# 1980–81 Quebec Nordiques season

The 1980–81 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques second season in the National Hockey League. Quebec improved on their inaugural NHL season, making the playoffs, only to lose in the first round.

## 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

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 39 | 20 | 21 | 327 | 250 | 99 |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 37 | 30 | 13 | 316 | 272 | 87 |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 35 | 28 | 17 | 291 | 263 | 87 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 30 | 32 | 18 | 314 | 318 | 78 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 28 | 37 | 15 | 322 | 367 | 71 |
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.
League standings :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – New York Islanders | PTK | 80 | 48 | 18 | 14 | 355 | 260 | 110 |
| 2 | x – St. Louis Blues | SMY | 80 | 45 | 18 | 17 | 352 | 281 | 107 |
| 3 | y – Montreal Canadiens | NRS | 80 | 45 | 22 | 13 | 332 | 232 | 103 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Kings | NRS | 80 | 43 | 24 | 13 | 337 | 290 | 99 |
| 5 | x – Buffalo Sabres | ADM | 80 | 39 | 20 | 21 | 327 | 250 | 99 |
| 6 | Philadelphia Flyers | PTK | 80 | 41 | 24 | 15 | 313 | 249 | 97 |
| 7 | Calgary Flames | PTK | 80 | 39 | 27 | 14 | 329 | 298 | 92 |
| 8 | Boston Bruins | ADM | 80 | 37 | 30 | 13 | 316 | 272 | 87 |
| 9 | Minnesota North Stars | ADM | 80 | 35 | 28 | 17 | 291 | 263 | 87 |
| 10 | Chicago Black Hawks | SMY | 80 | 31 | 33 | 16 | 304 | 315 | 78 |
| 11 | Quebec Nordiques | ADM | 80 | 30 | 32 | 18 | 314 | 318 | 78 |
| 12 | Vancouver Canucks | SMY | 80 | 28 | 32 | 20 | 289 | 301 | 76 |
| 13 | New York Rangers | PTK | 80 | 30 | 36 | 14 | 312 | 317 | 74 |
| 14 | Edmonton Oilers | SMY | 80 | 29 | 35 | 16 | 328 | 327 | 74 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NRS | 80 | 30 | 37 | 13 | 302 | 345 | 73 |
| 16 | Toronto Maple Leafs | ADM | 80 | 28 | 37 | 15 | 322 | 367 | 71 |
| 17 | Washington Capitals | PTK | 80 | 26 | 36 | 18 | 286 | 317 | 70 |
| 18 | Hartford Whalers | NRS | 80 | 21 | 41 | 18 | 292 | 372 | 60 |
| 19 | Colorado Rockies | SMY | 80 | 22 | 45 | 13 | 258 | 344 | 57 |
| 20 | Detroit Red Wings | NRS | 80 | 19 | 43 | 18 | 252 | 339 | 56 |
| 21 | Winnipeg Jets | SMY | 80 | 9 | 57 | 14 | 246 | 400 | 32 |
Divisions: ADM – Adams, NRS – Norris, PTK – Patrick, SMY – Smythe
bold – The top 16 teams in the league qualified for the playoffs, regardless of division or conference. x – Won division; y – Won Conference (and division); p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and conference and division)

### Record vs. opponents

Adams Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Boston
—2–1–12–1–11–31–1–26–6–4
Buffalo
1–2–1—0–1–33–0–13–17–4–5
Minnesota
1–2–11–0–3—2–20–44–8–4
Quebec
3–10–3–12–2—0–2–25–8–3
Toronto
1–1–21–34–02–0–2—8–4–4
Vs. Norris Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Boston
2−0−21−1−22−21−33−0−19–6–5
Buffalo
3−0−12−1−12−1−11−33−0−111–5–4
Minnesota
2−0−23−10−42−1−13−110–7–3
Quebec
3−0−12−21−31−1−21−2–18–8–4
Toronto
1−31–1−20−3−11−32−1–15–11–4
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
CGY
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Boston
1–32–22–22–22–1–19–10–1
Buffalo
2–1–12–22–1–12–0–22–0–210–4–6
Minnesota
2–20–2–21–1–21–2–13–0–17–7–6
Quebec
1–1–21–31–1–22–1–14–09–6–5
Toronto
2–21–32–22–0–21–38–10–2
Vs. Smythe Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Boston
3−12−1−13−11−32−22−0−213−8−3
Buffalo
2−23–0−11−1−20−3−11−1−24−011−7−6
Minnesota
2−22−1–12−1−12−1–12−1−14−014−6−4
Quebec
0−3−12−23−11−2–11–1−21–1−28−10−6
Toronto
2−1–11−1−21−2−11−30–3−12−27−12−5 :

