AH Timeline: The NHL-WHA merger: A different story

[Unknown]

Islanders-Blues for the Stanley Cup...

 

[kinnikuniverse]

Hartford vs Islanders: Isles in 7.

Blues vs Seattle: depends on who seattle has in net. In fact who does the t-birds have in front of net? Otherwise, St. Louis in 6.

 

[WB18]

Blues vs Seattle: depends on who seattle has in net. In fact who does the t-birds have in front of net? Otherwise, St. Louis in 6.

the T-Birds have Phil Myre in net, who they picked up from the Philadelphia Flyers in last years offseason. Yeah, not the ideal goalie.

 

[OldNavy1988]

the T-Birds have Phil Myre in net, who they picked up from the Philadelphia Flyers in last years offseason. Yeah, not the ideal goalie.

How bad was Phil in OTL?

 

[kinnikuniverse]

How bad was Phil in OTL?

Not bad, just bang average and being unlucky enough to play on bad teams almpst his entire career. So yeah, against gretzky, gartner, federko and brian Sutter, that's not a good sign...Coffey, langway and the defense will have their work cut out for them. Linseman and napier would have a field day, though, since the blues have no defense.

BTW what did the blues give to acquire roland melanson?

 

[WB18]

The Blues gave up their first and second round picks in 1982, first and third picks in 1983 and a second round pick in 1984 for Melanson

 

[kinnikuniverse]

Oh, and is there any possible way to have the blackhawks be on WGN, or just chicago TV in general?

 

[OldNavy1988]

Oh, and is there any possible way to have the blackhawks be on WGN, or just chicago TV in general?

For the Hawks, you could have both the local and national feeds of WGN carry their games.

At this point of the TL, it wasn't too long ago that we saw Bill Murray wear the Hawks' jacket in Meatballs.

 

[WB18]

Whales Conference Final: New York Islanders vs Hartford Whalers

G1: HAR 3 @ NYI 6 Islanders lead series 1-0

On Long Island for game 1, the Islanders would make it a nightmare for Grant Fuhr, shooting 58 pucks at him. He allowed 5 of those (Denis Potvin would score an empty-netter) as the Whalers dropped the series opener.

G2: HAR 2 @ NYI 4 Islanders lead series 2-0

Hartford would start out good in game 2, taking a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. But the Islanders would then score 4 in the third and run away with it easily.

G3: NYI 1 @ HAR 2 Islanders lead series 2-1

Game 3 would be an exciting one in front of the Hartford faithful. The Whalers lead 1-0 with 9 seconds left before Potvin would tie the game on slapshot from the blue line. The teams would then take the face-off at center ice. The Whalers would win it, Brian Trottier would fall down trying to check Ray Bourque who would sprint to the net then take a shot from about 15 feet that would go past Billy Smith at the buzzer. Since they had no review, the refs counted it. Al Arbour protested, but it had clearly beat the clock, giving the Whalers the win.

G4: NYI 5 @ HAR 2 Islanders lead series 3-1

The Isles got revenge from their heartbreaking game 3 loss with a blowout win in game 4 as the series went back to Nassau Coliseum.

G5: HAR 1 @ NYI 5 Islanders win series 4-1

Game 5 would never be in dought. Mike Bossy scored twice, Billy Smith made 37 saves and Trottier redeemed himself from game 3 with 4 assists as the Islanders were going back to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Campbell Conference Finals: St Louis Blues vs Seattle Thunderbirds

G1: SEA 3 @ STL 4 (2OT) Blues lead series 1-0

Bernie Federko would score on a two on one with Wayne Gretzky to win it for St Louis in double OT.

G2: SEA 2 @ STL 3 Blues lead series 2-0

The T-Birds would give the Blues a scare, coming back from 2 goals down in the first period to tie it. But Perry Turnbull would score with 1:59 left in the period to win it for St Louis to give them a 2-0 series lead heading to Seattle.

G3: STL 5 @ SEA 4 (OT) Blues lead series 3-0

Game 3 would be a back-and-forth slugfest between both teams as they combined for 266 penalty minutes in this one. Turnbull would strike again, this time 3 minutes and 18 seconds into OT as the Blues took a chokehold on the series.

G4: STL 1 @ SEA 4 Blues lead series 3-0

Seattle would have their best game of the series in front of their home crowd, scoring 4 goals in the first two periods. The T-Birds shut down the St Louis offense as the series headed back to the Checkerdome for a fifth game.

G5: SEA 5 @ STL 3 Blues lead series 3-2

In front of their home fans with a chance to go to the Stanley Cup Final, the Blues would simply not show up until it was too late. Paul Coffey would score a hat-trick in the first 2 minutes and 18 seconds of the game to help Seattle stay alive and force a game 6 on their home ice.

