1981–82 Minnesota North Stars season

National Hockey League team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1981–82 1981 Minnesota North Stars Campbell 2nd Norris 1st 37–23–20 21–7–12 16–16–8 346 288 Lou Nanne Glen Sonmor Tim Young None Met Center 15,220 Nashville South Stars (CHL) Dino Ciccarelli (55) Bobby Smith (71) Bobby Smith (114) Dino Ciccarelli (138) Gilles Meloche (26) Lindsay Middlebrook (3.00) Yes 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. 2 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 MIN Record vs. opponents MIN Schedule and results Regular season background:#fff; border-top:#009639 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFD100 5px solid; 1981–82 regular season1981-82 Minnesota North Stars Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MNS/1982_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 26, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#009639 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFD100 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||T||October 8, 1981||3–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) ||0–0–1 |- |2||W||October 10, 1981||7–0 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1981–82) ||1–0–1 |- |3||W||October 12, 1981||4–2 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) ||2–0–1 |- |4||W||October 14, 1981||2–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) ||3–0–1 |- |5||L||October 17, 1981||2–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) ||3–1–1 |- |6||L||October 18, 1981||2–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) ||3–2–1 |- |7||T||October 22, 1981||5–5 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1981–82) ||3–2–2 |- |8||W||October 24, 1981||6–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) ||4–2–2 |- |9||W||October 25, 1981||6–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) ||5–2–2 |- |10||W||October 28, 1981||6–1 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1981–82) ||6–2–2 |- |11||W||October 31, 1981||5–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) ||7–2–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#009639 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFD100 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |12||W||November 4, 1981||6–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1981–82) ||8–2–2 |- |13||L||November 7, 1981||2–4 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) ||8–3–2 |- |14||W||November 8, 1981||4–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) ||9–3–2 |- |15||W||November 11, 1981||15–2 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) ||10–3–2 |- |16||T||November 14, 1981||5–5 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) ||10–3–3 |- |17||W||November 18, 1981||6–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) ||11–3–3 |- |18||T||November 19, 1981||2–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) ||11–3–4 |- |19||L||November 21, 1981||4–6 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) ||11–4–4 |- |20||T||November 22, 1981||1–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) ||11–4–5 |- |21||T||November 25, 1981||4–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1981–82) ||11–4–6 |- |22||T||November 27, 1981||5–5 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) ||11–4–7 |- |23||W||November 28, 1981||5–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) ||12–4–7 |- |24||T||November 30, 1981||2–2 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1981–82) ||12–4–8 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#009639 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFD100 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |25||L||December 2, 1981||0–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) ||12–5–8 |- |26||L||December 5, 1981||5–8 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1981–82) ||12–6–8 |- |27||T||December 9, 1981||6–6 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) ||12–6–9 |- |28||L||December 10, 1981||1–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) ||12–7–9 |- |29||W||December 12, 1981||6–3 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) ||13–7–9 |- |30||L||December 15, 1981||2–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) ||13–8–9 |- |31||L||December 17, 1981||2–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) ||13–9–9 |- |32||L||December 19, 1981||6–9 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) ||13–10–9 |- |33||T||December 22, 1981||4–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) ||13–10–10 |- |34||T||December 23, 1981||4–4 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1981–82) ||13–10–11 |- |35||W||December 26, 1981||6–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1981–82) ||14–10–11 |- |36||T||December 28, 1981||4–4 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1981–82) ||14–10–12 |- |37||L||December 31, 1981||2–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) ||14–11–12 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#009639 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFD100 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |38||W||January 2, 1982||6–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) ||15–11–12 |- |39||L||January 5, 1982||1–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) ||15–12–12 |- |40||T||January 6, 1982||3–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) ||15–12–13 |- |41||T||January 9, 1982||3–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) ||15–12–14 |- |42||L||January 11, 1982||3–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1981–82) ||15–13–14 |- |43||L||January 13, 1982||0–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1981–82) ||15–14–14 |- |44||W||January 16, 1982||4–1 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) ||16–14–14 |- |45||W||January 17, 1982||7–5 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) ||17–14–14 |- |46||W||January 20, 1982||3–1 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1981–82) ||18–14–14 |- |47||T||January 21, 1982||3–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) ||18–14–15 |- |48||W||January 23, 1982||8–4 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) ||19–14–15 |- |49||W||January 25, 1982||9–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) ||20–14–15 |- |50||W||January 27, 1982||8–6 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) ||21–14–15 |- |51||L||January 28, 1982||3–8 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) ||21–15–15 |- |52||L||January 30, 1982||2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1981–82) ||21–16–15 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#009639 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFD100 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |53||W||February 3, 1982||9–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) ||22–16–15 |- |54||T||February 4, 1982||3–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) ||22–16–16 |- |55||L||February 7, 1982||2–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) ||22–17–16 |- |56||L||February 11, 1982||2–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1981–82) ||22–18–16 |- |57||W||February 13, 1982||6–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) ||23–18–16 |- |58||T||February 15, 1982||3–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) ||23–18–17 |- |59||L||February 17, 1982||4–7 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) ||23–19–17 |- |60||T||February 18, 1982||2–2 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1981–82) ||23–19–18 |- |61||W||February 20, 1982||7–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1981–82) ||24–19–18 |- |62||W||February 22, 1982||8–7 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1981–82) ||25–19–18 |- |63||W||February 24, 1982||7–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) ||26–19–18 |- |64||T||February 27, 1982||5–5 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) ||26–19–19 |- |65||W||February 28, 1982||5–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) ||27–19–19 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#009639 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFD100 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |66||W||March 3, 1982||6–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) ||28–19–19 |- |67||W||March 6, 1982||3–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) ||29–19–19 |- |68||W||March 8, 1982||8–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1981–82) ||30–19–19 |- |69||T||March 10, 1982||4–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1981–82) ||30–19–20 |- |70||W||March 13, 1982||3–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) ||31–19–20 |- |71||W||March 15, 1982||4–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) ||32–19–20 |- |72||L||March 17, 1982||2–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) ||32–20–20 |- |73||L||March 20, 1982||1–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) ||32–21–20 |- |74||W||March 22, 1982||4–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) ||33–21–20 |- |75||W||March 25, 1982||4–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) ||34–21–20 |- |76||W||March 27, 1982||6–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) ||35–21–20 |- |77||W||March 28, 1982||5–2 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) ||36–21–20 |- |78||L||March 30, 1982||5–7 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) ||36–22–20 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#009639 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFD100 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |79||W||April 2, 1982||5–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) ||37–22–20 |- |80||L||April 4, 1982||3–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) ||37–23–20 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#009639 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFD100 5px solid; 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#009639 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFD100 2px solid; 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: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black 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 0https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MNS/1982.html 1981-82 Minnesota North Stars Roster and Statistics 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 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)113Ron MeighanCanadaNiagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL)227Dave DonnellyCanadaSt. Albert Saints (AJHL)231Mike SandsCanadaSudbury Wolves (OMJHL)233Tom HirschUnited StatesPatrick Henry High School (USHS-MN)234Dave PreussUnited StatesSt. Thomas Academy (USHS-MN)241Jali WahlstenTPS (Finland)469Terry TaitCanadaSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL)476Jim MalwitzUnited StatesGrand Rapids High School (USHS-MN)597Kelly HubbardCanadaPortland Winter Hawks (WHL)6118Paul GuayUnited StatesMount Saint Charles Academy (USHS-RI)7139Jim ArchibaldCanadaMoose Jaw Canucks (SJHL)8160Kari KanervoTPS (Finland)9181Scott BjugstadUnited StatesUniversity of Minnesota (WCHA)10202Steve KudebehUnited StatesBreck School (USHS-MN) References External links North Stars on Hockey Database Category:Minnesota North Stars seasons Minnesota North Stars Category:Norris Division champion seasons Minnesota North Stars Minnesota North Stars