1981–82 Vancouver Canucks season

12th season in franchise history

1981–82 Vancouver Canucks
Campbell Conference champions
Division2nd Smythe
Conference4th Campbell
1981–82 record30–33–17
Home record20–8–12
Road record10–25–5
Goals for290
Goals against286
Team information
General managerJake Milford
CoachHarry Neale (Oct–Mar)
Roger Neilson (Mar–May)
CaptainKevin McCarthy
Alternate captainsStan Smyl
Harold Snepsts
ArenaPacific Coliseum
Average attendance12,858
Minor league affiliate(s)Dallas Black Hawks (CHL)
Team leaders
GoalsThomas Gradin (37)
AssistsThomas Gradin (49)
PointsThomas Gradin (86)
Penalty minutesTiger Williams (341)
WinsRichard Brodeur (20)
Goals against averageRichard Brodeur (3.35)

The 1981–82 Vancouver Canucks season was the team's 12th in the NHL. The Vancouver Canucks made their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the New York Islanders 4 games to 0.

Regular season

Final standings

Smythe Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Edmonton Oilers 80 48 17 15 417 295 111
Vancouver Canucks 80 30 33 17 290 286 77
Calgary Flames 80 29 34 17 334 345 75
Los Angeles Kings 80 24 41 15 314 369 63
Colorado Rockies 80 18 49 13 241 362 49

[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

1981–82 NHL records[2]
Team CGY COL EDM LAK VAN Total
Calgary — 6−2 2−5−1 4−3−1 3−3−2 15−13−4
Colorado 2−6 — 2−5−1 2−4−2 2−4−2 8−19−5
Edmonton 5−2−1 5−2−1 — 5−1−2 5−2−1 20−7−5
Los Angeles 3−4−1 4−2−2 1−5−2 — 3−2−3 11−13−8
Vancouver 3−3−2 4−2−2 2−5−1 2−3−3 — 11−13−8

Vs. Norris Division

1981–82 NHL records
Team CHI DET MIN STL TOR WIN Total
Calgary 0−2−1 1−1−1 0−1−2 1−2 1−0−2 1−2 4−8−6
Colorado 2−1 0−3 0−1−2 1−2 0−1−2 1−2 4−10−4
Edmonton 1−1−1 2−0−1 2−0−1 3−0 2−1 2−1 12−3−3
Los Angeles 0−3 2−1 0−2−1 2−1 1−2 0−3 5−12−1
Vancouver 2−1 1−1−1 1−1−1 1−2 2−0−1 2−1 9−6−3

Vs. Wales Conference

Vs. Adams Division

1981–82 NHL records
Team BOS BUF HFD MTL QUE Total
Calgary 1−1−1 2−0−1 2−1 1−2 3−0 9−4−2
Colorado 0−3 0−3 2−0−1 0−2−1 1−2 3−10−2
Edmonton 0−1−2 2−1 2−0−1 0−1−2 1−2 5−5−5
Los Angeles 0−3 1−2 0−2−1 1−2 1−0−2 3−9−3
Vancouver 1−2 1−1−1 2−0−1 1−2 1−1−1 6−6−3

Vs. Patrick Division

1981–82 NHL records
Team NYI NYR PHI PIT WSH Total
Calgary 0−1−2 0−2−1 0−3 1−0−2 0−3 1−9−5
Colorado 0−2−1 0−2−1 1−2 0−3 2−1 3−10−2
Edmonton 1−1−1 3−0 2−1 3−0 2−0−1 11−2−2
Los Angeles 2−1 1−2 0−2−1 1−1−1 1−1−1 5−7−3
Vancouver 1−2 0−3 2−0–1 0–2−1 1−1−1 4–8–3