G6: STL 4 @ SEA 3 (OT) Blues win series 4-2

Game six would be a wild one. Rod Langway opened the scoring for Seattle, rushing from end-to-end and beating almost everyone on the ice before flipping the puck over Roland Melanson’s glove. Toward the end of the first period, St Louis responded with two quick goals from Gretzky and Mike Zuke to take the lead. That lead would only last until halfway through the second, when Alain Lemieux tied it with a beautiful backhand shot that went top shelf. Just over a minute into the third period, Coffey tipped a Brian Spencer point shot to give Boston their second lead of the game. The Thunderbirds valiantly held on to the lead entering the final moments of the game, with Phil Myre making several spectacular stops, mostly with his glove. With just 23 seconds left, Mike Luit finally beat Myre with a hard wrist shot to tie the game and send it to overtime, where Mike Gartner quickly ended the contest with a wrister of his own. It was a coming-of-age moment for Wayne Gretzky, Mike Gartner and the Blues, as they jumped off the bench and mobbed their veteran goalie Melanson in celebration. For the first time since 1970, St Louis was headed to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Comments apricated! Who's your pick to win the Stanley Cup?

 

[WB18]

1982 Stanley Cup Finals: New York Islanders vs St Louis Blues
TV: CBC (Canada) Bob Cole (play-by-play) and Harry Neale (color) CBS (United States) Ken Wilson (play-by-play) and Stan Fischler (color)

G1: STL 1 @ NYI 3 Islanders lead series 1-0

In the opening game, Denis Potvin’s two-goal performance led the Isles to a 3-1 win.

G2: STL 0 @ NYI 2 Islanders lead series 2-0

The Islanders would win both games at home to start the series thanks to a shutout for Billy Smith in this one.

G3: NYI 1 @ STL 2 Islanders lead series 2-1

The series shifted to the CheckerDome in St Louis for game three and the entire city was buzzing with excitement. Fans lined up and down the major streets hours before tickets went on sale. The Blues did not let their home crowd down, as Wayne Gretzky and Bernie Federko each scored in a 2-1 win.

G4: NYI 2 @ STL 3 (OT) Series tied 2-2

Two nights later, game four went into overtime, where Gerry Hart scored the winner to tie the series.

G5: STL 1 @ NYI 4 Islanders lead series 3-2

Back on Long Island for game five, the Islanders needed their top players to step up. Mike Bossy, who had not scored since game one, had a goal and three assists while Smith stopped 43 shots as New York took the game 4-1 to earn an opportunity to take the Cup in game six.

G6: NYI 2 @ STL 3 (OT) Series tied 3-3

With the Stanley Cup in the building for game six, the Blues were in desperation mode. Potvin opened the scoring, but Gretzky tied it just two minutes later. After Ken Morrow gave the Islanders the lead again, Mike Gartner tied it for the second time. The game went into overtime and just 42 seconds in, Morrow had the Cup winner on his stick but put it just over the net. Roland Melanson stopped nine shots in the first overtime before finally, Bob Crawford scored on a breakaway to force a game seven. “If we had been told at the start of the season that we’d be playing game seven of the finals, we’d take it” said Brain Trottier. “We just need to stay focused.”

G7: STL 0 @ NYI 1 Islanders win series 4-3

Game seven was at Nassau Coliseum, but fans also had several watch parties back in St Louis to watch it on the TV. Through the first period, both goaltenders stood on their heads, as the game remained scoreless. Six minutes into the second period, Bob Nystrom took a penalty for boarding and St Louis went on the powerplay. For two minutes, the Blues peppered Billy Smith with shots, but he stood tall as the Isles killed the penalty. Just three minutes into the third period, John Tonelli’s slapshot made its way through traffic and into the net to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead. St Louis pushed for the tying goal throughout the third period but Smith was spectacular. The Blues pulled Melanson but could not solve Smith. Finally, with just eight seconds left, Butch Goring dumped the puck out as the clock ran down to zero. The crowd erupted as the Islanders mobbed their heroic goaltender. Billy Smith was named playoff MVP and the New York Islanders were presented their third Stanley Cup in 4 seasons.

Would really like some comments. Feels lonely without em. Congrats to any Islander fans as well.

 

[kinnikuniverse]

Surprised that it went 7 games, consodering the blues's lack of defense. Having CBS cover the league is a major plus for its profile, and ted turner and bill daniels owning franchises will allow the product to be showcased on more stations.

 

[AltSptHst]

St. Louis making the 82 final should prevent them from even thinking about moving to Saskatoon, and they should be participating in the 83 draft as a result.

 

[kinnikuniverse]

St. Louis making the 82 final should prevent them from even thinking about moving to Saskatoon, and they should be participating in the 83 draft as a result.

LOL to think the NHL was willing to do such a stupid thing is so funny.

