1981–82 Colorado Rockies season

The 1981–82 Colorado Rockies season was the sixth and final season for the Rockies in Colorado. The franchise would relocate to New Jersey for the 1982–83 season and be renamed the New Jersey Devils. In 1995 the Devils would win the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history. The same year, NHL hockey would return to Colorado with the Quebec Nordiques relocating there to become the Avalanche, for the 1995–96 season. They went on to become Stanley Cup champions in their first season in Denver.

1981–82 Colorado Rockies
Division	5th Smythe
Conference	11th Campbell
1981–82 record	18–49–13
Home record	14–21–5
Road record	4–28–8
Goals for	241
Goals against	362
Team information
General manager	Bill MacMillan
Coach	Bill MacMillan
Captain	Lanny McDonald (Oct.–Nov.) Rob Ramage (Nov.–Apr.)
Alternate captains	None
Arena	McNichols Sports Arena
Average attendance	8,180
Minor league affiliate(s)	Fort Worth Texans (CHL)
Team leaders
Goals	Steve Tambellini (29)
Assists	Brent Ashton (36)
Points	Brent Ashton (60)
Penalty minutes	Rob Ramage (201)
Wins	Glenn Resch (16)
Goals against average	Glenn Resch (4.03)
← 1980–81 1982–83 (New Jersey) →

Offseason

NHL Draft

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/junior/club team
1	5	Joe Cirella	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OMJHL)
2	26	Rich Chernomaz	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WHL)
3	48	Uli Hiemer	West Germany	EV Fussen (West Germany)
4	66	Gus Greco	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL)
5	87	Doug Speck	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OMJHL)
6	108	Bruce Driver	Canada	University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
7	129	Jeff Larmer	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OMJHL)
8	150	Tony Arima	Finland	Jokerit (Finland)
9	171	Tim Army	United States	East Providence High School (USHS-RI)
10	192	John Johannson	United States	University of Wisconsin (WCHA)

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

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Brent Ashton	LW	80	24	36	60	26	-31	3	0	4
Steve Tambellini	C	79	29	30	59	14	-33	9	0	0
Don Lever	LW	59	22	28	50	20	-10	3	0	1
Bob MacMillan	RW	57	18	32	50	27	-9	3	0	1
Rob Ramage	D	80	13	29	42	201	-47	6	0	0
Merlin Malinowski	C	69	13	28	41	32	-22	0	1	0
Aaron Broten	LW/C	58	15	24	39	6	-11	5	1	5
Dwight Foster	RW	70	12	19	31	41	-53	1	1	0
Bob Miller	C	56	11	20	31	27	-24	1	0	2
Dave Cameron	C	66	11	12	23	103	-14	0	1	0
Paul Gagne	LW	59	10	12	22	17	-27	2	0	0
Tapio Levo	D	34	9	13	22	14	-13	3	0	0
Bob Lorimer	D	79	5	15	20	68	-19	1	0	0
Joe Cirella	D	65	7	12	19	52	-36	2	0	1
Lanny McDonald	RW	16	6	9	15	20	-3	0	0	1
Joel Quenneville	D	64	5	10	15	55	-29	0	0	0
Veli-Pekka Ketola	C	44	9	5	14	4	-17	4	0	1
Kevin Maxwell	C	34	5	5	10	44	-16	0	0	1
Graeme Nicolson	D	41	2	7	9	51	-16	0	0	0
Mike Kitchen	D	63	1	8	9	60	-18	0	0	0
John Wensink	LW	57	5	3	8	152	-13	1	0	0
Joe Micheletti	D	21	2	6	8	4	-4	0	0	0
Jukka Porvari	RW	31	2	6	8	0	-22	0	0	0
Stan Weir	C	10	2	3	5	10	-7	0	0	1
Yvon Vautour	RW	14	1	2	3	18	-6	1	0	0
Bill Baker	D	14	0	3	3	17	-13	0	0	0
Paul Miller	C	3	0	3	3	0	2	0	0	0
Jeff Larmer	LW	8	1	1	2	8	-3	0	0	0
Phil Myre	G	24	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0
Glenn Resch	G	61	0	2	2	8	0	0	0	0
Ed Cooper	LW	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
Rich Chernomaz	RW	2	0	0	0	0	-2	0	0	0
Jim Dobson	RW	3	0	0	0	2	-1	0	0	0
Peter Gustavsson	LW	2	0	0	0	0	-1	0	0	0
Jack Hughes	D	8	0	0	0	13	-7	0	0	0
Steve Janaszak	G	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Christer Kellgren	RW	5	0	0	0	0	-4	0	0	0
Rick LaFerriere	G	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Randy Pierce	RW	5	0	0	0	4	-1	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
Glenn Resch	3424	61	16	31	11	230	4.03	0
Phil Myre	1256	24	2	17	2	112	5.35	0
Steve Janaszak	100	2	0	1	0	13	7.80	0
Rick LaFerriere	20	1	0	0	0	1	3.00	0
Team:	4800	80	18	49	13	356	4.45	0

^[4]

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals
      MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SO = Shutouts;