Both O-Pee-Chee and Topps thought Red Berenson was good for another year in the NHL, featuring him on hockey cards in their 1978-79 sets. However, Red decided to call it a career as a player and his final action came during the 1977-78 season with the St. Louis Blues.
Captain Berenson played all 80 games for the Blues in his final campaign at 39 years old. He put up respectable numbers with 13 goal and 25 assists for 38 points. Three of those thirteen came in a February 28, 1978 game against the Minnesota North Stars at the Checkerdome. It was the last of his six NHL hat tricks, the final two coming against the Stars.
Red didn't get on the board until 15:14 of the second period, scoring on Minnesota goalie Paul Harrison with assists going to Bob Hess and goalie Phil Myre. This put the Blues up 4-1 in the game. Just 47 seconds into the third period, Berenson had his second of the night, assisted by Bill Fairbairn. The hat trick goal was scored at 10:09 of the third period, unassisted. That goal was the last of the game in a 7-1 win for the home team.
Over the season, Red also had seven two point games to go with the hat trick. He had two game winning goals, both against the Los Angeles Kings. Both those goals were scored on L.A. goalie Rogie Vachon. In a 3-2 win over the Kings at the Great Western Forum, Berenson broke a 2-2 tie with just 39 seconds left in the match.
Between 1961-62 and 1977-78, Red Berenson played 987 regular season and 85 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues. He won a Stanley Cup championship with the Habs in 1964-65.
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