 |
| Mike Liut played with the St. Louis Blus from 1979 to 1985, then Hartford and Washington. He was one of the best goalies of the 1980s. Source: http://www.goaliesarchive.com/blues/liut.html (May be subject to copyright) |
Two years ago, when the St. Louis Blues won their first and only Stanley Cup, I was reminded of some of those great players they had back in the 1980s.
The first one that came to mind for me was that goalie who never painted his mask, but left it plain and white.
That goalie was Mike Liut.
Experienced rookie
Mike Liut joined the St. Louis Blues for the 1979-1980 season, but he brought a extensive resumé with him. He had already played four years of U.S. college hockey with Bowling Green University then turned professional in the World Hockey Association, playing two seasons with the Cincinnati Stingers. So, when he entered the NHL he was 23 years old with a load of experience.
Mike Liut joined the St. Louis Blues for the 1979-1980 season, but he brought a extensive resumé with him. He had already played four years of U.S. college hockey with Bowling Green University then turned professional in the World Hockey Association, playing two seasons with the Cincinnati Stingers. So, when he entered the NHL he was 23 years old with a load of experience.
His first season he appeared in 64 games where he won 32, lost 23 and tied nine games. He posted a 3.18 goals against average and had two shut outs. The Blues finished 10th in the league but were swept in three straight games in the first round of the playoffs by Chicago.
He was well on his way as the decade got under way.
The best in the net
It was the next season, 1980-1981, when Mike Liut staked his claim as the best goaltender in the NHL. He appeared in 61 games, winning 33, losing 14 and tying 14 games. He recorded a 3.34 goals against average and posted one shut out. He was runner-up to Wayne Gretzky for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player and was named a first team all-star. He also won the Lester B. Pearson Trophy, now the Ted Lindsay Award, for the league’s most valuable player as voted on by the players.
It was the next season, 1980-1981, when Mike Liut staked his claim as the best goaltender in the NHL. He appeared in 61 games, winning 33, losing 14 and tying 14 games. He recorded a 3.34 goals against average and posted one shut out. He was runner-up to Wayne Gretzky for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player and was named a first team all-star. He also won the Lester B. Pearson Trophy, now the Ted Lindsay Award, for the league’s most valuable player as voted on by the players.
The Blues won the Smythe Division and were the second seed in the playoffs. They defeated Pittsburgh in the first round but fell in the second round to the seventh-seeded New York Rangers.
The fall of 1981, Liut was named starting goaltender for Team Canada at the second Canada Cup. According to Wikipedia, after Canada lost the final to the Soviet Union by an 8-1 score, his reputation as a top goaltender would never fully recover, although he was not solely to blame.
Playing (for) the Blues
Mike Liut was back in the St. Louis net for the 1981-1982 season, playing in 64 games and winning 28, losing 28 and tying seven games. His goals against average was 4.06 and he had two shut outs. He also led the league in games played and minutes. The Blues finished third in the Norris Division and beat Winnipeg in the first round of the playoffs before losing to Chicago for the second time in three years.
Mike Liut was back in the St. Louis net for the 1981-1982 season, playing in 64 games and winning 28, losing 28 and tying seven games. His goals against average was 4.06 and he had two shut outs. He also led the league in games played and minutes. The Blues finished third in the Norris Division and beat Winnipeg in the first round of the playoffs before losing to Chicago for the second time in three years.
In 1982-1983, he again led the league in games played and minutes, appearing in an incredible 68 games but finishing below .500 for the first time in his career. He would not finish over .500 again with the Blues. He won 21games, lost 27 and tied 13 with a goals against average of 3.72 and one shut out. The Blues finished fourth in the Norris Division and lost to Chicago once again in the first round of the playoffs.
The 1983-1984 season was the last full season Liut played with the Blues. He won 25 games, lost 29 and tied four in 58 appearances. His goals against average was 3.45 and he had three shut outs. The Blues finished second in the Norris Division, defeating Detroit 3-1 in the first round of the playoffs before losing to Minnesota in seven games in the second round.
Liut started the 1984-1985 season in St. Louis, appearing in 32 games, winning 12, losing 12, and tying six with a goals against average of 3.82 and one shut out. He was then traded to the Hartford Whalers for goaltender Greg Millen and forward Mark Johnson. He closed the season appearing in 12 games, winning four, losing seven and tying one with a goals against average of 2.95 and one shut out.
To Hartford and beyond
Mike Liut would play the rest of the decade with the Whalers. In his first full season with the Whalers, he helped Hartford to the Adams Division final before losing in seven games to the Montreal Canadiens who went on to win the Stanley Cup. The next season, 1986-1987, Liut led the league in shut outs with five and helped them to their only Adams Division regular season title before losing to Quebec in the first round. After the season he was also named a second team all-star.
Mike Liut would play the rest of the decade with the Whalers. In his first full season with the Whalers, he helped Hartford to the Adams Division final before losing in seven games to the Montreal Canadiens who went on to win the Stanley Cup. The next season, 1986-1987, Liut led the league in shut outs with five and helped them to their only Adams Division regular season title before losing to Quebec in the first round. After the season he was also named a second team all-star.
He was traded part way through the 1989-1990 season to the Washington Capitals. He was in net when the Capitals beat the New York Rangers to advance to their first ever Patrick Division Championship and a trip to the Wales Conference final where they were swept by my beloved Boston Bruins. He led the NHL in shut outs that year with four and in goals against average with 2.64. According to Wikipedia, when he left Hartford he held 14 franchise goaltending records and shared six others. Liut played two more years with the Capitals, retiring at the end of the 1991-192 season.
Strange goal
Liut holds another odd distinction. He was in net for one of Wayne Gretzky’s most unique goals. Gretzky settled into the face-off circle to take the draw. As the referee dropped the puck, Gretzky timed it perfectly so he shot the puck as it was falling to the ice. The puck caught Liut completely by surprise and went in.
Liut holds another odd distinction. He was in net for one of Wayne Gretzky’s most unique goals. Gretzky settled into the face-off circle to take the draw. As the referee dropped the puck, Gretzky timed it perfectly so he shot the puck as it was falling to the ice. The puck caught Liut completely by surprise and went in.
It seems Liut had the strangest luck.
Parting thoughts
From the moment he arrived on the scene and won the NHL Players’ Association most valuable player award and was runner for the Hart Memorial Trophy, Mike Liut made his mark. He may have had his ups and downs, but in a 10-year period he was a model of consistency.
From the moment he arrived on the scene and won the NHL Players’ Association most valuable player award and was runner for the Hart Memorial Trophy, Mike Liut made his mark. He may have had his ups and downs, but in a 10-year period he was a model of consistency.
By the close of the decade, he had the most wins for a goaltender in the 1980s with 239, the most shut outs in the 1980s with 22, the most games played in the 1980s with 544, and the most minutes played by a goaltender in the 1980s with 31,597.
For that reason, Mike Liut was one of the best in net in the 1980s.
No comments:
Post a Comment