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1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season

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1977–78 Quebec Nordiques
Division4th
1977–78 record40–37–3
Home record29–10–2
Road record11–27–1
Goals for349
Goals against347
Team information
General managerMaurice Filion
CoachMarc Boileau (27-30-2)
Maurice Filion (13-7-1)
CaptainMarc Tardif
ArenaColisée Pepsi
Team leaders
GoalsMarc Tardif (65)
AssistsMarc Tardif (89)
PointsMarc Tardif (154)
Penalty minutesPaul Baxter (240)
Plus/minusJean Bernier (+22)
WinsRichard Brodeur (18)
Goals against averageRichard Brodeur (3.70)

The 1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques sixth season in the WHA, as they were coming off of a 47-31-3 record in the 1976-77 season, finishing in first place in the Eastern Division. Quebec defeated the New England Whalers, Indianapolis Racers and Winnipeg Jets to win their first ever Avco Cup.

Off-season

During the off-season, the league would lose another three teams, as the Calgary Cowboys, Phoenix Roadrunners, and San Diego Mariners would all fold, bringing the league down to eight teams. The WHA abandoned the divisional format and grouped the remaining teams together. There had been a tentative agreement that would see the Nordiques, Cincinnati Stingers, Edmonton Oilers, Houston Aeros, New England Whalers, and Winnipeg Jets join the National Hockey League, however, it could not be finalized. In a unique move, the Soviet All-Stars and Czechoslovakian All-Stars would play games that would count in the final standings, as they played each WHA team once.

Regular season

After losing their opening two games, the Nordiques would get hot, and earn a 16-10-1 record through their opening 27 games to sit in second place in the league. Quebec would then fall into a slump, in which they would post a record of 11-20-1 record in their next 32 games to fall three games under .500, and into fifth place. The slump would cost head coach Marc Boileau his job, as he was relieved of his duties and replaced with Maurice Filion. Under Filion, the Nordiques improved, earning a record of 13-7-1 to finish the season with a 40-37-3 record, earning 83 points, and fourth place in the league.

Offensively, Quebec was led by Marc Tardif, who won the Bill Hunter Trophy awarded to the player who leads the league in scoring. Tardif led the league in goals with 65, tied for the league lead with 89 assists, for 154 points. Real Cloutier had another great season, scoring 56 goals and 129 points in 73 games. Serge Bernier finished third in team scoring with 78 points, despite missing 24 games, while Paulin Bordeleau scored 42 goals and 65 points. On defense, Garry Lariviere had a breakout season, earning 56 points, while Jean Bernier had 10 goals and 42 points. J.C. Tremblay continued to put up points, earning 42 in 56 games and Paul Baxter had 35 points, along with a team high 240 penalty minutes.

In goal, Richard Brodeur missed some time due to injuries, however, he still led the team with 18 wins and a 3.70 GAA in 36 games. Backup Jim Corsi had 10 wins and a 4.52 GAA, while Ken Broderick earned 9 wins with a 4.37 GAA.

Season standings

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points

WHA Team W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Winnipeg Jets 50 28 2 102 381 270 988
New England Whalers 44 31 5 93 335 269 1255
Houston Aeros 42 34 4 88 296 302 1543
Quebec Nordiques 40 37 3 83 349 347 1185
Edmonton Oilers 38 39 3 79 309 307 1296
Birmingham Bulls 36 41 3 75 287 314 2177
Cincinnati Stingers 35 42 3 73 298 332 1701
Indianapolis Racers 24 51 5 53 267 353 1189
Soviet All-Stars 3 4 1 7 27 36 120
Czechoslovakia All-Stars 1 6 1 3 21 40 87


