This Day in Hockey History – April 1, 1980 – Liut 30 for 30

Apr 1, 2019

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During the 1979-80 season, goalie Mike Liut may have been playing for the St. Louis Blues, but he wasn’t singing the blues. He became the 30th NHL goalie to win 30 games in one season. After playing for the WHA for two seasons, Liut was new to the NHL, so he was only the third to reach the 30-wins milestone in his first NHL season. He followed Frank Brimsek (who accomplished the feat during his rookie season with the Boston Bruins in 1938-39 with a record of 34-8-1) and Bill Durnan (who did so in his rookie season with the Montreal Canadiens in 1943-44 with a record of 38-5-7). Of the 30 goalies to have 30 or more wins in one season, Liut was the first to play for the Blues. He just so happened to lodge his 30th victory the same night the Blues won their 250th home game as a franchise, as only the second expansion team to win as many.

That night was April 1, 1980, when 15,236 fans gathered at the Checkerdome in St. Louis. The Blues defeated the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 5-2. In the process of scoring once in each of the first two periods, the Blues outshot the Blackhawks 20-2, so Chicago goalie Tony Esposito received credit for keeping his team in the game. Late in the second period, Liut made a spectacular save. After blocking Tom Lysiak’s shot, Ted Bulley “knocked the skates out from under Liut,” but Liut “dived across and somehow stopped [Bob] Murray’s shot inches short of the goal line.” Humbly, Liut said, “He didn’t get all of his shot. If he had, there’s no way I’m going to stop it. I could turn handsprings from that spot and I’m not going to stop him if he gets off a good shot. I’m down and out and I figure it’s a sure goal.” After that, the Blues went on a three-goal scoring spree while Chicago managed a second goal. Three of the goals were on power plays and assisted by Mike Zuke. However, the winning and losing goalies, respectively, received the first and third stars of the game.

At that point, they were tied at 30 for having the most wins that season. Liut’s record was 30-23-9, while Esposito’s was 30-21-16. This was Esposito’s eighth (and final) season notching 30 or more wins. Former Blues coach Barclay Plager said, “Right now, I’d say Esposito is the best goalie in hockey and Liut is No. 2.” To the press, Liut commented, “It’s a nice milestone. I mean, I’d rather win 30 than get stuck on 29, but I’ve lost too many games to really make a big thing about winning 30. If I was maybe something like 30 and 20, that wouldn’t be too bad, but I’ve lost 23 games, too. If it turns out that I lead the league or am tied for most victories, I’d be proud of that, but I’d rather have about four or five fewer losses.”

Still, Liut’s accomplishment received its due credit. Chicago’s coach Eddie Johnston (who had reached the 30-game milestone himself with a 30-6-2 record for the Bruins) acknowledged, “Liut played well for them. I’ve only seen him once before, but from what I’ve seen and heard around the league, he’s one of the best. When you win 30 in this league, you’re doing something.” Naturally, the Blues’ general manager Emile Francis (also a former NHL goalie) praised, “I’d say when a goalie comes into this league and wins 30 games his first season, he’s established himself. I can think of a lot of goalies who have struggled before becoming excellent goalies, but I can’t think of a one who had a great start and then couldn’t repeat it.” Liut himself had doubts. “A goalie isn’t established until he’s played well in the playoffs. And once a goalie has established himself as one of the best, then he has to maintain that status. If you can’t maintain that status, what does it mean? Our whole team found out this season that it can be easier to get there than it is to stay there.”

As it turns out, Liut was right about playoffs. After the game, the Blues won their last two games of the regular season, with a 6-0 shutout and then defeating the Blackhawks at Chicago 5-4. They finished second in the Smythe Division with 80 points (34-34-12). However, in the first round of playoffs, St. Louis was completely swept by Chicago. In the first two games, held at Chicago, the Blues lost 3-2 in overtime and then 5-1. Despite returning to St. Louis, they lost game three 4-1. Chicago did not make it past the next round, losing to the Buffalo Sabres, who lost to the New York Islanders, who went on to win their first of four consecutive Stanley Cup championships.

As for Liut himself, he remained with the Blues until February 21, 1985, when they traded him to the Hartford Whalers. After five years there, he was traded to the Washington Capitals on March 6, 1990. His career ended in 1992 after playing 663 games (293-271-74). Liut surpassed 30 wins in three seasons, finishing with 32 in 1979-80, 33 in 1980-81 (when he won the Ted Lindsay Award), and 31 in 1986-87.