1981–82 Quebec Nordiques season

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Peter Stastny (46)
AssistsPeter Stastny (93)
PointsPeter Stastny (139)
Penalty minutesDale Hunter (272)
Plus/minusMichel Goulet (+35)
WinsDan Bouchard (27)
Goals against averageDan Bouchard (3.86)

The 1981–82 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques'

third season in the National Hockey League. The Nordiques had a successful regular season, qualifying for the playoffs, but they had a better playoff, making it to the Wales Final before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders
.

Off-season

During the off-season, the four divisions of the NHL were re-aligned to better reflect the geographical locations of the teams. Quebec remained in the

Andre Dupont
.

Regular season

The Nordiques found themselves under .500 only once throughout the season, and that was five games in when they had a record of 2-3-0. Quebec got hot, and eventually reached a season-high nine games over .500 in the middle of January, however, a late season slump had the Nords finish the year only two games above .500, with a 33-31-16 record, earning 82 points, which was good enough to finish fourth in the Adams Division, and the Nordiques second post-season appearance in a row.

Offensively, the Nordiques were led by Peter Stastny, who set a team record with 139 points, as he scored 46 goals and earned 93 assists. Stastny finished behind only

Real Cloutier rebounded from an injury plagued 1980–81 season by scoring 37 goals and 97 points, while rookie Marian Stastny scored 35 goals and 89 points. Michel Goulet notched 42 goals and 84 points, while Dale Hunter had a breakout season, scoring 22 goals and 72 points, as well as a team record 272 penalty minutes. On defense, Mario Marois
led the way, scoring 11 goals and 43 points.

In goal, Dan Bouchard held on to the number one job, winning a team record 27 games, while posting a team best 3.86 GAA, as well as earning a shutout in 60 games.

Season standings

Adams Division
  GP W L T GF GA PIM PTS
Montreal Canadiens 80 46 17 17 360 223 1463 109
Boston Bruins 80 43 27 10 323 285 1266 96
Buffalo Sabres 80 39 26 15 307 273 1425 93
Quebec Nordiques 80 33 31 16 356 345 1757 82
Hartford Whalers 80 21 41 18 264 351 1493 60

[1]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Adams Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference

Vs. Campbell Conference


Schedule and results

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts Attendance
1 October 6 Hartford Whalers 5–6 Quebec Nordiques 1–0–0 2 15,007
2 October 8 Quebec Nordiques 7–5 Boston Bruins 2–0–0 4 11,274
3 October 10 Quebec Nordiques 1–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1–0 4 15,215
4 October 12 Minnesota North Stars 4–2 Quebec Nordiques 2–2–0 4 15,211
5 October 14 Quebec Nordiques 2–4 Buffalo Sabres 2–3–0 4 14,764
6 October 17 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–6 Quebec Nordiques 3–3–0 6 15,019
7 October 19 Vancouver Canucks 3–6 Quebec Nordiques 4-3–0 8 14,443
8 October 21 Quebec Nordiques 6–3 Washington Capitals 5–3–0 10 7,862
9 October 22 Quebec Nordiques 2–3 Philadelphia Flyers 5–4–0 10 16,948
10 October 24 Detroit Red Wings 3–8 Quebec Nordiques 6–4–0 12 15,212
11 October 27 Quebec Nordiques 7–8 Los Angeles Kings 6–5–0 12 7,595
12 October 28 Quebec Nordiques 3–1 Colorado Rockies 7–5–0 14 N/A
13 October 31 Quebec Nordiques 4–11 Edmonton Oilers 7–6–0 14 17,490
14 November 2 Montreal Canadiens 4–5 Quebec Nordiques 8–6–0 16 15,262
15 November 4 St. Louis Blues 2–6 Quebec Nordiques 9–6–0 18 15,005
16 November 7 Boston Bruins 10–1 Quebec Nordiques 9–7–0 18 15,232
17 November 9 Detroit Red Wings 3–5 Quebec Nordiques 10–7–0 20 15,043
18 November 11 Quebec Nordiques 5–6 Vancouver Canucks 10–8–0 20 12,558
19 November 12 Quebec Nordiques 2–3 Calgary Flames 10–9–0 20 7,226
20 November 14 Quebec Nordiques 5–5 Minnesota North Stars 10–9–1 21 15,784
21 November 17 New York Islanders 2–7 Quebec Nordiques 11–9–1 23 15,148
22 November 19 Quebec Nordiques 1–1 Montreal Canadiens 11–9–2 24 17,088
23 November 21 Hartford Whalers 3–7 Quebec Nordiques 12–9–2 26 15,016
24 November 22 Quebec Nordiques 6–1 Boston Bruins 13–9–2 28 10,024
25 November 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–1 Quebec Nordiques 13–10-2 28 14,805
26 November 25 Quebec Nordiques 3–3 Hartford Whalers 13–10–3 29 12,141
27 November 28 New York Rangers 4–7 Quebec Nordiques 14–10–3 31 15,229
28 November 29 Quebec Nordiques 4–4 New York Rangers 14–10–4 32 17,423
29 December 2 Edmonton Oilers 8–9 Quebec Nordiques 15–10–4 34 15,230
30 December 5 Boston Bruins 5–3 Quebec Nordiques 15–11–4 34 15,228
31 December 8 Calgary Flames 7–4 Quebec Nordiques 15–12–4 34 14,951
32 December 12 St. Louis Blues 6–4 Quebec Nordiques 15–13–4 34 15,204
33 December 13 Quebec Nordiques 4–4 Buffalo Sabres 15–13–5 35 15,708
34 December 15 Quebec Nordiques 7–10 New York Islanders 15–14–5 35 14,746
35 December 17 Quebec Nordiques 3–2 Detroit Red Wings 16–14–5 37 11,302
36 December 19 Buffalo Sabres 3–7 Quebec Nordiques 17–14–5 39 15,219
37 December 22 Montreal Canadiens 2–5 Quebec Nordiques 18–14–5 41 15,259
38 December 27 Quebec Nordiques 3–6 Montreal Canadiens 18–15–5 41 18,096
39 December 29 Chicago Black Hawks 1–8 Quebec Nordiques 19–15–5 43 15,227
40 January 2 Buffalo Sabres 3–6 Quebec Nordiques 20–15–5 45 15,221
41 January 5 Washington Capitals 0–3 Quebec Nordiques 21–15–5 47 15,143
42 January 9 Boston Bruins 1–6 Quebec Nordiques 22–15–5 49 15,217
43 January 11 Hartford Whalers 2–6 Quebec Nordiques 23–15–5 51 15,216
44 January 13 Quebec Nordiques 4–2 St. Louis Blues 24–15–5 53 12,530
45 January 16 Quebec Nordiques 1–4 Minnesota North Stars 24–16–5 53 15,516
46 January 17 Quebec Nordiques 7–5
Winnipeg Jets
25-16–5 55 14,061
47 January 19 Philadelphia Flyers 2–2 Quebec Nordiques 25–16–6 56 15,208
48 January 20 Quebec Nordiques 2–4 Hartford Whalers 25–17–6 56 11,197
49 January 22 Quebec Nordiques 3–5 Buffalo Sabres 25–18–6 56 16,433
50 January 23 Buffalo Sabres 3–2 Quebec Nordiques 25–19–6 56 N/A
51 January 26 Montreal Canadiens 8–3 Quebec Nordiques 25–20–6 56 15,338
52 January 30 Quebec Nordiques 2–2 Toronto Maple Leafs 25–20–7 57 16,360
53 January 31 Quebec Nordiques 4–4 Hartford Whalers 25–20–8 58 11,769
54 February 2 Colorado Rockies 7–8 Quebec Nordiques 26–20–8 60 15,177
55 February 6 Philadelphia Flyers 3-4 Quebec Nordiques 27–20–8 62 15,303
56 February 7 Quebec Nordiques 5–5 Washington Capitals 27–20–9 63 10,712
57 February 11 Quebec Nordiques 4–4 Los Angeles Kings 27–20–10 64 9,958
58 February 12 Quebec Nordiques 2–9 Colorado Rockies 27–21–10 64 7,129
59 February 14 Quebec Nordiques 2–5 New York Rangers 27–22–10 64 17,398
60 February 16
Winnipeg Jets
3–7 Quebec Nordiques 28–22–10 66 15,265
61 February 19 Quebec Nordiques 4–4
Winnipeg Jets
28–22–11 67 13,661
62 February 21 Quebec Nordiques 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks 28–23–11 67 12,563
63 February 23 Montreal Canadiens 3–4 Quebec Nordiques 29–23–11 69 15,330
64 February 25 Quebec Nordiques 4-4 Montreal Canadiens 29–23–12 70 16,969
65 February 27 Quebec Nordiques 5–5 New York Islanders 29–23–13 71 15,271
66 March 1 Los Angeles Kings 5–5 Quebec Nordiques 29–23-14 72 15,288
67 March 3 Edmonton Oilers 4–6 Quebec Nordiques 30–23–14 74 15,290
68 March 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–4 Quebec Nordiques 30–24–14 74 15,222
69 March 9 Calgary Flames 9–4 Quebec Nordiques 30–25–14 74 15,189
70 March 13 Chicago Black Hawks 3–9 Quebec Nordiques 31–25–14 76 15,288
71 March 16 Hartford Whalers 7-5 Quebec Nordiques 31–26-14 76 15,285
72 March 17 Quebec Nordiques 3–6 Toronto Maple Leafs 31–27–14 76 16,360
73 March 20 Vancouver Canucks 3–3 Quebec Nordiques 31–27–15 77 15,289
74 March 22 Quebec Nordiques 4–5 Boston Bruins 31–28–15 77 10,851
75 March 24 Quebec Nordiques 3–3 Hartford Whalers 31–28–16 78 10,509
76 March 27 Quebec Nordiques 2–4 Montreal Canadiens 31–29–16 78 18,175
77 March 30 Buffalo Sabres 6–4 Quebec Nordiques 31–30–16 78 15,201
78 April 1 Quebec Nordiques 8–5 Boston Bruins 32–30–16 80 11,407
79 April 3 Boston Bruins 5–4 Quebec Nordiques 32–31–16 80 15,276
80 April 4 Quebec Nordiques 7–4 Buffalo Sabres 33–31–16 82 16,433

