1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season

World Hockey Association team season March 2026 August 2023 WHA 1977–78 1977 Quebec Nordiques 4th 40–37–3 29–10–2 11–27–1 349 347 Maurice Filion Marc Boileau (27–30–2) Maurice Filion (13–7–1) Marc Tardif Serge BernierJim DoreyBob Fitchner Colisée de Québec Marc Tardif (65) Marc Tardif (89) Marc Tardif (154) Jean Bernier (+22) Paul Baxter (240) Richard Brodeur (18) Richard 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. 2 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 Czechoslovak 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 defence, 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 QUE Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid; 1977–78 regular season1977-78 Quebec Nordiques Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/QBN/1978_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 |- | 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Points |- | 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Points |- |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 || Czechoslovak 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Points |- |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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Points |- |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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Points |- |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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Points |- |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 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black 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. background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid; 1978 Avco Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; Quarterfinals vs. (3) Houston Aeros – Nordiques win 4–2 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; Semifinals vs. (2) New England Whalers – Whalers win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 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 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Scoring leaders + Regular season Player GP G A Pts PIMMarc Tardif 78 65 89 154 50Real Cloutier 73 56 73 129 19Serge Bernier 58 26 52 78 48Paulin Bordeleau 77 42 23 65 29Matti Hagman 53 25 31 56 16 + Playoffs Player GP G A Pts PIMReal Cloutier 10 9 7 16 15Marc Tardif 11 6 9 15 11Serge Bernier 11 4 10 14 17Paul Baxter 11 4 7 11 42Paulin 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 .892Don McLeod 7 403 2 4 0 28 0 4.17 .870Ken Broderick 24 1140 9 8 1 83 0 4.37 .859Jim Corsi 23 1089 10 7 0 82 0 4.52 .873Markus Mattsson 6 266 1 3 0 30 0 6.77 .819 + Playoffs Player GP Min W L GA SO GAAKen Broderick 2 48 0 1 2 0 2.50Richard Brodeur 11 622 5 5 38 1 3.67 Draft picks Quebec's draft picks at the 1977 WHA Amateur Draft.http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/wha1977a.html 1977 WHA Amateur Draft hockeyDB.com December 18, 2018 Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)19Lucien DeBlois (F)CanadaSorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)214John Anderson (LW)CanadaToronto Marlboros (OHA)220Benoit Gosselin (LW)CanadaTrois-Rivieres Draveurs (QMJHL)329Tom Roulston (RW)CanadaWinnipeg Monarchs (WCHL)438Robert Picard (D)CanadaMontreal Juniors (QMJHL)547Alain Cote (LW)CanadaChicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)656Yves Guillemette (G)CanadaShawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL)765Eddy Godin (RW)CanadaQuebec Remparts (QMJHL)873Pierre Lagace (C)CanadaQuebec Remparts (QMJHL)981Dan Chicoine (RW)CanadaSherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)1089Roland Cloutier (C)CanadaTrois-Rivieres Draveurs (QMJHL) See also 1977–78 WHA season References Category:Quebec Nordiques seasons Que Quebec Category:1977 in sports in Quebec Category:1978 in sports in Quebec Category:1970s in Quebec City