just had his 25 game point streak ended. I have no way of knowing what the record is, but I can’t remember seeing anyone get more then 20 games in a row before. In those 25 games, Maruk has 22 goals and 40 assists!! That’s a great season right there. Maruk has become a top 5 player in hockey. At 25 years of age, he’s got a long career ahead of him, and a chance to lead the Caps, with Mike Bossy, to glory. Through 51 games, Maruk has 40 goals and 111 points so far!


Maruk is a star!

29 year old Guy Lafleur has scored his 500th goal! Lafleur has 200 of those 500 goals in the last 2.5 seasons, which is incredible! He is now 9th on the all time list, before hitting 30. Here is a look at the current career leaders…



Wayne Gretzky returned from injury in early March. Mark Messier impressed so much in Wayne’s absence, the Whalers decided to play the two youngster together on the first line. In those 10 games, Wayne has 8 goals and 10 assists, while Messier has 3 goals and 7 assists. The Whalers won 5 of those 10 games, lost 3 and tied 2. That’s an improvement for the team, who are locks for the playoffs, despite being 7 games under .500. Just a little taste of what the future might hold!



With a week left in the season, Lanny McDonald has 70 goals, which puts him in reach for the goal scoring record. Two players have already broken the assists record, and one has the new single season points record. Offense for everyone!!


Can Lanny break the goal scoring record?

Final Standings



A three way tie for the final playoff spot exists between Edmonton, Philadelphia and Detroit. I’m not sure what the game will use as the tiebreaker. If it’s wins, then the Detroit Red Wings are in.

Defending champion NY wins the Patrick division, but the Flames are right there behind them It’s there 2nd straight 106 point season. I think the Flames are the better team on paper. The fans in Calgary didn’t though. In their first season in their new city, the Flames averaged just 7500 a game. Half of what they were getting in Atlanta.

Vancouver wins their first division title, winning 50 games along the way. Hartford makes the playoffs for the first time. Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier are going to the postseason. The New York Islanders reach 30 wins for the first time, and qualify for the playoffs for a 2nd time.



Washington’s Dennis Maruk sets the all time single season point record with 163 points. Bryan Trottier sets the all time single season assist mark with 108. Maruk now as the 2nd best assist mark with his 102.

Lanny McDonald gets 71 goals, while Lafleur and Sutter each hit 70! No goal scoring record is set, though having 3 guys get that many is pretty amazing. 10 players ending up joining the 50 goal club aswell. Dave Taylor jumped from a career high of 30 goals to 59 this year. Taylor, was one of 3 North Stars to get 50!

Wayne Gretzky finishes the season with 46 goals and 104 points, in just 53 games. Wayne Gretzky is a healthy season from taking over the NHL.

Gilbert Perreault finished the year with 144 points and 50 goals. He suffered a minor injury near the end of the year, and he might not be available for the 1st round of the playoffs!

Robbie Ftorek didn't spend a long time in Boston. After 40 games, and 35 points, he was dealt to Detroit at the deadline in a deal i missed. Overall, he put up 62 points. Reijo Rustsalainen put up an impressive 52 points in 52 games as a King!

[George_Bell]

1981 NHL Playoffs



First Round



Despite some close calls, every single higher seed won their first round series. The bottom four seeds all took the top 4 to a fifth and deciding game. We get some intriguing second round matches though. I don’t expect the higher seeds to all win again. The first round’s highest scorer was Peter Stastny who scored just twice in last years cup run. He’s got 6 goals and 6 assists already this year!

2nd Round



Minnesota and Washington play what looked like an amazingly entertaining series. I wish I could watch a 30 minute recap on youtube! The playoffs top scorer through two rounds is Lanny McDonald, with 22 points. Only one lower seed advanced, as Toronto eliminated LA rather easily. The Kings one year of dominance certainly hasn’t lasted, but they did win a cup!

3rd Round


Minnesota North Stars vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto keeps finding way to rebuild themselves into a contender, and now find themelves in the semi finals, against their division rival, and President’s trophy winning North Stars. 3 points and 1 win separated the two teams. Gerry Minor opened the scoring halfway through the 2nd, giving Minnesota the lead. Toronto responded with a big 3rd period. Garry Unger, who has to be approaching the record for playoff games played, as it seems like he’s been with the Leafs through all of their playoff runs, ties it. A minute later, Jorgen Pettersson gives the Leafs a lead, and 40 seconds after that, Slava Fetisov adds an insurance marker. 3-1 Toronto wins game one. Lanny McDonald’s 13th gets things started in game two, but Frank Cernik would tie it before the end of the first. Darryl Sittler gives the North Stars the lead back, but again, Toronto ties it shortly after. Peter McNab’s late 2nd period goal gives the Leafs the lead. Toronto would add two more in the third, to skate away with a 5-2 win, and two road victories.


Unger has played 166 playoff games, and counting!

