1980–81 Quebec Nordiques season

National Hockey League team season March 2026 August 2020 NHL 1980–81 1980 Quebec Nordiques Adams 4th Wales 6th 30–32–18 18–11–11 12–21–7 314 318 Maurice Filion Maurice Filion (1-3-2) Michel Bergeron (29-29-16) Marc Tardif Robbie Ftorek Colisée de Québec 12,243 https://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph_season.php?lid=NHL1927&sid=1980 National Hockey League 1979-80 Attendance Graph hockeydb.com Rochester Americans (AHL) Jacques Richard (52) Peter Stastny (70) Peter Stastny (109) Mario Marois (+11) Dale Hunter (226) Dan Bouchard (19) Dan Bouchard (3.17) The 1980–81 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques second season in the National Hockey League (NHL). Quebec improved on their inaugural NHL season, making the playoffs, only to lose in the first round. 2 Off-season During the off-season, the Nordiques fired head coach Jacques Demers, and general manager Maurice Filion would begin the season as the head coach. This would mark Filion's third time behind the Nordiques bench, as he was the head coach of the club in the 1972–73 WHA season, and he served as an interim head coach at the end of the 1977–78 season. Quebec was able to sign brothers Peter Šťastný and Anton Šťastný, who both defected from Czechoslovakia. The brothers would have a huge impact in the league, as Peter would win the Calder Memorial Trophy awarded to the NHL's Rookie of the Year, and both Peter and Anton would set rookie records, each earning eight points in a game on February 22, 1981, leading Quebec to an 11–7 win over the Washington Capitals. Regular season The Nordiques season began with a nine-game road trip, and head coach Maurice Filion would replace himself with Michel Bergeron after the club had a 1-3-2 record in their opening six games. Quebec continued to struggle, and fifteen games into the season, they had a 1-9-5 record. The Nordiques would continue to struggle, and found themselves a season high fourteen games under .500 with an 11-26-12 record after 49 games. Quebec would then get red hot, posting a record of 19-6-6 in their remaining 31 games to finish the season at 30–32–18, earning 78 points, and their first ever berth into the NHL playoffs. Offensively, the Nordiques were led by rookie Peter Šťastný, who set a team record with 109 points, winning the Calder Memorial Trophy. Jacques Richard became the first Nordique to score over 50 goals in a season, as he scored 52, and registered 103 points. Anton Šťastný also had a great rookie season, earning 85 points, while Robbie Ftorek and Michel Goulet had 75 and 73 points respectively. Pierre Lacroix led the Nordiques blueline, earning 39 points, while Dale Hunter had a team high 226 penalty minutes. In goal, Dan Bouchard emerged as the number one goalie late in the season, winning a team record 19 games, while posting a team best 3.17 GAA, along with two shutouts. Michel Plasse had the most playing time, and he won 10 games with a 3.66 GAA in 33 games. Season standings QUE QUE Record vs. opponents QUE Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid; 1980–81 regular season1980-81 Quebec Nordiques Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/QUE/1981_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 19, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; October Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- | 1 || October 9 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–5 || Calgary Flames || 0–0–1 || 1 || 7,243 |- | 2 || October 10 || Quebec Nordiques || 7–4 || Edmonton Oilers || 1–0–1 || 3 || 17,334 |- | 3 || October 12 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–8 || Vancouver Canucks || 1–1–1 || 3 || 13,130 |- | 4 || October 14 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–4 || Colorado Rockies || 1–2–1 || 3 || 4,627 |- | 5 || October 16 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–6 || Los Angeles Kings || 1–3–1 || 3 || 6,490 |- | 6 || October 19 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–4 || Winnipeg Jets || 1–3–2 || 4 || 12,728 |- | 7 || October 22 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–4 || Minnesota North Stars || 1–4–2 || 4 || 11,537 |- | 8 || October 25 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–4 || Hartford Whalers || 1–5–2 || 4 || 11,005 |- | 9 || October 26 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–7 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–6–2 || 4 || 8,741 |- |10 || October 29 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–6–3 || 5 || N/A |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; November Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- |11 || November 1 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–6–4 || 6 || N/A |- |12 || November 2 || Colorado Rockies || 5–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–7–4 || 6 || 10,400 |- |13 || November 4 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–5 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–8–4 || 6 || 16,803 |- |14 || November 9 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–3 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–9–4 || 6 || 17,077 |- |15 || November 11 || Chicago Black