Schedule and results

1981–82 Game Log
October: 4-5-3 (Home: 3-1-1; Road: 1–4–2)
Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series
1 October 6 Colorado 2 - 4 Vancouver 1-0-0 2
2 October 8 Vancouver 1 - 1 Calgary 1-0-1 3
3 October 9 Edmonton 2 - 6 Vancouver 2-0-1 5
4 October 11 Vancouver 2 - 2 Buffalo 2-0-2 6
5 October 14 Vancouver 1 - 2 NY Rangers 2-1-2 6
6 October 15 Vancouver 1 - 4 NY Islanders 2-2-2 6
7 October 17 Vancouver 4 - 10 Montreal 2-3-2 6
8 October 19 Vancouver 3 - 6 Quebec 2-4-2 6
9 October 23 Hartford 2 - 2 Vancouver 2-4-3 7
10 October 25 Pittsburgh 6 - 4 Vancouver 2-5-3 7
11 October 28 Washington 0 - 3 Vancouver 3-5-3 9
12 October 31 Vancouver 8 - 4 Philadelphia 4-5-3 11
November: 7-5-1 (Home: 4–1–1; Road: 3–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
13 November 1 Vancouver 1 - 3 Detroit 4-6-3 11
14 November 4 Vancouver 4 - 1 Hartford 5-6-3 13
15 November 5 Vancouver 1 - 2 Boston 5-7-3 13
16 November 8 Winnipeg 1 - 5 Vancouver 6-7-3 15
17 November 11 Quebec 5 - 6 Vancouver 7-7-3 17
18 November 14 Montreal 4 - 1 Vancouver 7-8-3 17
19 November 15 Vancouver 7 - 4 Calgary 8-8-3 19
20 November 19 Detroit 3 - 8 Vancouver 9-8-3 21
21 November 21 Vancouver 3 - 8 Edmonton 9-9-3 21
22 November 22 Colorado 5 - 5 Vancouver 9-9-4 22
23 November 25 Chicago 2 - 6 Vancouver 10-9-4 24
24 November 27 Vancouver 6 - 3 Colorado 11-9-4 26
25 November 28 Vancouver 2 - 3 Los Angeles 11-10-4 26
December: 3–7–4 (Home: 3–2–4; Road: 0–5–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
26 December 2 Minnesota 0 - 5 Vancouver 12-10-4 28
27 December 4 Vancouver 3 - 7 Edmonton 12-11-4 28
28 December 5 Edmonton 3 - 3 Vancouver 12-11-5 29
29 December 9 NY Islanders 3 - 4 Vancouver 13-11-5 31
30 December 12 Vancouver 5 - 7 Los Angeles 13-12-5 31
31 December 13 Calgary 7 - 6 Vancouver 13-13-5 31
32 December 16 Toronto 6 - 6 Vancouver 13-13-6 32
33 December 18 Vancouver 1 - 3 Colorado 13-14-6 32
34 December 19 Vancouver 0 - 5 St. Louis 13-15-6 32
35 December 22 Minnesota 4 - 4 Vancouver 13-15-7 33
36 December 23 Vancouver 1 - 6 Edmonton 13-16-7 33
37 December 26 Los Angeles 2 - 2 Vancouver 13-16-8 34
38 December 29 Boston 5 - 3 Vancouver 13-17-8 34
39 December 31 Edmonton 1 - 3 Vancouver 14-17-8 36
January: 3–7–3 (Home: 3–2–3; Road: 0–5–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
40 January 2 Vancouver 2 - 5 Washington 14-18-8 36
41 January 4 Vancouver 1 - 4 NY Islanders 14-19-8 36
42 January 7 Vancouver 1 - 4 NY Rangers 14-20-8 36
43 January 9 Vancouver 3 - 4 Pittsburgh 14-21-8 36
44 January 10 Vancouver 2 - 3 Chicago 14-22-8 36
45 January 13 Calgary 1 - 5 Vancouver 15-22-8 38
46 January 15 Los Angeles 3 - 3 Vancouver 15-22-9 39
47 January 17 Pittsburgh 3 - 3 Vancouver 15-22-10 40
48 January 19 St. Louis 5 - 4 Vancouver 15-23-10 40
49 January 22 Edmonton 4 - 3 Vancouver 15-24-10 40
50 January 24 Los Angeles 5 - 5 Vancouver 15-24-11 41
51 January 27 Buffalo 3 - 4 Vancouver 16-24-11 43
52 January 30 Philadelphia 2 - 4 Vancouver 17-24-11 45
February: 7–3–3 (Home: 3–1–2; Road: 4–2–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
53 February 2 NY Rangers 4 - 3 Vancouver 17-25-11 45
54 February 3 Toronto 1 - 3 Vancouver 18-25-11 47
55 February 6 Vancouver 4 - 5 Los Angeles 18-26-11 47
56 February 10 Vancouver 4 - 1 Toronto 19-26-11 49
57 February 11 Vancouver 4 - 4 Detroit 19-26-12 50
58 February 13 Vancouver 3 - 2 St. Louis 20-26-12 52
59 February 15 Vancouver 4 - 1 Chicago 21-26-12 54
60 February 17 Boston 3 - 6 Vancouver 22-26-12 56
61 February 20 Hartford 2 - 4 Vancouver 23-26-12 58
62 February 23 Calgary 2 - 2 Vancouver 23-26-13 59
63 February 25 Vancouver 4 - 11 Calgary 23-27-13 59
64 February 26 Vancouver 4 - 3 Colorado 24-27-13 61
65 February 28 Philadelphia 3 - 3 Vancouver 24-27-14 62
March: 4–6–3 (Home: 3–1–1; Road: 1–5–2)
# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
66 March 3 Vancouver 2 - 3 Colorado 24-28-14 62
67 March 6 Vancouver 1 - 3 Minnesota 24-29-14 62
68 March 7 Vancouver 2 - 5 Winnipeg 24-30-14 62
69 March 10 Buffalo 7 - 4 Vancouver 24-31-14 62
70 March 11 Vancouver 3 - 6 Calgary 24-32-14 62
71 March 13 Vancouver 3 - 5 Edmonton 24-33-14 62
72 March 17 Vancouver 6 - 6 Washington 24-33-15 63
73 March 18 Vancouver 4 - 2 Montreal 25-33-15 65
74 March 20 Vancouver 3 - 3 Quebec 25-33-16 66
75 March 24 Colorado 4 - 5 Vancouver 26-33-16 68
76 March 27 Calgary 2 - 7 Vancouver 27-33-16 70
77 March 28 Winnipeg 0 - 5 Vancouver 28-33-16 72
78 March 31 Colorado 4 - 4 Vancouver 28-33-17 73
April: 2–0–0 (Home: 1–0–0; Road: 1–0–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
79 April 3 Vancouver 6 - 0 Los Angeles 29-33-17 75
80 April 4 Los Angeles 4 - 7 Vancouver 30-33-17 77