Energized by the Maple Leaf Gardens crowd, Toronto scored the first 6 goals of this one. Ya, that usually means the game is over, and this one is no different. Bob Bourne gets 3 goals and 2 assists, while Jorgen Pettersson scores twice. 7-2 Toronto in a blowout shocking the North Stars. Game four is desperation time. Minnesota came to play. They have their best period of the series, getting goals from Brent Aston, Tiger Williams and Dave Hunter to lead 3-0. It’s 4-0 before Toronto scores, but the Leafs get 2 goals in just FOUR SECONDS! Cernik and Bourne do the deed, and it’s 4-2 after two. Amazingly, Cernik scores early in the third, and Peter McNab ties it a few minutes later. Toronto fights back to tie it at 4! Most teams fold in this situation, but the North Stars don’t. Despite blowing the lead, Jiri Bubla scores late in the third, giving them a almost blown, luck, series saving, 5-4 win. We go back to Minneapolis.


Bubla extends the series for the North Stars.

The Leafs seemed to take this game off. That comeback, and the disappointment of losing after it, might have taken some wind out of Toronto, for one night at least. Minnesota outshoots the Leafs 42-20. Dave Parro stopped every shot he saw. The North Stars win it 3-0. Game six will see Curt Ridley in the Toronto net, as John Garrett has an ear infection. Darryl Sittler and Brad Park hook up to open the scoring in the final seconds of the first. Sittler gets his 2nd in the second, to make it 2-0 heading into the final frame. Slava Fetisov continues to haunt his former club, getting his 3rd of the series, getting Toronto on the board. Late in the third, the Leafs tie it with a goal from Mario Tremblay. Overtime is needed. In ot, Slava Fetisov’s point shot is redirected by Guy Charron, beating Dave Parro, and ending the series. 3-2 Leafs win, to take the series in 6!




New York Rangers vs Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks are in uncharted territory. It’s been like that all season for them, as the NHL’s breakout team. Gilbert Perreault, back healthy and playing, gets his 5th early on. It stays that way until the first 5 minutes of the third period. Ken Houston scores to make to 2-0 Canucks. 10 seconds later, Pierre Mondou makes it 3-0. 63 seconds later, Tim Higgins makes it 4-0. 30 seconds later, it’s 5-0…..see where this is going. Vancouver scores 6 in the third, and wins the opener 7-1! After no scoring in the first, the Rangers grab their first lead of the series in the 2nd period of game two. Darryl Sutter makes it 3-0 NY, but Greg Theberge scores twice in less then a minute for the Canucks! Is this happening again? The Canucks striking hard and fast!! No, that’s all Vancouver can get, and the Rangers even the series with a 3-2 win.

Perreault is back healthy leading the Canucks.

Game three is all Rangers. After a scoreless first, Brett Callighen scores twice in the 2nd, Steve Payne adds another for the 3-0 lead. NY repeats that effort in the third. Terry O’Reilly gets 2 this period. 6-0 Rangers win game three. Game 4 is sort of the opposite of the series. We have seen very little scoring early in the games, but the teams for back and forth in this one. 5 different players score as the teams answered each other almost each time. The Canucks come out on top with the 3-2 lead, but two periods left to play. Richie Dunn scores short handed in the 2nd to tie it after two. Late in the third, the hero is Tim Higgins, scoring with 2 minutes left, giving Vancouver the 4-3 win, tying the series.


O'Reilly gets 2 goals in game three!

Rick Kehoe scored early in the first period of game 5 for Vancouver. Their joy was short lived, as over the next 30 minutes, the Rangers scored 5 times. Peter Stastny was in on 4 of them. The Rangers eased themselves to a 6-2 win. The two teams played stalemate hockey for 40 minutes of game 6. Vancouver would score, then the Rangers would score. It was like that to the tune of a 3-3 tie heading into the third. Vancouver then took over. Steve Larmer, Al Secord and Rick Kehoe all get goals to win it 6-3, and force a game 7!


Stastny gets 4 points in game five!

Game 7

It’s announced that Rangers top defenseman, Bobby Orr is out for the season with a 3rd degree MCL sprain suffered in game 6. The Rangers are going to miss him. Injuries limited Orr again this year. He got 65 points in just 36 games, and had just 6 points in 8 playoff games.

No Bobby Orr, no problem. Shots are 10-0 early, and Rick Meagher makes it 1-0 New York. Are you kidding Vancouver, with that kind of start. Terrible.. 5 shots later, all for NY, Steve Payne makes it 2-0. I’m declaring this one over at the 9:06 mark of the first period. That’s just horrible.


Scoreboard after the first period.

After a dominant first, 7 seconds into the 2nd, Gilbert Perreault wins the draw, grabs the puck, skates in on net, and scores!! Talk about getting nothing after dominating. New York only has a 1 goal lead now! Rick Meager scores his 2nd of the game a few minutes later, restoring the two goal lead. Peter Stastny makes it 4-1. The Rangers makes it 5-1 by the end of the 2nd.

I won’t go over the third. New York had this in cruise control, and win it 5-2. In a match that I doubt anyone reading really wanted to see, the New York Rangers will face the team that beats them every damn time they meet. The Toronto Maple Leafs!

[George_Bell]

It seems like the Leafs beat the Rangers every time they play in the playoffs. They did beat them 4 times in 5 years during the finals, and they did beat them 3years ago, when Toronto won their last cup, but the Rangers did beat the Leafs in the first round of the 1969 playoffs. Some Rangers were around then, so it’s possible. Toronto has Swede Jorgen Pettersson and Czech Frank Cernik leading them this year. The pair combined for 77 goals. Russian Slava Fetisov is a rock on defense, making things easy as possible for 2 time Gardiner Trophy winner John Garrett.

New York is ofcourse without Bobby Orr, but that’s becoming a normal thing. Orr missed half the playoffs already, and has played just over 50 games the past 2 years. The Rangers are clearly winning without him in the lineup. Peter Stastny has 28 points in the playoffs, leading a charge to the Conn Smythe trophy. Terry O’Reilly has 17 points and 50 PIM’s. Pelle Lindberg has won the starting goalie job from Dennis Herron, and has 2 playoff shutouts. Will the demons get to the Rangers, or will they finally beat Toronto for a cup?!

[wwines]

Thank God the Leafs are not this dominate in real life. I totally hate them know and the have been basically irrelevant for my 40 years of hockey enjoyment.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by wwines

Thank God the Leafs are not this dominate in real life. I totally hate them know and the have been basically irrelevant for my 40 years of hockey enjoyment.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

GO LEAFS GO for Life!!!

[George_Bell]

Despite the Rangers having the 2 seed, and Toronto being the 5 seed, the NHL has awarded the Leafs home ice advantage because reasons….Terry O’Reilly and Steve Payne give New York a 2-1 lead after the first period, but Toronto erases the advantage with goals from Mario Tremblay and Mark Johnson. Then Bob Murray extends the Toronto lead to 2 in the 3rd, which they needed when the Rangers get another goal. That was it though. The Leafs win game one, 4-3. Game two begins with Mark Johnson scoring his 2nd of the series, and Frank Cernik getting his first. 2-0 Leafs early. Brad McCrimmon, who is NY’s ice time leader, gets the Rangers on the board. Halfway through the third, the Mike Zuke ties it for NY. Looks like we have overtime…until Mario Tremblay fires a rebound into the Rangers net with 58 seconds left!! Tremblay stays on the ice and gets an empty netter 20 seconds later. Leafs win 4-2 with Tremblay receiving the well deserved first star for winning this game!


Tremblay wins game two for Toronto!

Richie Dunn gets two first period goals, which lead the Rangers to a 3-2 lead after the first period of game three. The score stays that way until Mark Johnson scores for the third straight game. That goals ties it at 3, which forces overtime. 4 minutes into the OT, while shorthanded, Brad McCrimmon breaks in with Peter Stastny. The two make no mistake, and get the winner. 4-3 Rangers win. Steve Payne opens the scoring in game four, then Terry O’Reilly scores 3 straight goals. It’s 5-0 after two periods, making any comeback attempt mute. Rangers blow out the Leafs, 6-2.


O'Reilly with the game 4 hat-trick!

With all the momentum, NY outshoots Toronto 35 to 13. After falling behind early, NY scores 4 straight goals. Peter Stastny and Steve Payne get 3 points each. New York wins their 3rd straight game, 4-1. Tomas Jonsson got Toronto on the board early in game 6, but Brett Callighen responded before the end of the first. NY then scores 4 straight goals, and outshoots Toronto 29-15. The Rangers turned it on, and Toronto again had no answer. NY wins 5-1, and finally, beat Toronto in the Finals! The Rangers win their 2nd straight cup!!

[George_Bell]

[George_Bell]

1981 NHL Offseason News and Notes

Here are last season's skating leaders.



Here are the goalie leaders.



Here are the playoff scoring leaders.



Ok, the game is broken in a sense of choosing who wins the Hart Trophy. The 9th place team’s best player, who finished 10th in league scoring, 4th in game rating, and put up a +8, is not the MVP…again!! Denis Maruk and Mike Bossy got robbed. Either of them is the MVP. They have turned a horrible team into a team on the verge of contending. They put up amazing seasons. Marcel Dionne is one of the best ever, no doubt, but he's just not the MVP this year.



Jiri Bubla’s stay in Minnesota has been very successful since defecting 3 years ago. At 31, Bubla wins the Pilote trophy as best defenseman. He picked up 84 points on the season, something I believe only Bobby Orr has done before. I can’t actually check. There’s no option in the game to search or look up only defenseman single season scoring records.



Some interesting names have retired from the NHL. Nick Libbett hangs them up after a very productive career with the Rangers and Flyers. He finishes just shy of 1000 points. Serge Savard retires after spending almost his whole career with the Bruins. Savard didn’t live upto his potential. He became a good player, who could contribute offensively, but only won a single playoff series. It’s not all his fault, but he wasn’t good enough. New York’s Pete Mahovlich also leaves the game at the age of 34. The Little M played 12 seasons with the Rangers being a do everything kind of player. He scored way more then I expected him too, and provided great two way play. The Rangers announced they won’t officially retire his number, but will honour him with a banner.



The NHL has announced a new playoff format…



The league also has realigned to better reflect the geographies of the league. The Adams and Patrick divisions make up the Wales Conference, while the Smythe and Norris Divisions make up the Campbell Conference. The Stanley Cup will be played between the playoff winner of both conferences.



Doug Gilmour is the first pick in the NHL draft. Being a Leaf fan, this made me happy. I didn’t expect to see that when names like Dale Hawerchuk, Ron Francis and Al MacInnis are available. It’s another deep draft in terms of role players. I wouldn’t say there is alot of scoring outside the first round, namewise, atleast. Players selected you don’t see include Mike Vernon, Marty McSorely and Brian Skrudland.



Gilmour looks to be a smart, workhorse, two way center, who will be counted on late in games, and score a bunch. Quebec already has Paul Coffey, so it makes some sense passing on Al MacInnis.



Teammates Bobby Hull and Frank Mahovlich have been inducted into the Hall of Fame together. They were teammates for 16 years, helping the Leafs win a bunch of Stanley Cups. Both scored over 500 goals, and 1000 points. Both are top 10 goal scorers in NHL history. Both are automatic Hall of Famers!



19 year old Petri Skriko will sign with the Philadelphia Flyers. The 19 year old Finnish product was drafted 30th overall two years ago. He’s a skilled winger who is very quick. An excellent skater. Expect Skriko to spend some time in the minors, as despite is skating ability, he’s a little raw at the moment.


Skriko to the Flyers!

It’s been a long time coming, but Ivan Hlinka is finally joining the St. Louis Blues. The former 5 star player isn’t the same guy he was in his 20’s! He’s 31 years old now, and he hasn’t aged well, but he’s still got elite offensive skills, and is as smart as they come. Hlinka was drafted 11 years ago, 116th overall. Hlinka might be a ppg player, or he might be a 4th liner. I have no clue how this will play out!


Hlinka is a Blue!

[George_Bell]

1981-82 NHL Season Preview





Player Spotlight

Dennis Maruk put in a unbelievable season last year. 60 goals, 100 assists. Ofcourse we have to take a look at him. He’s developed into arguably the best player in hockey! Can he keep it up?



Playing on Wayne Gretzky’s wing this year, I expect a huge breakout from Mark Messier. He started last season in the minors. Got the promotion, did fine, replaced an injured Gretzky on the top line, and stayed there when Gretzky returned. The 20 year old will hit 100 points this season.

[George_Bell]

1981-82 NHL Regular Season

Wayne Gretzky has been named the NHL player of the month for the first time. Wayne has improved on last years pace of almost 2 ppg. He’s got 50 points in the first 23 games of the season, putting up an 85 game rating. Hartford sits in first place in the Adams division. The Whalers are fast becoming legit!


This guy is good!

Bobby Orr has become the first defenseman in NHL history to get 1000 points! Orr is now 33, and playing in his 15th season. He’s had healthy and unhealthy stretches, but seems good to go this season. He hasn’t missed a game yet, and has getting 1.5 ppg. Orr will play game 1000 early next year. It’s pretty official, he’s the greatest offensive defenseman of all time.


Top 10 career scoring for defenseman at the end of this season.

Stan Jonathan hasn’t been the same player since the Sabres acquired him from the Kings a few years back. Jonathan was coming off career highs of 88 points and 349 PIMs. Now in his 4th season with Buffalo, the 26 year old hasn’t come close to either of those marks. His game scores are in the 50’s now, after averaging 65 in his final Kings season. He got upto 48 points two years ago, but hasn’t reached 200 PIMS in Buffalo. This is a marriage that just hasn’t worked!


Jonathan hasn't been what the Sabres thought they were getting!

Marcel Dionne’s under appreciated and ignored linemate, Bobby Clarke just got his 1200th career point. If Clarke was on a team that didn’t include the 8 time Hart trophy winner, he would be the unquestioned star. Clarke has 4 seasons with over 100 points, and is about to hit a career high this year. He’s also about to play his 1000th game. That many points, before hitting 1000 games is pretty great. Clarke is also 2nd alltime in PIM’s, and probably a season away from claiming first place. He’s that kind of player, and just as valuable to Pittsburgh as Dionne!


1200 points and counting!

Bobby Orr got 58 games in, and then he tore his pectoral cage muscle, ending his season. Orr will miss another playoff run for the Rangers, who are in first place in the Patrick Division. Orr had 18 goals and 73 points in his 58 games. At 34, he’s just as productive as ever, but his body is now failing every season.


Orr will miss the playoffs again!

Wayne Gretzky’s season is also now over. For the third straight year, Wayne suffers a major injury. It’s the same one Orr went down with, which is enough to end his season. The first place Whalers are safely in the playoffs, but obviously, won’t be the same without Gretz. Through 70 games, Wayne had 52 goals and 128 points.


When will Wayne play a full season?

Final Standings

Campbell Conference


Wales Conference


Without Gretzky, the Whalers go 4-6, which is bad enough for them to fall out of first place. Montreal takes the division by a single point!

The new playoff formats give us some fun playoff match-ups. Montreal takes on first time qualifier Quebec, while the first modern battle of New York will take place.

The Blackhawks have quietly emerged as a contender with young guns like Jari Kurri and Bernie Nicholls helping out older stars like Larry Robinson, and the Esposito brothers.



Noone set any scoring records this year. Dennis Maruk played every game, and saw his point total drop 60 points!

Gretzky misses the scoring title by 3 points. That injury really hurt him and Hartford. Gretzky's teammate Mark Messier broke out with 118 points.

LA’s Denis Potvin finished 3 points shy of the 100 point barrier. Something only Bobby Orr has done for defensemen.

[George_Bell]

1981-82 NHL Playoffs



This is the first year the NHL is using a divisional playoff bracket. Teams must play through their division rivals in the first 2 rounds. The First round is best of 5, the remaining rounds are best of 7.

Adams Division


Mark Messier stepped up with the absence of Wayne Gretzky, putting up 11 points in the opening round. In the 2nd round, Montreal is able to hold Mark Messier to 6 points. Now, 6 points in 6 games is pretty good, but the truth is Hartford isn’t that deep, and without Gretzky, Messier’s 6 points isn’t enough. Montreal wins the Adams division.

Patrick Division



Peter Stastny is proving to be a playoff performer, leading the league with 14 first round points as the Rangers survive the Islanders. Craig MacTavish had 10 points in Washington’s 4 game win over Pittsburgh. In the division finals, the Caps, surprisingly, have very little trouble scoring against the Rangers. I say that because NY had the best GAA in the NHL. The two time defending champs are out. Washington wins the Patrick Division.

Norris Division



Minnesota looked great beating the Leafs in 4. They outscored Toronto 17-6. Chicago’s Phil Esposito sits the whole first round despite scoring 25 goals in 34 regular season games. The Blackhawks still eliminate the Blues in 4 games. The 2nd round was a war. Minnesota and Chicago went back and forth. Every time the North Stars won a game, the Blackhawks would answer. Unfortunately for them, there were no games after game 7. Minnesota wins the Norris Division.

Smythe Division



The lone upset of the first round is a shocker. Edmonton, in the playoffs for the first time, eliminates one of the cup favourites, Vancouver in 5 games. The Oilers fell behind 2-0 in that series. Dale Hawerchuk, up from the minors, had 5 points for the Oilers. Calgary had a very easy time with the Kings. The aging group in LA probably needs a rebuild. The first ever battle of Alberta takes place in round 2. Calgary has an even easier time with the Oilers. They improve to 7-0 in the playoffs as they take the Smythe Division.

Wales Conference Final

Montreal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals

Michel Goulet opens the scoring for Washington, it stays that way until the third period, when Curt Giles ties it 4 minutes in. It’s looking like overtime will be needed to settle game one, but with 25 seconds left, Mike Bossy ends that talk. He scores the game winner, giving the Caps a 2-1 win. Mike Bossy scores his 2nd of the series to open the scoring of game two. Montreal responds with 2 goals in 69 seconds to grab a lead. That lead didn’t last long as the Caps tied it before the end of the first. Washington would regain the lead on a short handed goal from Alain Cote, but Mike Rogers ties it again on the same power play. We do need overtime to settle game two. Just a couple of minutes in, Wilf Paiement wins it for Montreal! 4-3 Canadiens tie the series.


Mike Bossy scores the late winner in game one!

Craig MacTavish, Randy Carlyle and Michel Goulet all score in the first 10 minutes of game three giving the Caps a huge 3-0 lead. Don Lever gets Montreal on the board before the end of the period, but the game is controlled by Washington. Montreal adds another one late, but they can’t get the tying goal. 3-2 Washington wins. Montreal grabs a 2-1 first period lead in game four, and they extend that lead to 4-1 with 2nd period goals from Willi Plett and Wilf Paiement. Paul Maclean puts it away early in the third. Montreal wins 5-2!


Paiement is the first star of game 4 with 3 points.

Game five opens with a Willi Plett short hander. Montreal extends the lead to 3-1 after the 2nd. Washington puts up a fight in the third. Michel Goulet gets his 11th, and the Caps control all the play, but can’t beat Al Smith to tie the game. Habs win 3-2, and lead the series. After no scoring in the first period of game six, it’s Montreal’s Steve Bozek who gets the games first goal. Paul Maclean scores early in the third making it 2-0. Mike Bossy responds with his 10th. With 10 minutes to tie it, Al Smith stops 8 Washington shots, and the Habs kill a late power play. 2-1 Montreal wins to eliminate Washington!



