1974 – 75 Quebec Nordiques season The 1974 – 75 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques ' 3rd season , as they were coming off a 38 – 36 – 4 record in 1973 – 74 , earning 80 points , however , they failed to qualify for the post - season for the 2nd straight season . The Nordiques would have to find a new head coach during the off - season , as Jacques Plante would come out of retirement and play with the Edmonton Oilers . Quebec hired recently retired and former team captain Jean - Guy Gendron to become the clubs 4th head coach in team history . The club would also move from the Eastern Division to join the newly created Canadian Division , which consisted of the other 4 Canadian clubs in the league . Quebec would start off the season very strong , and fight with the Toronto Toros for top spot in the division all season long . Through 66 games , the Nordiques had a 42 – 24 – 0 record , 8 points ahead of the 2nd place Toros , however , the team would suffer through a 7 game losing streak , and the Toros would catch up to the Nordiques . Quebec would win 4 of their final 5 games , and win the division championship , and make the playoffs for the first time in club history . Offensively , the Nordiques were once again led by Serge Bernier , who finished 3rd in league scoring with 122 points , as he scored 54 goals and added 68 assists . Rejean Houle put together a solid season , scoring 40 goals and earning 92 points , while new team captain Michel Parizeau had 74 points . Marc Tardif , acquired by Quebec from the Michigan Stags during the season , scored 38 goals and earned 72 points in 53 games with the Nordiques . J . C . Tremblay led the blueline with 72 points in 68 games , while Dale Hoganson chipped in with 9 goals and 44 points . Pierre Roy led the club with 118 penalty minutes . In goal , Richard Brodeur took the starters job , and won a team high 29 games while posting a 3 . 90 GAA in 51 games . Serge Aubry backed up Brodeur , and won 17 games with a team best 3 . 71 GAA . In the opening round of the playoffs , the Nordiques faced the Phoenix Roadrunners , who finished 4th in the Western Division with 86 points , 6 fewer than Quebec . The Nordiques would win their first ever playoff game , defeating the Roadrunners 5 – 2 at Le Colisee . Quebec went up 2 – 0 in the series with a solid 6 – 2 win , as the series moved west to Phoenix . The Nordiques shutout the Roadrunners 3 – 0 to take a commanding 3 – 0 series lead , however , they could not complete the sweep , as Phoenix won game 4 in overtime . The series returned to Quebec for game 5 , and the Nordiques would win the game 4 – 2 , and take the series in 5 games . Up next for the Nordiques was the Minnesota Fighting Saints , who during the season , had a 42 – 33 – 3 record , earning 87 points , as they finished 3rd in the Western Division . Minnesota defeated the New England Whalers in the first round of the playoffs . The series opened in Quebec , and the clubs split the first two games , as the series shifted to Minnesota . Quebec took a 2 – 1 series lead with a big 6 – 1 win in the 3rd game , however , the Fighting Saints fought back in game 4 , evening the series with a 4 – 2 victory . Quebec would easily win the 5th game , doubling Minnesota 6 – 3 at Le Colisee , and the Nordiques would close out the series in the 6th game , defeating Minnesota 4 – 2 , and advance to the Avco Cup Finals . Quebec would face the defending Avco Cup champion Houston Aeros in the finals . The Aeros finished the season with a league best 106 points , and had easily beat the Cleveland Crusaders and San Diego Mariners to reach the finals . Houston , led by Larry Lund and Gordie Howe were heavy favourites to win the series . The series opened in Houston , with the Aeros defeating Quebec 6 – 2 in the series opener , then took a 2 – 0 series lead with a 5 – 3 win in the second game . The series moved to Quebec for the next 2 games , however , it was the Aeros who continued to win , as they shutout the Nordiques 2 – 0 in the third game , and would sweep Quebec with a huge 7 – 2 victory in the fourth game , winning the Avco Cup for the second time in as many years . Playoff stats . Goaltending . Team Roster Draft picks . Quebec ' s draft picks from the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft .