NHL standings at the end of December 23, 1981
| Adams Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Montreal Canadiens |
34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 45 | 167 | 97 | -0.04 | 2.02 | 11-1-3 | 7-6-6 | 6-2-2 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Boston Bruins |
33 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 42 | 132 | 107 | 0.12 | 0.88 | 10-6-2 | 9-4-2 | 7-3-0 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Buffalo Sabres |
35 | 17 | 10 | 8 | 42 | 134 | 108 | -0.11 | 0.63 | 10-2-7 | 7-8-1 | 5-4-1 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Quebec Nordiques |
37 | 18 | 14 | 5 | 41 | 171 | 161 | 0.19 | 0.46 | 13-6-0 | 5-8-5 | 4-4-2 | Won 3 | ||||||
 Hartford Whalers |
33 | 8 | 16 | 9 | 25 | 108 | 140 | 0.35 | -0.62 | 5-6-6 | 3-10-3 | 4-5-1 | Won 1 | ||||||
| Norris Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Minnesota North Stars |
34 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 37 | 145 | 121 | -0.09 | 0.62 | 7-3-7 | 6-7-4 | 1-6-3 | Tied 2 | ||||||
 Chicago Black Hawks |
33 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 35 | 154 | 141 | -0.24 | 0.16 | 10-3-6 | 3-8-3 | 4-4-2 | Lost 2 | ||||||
 St. Louis Blues |
35 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 34 | 127 | 139 | -0.02 | -0.36 | 11-4-2 | 4-12-2 | 7-3-0 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Winnipeg Jets |
36 | 13 | 16 | 7 | 33 | 135 | 161 | -0.08 | -0.80 | 7-7-3 | 6-9-4 | 3-4-3 | Lost 2 | ||||||
 Toronto Maple Leafs |
33 | 9 | 15 | 9 | 27 | 142 | 154 | -0.10 | -0.46 | 3-7-4 | 6-8-5 | 4-3-3 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 Detroit Red Wings |
35 | 10 | 20 | 5 | 25 | 120 | 148 | 0.16 | -0.64 | 8-8-1 | 2-12-4 | 3-7-0 | Lost 4 | ||||||
| Patrick Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 New York Islanders |
34 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 45 | 148 | 118 | -0.04 | 0.84 | 11-2-2 | 9-7-3 | 6-3-1 | Won 5 | ||||||
 Philadelphia Flyers |
33 | 21 | 11 | 1 | 43 | 131 | 121 | -0.07 | 0.23 | 13-4-1 | 8-7-0 | 9-1-0 | Won 4 | ||||||
 Pittsburgh Penguins |
34 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 36 | 129 | 128 | 0.03 | 0.06 | 12-3-2 | 3-10-4 | 3-5-2 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 New York Rangers |
34 | 13 | 17 | 4 | 30 | 116 | 137 | 0.12 | -0.50 | 7-10-2 | 6-7-2 | 5-4-1 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Washington Capitals |
34 | 10 | 22 | 2 | 22 | 131 | 147 | 0.04 | -0.43 | 7-9-1 | 3-13-1 | 3-7-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||
| Smythe Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Edmonton Oilers |
37 | 23 | 8 | 6 | 52 | 211 | 141 | -0.31 | 1.58 | 14-3-0 | 9-5-6 | 6-2-2 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Vancouver Canucks |
36 | 13 | 16 | 7 | 33 | 132 | 136 | 0.01 | -0.10 | 9-3-5 | 4-13-2 | 1-6-3 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Calgary Flames |
35 | 11 | 16 | 8 | 30 | 138 | 162 | 0.03 | -0.65 | 7-5-6 | 4-11-2 | 4-4-2 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 Los Angeles Kings |
34 | 13 | 19 | 2 | 28 | 147 | 170 | -0.06 | -0.73 | 10-8-1 | 3-11-1 | 3-5-2 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Colorado Rockies |
35 | 7 | 23 | 5 | 19 | 91 | 172 | 0.11 | -2.21 | 4-10-2 | 3-13-3 | 4-6-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||