Campbell Conference Final

Minnesota North Stars vs Calgary Flames

The potential for a lot of goals is high as both the Flames and North Stars have explosive offenses. Game one does not disappoint. After falling behind 1-0, the Flames score 3 in a row, all assisted by Rick Middleton. The North Stars respond scoring late in the 2nd and early in the third to tie it. Al MacAdam gives Calgary another lead halfway through the period, but Dave Taylor ties it again for Minnesota. Overtime is needed. On the powerplay, Al MacAdam scores his 2nd of the game, giving the Flames a 5-4 win. Rick Middleton scores 30 seconds into game two, but just like game one, there is a response. Brad Park and Dave Taylor give the North Stars the lead after a period. Lanny McDonald makes it 3-1 in the 2nd, but the Flames then explode. Brian Sutter scores twice, highlighting Calgary’s 4 goals in 8 minutes. Dino Ciccarelli got the North Stars within one, but the Flames hold that lead to win game two, 5-4!


Al MacAdam scores the game one OT winner!

In Calgary for game three, defense showed up. Tied at one after a period, the teams then went scoreless for the 2nd and 3rd periods. The two teams play another 14 minutes of scoreless hockey in the 4th before Minnesota’s Tiger Williams ends it. 2-1 North Stars with a huge win. That loss looks like it motivated the Flames. They come out of the gates on fire. Sutter gets his 13th early. Bryan Trottier and Rick Middleton follow it with goals of their own, and it’s 3-0 after a period. The Flames keep coming. They score twice in the first 40 seconds of the 2nd, and the route is on. 7-3 Calgary wins to take a 3-1 series lead.


Brian Sutter has 13 playoff goals, leading the Flames!

The North Stars find themselves trailing 2-1 heading into the third period of game five. Facing another premature elimination, Minnesota ties it off the stick of Lanny McDonald! The excitement of the goal doesn’t last long, as Bill Gardner and Rick Middleton quickly make it 4-2 Calgary. Tom Laidlaw scores into the empty net, and the North Stars have officially gained the rep as a regular season team that can't win the big one. Calgary wins 5-2 and will play in their first Stanley Cup!

[George_Bell]

Calgary is 11-1 during this playoff run. They have been nothing short of dominant. This is their first time playing for a title though. They have several WHA champions on their team though, so the experience is there. The Flames are relying on rookie Bob Froese in net, while Montreal as the experienced Al Smith, who has played in several cup finals. Montreal hasn't won a title in over a decade. That's not normal. Can Calgary become the 4th expansion team to win a championship?

[enf91]

Apparently, the formula for success this year was mediocre offense and marginally passable defense. Whodathunk?

[George_Bell]

It looks like the Flames nerves got to them, as it didn’t take long for Danny Gare to open the scoring. Montreal added two more goals and led 3-0 before the Flames realized where they were. Rick Middleton got one goal back, and it seemed to settle Calgary down. Tom Laidlaw got a goal near the end of the first, and what looked like a disaster, was now just a 3-2 Habs lead after one. Wilf Paiement and Al MacAdam exchanged goals in the 2nd, while Paul MacLean and Rick Middleton did the same in the third. Calgary couldn’t get any close then that one goal deficit, but did show fight. 5-4 Montreal wins game one. Montreal starts well again, leading 2-0 after the first. Despite being outplayed, the Flames respond in period 2. Rick Middleton scores twice, and Steve Shutt adds another. Sprinkled in there were goals from Steve Bozek and Paul MacLean though, making it 4-3 Montreal, but Calgary is in this thing. In the third, Rick Middleton completes his hat trick to tie it up, and force overtime. 4 minutes in, Mike Krushelnyski scores for Calgary. The Flames are outshot 44-19, but steal this game from Montreal, 5-4!


Krushelnyski scores the game two OT winner!

Montreal grabs another 2-0 lead in the first period of game 3, but Bernie Johnson gives the Flames a goal, cutting the lead to 1 after a period. In the 2nd, Montreal strikes twice again. Wilf Paiement gets his 10th, and Willi Plet has his third. With a 3 goal deficit, the Flames fight back. Rick Lanz, Duane Sutter and Bobby Smith all score in the third, but Montreal gets a goal in there from Dave Babych. Too little, too late for Calgary. 5-4 Montreal. The goal scoring continues into game four. Montreal outscores the Flames 2-1 in each of the first two periods, making it 4-2 heading into the third. Rick Middleton and Bryan Trottier score 30 seconds apart to tie in early in the frame. Ryan Walter then gets 2 straight goals and Paul Maclean adds another, giving Montreal an insurmountable lead. 7-5 Montreal wins.


Maclean has 4 goals in the finals so far!

Facing elimination in game five, the Flames are much more defensive minded for game five, and it worked. After falling down 1-0, Bobby Smith and Rick Middleton give Calgary a 2nd period lead. Don Lever would tie it, but the Flames Steve Shutt nets the winner halfway through the third. Calgary stays alive with a 3-2 win. With some momentum, it’s all Calgary early in game six. They lead 2-0 after a period, and 4-1 after two. Calgary outshoots Montreal 41-21, controlling the whole game. 5-1 Flames win. We go 7!

GAME 7

The Flames turned to goalie Gilles Gilbert in net two games ago. With 2 wins under his belt, he starts game 7.

Rick Middleton scores his 931st goal of the playoffs to open the scoring. Ok, it’s only his 19th, but it seems like 900! Flames lead early. Brian Sutter scores a few minutes later to make it 2-0 after a period.

Middleton keeps scoring!

Sutter gets his 2nd of the game, on a pass from Middleton to make it 3-0 after two. Can the Flames hold this lead? Montreal applies some pressure, and get a goal from Dave Barr. Willi Plett then makes it 3-2 with just under 9 minutes to play. Nail biting time!! The Flames take a late penalty. On the PP, Don Lever gets a shot over a sprawling Gilbert, and into the back of the net!! Montreal ties it with 2 minutes remaining! Looks like we are gonna have overtime…..WOW, with just seconds remaining, Bryan Trottier dumps the puck in. Brian Sutter goes into the corner, kicks it free to Rick Middleton, who wraps around the far post, AND FINDS THE NET!!! HE SCORES!!! 4 SECONDS LEFT!!! The FLAMES WIN THE STANLEY CUP!!


Game 7 third period summary!

[George_Bell]

[George_Bell]

1982 NHL Offseason News and Notes

I forgot to screenshot the stats. So I lost the reg season stats roundup and the playoff stats. No way to see those now. Another thing that should be added going further. I want to see complete team and league stats from season’s past in the same format i can view them during the season. It's dumb that i can't see complete league leaders in playoff scoring for past seasons.


Here is the stats summary screen you see when looking through the history section. It’s better then nothing.

In the least surprising piece of news ever, Marcel Dionne wins the Hart Trophy. Bryan Trottier, who had an amazing 32 assists in the playoffs, wins the Conn Smythe. He is the best set up man in the NHL today.





Two new awards will be given out starting in 1983. The Terry Sawchuk Award will be awarded to the goalie(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it in the regular season. It is named after HOFer Terry Sawchuk, who holds the single season GAA record of 1.07 in 1969.



The JP Parise Award is given to the player with the highest plus minus during the regular season. JP Parise currently has the highest plus minus of any retired player in NHL history, at +505. So lets name this after him!



Toronto’s Carol Vadnais has retired. He’s a life long Maple Leaf that was a top pairing defenseman during their championship run of the 70’s. Vadnais is actually the all time career leader in plus minus, with a +552. I’m not gonna change the JP Parise Award though, as I like how that sounds! Vadnais will have his number retired by the Maple Leafs. The Rangers will retire the jersey of defenseman Guy LaPointe, who has retired at the age of 32. LaPointe scored over 10 goals eleven times in his 14 year career. LaPointe is 2nd all time in defense scoring for the Rangers. Last, but certainly not least, Chicago’s Phil Esposito is finally hanging up his skates. Phil is one of the greatest players of all time. His ability to produce playing with a team that never challenged for a cup was incredible. He must have felt like he was alone for much of his career. Chicago just could never give him much help. Here is a look at his career.


Esposito thumbnail



The Colorado Rockies have relocated to East Rutherford, NJ to become the New Jersey Devils. This is the third home for the franchise that started in Kansas City, and spent 6 years in Denver. The team has just one playoff appearance during that time.



New Jersey gets the first pick in this years draft, and select American sniper, Brett Hull, son of Leafs legend, Bobby Hull. Brett is a huge pick for the Devils, who need to their young talent, to finally arrive in the NHL. Hull joins a group that includes Grant Fuhr, Glenn Anderson and Doug Lidster. Ok, maybe a few more top draft picks would help.


Hull has not signed yet!

This draft featured a bunch of top end defenseman, and a few other sniper types. Dave Anreychuk, who joins Doug Gilmour and Paul Coffey in Quebec, is ready to make a big impact today. The Nordiques have a very nice core developing.



The Kings have traded long time center Butch Goring.


I guess the Kings are rebuilding a bit, or retooling, but long time first line center Butch Goring is on his way to Detroit. Goring just had his lowest point total in almost a decade, but it still was an impressive season. He played just 60 games, and had 87 points! Goring had 1109 points over 920 games as a King. He becomes the Red Wings best player. The Kings get 24 year old Ilkka Sinisalo, a Finnish winger, who broke out this year with 74 points. Sinisalo is a smart hockey player, who tends to be more of a set up man then anything else.


Goring and Sinasalo switch places.

There are two new members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Canadiens legend Dave Keon will take is rightful place among the greats. Keon will go down in history as arguably a top 10 player in league history. He is joined by his former teammate Yvon Cournoyer. These two were instrumental in the Habs success during the 1960s.



Time for the iron curtain draft. Edmonton will sign Finnish winger Teppo Virta. Virta is a half star prospect, who at 20 years old, has a long way to go to be NHL quality. Virta was selected 129th in the 1980 draft.

The Blues are selected again, and they sign Russian Ilja Byakin. He's a 19 year old defenseman, with decent potential, but raw. He probably needs 2 years in the minors, but could be something. Byakin was picked 141st in the 1981 draft.