Playoffs

The Nordiques opened the 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs with a best of five Adams Division semi-final series with their Battle of Quebec rivals, the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal finished the season on top of the Adams Division with a 46-17-17 record, earning 109 points, which was 27 more than the Nordiques.[3]

The series opened with two games at the Montreal Forum, and the Canadiens handled the Nordiques easily in the first game, as Mario Tremblay and Mark Napier each scored twice for Montreal, leading them to a 5-1 victory. The Nordiques fought back in the second game, as goaltender Dan Bouchard made 33 saves as Quebec defeated Montreal 3-2 to even the series up. The series shifted to Le Colisée for the next two games, and in the third game of the series, the Nordiques were led by Dale Hunter and his two goals late in the first period, as well as another spectacular goaltending performance by Dan Bouchard, who made 22 saves, as the Nordiques edged the Canadiens 2-1 to take the series lead. Montreal fought back in the fourth game, which featured a brawl in which every player from both teams was involved. The brawl lasted for twenty minutes. There were 149 penalty minutes, and two game misconducts.[4] The Canadiens easily defeated the underdog Nordiques 6-2 to even the series up at two games each, with the fifth and deciding game back at the Montreal Forum. In the fifth game, the Nordiques took an early 2-0 lead with first period goals by Wilf Paiement and Anton Stastny, however, the Canadiens tied the game in the third period, setting up overtime. In the extra period, Dale Hunter emerged as the hero, scoring 22 seconds into the period against Montreal goalie Rick Wamsley to clinch the series for the Nordiques, who then moved on to the Adams Division finals.[4]

Quebec would face the

Wales Conference
finals.

The Nordiques opponent in the

Long Island, New York. The powerful Islanders, led by 27 saves by goaltender Billy Smith, defeated Quebec 4-1 in the series opener. In the second game, the Islanders were led by two goals by Mike Bossy, and another solid performance by Billy Smith, who made 35 saves, as New York defeated Quebec 5-2 to take a 2-0 series lead. In the third game back in Quebec, the Nordiques took the Islanders to overtime, however, New York's Wayne Merrick emerged the hero, as he scored late in the first overtime, giving the Islanders a 5-4 victory, and 3-0 series lead. New York completed the series sweep in the fourth game, as the Islanders took a 3-0 lead late into the third period. Quebec put up a fight, scoring twice to cut the Islanders lead to 3-2, however, Duane Sutter
scored an empty net goal to give the Islanders a 4-2 victory.