Schedule and results

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 13 Quebec Nordiques 2–5 Winnipeg Jets 0–1–0 0
2 October 14 Quebec Nordiques 2–4 Edmonton Oilers 0–2–0 0
3 October 15 Edmonton Oilers 2–6 Quebec Nordiques 1–2–0 2
4 October 18 Cincinnati Stingers 1–5 Quebec Nordiques 2–2–0 4
5 October 21 Quebec Nordiques 4–4 Indianapolis Racers 2–2–1 5
6 October 22 Birmingham Bulls 5–8 Quebec Nordiques 3–2–1 7
7 October 26 Quebec Nordiques 1–7 New England Whalers 3–3–1 7
8 October 30 Houston Aeros 4–5 Quebec Nordiques 4–3–1 9
9 November 1 New England Whalers 6–3 Quebec Nordiques 4–4–1 9
10 November 4 Quebec Nordiques 7–6 Houston Aeros 5–4–1 11
11 November 5 Quebec Nordiques 4–5 Birmingham Bulls 5–5–1 11
12 November 8 Edmonton Oilers 3–7 Quebec Nordiques 6–5–1 13
13 November 11 Quebec Nordiques 3–2 Winnipeg Jets 7–5–1 15
14 November 12 Cincinnati Stingers 6–5 Quebec Nordiques 7–6–1 15
15 November 15 Winnipeg Jets 6–7 Quebec Nordiques 8–6–1 17
16 November 18 Quebec Nordiques 5–6 Houston Aeros 8–7–1 17
17 November 20 Indianapolis Racers 2–5 Quebec Nordiques 9–7–1 19
18 November 22 New England Whalers 4–5 Quebec Nordiques 10–7–1 21
19 November 23 Quebec Nordiques 3–4 Cincinnati Stingers 10–8–1 21
20 November 25 Quebec Nordiques 6–2 New England Whalers 11–8–1 23
21 November 26 Birmingham Bulls 2–4 Quebec Nordiques 12–8–1 25
22 November 29 Cincinnati Stingers 3–2 Quebec Nordiques 12–9–1 25
23 December 1 Quebec Nordiques 4–5 Indianapolis Racers 12–10–1 25
24 December 3 Winnipeg Jets 5–6 Quebec Nordiques 13–10–1 27
25 December 6 Houston Aeros 3–4 Quebec Nordiques 14–10–1 29
26 December 10 Indianapolis Racers 3–5 Quebec Nordiques 15–10–1 31
27 December 11 Czechoslovakian All-Stars 4–8 Quebec Nordiques 16–10–1 33
28 December 26 Quebec Nordiques 4–9 Winnipeg Jets 16–11–1 33
29 December 27 Quebec Nordiques 3–9 Edmonton Oilers 16–12–1 33
30 January 1 Quebec Nordiques 5–2 Birmingham Bulls 17–12–1 35
31 January 3 Soviet All-Stars 3–3 Quebec Nordiques 17–12–2 36
32 January 4 Quebec Nordiques 6–3 New England Whalers 18–12–2 38
33 January 6 Quebec Nordiques 3–5 Cincinnati Stingers 18–13–2 38
34 January 10 Birmingham Bulls 4–6 Quebec Nordiques 19–13–2 40
35 January 11 Quebec Nordiques 1–2 Indianapolis Racers 19–14–2 40
36 January 14 Edmonton Oilers 4–7 Quebec Nordiques 20–14–2 42
37 January 15 Cincinnati Stingers 6–3 Quebec Nordiques 20–15–2 42
38 January 18 Quebec Nordiques 1–5 Winnipeg Jets 20–16–2 42
39 January 20 Quebec Nordiques 8–2 Cincinnati Stingers 21–16–2 44
40 January 21 New England Whalers 2–3 Quebec Nordiques 22–16–2 46
41 January 22 Quebec Nordiques 3–6 New England Whalers 22–17–2 46
42 January 24 Houston Aeros 6–5 Quebec Nordiques 22–18–2 46
43 January 27 Quebec Nordiques 6–9 Edmonton Oilers 22–19–2 46
44 January 29 Quebec Nordiques 4–3 Edmonton Oilers 23–19–2 48
45 January 31 Winnipeg Jets 7–2 Quebec Nordiques 23–20–2 48
46 February 2 Quebec Nordiques 4–2 Birmingham Bulls 24-20–2 50
47 February 3 Quebec Nordiques 4–5 Indianapolis Racers 24–21–2 50
48 February 4 Edmonton Oilers 4–3 Quebec Nordiques 24–22–2 50
49 February 7 Birmingham Bulls 3–8 Quebec Nordiques 25–22–2 52
50 February 9 Quebec Nordiques 1–2 Houston Aeros 25–23–2 52
51 February 11 Quebec Nordiques 4–8 Houston Aeros 25–24–2 52
52 February 12 Quebec Nordiques 2–8 Cincinnati Stingers 25–25–2 52
53 February 14 Quebec Nordiques 1–5 New England Whalers 25–26–2 52
54 February 15 Quebec Nordiques 6–9 Indianapolis Racers 25–27–2 52
55 February 17 Quebec Nordiques 4–6 Edmonton Oilers 25–28–2 52
56 February 19 Quebec Nordiques 2–5 Winnipeg Jets 25–29–2 52
57 February 21 New England Whalers 5–6 Quebec Nordiques 26–29–2 54
58 February 23 Quebec Nordiques 3–7 Birmingham Bulls 26–30–2 54
59 February 25 Indianapolis Racers 5–7 Quebec Nordiques 27–30–2 56
60 February 28 Houston Aeros 2–5 Quebec Nordiques 28–30–2 58
61 March 1 Quebec Nordiques 4–3 New England Whalers 29–30–2 60
62 March 4 Houston Aeros 3–3 Quebec Nordiques 29–30–3 61
63 March 5 New England Whalers 1–2 Quebec Nordiques 30–30–3 63
64 March 7 Cincinnati Stingers 5-4 Quebec Nordiques 30–31–3 63
65 March 8 Quebec Nordiques 5–4 Indianapolis Racers 31–31–3 65
66 March 9 Quebec Nordiques 2–9 Birmingham Bulls 31–32–3 65
67 March 11 Winnipeg Jets 7–4 Quebec Nordiques 31–33–3 65
68 March 14 Edmonton Oilers 3–6 Quebec Nordiques 32–33–3 67
69 March 16 Indianapolis Racers 2–5 Quebec Nordiques 33–33–3 69
70 March 18 New England Whalers 3–5 Quebec Nordiques 34–33–3 71
71 March 19 Quebec Nordiques 3–5 Winnipeg Jets 34–34–3 71
72 March 21 Birmingham Bulls 5–4 Quebec Nordiques 34–35–3 71
73 March 24 Quebec Nordiques 4–3 Birmingham Bulls 35–35–3 73
74 March 25 Quebec Nordiques 3–4 Houston Aeros 35–36–3 73
75 March 28 Cincinnati Stingers 4–6 Quebec Nordiques 36–36–3 75
76 April 1 Winnipeg Jets 2–5 Quebec Nordiques 37–36–3 77
77 April 2 Houston Aeros 1–7 Quebec Nordiques 38–36–3 79
78 April 4 Edmonton Oilers 1–9 Quebec Nordiques 39–36–3 81
79 April 8 Indianapolis Racers 3–7 Quebec Nordiques 40–36–3 83
80 April 9 Quebec Nordiques 2–6 Cincinnati Stingers 40–37–3 83