Playoffs

1982 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Smythe Division Final vs. Calgary - Canucks win 3-0
Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series
1 April 7 Calgary 3 – 5 Vancouver Vancouver leads 1–0
2 April 8 Calgary 1 – 2 Vancouver OT Vancouver leads 2–0
3 April 10 Vancouver 3 – 1 Calgary Vancouver wins 3–0
Smythe Division Final vs. Los Angeles - Canucks win 4-1
Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series
1 April 15 Los Angeles 2 – 3 Vancouver Vancouver leads 1–0
2 April 16 Los Angeles 3 – 2 Vancouver OT Series tied 1–1
3 April 18 Vancouver 4 – 3 Los Angeles OT Vancouver leads 2–1
4 April 19 Vancouver 5 – 4 Los Angeles Vancouver leads 3–1
5 April 21 Los Angeles 2 – 5 Vancouver Vancouver wins 4-1
Campbell Conference Championship vs. Chicago - Canucks win 4–1
Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series
1 April 27 Vancouver 2 – 1 Chicago OT Vancouver leads 1–0
2 April 29 Vancouver 1 – 4 Chicago Series tied 1–1
3 May 1 Chicago 3 – 4 Vancouver Vancouver leads 2–1
4 May 4 Chicago 3 – 5 Vancouver Vancouver leads 3–1
5 May 6 Vancouver 6 – 2 Chicago Vancouver wins 4-1
Stanley Cup Championship vs. New York - Islanders win 4–0
Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series
1 May 8 Vancouver 5 – 6 New York OT New York leads 1–0
2 May 11 Vancouver 4 – 6 New York New York leads 2-0
3 May 13 New York 3 – 0 Vancouver New York leads 3-0
4 May 16 New York 3 – 1 Vancouver New York wins 4-0

Player statistics

Skaters

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

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
Thomas Gradin 23 76 37 49 86 32 17 9 10 19 10
Stan Smyl 12 80 34 44 78 144 17 9 9 18 25
Ivan Boldirev 9 78 33 40 73 45 17 8 3 11 4
Curt Fraser 24 79 28 39 67 175 17 3 7 10 98
Ivan Hlinka 21 72 23 37 60 16 12 2 6 8 4
Lars Molin 26 72 15 31 46 10 17 2 9 11 7
Kevin McCarthy 25 71 6 39 45 84 -- -- -- -- --
Darcy Rota 18 51 20 20 40 139 17 6 3 9 54
Tiger Williams 22 77 17 21 38 341 17 3 7 10 116
Blair MacDonald 14 59 18 15 33 20 3 0 0 0 0
Lars Lindgren 13 75 5 16 21 74 16 2 4 6 6
Per-Olov Brasar 16 53 6 12 18 6 6 0 0 0 0
Gary Lupul 7 41 10 7 17 26 10 2 3 5 4
Ron Delorme 19 59 9 8 17 177 15 0 2 2 31
Doug Halward 2 37 4 13 17 40 15 2 4 6 44
Harold Snepsts 27 68 3 14 17 153 17 0 4 4 50
Rick Lanz 4 39 3 11 14 48 -- -- -- -- --
Marc Crawford 28 40 4 8 12 29 14 1 0 1 11
Neil Belland 15 28 3 6 9 16 17 1 7 8 16
Anders Eldebrink 10 38 1 8 9 21 13 0 0 0 10
Tony Currie† - 12 5 3 8 2 3 0 0 0 10
Colin Campbell 5 47 0 8 8 131 16 2 2 4 89
Jerry Butler - 25 3 1 4 15 -- -- -- -- --
Moe Lemay - 5 1 2 3 0 -- -- -- -- --
Jim Nill† 8 8 1 2 3 5 16 4 3 7 67
Jiri Bubla 29 23 1 1 2 16 -- -- -- -- --
Richard Brodeur 35 52 0 2 2 0 17 0 0 0 0
Joe McDonnell 3 7 0 1 1 12 -- -- -- -- --
Gerry Minor* - 13 0 1 1 6 9 1 3 4 17
Andy Schliebener 6 22 0 1 1 10 3 0 0 0 0
Rick Heinz† 31 3 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
Garth Butcher - 5 0 0 0 9 1 0 0 0 0
Glen Hanlon* 1 28 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Vancouver. Stats reflect time with the Canucks only.

