1981–82 Calgary Flames season

NHL team season

1981–82 Calgary Flames
Division3rd Smythe
ConferenceCampbell
1981–82 record29–34–17
Home record20–11–9
Road record9–23–8
Goals for334 (5th)
Goals against345 (T-13th)
Team information
General managerCliff Fletcher
CoachAl MacNeil
CaptainBrad Marsh (Oct-Nov)
Phil Russell (Nov-Apr)
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaStampede Corral
Average attendance7,231
Minor league affiliate(s)Oklahoma City Stars (CHL)
Team leaders
GoalsLanny McDonald (40)
AssistsGuy Chouinard (57)
PointsMel Bridgman (87)
Penalty minutesWilli Plett (288)
WinsPat Riggin (19)
Goals against averagePat Riggin (4.23)

The 1981–82 Calgary Flames season was the second season in Calgary and tenth for the Flames franchise in the National Hockey League. The follow-up to the Flames' first season in Calgary proved to be disappointing on the ice. Twenty-nine wins represented the Flames lowest total since the franchise's inaugural season in Atlanta.[1] Despite the poor record, Calgary finished in third place in the newly organized Smythe Division, earning a playoff match-up against the Vancouver Canucks. The Flames returned to their Atlanta form, being swept out of the post-season in three straight games, as the Canucks began their run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The 1981–82 season saw the Flames acquire Lanny McDonald from the Colorado Rockies, bringing the Hanna, Alberta product home. Sporting his trademark moustache, McDonald would spend his final seven seasons with the Flames, and remains an icon in Calgary. McDonald would score 34 of his 40 goals that season in a Flames uniform.

Pekka Rautakallio was the Flames representative at the 1982 All-Star Game.[2]

Regular season

Season 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

[3]

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

Playoffs

1981 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Smythe Division Semi-final vs. Vancouver - 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

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
Guy Chouinard 16 64 23 57 80 12 3 0 1 1 6
Mel Bridgman† 26 63 26 49 75 94 3 2 0 2 14
Pekka Rautakallio 4 80 17 51 68 40 3 0 0 0 0
Lanny McDonald† 9 55 34 33 67 37 3 0 1 1 6
Jim Peplinski 24 74 30 37 67 115 3 1 0 1 13
Kevin LaVallee 15 75 32 29 61 30 3 0 0 0 7
Paul Reinhart 23 62 13 48 61 17 3 0 1 1 2
Willi Plett 25 78 21 36 57 288 3 1 2 3 39
Kent Nilsson 14 41 26 29 55 8 3 0 3 3 2
Jamie Hislop 17 80 16 25 41 35 3 0 0 0 0
Phil Russell 5 71 4 25 29 110 3 0 1 1 2
Gary McAdam† 28 46 12 15 27 18 3 0 0 0 0
Denis Cyr 9/12 45 12 10 22 13 - - - - -
Dan Labraaten 21 43 10 12 22 6 3 0 0 0 0
Bob Murdoch 20 73 3 17 20 76 3 0 0 0 0
Don Lever‡ 12 23 8 11 19 6 - - - - -
Steve Konroyd 3 63 3 14 17 78 3 0 0 0 12
Bill Clement 10 69 4 12 16 28 3 0 0 0 2
Charlie Bourgeois 2 54 2 13 15 112 3 0 0 0 7
Bob MacMillan‡ 11 23 4 7 11 14 - - - - -
Eric Vail‡ 27 6 4 1 5 0 - - - - -
Kari Eloranta‡ 8 10 0 5 5 14 - - - - -
Pat Riggin 1 52 0 5 5 4 3 0 0 0 0
Dave Hindmarch 18 9 3 0 3 0 - - - - -
Bobby Gould‡ 19 16 3 0 3 4 - - - - -
Eddy Beers 27 5 1 1 2 21 - - - - -
Mike Dwyer 29 5 0 2 2 0 - - - - -
Gord Wappel 21 11 1 0 1 6 - - - - -
Carl Mokosak 19 1 0 1 1 0 - - - - -
Brad Marsh‡ 22 17 0 1 1 10 - - - - -
Rejean Lemelin 31 34 0 1 1 0 - - - - -
Randy Turnbull 22 1 0 0 0 2 - - - - -
Bruce Eakin 19 1 0 0 0 0 - - - - -
Bobby Lalonde 11 1 0 0 0 0 - - - - -
Tim Hunter 19 2 0 0 0 9 - - - - -
Al MacInnis 11 2 0 0 0 0 - - - - -
Pat Ribble† 22/8 3 0 0 0 2 - - - - -
Randy Holt‡ 7 8 0 0 0 9 - - - - -


†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
‡Traded mid-season.

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Pat Riggin 1 52 2934 19 19 11 207 2 4.23 3 194 0 3 10 0 3.09
Rejean Lemelin 31 34 1866 10 15 6 135 0 4.34 - - - - - - -.--

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1981–82 season.

Trades

November 10, 1981 To Calgary Flames
Gary McAdam 		To Detroit Red Wings
Eric Vail
November 11, 1981 To Calgary Flames
Mel Bridgman 		To Philadelphia Flyers
Brad Marsh
November 25, 1981 To Calgary Flames
Lanny McDonald
4th round pick in 1983 Entry Draft
(traded to New York Islanders;
Islanders selected Mikko Makela) 		To Colorado Rockies
Don Lever
Bob MacMillan
November 25, 1981 To Calgary Flames
Pat Ribble
2nd round pick in 1983 Entry Draft
(traded to Montreal Canadiens;
Todd Francis) 		To Washington Capitals
Bobby Gould
Randy Holt
March 8, 1982 To Calgary Flames
Future Considerations 		To St. Louis Blues
Kari Eloranta

Free agents

Player Former team
LW Gord Hampson University of Michigan (NCAA)
LW Carl Mokosak Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
D Kari Eloranta Leksands IF (Elitserien)
C Bobby Lalonde Boston Bruins
C Kari Jalonen Kärpät (SM-liiga)
LW Eddy Beers University of Denver (NCAA)
Player New team
RW Dave Gorman Buffalo Sabres
This sports-related list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2021)

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, held in Montreal, Quebec.[5]

Rnd Pick Player Nationality Position Team (league) NHL statistics
GP G A Pts PIM
1 15 Al MacInnis  Canada D Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 1416 340 934 1274 1501
3 56 Mike Vernon  Canada G Calgary Wranglers (WHL) 781 385–273–92, 3.00 GAA
4 78 Peter Madach  Sweden C N/A
5 99 Mario Simioni  Canada F Toronto Marlboros (OHL)
6 120 Todd Hooey  Canada F Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
7 141 Rick Heppner  United States D N/A
8 162 Dale DeGray  Canada D Oshawa Generals (OHL) 153 18 47 65 195
9 183 George Boudreau  United States D N/A
10 204 Bruce Eakin  Canada F Saskatoon Blades (OHL) 13 2 2 4 4

See also

References

  • Player stats: 2007–08 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 130.
  • Game log: 2007–08 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 141.
  • Team standings: 1981–82 NHL standings @hockeydb.com
  • Trades: Individual player pages at hockeydb.com
  1. ^ Year-by-year results, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 106.
  2. ^ All-Star selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 22.
  3. ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
  4. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  5. ^ Calgary Flames draft history, hockeydb.com, accessed December 16, 2007.
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