Playoffs

In the opening round of the playoffs, Quebec would face the Houston Aeros in a best of seven series. The Aeros finished the season with a 42-34-4 record, earning 86 points, and a third place finish. The series opened in Houston, and the Aeros won the series opener in overtime by a 4-3 score, however, the defending champion Nordiques evened the series with a 5-4 overtime victory in the second game. The series moved to Quebec for the next two games, and the Nordiques took control of the series, winning the third game 5-1, followed by a 3-0 shutout victory in the fourth game to take a 3-1 series lead. The fifth game was played in Houston, and the Aeros staved off elimination with a 5-2, bringing the series back to Quebec for the sixth game. The Nordiques would dominate in the sixth game, crushing the Aeros 11-2, and advance to the WHA semi-finals.

In the WHA semi-finals, the Nordiques would face off against the New England Whalers. New England finished in second during the regular season, with a record of 44-31-5, earning 93 points. The Whalers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in five games in the opening round of the playoffs. The series opened with two games in New England, and the Whalers took an early series lead with a 5-1 victory in the series opener. Quebec fought back and tied the series up with a 3-2 win in the second game. The series moved to Quebec for the next two games, however, it was the Whalers who took control of the series, defeating the Nordiques 5-4 in the third game, followed by a 7-3 win in the fourth game to take a 3-1 series lead. In the fifth game back in New England, the Whalers took their opportunity and finished off the Nordiques, defeating Quebec 6-3 to win the series.

Quebec Nordiques 4, Houston Aeros 2

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 16 Quebec Nordiques 3–4 Houston Aeros 0-1
2 April 18 Quebec Nordiques 5–4 Houston Aeros 1-1
3 April 20 Houston Aeros 1–5 Quebec Nordiques 2-1
4 April 21 Houston Aeros 0–3 Quebec Nordiques 3-1
5 April 23 Quebec Nordiques 2–5 Houston Aeros 3-2
6 April 25 Houston Aeros 2–11 Quebec Nordiques 4-2

New England Whalers 4, Quebec Nordiques 1

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 28 Quebec Nordiques 1–5 New England Whalers 0-1
2 April 30 Quebec Nordiques 3–2 New England Whalers 1-1
3 May 3 New England Whalers 5–4 Quebec Nordiques 1-2
4 May 5 New England Whalers 7–3 Quebec Nordiques 1-3
5 May 7 Quebec Nordiques 3–6 New England Whalers 1-4

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Regular season
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Marc Tardif 78 65 89 154 50
Real Cloutier 73 56 73 129 19
Serge Bernier 58 26 52 78 48
Paulin Bordeleau 77 42 23 65 29
Matti Hagman 53 25 31 56 16
Playoffs
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Real Cloutier 10 9 7 16 15
Marc Tardif 11 6 9 15 11
Serge Bernier 11 4 10 14 17
Paul Baxter 11 4 7 11 42
Paulin Bordeleau 11 4 6 10 2

Goaltending

Player GP Min W L T GA SO GAA Save %
Richard Brodeur 36 1962 18 15 2 121 0 3.70 .892
Don McLeod 7 403 2 4 0 28 0 4.17 .870
Ken Broderick 24 1140 9 8 1 83 0 4.37 .859
Jim Corsi 23 1089 10 7 0 82 0 4.52 .873
Markus Mattsson 6 266 1 3 0 30 0 6.77 .819
Playoffs
Player GP Min W L GA SO GAA
Ken Broderick 2 48 0 1 2 0 2.50
Richard Brodeur 11 622 5 5 38 1 3.67
Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards & records

Draft picks

Farm teams

See also

References

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