St Louis Blues: Top 30 Goaltenders in Franchise History
2. Mike Liut
1979-85; 347 games, 151-133-52 record, .882 save percentage (recorded in two seasons), 3.58 GAA, ten shutouts; 39 postseason games, 17-20 record, one shutout; 1981 NHL All-Star, 1981 Lester B. Pearson Award Winner
Liut, the all-time franchise leader in games played, minutes, and wins, earns consideration first and foremost because of his longevity, durability, and overall success with the St Louis Blues. He was one of the most durable goaltenders of his time, leading the entire NHL in games played in both 1981-82 and 82-83.
Because of the era in which he played for the Blues, which included five of the six highest-scoring seasons in modern NHL history, Liut’s statistics doesn’t give a fair idea of how good he was, as his lowest goals-against average in a season with the Blues was 3.18. In each of his five full seasons with the Blues, though, his goalie point shares exceeded 9.6 every year, indicating that he was a very good, borderline All-Star quality goaltender during each season.
While Liut had a sub-.500 postseason record with the St Louis Blues and only led the Blues to series victories in three of the seven playoff series that they played with him in net; he did have his fair share of strong postseason moments. While starting nine playoff games in 1981-82 and taking over for Glen Hanlon in a 10th, Liut allowed a highly respectable 27 goals and led the Blues to five wins.
In 1983-84, he had his best postseason, starting all seven of the team’s postseason victories and shepherding them to six wins, including a first-round series victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Liutt put up his best postseason numbers during those playoffs, posting a 2.44 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage, and a shutout of the Minnesota North Stars in Game 6 of the Division Finals.
Liut was traded to the Hartford Whalers in February of 1985, ending the longest reign in net for any starting goaltender in Blues history.
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