Hawks || 6–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–9–5 || 7 || N/A |- |16 || November 12 || Winnipeg Jets || 1–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–9–5 || 9 || N/A |- |17 || November 16 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–8 || Buffalo Sabres || 2–10–5 || 9 || 16,433 |- |18 || November 18 || Washington Capitals || 2–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–10–5 || 11 || 9,023 |- |19 || November 19 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–10–5 || 13 || 9,817 |- |20 || November 22 || Calgary Flames || 3–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–10–6 || 14 || 10,185 |- |21 || November 24 || Los Angeles Kings || 4–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–11–6 || 14 || 10,690 |- |22 || November 26 || Minnesota North Stars || 2–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–11–6 || 16 || 10,290 |- |23 || November 30 || New York Islanders || 7–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–12–6 || 16 || 10,159 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; December Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- |24 || December 2 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–5 || St. Louis Blues || 5–13–6 || 16 || 9,115 |- |25 || December 4 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–1 || Detroit Red Wings || 6–13-6 || 18 || 9,212 |- |26 || December 6 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6–14–6 || 18 || 16,485 |- |27 || December 7 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–14–7 || 19 || 9,330 |- |28 || December 10 || Boston Bruins || 6–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–15–7 || 19 || 10,693 |- |29 || December 11 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–3 || Boston Bruins || 7–15–7 || 21 || 8,241 |- |30 || December 14 || Edmonton Oilers || 5–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 8–15–7 || 23 || 9,346 |- |31 || December 17 || St. Louis Blues || 1–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 9–15–7 || 25 || 9,805 |- |32 || December 20 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–5 || New York Islanders || 9–16–7 || 25 || 14,942 |- |33 || December 21 || Hartford Whalers || 5–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 10–16–7 || 27 || 10,241 |- |34 || December 23 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 10–16–8 || 28 || 10,672 |- |35 || December 27 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 10–17–8 || 28 || 9,763 |- |36 || December 30 || New York Rangers || 6–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 10–18–8 || 28 || 10,868 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; January Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- |37 || January 3 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 10–18–9 || 29 || 10,868 |- |38 || January 4 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–2 || New York Rangers || 10–18–10 || 30 || 17,425 |- |39 || January 6 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–6 || St. Louis Blues || 10–19–10 || 30 || 12,080 |- |40 || January 7 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–5 || Buffalo Sabres || 10–20–10 || 30 || 16,433 |- |41 || January 10 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–5 || Montreal Canadiens || 10–20–11 || 31 || 17,199 |- |42 || January 11 || Edmonton Oilers || 6–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 10–21–11 || 31 || 10,532 |- |43 || January 13 || Winnipeg Jets || 3–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 10–21–12 || 32 || 9,425 |- |44 || January 15 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–1 || Philadelphia Flyers || 11–21–12 || 34 || 17,077 |- |45 || January 17 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–7 || Minnesota North Stars || 11–22–12 || 34 || 14,354 |- |46 || January 18 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–7 || Chicago Black Hawks || 11-23–12 || 34 || 11,963 |- |47 || January 21 || Buffalo Sabres || 6–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 11–24–12 || 34 || 14,060 |- |48 || January 24 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–7 || New York Islanders || 11–25–12 || 34 || 15,008 |- |49 || January 26 || Los Angeles Kings || 7–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 11–26–12 || 34 || 13,653 |- |50 || January 28 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 11–26–13 || 35 || 14,734 |- |51 || January 31 || New York Islanders || 1–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 12–26–13 || 37 || 14,900 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; February Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- |52 || February 2 || Hartford Whalers || 2–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 13–26–13 || 39 || 12,435 |- |53 || February 4 || Minnesota North Stars || 2–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 14–26–13 || 41 || 14,852 |- |54 || February 7 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 15–26–13 || 43 || 14,837 |- |55 || February 8 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–3 || Boston Bruins || 16–26–13 || 45 || 10,865 |- |56 || February 12 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–5 || Calgary Flames || 16–27–13 || 45 || 7,225 |- |57 || February 13 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–2 || Edmonton Oilers || 17–27–13 || 47 || 17,490 |- |58 || February 15 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–4 || Winnipeg Jets || 17–28–13 || 47 || 13,352 |- |59 || February 17 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–3 || Colorado Rockies || 18–28–13 || 49 || 5,817 |- |60 || February 18 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–2 || Los Angeles Kings || 19–28–13 || 51 || 9,841 |- |61 || February 20 || Quebec Nordiques || 9–3 || Vancouver Canucks || 20–28–13 || 53 || 14,879 |- |62 || February 22 || Quebec Nordiques || 11–7 || Washington Capitals || 21–28–13 || 55 || 10,346 |- |63 || February 25 || Boston Bruins || 3–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 22–28–13 || 57 || 14,846 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; March Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- |64 || March 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5-4 || Quebec Nordiques || 22–29–13 || 57 || 14,743 |- |65 || March 4 || Washington Capitals || 4–7 || Quebec Nordiques || 23–29–13 || 59 || 14,801 |- |66 || March 8 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 23–30-13 || 59 || 14,467 |- |67 || March 10 || New York Rangers || 4–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 24–30–13 || 61 || 14,826 |- |68 || March 11 || St. Louis Blues || 5–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 24–30–14 || 62 || 14,820 |- |69 || March 14 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 24–30–15 || 63 || 14,836 |- |70 || March 15 || Colorado Rockies || 0–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 25–30–15 || 65 || 14,499 |- |71 || March 17 || Quebec Nordiques || 4-3 || Detroit Red Wings || 26–30-15 || 67 || 14,150 |- |72 || March 18 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–4 || Washington Capitals || 27–30–15 || 69 || 8,520 |- |73 || March 22 || Quebec Nordiques || 7–7 || New York Rangers || 27–30–16 || 70 || 17,414 |- |74 || March 23 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 27–30–17 || 71 || 15,002 |- |75 || March 25 || Calgary Flames || 2–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 28–30–17 || 73 || 14,970 |- |76 || March 29 || Montreal Canadiens || 0–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 29–30–17 || 75 || 15,149 |- |77 || March 31 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 30–30–17 || 77 || 15,118 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; April Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- |78 || April 1 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–5 || Hartford Whalers || 30–31–17 || 77 || 10,734 |- |79 || April 4 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 30–31–18 || 78 || 16,485 |- |80 || April 5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 30–32–18 || 78 || 15,100 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs The Nordiques opened the 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs with a best of five preliminary round against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers finished the season with a 41-24-15 record, earning 97 points, and second place in the Patrick Division. The series opened up with two games at the Philadelphia Spectrum, and in the series opener, the Flyers took a 1–0 lead on a goal by Brian Propp early in the game. The Nordiques Anton Šťastný tied the game, however, the Flyers Bill Barber made it 2–1, and then Brian Propp added a second goal before the first period was over to give the Flyers a 3–1 lead. In the second period, Quebec fought back on goals by Michel Goulet and Dale Hunter to tie the game at 3-3. Philadelphia took control of the game in the third period, as Paul Holmgren and Al Hill made it 5-3 for the Flyers before Anton Šťastný scored his second of the game for Quebec, making it 5-4 Flyers. Bill Barber scored an empty net goal in the last minute, as the Flyers took the series opener 6–4. In the second game, the Flyers took an early 2–0 lead in the first period on goals by Bill Barber and Mel Bridgman before Peter Šťastný responded for the Nordiques, cutting the Flyers lead to 2–1. Bill Barber added a second goal late in the first period, giving the Flyers a 3–1 lead. Anton Šťastný cut the Flyers lead to 3–2 with a goal early in the second, however, Bill Barber completed the hat trick 5:55 into the period, giving Philadelphia a 4–2 lead. The Flyers Tom Gorence made it 5-2 Philadelphia before Jacques Richard responded for the Nordiques, making it 5–3 after two periods. In the third period, Ken Linseman made it 6-3 for Philadelphia before the Nordiques fought back with two quick goals, one by Dale Hunter and another by Marc Tardif, putting the Nordiques within a goal at 6–5. Philadelphia's Mel Bridgman scored, followed by an empty net goal by Bobby Clarke, as the Flyers took a 2–0 series lead with an 8–5 victory. The series shifted to Le Colisée for the next two games, and after two scoreless periods, the Nordiques Michel Goulet scored midway through the third to give the Nordiques a 1–0 lead. Peter Šťastný scored late in the game, as