## Schedule and results

1980–81 regular season :
October
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPointsAttendance
1October 9Quebec Nordiques5–5Calgary Flames0–0–117,243
2October 10Quebec Nordiques7–4Edmonton Oilers1–0–1317,334
3October 12Quebec Nordiques2–8Vancouver Canucks1–1–1313,130
4October 14Quebec Nordiques1–4Colorado Rockies1–2–134,627
5October 16Quebec Nordiques4–6Los Angeles Kings1–3–136,490
6October 19Quebec Nordiques4–4Winnipeg Jets1–3–2412,728
7October 22Quebec Nordiques2–4Minnesota North Stars1–4–2411,537
8October 25Quebec Nordiques2–4Hartford Whalers1–5–2411,005
9October 26Quebec Nordiques4–7Chicago Black Hawks1–6–248,741
10October 29Vancouver Canucks3–3Quebec Nordiques1–6–35N/A :
November
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPointsAttendance
11November 1Philadelphia Flyers3–3Quebec Nordiques1–6–46N/A
12November 2Colorado Rockies5–4Quebec Nordiques1–7–4610,400
13November 4Quebec Nordiques4–5Montreal Canadiens1–8–4616,803
14November 9Quebec Nordiques1–3Philadelphia Flyers1–9–4617,077
15November 11Chicago Black Hawks6–6Quebec Nordiques1–9–57N/A
16November 12Winnipeg Jets1–5Quebec Nordiques2–9–59N/A
17November 16Quebec Nordiques1–8Buffalo Sabres2–10–5916,433
18November 18Washington Capitals2–6Quebec Nordiques3–10–5119,023
19November 19Detroit Red Wings1–2Quebec Nordiques4–10–5139,817
20November 22Calgary Flames3–3Quebec Nordiques4–10–61410,185
21November 24Los Angeles Kings4–3Quebec Nordiques4–11–61410,690
22November 26Minnesota North Stars2–5Quebec Nordiques5–11–61610,290
23November 30New York Islanders7–3Quebec Nordiques5–12–61610,159 :
December
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPointsAttendance
24December 2Quebec Nordiques2–5St. Louis Blues5–13–6169,115
25December 4Quebec Nordiques4–1Detroit Red Wings6–13-6189,212
26December 6Quebec Nordiques2–5Toronto Maple Leafs6–14–61816,485
27December 7Toronto Maple Leafs4–4Quebec Nordiques6–14–7199,330
28December 10Boston Bruins6–4Quebec Nordiques6–15–71910,693
29December 11Quebec Nordiques5–3Boston Bruins7–15–7218,241
30December 14Edmonton Oilers5–6Quebec Nordiques8–15–7239,346
31December 17St. Louis Blues1–4Quebec Nordiques9–15–7259,805
32December 20Quebec Nordiques2–5New York Islanders9–16–72514,942
33December 21Hartford Whalers5–6Quebec Nordiques10–16–72710,241
34December 23Montreal Canadiens2–2Quebec Nordiques10–16–82810,672
35December 27Quebec Nordiques4–6Pittsburgh Penguins10–17–8289,763
36December 30New York Rangers6–3Quebec Nordiques10–18–82810,868 :
January
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPointsAttendance
37January 3Buffalo Sabres3–3Quebec Nordiques10–18–92910,868
38January 4Quebec Nordiques2–2New York Rangers10–18–103017,425
39January 6Quebec Nordiques3–6St. Louis Blues10–19–103012,080
40January 7Quebec Nordiques1–5Buffalo Sabres10–20–103016,433
41January 10Quebec Nordiques5–5Montreal Canadiens10–20–113117,199
42January 11Edmonton Oilers6–3Quebec Nordiques10–21–113110,532
43January 13Winnipeg Jets3–3Quebec Nordiques10–21–12329,425
44January 15Quebec Nordiques4–1Philadelphia Flyers11–21–123417,077
45January 17Quebec Nordiques1–7Minnesota North Stars11–22–123414,354
46January 18Quebec Nordiques2–7Chicago Black Hawks11-23–123411,963
47January 21Buffalo Sabres6–5Quebec Nordiques11–24–123414,060
48January 24Quebec Nordiques4–7New York Islanders11–25–123415,008
49January 26Los Angeles Kings7–5Quebec Nordiques11–26–123413,653
50January 28Detroit Red Wings2–2Quebec Nordiques11–26–133514,734
51January 31New York Islanders1–5Quebec Nordiques12–26–133714,900 :
February
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPointsAttendance
52February 2Hartford Whalers2–4Quebec Nordiques13–26–133912,435
53February 4Minnesota North Stars2–6Quebec Nordiques14–26–134114,852
54February 7Philadelphia Flyers3–5Quebec Nordiques15–26–134314,837
55February 8Quebec Nordiques4–3Boston Bruins16–26–134510,865
56February 12Quebec Nordiques3–5Calgary Flames16–27–13457,225
57February 13Quebec Nordiques4–2Edmonton Oilers17–27–134717,490
58February 15Quebec Nordiques3–4Winnipeg Jets17–28–134713,352
59February 17Quebec Nordiques6–3Colorado Rockies18–28–13495,817
60February 18Quebec Nordiques4–2Los Angeles Kings19–28–13519,841
61February 20Quebec Nordiques9–3Vancouver Canucks20–28–135314,879
62February 22Quebec Nordiques11–7Washington Capitals21–28–135510,346
63February 25Boston Bruins3–5Quebec Nordiques22–28–135714,846 :
March
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPointsAttendance
64March 2Pittsburgh Penguins5-4Quebec Nordiques22–29–135714,743
65March 4Washington Capitals4–7Quebec Nordiques23–29–135914,801
66March 8Chicago Black Hawks3–2Quebec Nordiques23–30-135914,467
67March 10New York Rangers4–6Quebec Nordiques24–30–136114,826
68March 11St. Louis Blues5–5Quebec Nordiques24–30–146214,820
69March 14Quebec Nordiques3–3Pittsburgh Penguins24–30–156314,836
70March 15Colorado Rockies0–3Quebec Nordiques25–30–156514,499
71March 17Quebec Nordiques4-3Detroit Red Wings26–30-156714,150
72March 18Quebec Nordiques6–4Washington Capitals27–30–15698,520
73March 22Quebec Nordiques7–7New York Rangers27–30–167017,414
74March 23Vancouver Canucks3–3Quebec Nordiques27–30–177115,002
75March 25Calgary Flames2–4Quebec Nordiques28–30–177314,970
76March 29Montreal Canadiens0–4Quebec Nordiques29–30–177515,149
77March 31Pittsburgh Penguins1–5Quebec Nordiques30–30–177715,118 :
April
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPointsAttendance
78April 1Quebec Nordiques4–5Hartford Whalers30–31–177710,734
79April 4Quebec Nordiques5–5Toronto Maple Leafs30–31–187816,485
80April 5Toronto Maple Leafs4–2Quebec Nordiques30–32–187815,100 :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

