1980–81 St. Louis Blues season

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.

1980–81 St. Louis Blues
Smythe Division champions
Division	1st Smythe
Conference	Campbell
1980–81 record	45–18–17
Goals for	352
Goals against	281
Team information
General manager	Emile Francis
Coach	Red Berenson
Captain	Brian Sutter
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Checkerdome
← 1979–80 1981–82 →

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Smythe Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
St. Louis Blues	80	45	18	17	352	281	107
Chicago Black Hawks	80	31	33	16	304	315	78
Vancouver Canucks	80	28	32	20	289	301	76
Edmonton Oilers	80	29	35	16	328	327	74
Colorado Rockies	80	22	45	13	258	344	57
Winnipeg Jets	80	9	57	14	246	400	32

^[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

Smythe Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Smythe Division 1980–81 NHL records^[2] Team CHI COL EDM STL VAN WIN Total Chicago — 2−2 1−3 1−2−1 2−2 3−1 9−10−1 Colorado 2−2 — 3−0−1 1−3 0−2−2 1−2−1 7−9−4 Edmonton 3−1 0−3−1 — 1−2−1 2−2 4−0 10−8−2 St. Louis 2−1−1 3−1 2−1−1 — 4−0 2−0−2 13−3−4 Vancouver 2−2 2−0−2 2−2 0−4 — 2−0−2 8−8−4 Winnipeg 1−3 2−1−1 0−4 0−2−2 0−2−2 — 3−12−5 Vs. Patrick Division 1980–81 NHL records Team CGY NYI NYR PHI WSH Total Chicago 1−0−3 0−4 1−2−1 1−1−2 1−1−2 4−8−8 Colorado 3−1 1−3 3−1 0−4 0−3−1 7−12−1 Edmonton 1−2−1 0−2−2 1−2−1 2−2 1−2−1 5−10−5 St. Louis 2−2 0−2−2 4−0 0−3−1 2−0−2 8−7−5 Vancouver 1−3 1−3 1−2−1 2−1−1 1−1−2 6−10−4 Winnipeg 0−3−1 0−3−1 1−3 1−3 0−3−1 2−15−3 Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Adams Division 1980–81 NHL records Team BOS BUF MIN QUE TOR Total Chicago 1−3 2−2 2−2 3−0−1 1−2−1 9−9−2 Colorado 1−2−1 0−3−1 1−2−1 2−2 1−1−2 5−10−5 Edmonton 1−3 1−1−2 1−2−1 1−3 2−1−1 6−10−4 St. Louis 3−1 3−0−1 1−2−1 2−1−1 3−1 12−5−3 Vancouver 2−2 1−1−2 1−2−1 1−1−2 3−0−1 8−6−6 Winnipeg 0−2−2 0−4 0−4 1−1−2 2−2 3−13−4 Vs. Norris Division 1980–81 NHL records Team DET HFD LAK MTL PIT Total Chicago 1−1−2 3−0−1 0−2−2 2−2 3−1 9−6−5 Colorado 1−2−1 1−2−1 0−3−1 0−4 1−3 3−14−3 Edmonton 2−1−1 2−1−1 0−2−2 2−2 2−1−1 8−7−5 St. Louis 4−0 3−0−1 2−0−2 1−1−2 2−2 12−3−5 Vancouver 2−1−1 1−1−2 0−4 0−2−2 3−0−1 6−8−6 Winnipeg 0−3−1 0−3−1 0−4 1−3 0−4 1−17−2