*Denotes player traded by Vancouver midway through the season. Stats reflect time with Canucks only.

Goaltenders

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

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP Min W L T GA SO GAA GP Min W L GA SO GAA
Rick Heinz† 31 3 180 2 1 0 9 1 3.00 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Richard Brodeur 35 52 3010 20 18 12 168 2 3.35 17 1089 11 6 49 0 2.70
Glen Hanlon* 1 28 1610 8 14 5 106 1 3.95 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Awards and records

Trophies and awards

Records achieved in the season

Note: Only records that stand as of 2007–08 are listed

Canucks team records

  • Fewest losses at home: (8) - repeated in 1994-95
  • Most ties at home: (12) - repeated in 1977-78
  • Longest road losing streak: 12 games, November 28, 1981 - February 7, 1982

Canucks individual records

Records achieved in the playoffs

Canucks team records

  • Most penalty minutes, one series: 285, 1982 Campbell Conference Finals versus Chicago Black Hawks
  • Shortest overtime: 1:23,[3] April 18, 1982, versus Los Angeles Kings (Colin Campbell)
  • Most penalty minutes, one game: 106, April 29, 1982, versus Chicago Black Hawks
  • Most penalty minutes, one game by opponent: 90, May 6, 1982, versus Chicago Black Hawks
  • Most penalty minutes, one game by both teams: 188, April 29, 1982, versus Chicago Black Hawks
  • Fewest shots on goal, one game: 16, April 19, 1982, versus Los Angeles Kings
  • Most goals against, one game: 4, May 11, 1982, versus New York Islanders (repeated 5 times)
  • Most shots on goal by opponent, one period: 19, April 29, 1982, versus Chicago Black Hawks (repeated in 1994)
  • Fastest goal to start game: 0:08, April 7, 1982, versus Calgary Flames (Stan Smyl)
  • Fastest goal to start period: 0:08, April 7, 1982, versus Calgary Flames (Stan Smyl)

Canucks individual records

  • Most penalty minutes, one year: Tiger Williams (116)
  • Longest assist streak: Lars Mollin (5)
  • Most penalty minutes, one series: Tiger Williams versus Chicago Black Hawks (51)
  • Fastest two goals in one period, opposition: Mike Bossy, New York Islanders, May 16, 1982 (3:00 in 2nd period)

Transactions

The Canucks were involved in the following transactions during the 1981-82 season.

Trades

July 15, 1981 To Vancouver Canucks
Compensation for signing Ivan Hlinka and Jiri Bubla 		To Winnipeg Jets
Brent Ashton
4th round pick (Tom Martin) in 1982 NHL Entry Draft
March 9, 1982 To Vancouver Canucks
Tony Currie
Jim Nill
Rick Heinz
4th round pick (Shawn Kilroy) in 1982 NHL Entry Draft 		To St. Louis Blues
Glen Hanlon

Draft picks

Vancouver's picks at the 1981 NHL Entry Draft.[4] The draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 10 Garth Butcher (D)  Canada Regina Pats (WHL)
3 51 Jean-Marc Lanthier (RW)  Canada Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
4 73 Wendell Young (G)  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
5 105 Moe Lemay (F)  Canada Ottawa 67's (OHL)
6 115 Stu Kulak  Canada Victoria Cougars (WHL)
7 136 Bruce Holloway (D)  Canada Regina Pats (WHL)
8 157 Petri Skriko (F)  Finland SaiPa (Finland)
9 178 Frank Caprice (G)  Canada London Knights (OHL)
10 199 Rejean Vignola (F)  Canada Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)

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. ^ "Kings All-Time Playoff History". Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  4. ^ Slate, Ralph (2007). "1981 NHL Entry Draft". HockeyDB.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2008.

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