 

[WB18]

St. Louis making the 82 final should prevent them from even thinking about moving to Saskatoon, and they should be participating in the 83 draft as a result.

To this day, I don't understand why the NHL even considered that move. I think they would have moved back to St Louis in the 1990s however if that happened IRL.

 

[WB18]

1982 NHL Draft - Notable Picks

1. Brian Bellows (RW) - Detroit Red Wings

2. Scott Stevens (D) - Colorado Rockies

6. Phil Housley (D) - Quebec Nordiques

15. Dave Andreychuk (C) - Houston Aeros

24. Gary Leeman (D) - St Louis Blues

36. Tomas Sandstrom (RW) - Winnipeg Jets

43. Pat Verbeek (C) - Hartford Whalers

89. Ray Ferrero (C) - Detroit Red Wings

116. Tony Granato (C) - Buffalo Sabres

119. Ron Hextall (G) - Cincinnati Stingers

131. Doug Gilmour (C) - Colorado Rockies

Comments apricated! Anyone you remember?

 

[kinnikuniverse]

1982 NHL Draft - Notable Picks

1. Brian Bellows (RW) - Detroit Red Wings

2. Scott Stevens (D) - Colorado Rockies

6. Phil Housley (D) - Quebec Nordiques

15. Dave Andreychuk (C) - Houston Aeros

24. Gary Leeman (D) - St Louis Blues

36. Tomas Sandstrom (RW) - Winnipeg Jets

43. Pat Verbeek (C) - Hartford Whalers

89. Ray Ferrero (C) - Detroit Red Wings

116. Tony Granato (C) - Buffalo Sabres

119. Ron Hextall (G) - Cincinnati Stingers

131. Doug Gilmour (C) - Colorado Rockies

Comments apricated! Anyone you remember?

Oh crap, Colorado making some moves! Damn, that's a good draft.

Verbeek to hartford, nice! Would bring some much needed scoring. Now, if only ronnie franchise was drated there...oh well, you got ray bourque, mark howe, ulf samuelsson and grant fuhr. That D core is stacked!

Winnipeg finding successors for hedberg and linstrom with paul maclean and sandstrom! If dave christian's still around, then kent nilsson, dale hunter and thomas steen will have some fine wingers surrounding them! Now all they need is defense and a goalie... with ron hextall being drafted by cinncinatti, maybe a trade for mike Liut is in order? Of course, not now, but later when hextall arrives in the league?

Phil going to quebec is sweet! Him and normand rochefort on the first pairing would make a nice complimentary duo! And with youngsters like randy moller, Anders eldebrink, alain coté, lee norwood and dave pichette rising up, the stastny borthers fully settling in and the goalie tandem of richard brodeur and andy moog, the nords are darkhorses, for sure! Now all they need is wing depth and another good center

Watch out for houston in the future!

 

[WB18]

Other sports in 1982

NFL- The San Francisco 49ers win their first Super Bowl in Franchise history over the favored San Diego Chargers 24-20. 49er QB Joe Montana was named MVP thanks to three touchdown passes that paved the way for the upset.

NBA - For the third time in a row the Boston Celtics are NBA champions defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in 6 games in the 1982 NBA Finals. Larry Bird was the most valuable player of the finals with 253 points combined in the series which is a new NBA Finals record. Magic Johnson scored a combined 246 points, but it wasn’t enough.

MLB - The Milwaukee Brewers are World Series Champions for the first time in team history by defeating the defending champion Montreal Expos In 6 games. Moose Haas is MVP of the series thanks to his two complete games in games 2 and 6 respectively.

 

[1940LaSalle]

I'm coming in very late indeed, but the notion of big-time hockey in Birmingham, AL is exceedingly difficult to swallow. I'll stipulate that the WHA tried that city once and it flopped, but Baltimore had a long-standing history as a viable hockey city with the AHL Clippers for years before the brief tenure of the Baltimore Blades (I may be one of the few people around who actually went to a Blades home game, by the way). Even with the absurd interior architecture of the Baltimore Civic Center, it seems me that a Rust Belt city with a significant hockey background would do far better than some second- or third-tier burg from NASCAR territory with a history of the game so minimal it could be written on a pinhead with room left over for all that Gary Bettman and Pierre McGuire collectively know about the game.

 

[PGSBHurricane]

I wonder how long the Whalers will stay in Hartford. Being from the metro area, their departure IOTL was a significant loss from the city.

 

[PGSBHurricane]

Alternately, I wonder what could've happened if the Chicago Cougars, Minnesota Fighting Saints, Ottawa Civics, Baltimore Blades, San Diego Mariners, Calgary Cowboys, and Phoenix Roadrunners all survived util 1978 and joined the NHL alongside the other eight teams ITTL. I'm new to reading this timeline so that explains why I asked this a little late.