## 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.
1981 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Preliminary Round vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers – Flyers win 3–2
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeSeriesAttendance
1April 8Quebec Nordiques4–6Philadelphia Flyers0-117,077
2April 9Quebec Nordiques5–8Philadelphia Flyers0-217,077
3April 11Philadelphia Flyers0–2Quebec Nordiques1-215,081
4April 12Philadelphia Flyers3–4Quebec Nordiques2-215,130
5April 14Quebec Nordiques2–5Philadelphia Flyers2-317,077 :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## Player statistics
### Scoring leaders

Regular season :
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Peter Stastny | 77 | 39 | 70 | 109 | 37 |
| Jacques Richard | 78 | 52 | 51 | 103 | 39 |
| Anton Stastny | 80 | 39 | 46 | 85 | 12 |
| Robbie Ftorek | 78 | 24 | 49 | 73 | 104 |
| Michel Goulet | 76 | 32 | 39 | 71 | 45 |
Playoffs :
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Peter Stastny | 5 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 7 |
| Anton Stastny | 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
| Michel Goulet | 4 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| Dale Hunter | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 34 |
| Jacques Richard | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 14 |

### Goaltending

Regular season :
| Player | GP | Min | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA |
| Dan Bouchard | 29 | 1740 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 92 | 2 | 3.17 |
| Michel Plasse | 33 | 1933 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 118 | 0 | 3.66 |
| Michel Dion | 12 | 688 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 61 | 0 | 5.32 |
| Ron Grahame | 8 | 439 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 40 | 0 | 5.47 |
Playoffs :
| Player | GP | Min | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Dan Bouchard | 5 | 286 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 1 | 3.99 |
| Michel 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, 1980 | To Philadelphia FlyersCash | To Quebec NordiquesJohn Paddock |
| September 15, 1980 | To Philadelphia Flyers7th round pick in 1981 – Vladimir Svitek Cash | To Quebec NordiquesAndre Dupont |
| October 8, 1980 | To Winnipeg JetsDanny Geoffrion | To Quebec NordiquesCash |
| December 12, 1980 | To Los Angeles KingsCash | To Quebec NordiquesRon Grahame |
| January 30, 1981 | To Calgary FlamesJamie Hislop | To Quebec NordiquesDan Bouchard |
| February 10, 1981 | To Winnipeg JetsMichel Dion | To Quebec NordiquesCash |
| March 10, 1981 | To Vancouver CanucksGarry Lariviere | To Quebec NordiquesMario Marois |
| June 9, 1981 | To Minnesota North StarsNelson Burton | To Quebec NordiquesDan Chicoine |

### Waivers

| October 10, 1980 | To Edmonton OilersCurt Brackenbury |
| October 10, 1980 | From 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) |
| 2 | 24 | Normand Rochefort | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 66 | Jay Miller | United States | University of New Hampshire (NCAA) |
| 5 | 87 | Basil McRae | Canada | London Knights (OMJHL) |
| 6 | 108 | Mark Kumpel | United States | University of Lowell (NCAA) |
| 7 | 129 | Gaston Therrien | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 150 | Michel Bolduc | Canada | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 171 | Christian Tanguay | Canada | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) |
| 10 | 192 | Bill Robinson | United States | Acton-Boxborough Regional High School (USHS) |