Quebec shutout the Flyers 2–0, with Dan Bouchard made 32 saves, earning the victory and shutout. In the fourth game, the Flyers Terry Murray scored seven seconds into the game, as Philadelphia took an early 1–0 lead. Robbie Ftorek responded for the Nordiques, however, the Flyers Behn Wilson and Tom Gorence added goals in the opening period, as the Flyers took a 3–1 lead. After a scoreless second period, and with the Nordiques facing elimination, Dale Hunter cut into the Flyers lead with a goal with less than five minutes remaining in the third period, making the score 3-2 for Philadelphia. Less than two minutes later, Jacques Richard completed the comeback, as the Nordiques scored to make it 3-3, heading into overtime. In overtime, Dale Hunter scored a quick goal 37 seconds into the extra period, as Quebec stunned the Flyers with a 4–3 win, and tied the series. The fifth game was played in Philadelphia, and the Flyers opened the scoring on a goal by Rick MacLeish late in the first period. The Nordiques Michel Goulet quickly responded before the period was over, tying the game. In the second period, the Flyers re-took the lead, when Al Hill scored ten minutes into the period, making it 2-1 Philadelphia. In the third period, the Flyers took control of the game, scoring three quick goals to make it 5–1. Quebec's Anton Šťastný scored to make it 5–2, however, that would be as close of the Nordiques got, as the Flyers won the game and took the series. background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid; 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; Preliminary Round vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers – Flyers win 3–2 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series Attendance |- | 1 || April 8 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–6 || Philadelphia Flyers || 0-1 || 17,077 |- | 2 || April 9 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–8 || Philadelphia Flyers || 0-2 || 17,077 |- | 3 || April 11 || Philadelphia Flyers || 0–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 1-2 || 15,081 |- | 4 || April 12 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 2-2 || 15,130 |- | 5 || April 14 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–5 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2-3 || 17,077 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Scoring leaders +Regular season Player GP G A Pts PIMPeter Stastny 77 39 70 109 37Jacques Richard 78 52 51 103 39Anton Stastny 80 39 46 85 12Robbie Ftorek 78 24 49 73 104Michel Goulet 76 32 39 71 45 + Playoffs Player GP G A Pts PIMPeter Stastny 5 2 8 10 7Anton Stastny 5 4 3 7 2Michel Goulet 4 3 4 7 7Dale Hunter 5 4 2 6 34Jacques Richard 5 2 4 6 14 Goaltending + Regular season Player GP Min W L T GA SO GAADan Bouchard 29 1740 19 5 5 92 2 3.17Michel Plasse 33 1933 10 14 9 118 0 3.66Michel Dion 12 688 0 8 3 61 0 5.32Ron Grahame 8 439 1 5 1 40 0 5.47 + Playoffs Player GP Min W L GA SO GAADan Bouchard 5 286 2 3 19 1 3.99Michel Plasse 1 15 0 0 1 0 4.00 Awards Calder Memorial Trophy: Peter Šťastný Transactions The Nordiques were involved in the following transactions during the 1980–81 season. Trades August 11, 1980To Philadelphia FlyersCashTo Quebec NordiquesJohn Paddock September 15, 1980To Philadelphia Flyers7th round pick in 1981 – Vladimir Svitek CashTo Quebec NordiquesAndre Dupont October 8, 1980To Winnipeg JetsDanny GeoffrionTo Quebec NordiquesCash December 12, 1980To Los Angeles KingsCashTo Quebec NordiquesRon Grahame January 30, 1981To Calgary FlamesJamie HislopTo Quebec NordiquesDan Bouchard February 10, 1981To Winnipeg JetsMichel DionTo Quebec NordiquesCash March 10, 1981To Vancouver CanucksGarry LariviereTo Quebec NordiquesMario Marois June 9, 1981To Minnesota North StarsNelson BurtonTo Quebec NordiquesDan Chicoine Waivers October 10, 1980To Edmonton OilersCurt Brackenbury October 10, 1980From Boston BruinsJohn Wensink Free agents Player Former team Peter Šťastný Slovan Bratislava (Czechoslovakia) Louis Sleigher Syracuse Firebirds (AHL) Michel Plasse Colorado Rockies Pierre Aubry Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) Marian Stastny Slovan Bratislava (Czechoslovakia) Player New team Paul Baxter Pittsburgh Penguins Gerry Hart St. Louis Blues Draft picks Quebec's draft picks from the 1980 NHL entry draft which was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal. Round # Player Nationality College/junior/club team (league)224 Normand Rochefort Canada Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)466 Jay Miller United States University of New Hampshire (NCAA)587 Basil McRae Canada London Knights (OMJHL)6108 Mark Kumpel United States University of Lowell (NCAA)7129 Gaston Therrien Canada Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)8150 Michel Bolduc Canada Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)9171 Christian Tanguay Canada Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)10192 Bill Robinson United States Acton-Boxborough Regional High School (USHS) References Category:1980–81 NHL season by team 1980-81 Category:1980–81 in Canadian ice hockey by team 1980-81 Quebec Nordiques Season Category:1980 in sports in Quebec Category:1981 in sports in Quebec