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 9, 1980	8–6	Hartford Whalers (1980–81)	1–0–0
2	L	October 11, 1980	1–5	Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)	1–1–0
3	T	October 14, 1980	5–5	@ New York Islanders (1980–81)	1–1–1
4	W	October 15, 1980	2–1	@ New York Rangers (1980–81)	2–1–1
5	W	October 18, 1980	3–2	Boston Bruins (1980–81)	3–1–1
6	W	October 21, 1980	4–3	Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)	4–1–1
7	L	October 22, 1980	3–9	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)	4–2–1
8	W	October 24, 1980	3–2	@ Washington Capitals (1980–81)	5–2–1
9	T	October 25, 1980	3–3	Washington Capitals (1980–81)	5–2–2
10	W	October 28, 1980	5–4	New York Rangers (1980–81)	6–2–2
11	T	October 29, 1980	2–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)	6–2–3
12	L	November 1, 1980	2–3	Calgary Flames (1980–81)	6–3–3
13	W	November 2, 1980	5–3	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)	7–3–3
14	W	November 5, 1980	6–1	Hartford Whalers (1980–81)	8–3–3
15	L	November 8, 1980	2–4	@ Calgary Flames (1980–81)	8–4–3
16	W	November 9, 1980	6–4	@ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)	9–4–3
17	W	November 11, 1980	8–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)	10–4–3
18	L	November 14, 1980	1–5	@ Colorado Rockies (1980–81)	10–5–3
19	W	November 15, 1980	5–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)	11–5–3
20	L	November 18, 1980	2–7	New York Islanders (1980–81)	11–6–3
21	W	November 22, 1980	6–2	Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)	12–6–3
22	W	November 25, 1980	5–3	Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)	13–6–3
23	W	November 26, 1980	6–4	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)	14–6–3
24	T	November 28, 1980	1–1	@ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)	14–6–4
25	W	November 29, 1980	9–3	Calgary Flames (1980–81)	15–6–4
26	W	December 2, 1980	5–2	Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)	16–6–4
27	W	December 6, 1980	5–2	Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)	17–6–4
28	W	December 9, 1980	4–1	Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)	18–6–4
29	L	December 11, 1980	2–5	Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)	18–7–4
30	W	December 13, 1980	9–4	Colorado Rockies (1980–81)	19–7–4
31	L	December 14, 1980	4–5	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)	19–8–4
32	L	December 17, 1980	1–4	@ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)	19–9–4
33	W	December 18, 1980	7–3	@ Boston Bruins (1980–81)	20–9–4
34	W	December 20, 1980	5–2	Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)	21–9–4
35	W	December 23, 1980	6–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)	22–9–4
36	T	December 27, 1980	4–4	@ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)	22–9–5
37	W	December 28, 1980	3–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)	23–9–5
38	W	December 30, 1980	5–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)	24–9–5
39	W	January 3, 1981	6–3	Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)	25–9–5
40	W	January 6, 1981	6–3	Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)	26–9–5
41	T	January 8, 1981	5–5	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)	26–9–6
42	T	January 10, 1981	6–6	Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)	26–9–7
43	W	January 12, 1981	5–2	@ Hartford Whalers (1980–81)	27–9–7
44	L	January 14, 1981	3–6	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)	27–10–7
45	W	January 17, 1981	7–6	Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)	28–10–7
46	T	January 21, 1981	6–6	@ Hartford Whalers (1980–81)	28–10–8
47	L	January 22, 1981	3–7	@ Boston Bruins (1980–81)	28–11–8
48	W	January 24, 1981	4–2	Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)	29–11–8
49	W	January 27, 1981	7–1	Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81)	30–11–8
50	L	January 31, 1981	2–3	Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81)	30–12–8
51	W	February 1, 1981	4–1	@ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)	31–12–8
52	T	February 3, 1981	3–3	Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)	31–12–9
53	W	February 5, 1981	8–4	Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)	32–12–9
54	W	February 7, 1981	9–2	Vancouver Canucks (1980–81)	33–12–9
55	T	February 8, 1981	3–3	@ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)	33–12–10
56	T	February 12, 1981	3–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)	33–12–11
57	T	February 14, 1981	1–1	@ New York Islanders (1980–81)	33–12–12
58	W	February 15, 1981	5–4	@ New York Rangers (1980–81)	34–12–12
59	W	February 17, 1981	5–2	@ Calgary Flames (1980–81)	35–12–12
60	L	February 18, 1981	2–9	@ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81)	35–13–12
61	W	February 21, 1981	4–1	Colorado Rockies (1980–81)	36–13–12
62	T	February 24, 1981	2–2	Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)	36–13–13
63	W	February 25, 1981	3–2	@ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)	37–13–13
64	W	February 28, 1981	7–4	Washington Capitals (1980–81)	38–13–13
65	T	March 1, 1981	4–4	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81)	38–13–14
66	W	March 3, 1981	4–2	Boston Bruins (1980–81)	39–13–14
67	W	March 7, 1981	7–2	New York Rangers (1980–81)	40–13–14
68	W	March 8, 1981	7–0	@ Colorado Rockies (1980–81)	41–13–14
69	T	March 11, 1981	5–5	@ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81)	41–13–15
70	L	March 12, 1981	3–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81)	41–14–15
71	W	March 14, 1981	5–3	Detroit Red Wings (1980–81)	42–14–15
72	L	March 18, 1981	2–6	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81)	42–15–15
73	T	March 21, 1981	3–3	@ Washington Capitals (1980–81)	42–15–16
74	W	March 22, 1981	6–5	@ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)	43–15–16
75	L	March 24, 1981	3–5	New York Islanders (1980–81)	43–16–16
76	W	March 28, 1981	7–4	Buffalo Sabres (1980–81)	44–16–16
77	L	March 31, 1981	3–6	@ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)	44–17–16
78	W	April 2, 1981	6–4	Los Angeles Kings (1980–81)	45–17–16
79	L	April 4, 1981	0–5	Minnesota North Stars (1980–81)	45–18–16
80	T	April 5, 1981	5–5	@ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81)	45–18–17

Playoffs

Preliminary vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

April 8	Pittsburgh Penguins		2–4		St. Louis Blues	Checkerdome	Recap
Greg Malone (1) – 00:15		First period			04:48 – pp – Mike Zuke (1) 15:58 – Tony Currie (1)
Rod Schutt (1) – 13:21		Second period			14:44 – Jorgen Pettersson (1)
No scoring		Third period			19:59 – en – Mike Crombeen (1)
Greg Millen 44 saves / 47 shots		Goalie stats			Mike Liut 24 saves / 26 shots

April 9	Pittsburgh Penguins		6–4		St. Louis Blues	Checkerdome	Recap
No scoring		First period			02:35 – pp – Joe Micheletti (1)
Randy Carlyle (1) – 02:03 Gregg Sheppard (1) – 04:58 Mario Faubert (1) – pp – 06:59 George Ferguson (1) – 11:13		Second period			03:11 – Tony Currie (2)
Rod Schutt (2) – 00:35 Randy Carlyle (2) – 03:06		Third period			10:49 – Blair Chapman (1) 16:04 – pp – Bernie Federko (1)
Greg Millen 19 saves / 23 shots		Goalie stats			Mike Liut 24 saves / 30 shots

April 11	St. Louis Blues		5–4		Pittsburgh Penguins	Pittsburgh Civic Arena	Recap
Brian Sutter (1) – pp – 11:51		First period			07:04 – pp – Rod Schutt (3)
Ralph Klassen (1) – 06:36 Wayne Babych (1) – 09:58 Bernie Federko (2) – pp – 14:38		Second period			08:57 – Mike Bullard (1) 10:31 – Mark Johnson (1)
Bernie Federko (3) – 15:54		Third period			05:08 – pp – Gregg Sheppard (2)
Mike Liut 27 saves / 31 shots		Goalie stats			Greg Millen 27 saves / 32 shots

April 12	St. Louis Blues		3–6		Pittsburgh Penguins	Pittsburgh Civic Arena	Recap
Ralph Klassen (2) – 05:53 Mike Zuke (2) – pp – 07:10		First period			14:52 – pp – Mike Bullard (2)
Mike Zuke (3) – pp – 13:55		Second period			07:45 – pp – Mark Johnson (2) 11:49 – sh – Randy Carlyle (3)
No scoring		Third period			00:44 – Mike Bullard (3) 09:21 – Randy Carlyle (4) 14:02 – Pat Price (1)
Mike Liut 28 saves / 34 shots		Goalie stats			Greg Millen 21 saves / 24 shots

April 14	Pittsburgh Penguins		3–4	2OT	St. Louis Blues	Checkerdome	Recap
Paul Gardner (1) – pp – 07:48		First period			No scoring
George Ferguson (2) – 15:06		Second period			11:17 – Brian Sutter (2) 16:06 – pp – Bernie Federko (4)
Greg Malone (2) – 10:36		Third period			03:34 – Rick Lapointe (1)
No scoring		Second overtime period			05:16 – Mike Crombeen (2)
Greg Millen 48 saves / 52 shots		Goalie stats			Mike Liut 48 saves / 51 shots