[George_Bell]

1982-83 NHL Season Preview





Player Spotlight

The season preview is suggesting Philadelphia's Craig Hartsburgh is the best, or one of the best defenseman in the league, so i thought it would make sense to take a look at him. He's young, physical, strong in both ends! Yep, I agree. There can't be too many players i'd take over this skillset!



After looking at Hartsburgh, it makes some sense to compare him to 34 year old Bobby Orr. Orr is probably still considered the best dman in the game. I mean if there were fans and media watching this in real life. Orr is still magical, he just gets hurt, but he's still playing. Here's a look at Bobby Orr.

[George_Bell]

1982-83 NHL Regular Season

The 1982 season preview suggested the NY Islanders were on the verge of competing for the Stanley Cup. They have some nice, young, top end talent, but not much depth. October ended with them as the laughing stock of the league. The Islanders got off to a 1-10-2 start. On top of that start, 3 of the teams top player, Ray Bourque, Tim Kerr and Doug Wilson, are now each injured, expected to all miss atleast a month. Things are not gonna get easier in Long Island.


The Islanders are going nowhere while Ray Bourque is out!

The Rangers want that Stanley Cup back, and make a move to help.



Wilf Paiement comes over from Montreal. He’s a perfect 2nd line offensive talent, who had a lot of success during last years playoff run with Montreal. Paiement has provided secondary scoring his whole career. He’s only 27, so he’s got a bunch of years left. The Rangers give up 20 year old prospect Adam Oates. Oates was the 9th overall pick in the 1980 draft. He’s scored 141 points in 128 minor league games. He’s probably gonna get the promotion to Montreal very soon. Oates has first line potential.


Paiement to the Rangers!

The water in New Jersey must be better then what they were drinking in Denver. In a stunning turn of events, the Devils stand at 23-10-6 at New Years! That’s all ready the 3rd highest win total in franchise history, and an 8 win improvement on last year!! Why the turnaround? I don't know! Mark Howe is having a career year, and on pace for 100 points. Glenn Anderson, in his 3rd season, has figured out he’s allowed to enter his defensive zone! Kelly Hrudy and Glenn Resch are giving the Devils franchise best goaltending so far. Other then that, there still doesn’t appear to be much there. Brett Hull still hasn’t signed. I really don’t have an explanation for this!


Mark Howe is leading the Devils to their best season!

The Stanley Cup Champions just suffered a huge blow to their repeat chances. Star winger Rick Middleton’s season ended in mid January with a ruptured foot tendon. Middleton had 55 points in 47 games on the season, but even when healthy, the Flames have not looked good. Calgary has been right around 500 all year, and without Middleton, I can’t see them coming close to the finals right now.


Middleton is out for the season!

Lanny McDonald just scored his 400th NHL goal in his 564th game!! That’s a pace I believe to be faster then anyone in history! Again, I wish I could look these kind of things up, but ya, not yet. Anyway, Lanny is now 29, so he probably doesn’t have any shot at Gordie Howe’s record. Lanny did play his first 2 professional season in the WHA, where he scored 124 goals. McDonald actually has 524 goals as a pro in 719 games now. No matter how you look at it, Lanny is one of the greatest goal scorers of all time!


McDonald scores his 400th!

The best team in the NHL this year, is the St. Louis Blues. At the trade deadline, they are 45-12-10. The league average in goals against per team is 3.31. The Blues are giving up 2.35. The offense, led by Milan Novy and Stan Smyl is strong, but not elite. The defense is aided by a fantastic goaltending duo of Eddie Mio and Dan Bouchard. The emergence of Kevin Lowe as a number 1 dman, and the all around defensive play of forward Mel Bridgman has been significant. The Blues look like the team to beat this year.


Bridgman might be the Selke Trophy favourite!

Kings star Guy Lafleur has become the 3rd player, in NHL history to score 600 goals!! At 31, Lafleur did it fairly quickly. His pace though, is actually a little slower then the current pace of Lanny McDonald. Still Lafleur is now about 300 goals behind Gordie Howe. That’s a lot of goals to score in your 30s. I don’t think he can catch Gordie. Still though, 900 career games and 600 career goals is amazing!


600 goals!

Final Standings

Wales Conference


Campbell Conference


St. Louis does win the president’s trophy with he best record in the league. Hartford with a healthy Wayne Gretzky looks pretty dangerous.

Calgary gets over .500, but don’t look like a contender at all without Rick Middleton. New Jersey finishes in 2nd place with franchise best wins and points totals!



In a year when scoring seemed lower across the board, Wayne Gretzky plays his first complete season and blows everyone else away. His 150 points is 37 more then 2nd place Peter Stastny.

Wilf Paiement has not looked great in NY. Playing on the first line with Peter Stastny, Paiement got 37 points in 61 games. I don’t think that’s the kind of production the Rangers were hoping for. Adam Oates played one game in Montreal, and spent 40 games in the AHL, where he scored 41 points. Oates still looks like a future centerpiece.

[croatian]

Is Helmut Balderis still in the league ? How his career is going ?