On January 6, 1981, the St. Louis Blues delivered a strong but somewhat understated 6-3 victory over the Quebec Nordiques, despite a rare offensive explosion from two of their top players. Blake Dunlop and Jorgen Pettersson each recorded five-point performances, combining for 10 points in a game that, surprisingly, never turned into a complete rout.
Highlights
Blake Dunlop and Jorgen Pettersson each recorded 5 points
Combined for 10 points in a 6-3 Blues win
Involved in 5 of the team’s 6 goals
Pettersson scored twice and added three assists
Dunlop had one goal and four assists
Game played January 6, 1981 vs Quebec Nordiques
Pettersson finished rookie season with 73 points in 62 games
Even more remarkable, the duo factored in on all but one of St. Louis’ six goals. It was the kind of statistical dominance that usually results in a lopsided scoreline, but the Nordiques managed to keep things relatively respectable on the scoreboard.
Dunlop’s night included a goal and four assists. His eighth goal of the 1980-81 season came early in the third period, with assists from Pettersson and Wayne Babych. Beyond that, Dunlop played a key setup role, assisting on two of Pettersson’s goals, as well as markers by Babych and Craig Norwich.
Pettersson matched Dunlop point-for-point with two goals and three assists. His 12th goal of the season came midway through the second period to give the Blues a 3-0 lead. He later capped off the scoring late in the third period, once again with Dunlop contributing on the play. Pettersson also added assists on goals by Babych, Norwich, and Dunlop himself.
The performance was part of a standout rookie season for Pettersson, who finished with 37 goals and 73 points in just 62 games. Having already established himself professionally in Sweden, the 24-year-old transitioned seamlessly to the NHL, ultimately finishing sixth in Calder Trophy voting.
Dunlop, meanwhile, was enjoying the best season of his career. He totaled 67 assists and 87 points, placing him among the league’s top playmakers and tying for seventh in assists league-wide. Though this particular game may not be widely remembered, it remains a perfect snapshot of how dominant the Dunlop–Pettersson combination could be on any given night.
The Franchise: St. Louis Blues (A Curated History of the Blues)
A curated history celebrating the St. Louis Blues — their iconic players, historic moments, and lasting impact on hockey culture.
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