Quebec Nordiques 3, Montreal Canadiens 2

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Attendance
1 April 7 Quebec Nordiques 1–5 Montreal Canadiens 0-1 16,096
2 April 8 Quebec Nordiques 3–2 Montreal Canadiens 1-1 16,391
3 April 10 Montreal Canadiens 1–2 Quebec Nordiques 2-1 15,323
4 April 11 Montreal Canadiens 6–2 Quebec Nordiques 2-2 15,314
5 April 13 Quebec Nordiques 3–2 (OT) Montreal Canadiens 3-2 17,611

Quebec Nordiques 4, Boston Bruins 3

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Attendance
1 April 15 Quebec Nordiques 3–4 Boston Bruins 0-1 14,673
2 April 16 Quebec Nordiques 4–8 Boston Bruins 0-2 14,673
3 April 18 Boston Bruins 2–3 Quebec Nordiques 1-2 15,302
4 April 19 Boston Bruins 2–7 Quebec Nordiques 2-2 15,287
5 April 21 Quebec Nordiques 4–3 Boston Bruins 3-2 14,673
6 April 23 Boston Bruins 6–5 Quebec Nordiques 3-3 15,330
7 April 25 Quebec Nordiques 2–1 Boston Bruins 4-3 14,673

New York Islanders 4, Quebec Nordiques 0

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Attendance
1 April 27 Quebec Nordiques 1–4 New York Islanders 0-1 15,137
2 April 29 Quebec Nordiques 2–5 New York Islanders 0-2 15,230
3 May 1 New York Islanders 5–4 Quebec Nordiques 0-3 15,238
4 May 3 New York Islanders 4–2 Quebec Nordiques 0-4 15,238

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Regular season
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Peter Stastny
80 46 93 139 91
Real Cloutier
67 37 60 97 34
Marian Stastny
74 35 54 89 27
Michel Goulet 80 42 42 84 48
Dale Hunter 80 22 50 72 272
Playoffs
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Peter Stastny
12 7 11 18 10
Marian Stastny
16 3 14 17 5
Anton Stastny
16 5 10 15 10
Michel Goulet 16 8 5 13 6
Real Cloutier
16 7 5 12 10

Goaltending

Regular season
Player GP Min W L T GA SO GAA
Dan Bouchard 60 3572 27 22 11 230 1 3.86
John Garrett 12 720 4 5 3 62 0 5.17
Michel Plasse 8 388 2 3 1 35 0 5.41
Clint Malarchuk 2 120 0 1 1 14 0 7.00
Playoffs
Player GP Min W L GA SO GAA
Dan Bouchard 11 677 4 7 38 0 3.37
John Garrett 5 323 3 2 21 0 3.90
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;

Transactions

The Nordiques were involved in the following transactions during the 1981–82 season.

Trades

December 30, 1981 To
1982 – Brian Glynn
To Quebec Nordiques
Jere Gillis
Pat Hickey
January 12, 1982 To
1983 – Ron Chyzowski
To Quebec Nordiques
John Garrett
February 1, 1982 To
Mats Kihlstrom
To
March 9, 1982 To
1982 – Jeff Triano
To Quebec Nordiques
Wilf Paiement
June 9, 1982 To
1983 – Oldrich Valek
To
1982 – Jan Jasko

Free agents

Player Former Team
Pat Daley
Winnipeg Jets
Jean Hamel Detroit Red Wings
Gary Dillon Colorado Rockies

Draft picks

Quebec's draft picks from the

1981 NHL Entry Draft which was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec
.

Round # Player Nationality College/junior/club team (league)
1 11 Randy Moller  Canada Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)
3 53 Jean-Marc Gaulin  Canada
Sorel Black Hawks
(QMJHL)
4 74 Clint Malarchuk  Canada
Portland Winter Hawks
(WHL)
5 95 Ed Lee  United States Princeton University (NCAA)
6 116 Mike Eagles  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
8 158 Andre Cote  Canada Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
9 179 Marc Brisebois  Canada
Sorel Black Hawks
(QMJHL)
10 200 Kari Takko  Finland
Assat Pori
(Finland)

References