St. Louis won series 3–2

Quarterfinals vs. New York Rangers

April 16	New York Rangers		3–6		St. Louis Blues	Checkerdome	Recap
Lance Nethery (2) – 07:21		First period			11:15 – pp – Bernie Federko (5) 14:55 – Brian Sutter (3) 17:39 – Blair Chapman (2)
Lance Nethery (3) – 01:34		Second period			08:56 – Mike Crombeen (3) 16:42 – Bernie Federko (6) 19:42 – Mike Zuke (4)
Jere Gillis (1) – 05:39		Third period			No scoring
Steve Baker 22 saves / 28 shots		Goalie stats			Mike Liut 28 saves / 31 shots

April 17	New York Rangers		6–4		St. Louis Blues	Checkerdome	Recap
Barry Beck (2)– sh – 03:07		First period			01:22 – Jorgen Pettersson (2) 02:16 – Larry Patey (1) 18:06 – pp – Brian Sutter (4)
Dean Talafous (2) – 16:24		Second period			No scoring
Jere Gillis (2) – 07:30 Anders Hedberg (4) – ps – 08:29 Mike Allison (2) – 10:16 Ron Duguay (6) – 19:13		Third period			15:04 – Brian Sutter (5)
Steve Baker 25 saves / 29 shots		Goalie stats			Mike Liut 24 saves / 30 shots

April 19	St. Louis Blues		3–6		New York Rangers	Madison Square Garden	Recap
Wayne Babych (2) – pp – 02:47		First period			00:40 – Ron Greschner (2)
Bill Stewart (1) – 15:35		Second period			05:13 – pp – Ulf Nilsson (6) 06:41 – Barry Beck (3) 13:49 – pp – Mike Allison (3) 17:36 – Steve Vickers (1)
Tony Currie (3) – 00:34		Third period			02:23 – Lance Nethery (4)
Mike Liut 25 saves / 31 shots		Goalie stats			Steve Baker 14 saves / 17 shots

April 20	St. Louis Blues		1–4		New York Rangers	Madison Square Garden	Recap
Tony Currie (4) – pp – 07:40		First period			06:14 – Anders Hedberg (4) 18:37 – Ron Duguay (7)
No scoring		Second period			09:01 – pp – Steve Vickers (2)
No scoring		Third period			03:24 – Steve Vickers (3)
Mike Liut 24 saves / 28 shots		Goalie stats			Steve Baker 33 saves / 34 shots

April 22	New York Rangers		3–4		St. Louis Blues	Checkerdome	Recap
Ron Greschner (3) – 06:35 Ulf Nilsson (7) – pp – 10:06		First period			14:17 – pp – Brian Sutter (6)
Carol Vadnais (1) – 02:54		Second period			08:25 – Larry Patey (2) 14:55 – Jorgen Pettersson (3)
No scoring		Third period			06:09 – pp – Jorgen Pettersson (4)
Steve Baker 26 saves / 30 shots		Goalie stats			Mike Liut 34 saves / 37 shots

April 24	St. Louis Blues		4–7		New York Rangers	Madison Square Garden	Recap
No scoring		First period			03:27 – Steve Vickers (4) 05:49 – Anders Hedberg (6) 16:10 – sh – Ron Duguay (8)
Bernie Federko (7) – 02:16 Rick Lapointe (2) – 03:14 Bernie Federko (8) – 04:06		Second period			01:59 – Barry Beck (4) 17:03 – Lance Nethery (5)
Ed Kea (1) – 06:00		Third period			04:31 – Peter Wallin (1) 14:54 – Ulf Nilsson (8)
Mike Liut 13 saves / 20 shots		Goalie stats			Steve Baker 11 saves / 15 shots

New York won series 4–2

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Bernie Federko	C	78	31	73	104	47	9	9	2	4
Wayne Babych	RW	78	54	42	96	93	14	14	0	7
Blake Dunlop	C	80	20	67	87	40	16	6	0	2
Jorgen Pettersson	LW	62	37	36	73	24	14	8	0	5
Brian Sutter	LW	78	35	34	69	232	12	17	0	4
Mike Zuke	C	74	24	44	68	57	15	10	1	1
Perry Turnbull	C	75	34	22	56	209	15	5	0	5
Tony Currie	RW	61	23	32	55	38	32	2	0	4
Blair Chapman	RW	55	20	26	46	41	3	5	0	3
Larry Patey	C	80	22	23	45	107	2	0	8	3
Rick Lapointe	D	80	8	25	33	124	36	0	0	3
Joe Micheletti	D	63	4	27	31	53	12	3	0	1
Jack Brownschidle	D	71	5	23	28	12	5	3	1	1
Mike Crombeen	RW	66	9	14	23	58	1	0	1	1
Bill Stewart	D	60	2	21	23	114	19	0	0	0
Ed Kea	D	74	3	18	21	60	15	0	0	0
Ralph Klassen	C	66	6	12	18	23	-5	0	1	0
Craig Norwich	D	23	4	12	16	14	1	3	0	1
Gerry Hart	D	63	4	11	15	132	9	0	0	0
Bryan Maxwell	D	40	3	10	13	137	7	0	0	0
Hartland Monahan	RW	25	4	2	6	4	2	0	2	0
Ed Staniowski	G	19	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0
Rick Heinz	G	4	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
Bob Hess	D	4	0	0	0	4	-3	0	0	0
Dick Lamby	D	1	0	0	0	0	-1	0	0	0
Chuck Lefley	LW	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mike Liut	G	61	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Paul MacLean	RW	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
Mike Liut	3570	61	33	14	13	199	3.34	1
Ed Staniowski	1010	19	10	3	3	72	4.28	0
Rick Heinz	220	4	2	1	1	8	2.18	0
Team:	4800	80	45	18	17	279	3.49	1

Playoffs

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
Bernie Federko	C	11	8	10	18	2	4	0	1
Tony Currie	RW	11	4	12	16	4	1	0	0
Joe Micheletti	D	11	1	11	12	10	1	0	0
Brian Sutter	LW	11	6	3	9	77	3	0	0
Mike Zuke	C	11	4	5	9	4	3	0	0
Jorgen Pettersson	LW	11	4	3	7	0	1	0	2
Blair Chapman	RW	9	2	5	7	6	0	0	0
Larry Patey	C	11	2	4	6	30	0	0	0
Rick Lapointe	D	8	2	2	4	12	0	0	0
Mike Crombeen	RW	11	3	0	3	8	0	0	2
Ed Kea	D	11	1	2	3	12	0	0	0
Jack Brownschidle	D	11	0	3	3	2	0	0	0
Blake Dunlop	C	11	0	3	3	4	0	0	0
Wayne Babych	RW	11	2	0	2	8	1	0	0
Ralph Klassen	C	11	2	0	2	2	0	0	0
Bill Stewart	D	4	1	0	1	11	0	0	0
Bryan Maxwell	D	11	0	1	1	54	0	0	0
Gerry Hart	D	10	0	0	0	27	0	0	0
Mike Liut	G	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Paul MacLean	RW	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hartland Monahan	RW	1	0	0	0	4	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA	SO
Mike Liut	685	11	5	6	50	4.38	0
Team:	685	11	5	6	50	4.38	0

^[3]

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;

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

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

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	12	Rik Wilson	United States	Kingston Canadians (OHA)
3	54	Jim Pavese	United States	Kitchener Rangers (OHA)
4	75	Bob Brooke	United States	Yale University (ECAC)
5	96	Alain Lemieux	Canada	Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
6	117	Perry Anderson	Canada	Kingston Canadians (OMJHL)
7	138	Roger Hagglund	Sweden	Umeå (Sweden)
8	159	Pat Rabbitt	Canada	Billings Bighorns (WHL)
9	180	Peter Lindgren	Sweden	Hammarby (Sweden)
10	201	John Smyth	Canada	Calgary Wranglers (WHL)

Farm teams

See also

• 1980–81 NHL season

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. "1980-81 St. Louis Blues Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 15, 2009.

• "1980–81 St. Louis Blues Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 21, 2009.

External links