1981–82 Quebec Nordiques season

The 1981–82 Quebec Nordiques season was the team's 3rd season in the National Hockey League. The Nordiques finished 4th in the Adams Division and lost in the Conference Finals to the New York Islanders 4 games to 0.
==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 Adams Division with the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres, while the Minnesota North Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs were replaced with the Hartford Whalers and the Nordiques provincial rival, the Montreal Canadiens. The Nordiques signed Marian Stastny out of Czechoslovakia, the brother of Peter Stastny and Anton Stastny. Quebec replaced team captain Marc Tardif with Robbie Ftorek prior to the season. Ftorek would not remain the Nordiques captain for long, as he was traded to the New York Rangers in December, and was replaced with Andre Dupont.
==Regular Season==
The Nordiques would find themselves under .500 only once throughout the season, and that was five games in when they had a record of 2-3-0. Quebec would get 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 Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers and Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders in the NHL scoring race. 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.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts	Attendance
1 	October 6 	Hartford Whalers 	5–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	1–0–0 	2 	
2 	October 8 	Quebec Nordiques 	7–5 	Boston Bruins 	2–0–0 	4 	
3 	October 10 	Quebec Nordiques 	1–2 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	2–1–0 	4 	
4 	October 12 	Minnesota North Stars	4–2 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–2–0 	4 	
5 	October 14 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–4 	Buffalo Sabres 	2–3–0 	4 	
6 	October 17 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	4–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–3–0 	6 	
7 	October 19 	Vancouver Canucks 	3–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	4-3–0 	8 	
8 	October 21 	Quebec Nordiques 	6–3 	Washington Capitals 	5–3–0 	10 	
9 	October 22 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–3 	Philadelphia Flyers 	5–4–0 	10 	
10	October 24 	Detroit Red Wings 	3–8 	Quebec Nordiques 	6–4–0 	12 	
11	October 27 	Quebec Nordiques 	7–8 	Los Angeles Kings 	6–5–0 	12 	
12	October 28 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–1 	Colorado Rockies 	7–5–0 	14 	
13	October 31 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–11 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–6–0 	14 	
14	November 2 	Montreal Canadiens 	4–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	8–6–0 	16 	
15	November 4 	St. Louis Blues 	2–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	9–6–0 	18 	
16	November 7 	Boston Bruins 	10–1 	Quebec Nordiques 	9–7–0 	18 	
17	November 9 	Detroit Red Wings 	3–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	10–7–0 	20 	
18	November 11	Quebec Nordiques 	5–6 	Vancouver Canucks 	10–8–0 	20 	
19	November 12	Quebec Nordiques 	2–3 	Calgary Flames 	10–9–0 	20 	
20	November 14	Quebec Nordiques 	5–5 	Minnesota North Stars	10–9–1 	21 	
21	November 17	New York Islanders 	2–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	11–9–1 	23 	
22	November 19	Quebec Nordiques 	1–1 	Montreal Canadiens 	11–9–2 	24 	
23	November 21	Hartford Whalers 	3–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	12–9–2 	26 	
24	November 22	Quebec Nordiques 	6–1 	Boston Bruins 	13–9–2 	28 	
25	November 24	Pittsburgh Penguins 	7–1 	Quebec Nordiques 	13–10-2 	28 	
26	November 25	Quebec Nordiques 	3–3 	Hartford Whalers 	13–10–3 	29 	
27	November 28	New York Rangers 	4–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	14–10–3 	31 	
28	November 29	Quebec Nordiques 	4–4 	New York Rangers 	14–10–4 	32 	
29	December 2 	Edmonton Oilers 	8–9 	Quebec Nordiques 	15–10–4 	34 	
30	December 5 	Boston Bruins 	5–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	15–11–4 	34 	
31	December 8 	Calgary Flames 	7–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	15–12–4 	34 	
32	December 12	St. Louis Blues 	6–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	15–13–4 	34 	
33	December 13	Quebec Nordiques 	4–4 	Buffalo Sabres 	15–13–5 	35 	
34	December 15	Quebec Nordiques 	7–10 	New York Islanders 	15–14–5 	35 	
35	December 17	Quebec Nordiques 	3–2 	Detroit Red Wings 	16–14–5 	37 	
36	December 19	Buffalo Sabres 	3–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	17–14–5 	39 	
37	December 22	Montreal Canadiens 	2–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	18–14–5 	41 	
38	December 27	Quebec Nordiques 	3–6 	Montreal Canadiens 	18–15–5 	41 	
39	December 29	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–8 	Quebec Nordiques 	19–15–5 	43 	
40	January 2 	Buffalo Sabres 	3–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	20–15–5 	45 	
41	January 5 	Washington Capitals 	0–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	21–15–5 	47 	
42	January 9 	Boston Bruins 	1–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	22–15–5 	49 	
43	January 11 	Hartford Whalers 	2–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	23–15–5 	51 	
44	January 13 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–2 	St. Louis Blues 	24–15–5 	53 	
45	January 16 	Quebec Nordiques 	1–4 	Minnesota North Stars	24–16–5 	53 	
46	January 17 	Quebec Nordiques 	7–5 	Winnipeg Jets 	25-16–5 	55 	
47	January 19 	Philadelphia Flyers 	2–2 	Quebec Nordiques 	25–16–6 	56 	
48	January 20 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–4 	Hartford Whalers 	25–17–6 	56 	
49	January 22 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–5 	Buffalo Sabres 	25–18–6 	56 	
50	January 23 	Buffalo Sabres 	3–2 	Quebec Nordiques 	25–19–6 	56 	
51	January 26 	Montreal Canadiens 	8–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	25–20–6 	56 	
52	January 30 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	25–20–7 	57 	
53	January 31 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–4 	Hartford Whalers 	25–20–8 	58 	
54	February 2 	Colorado Rockies 	7–8 	Quebec Nordiques 	26–20–8 	60 	
55	February 6 	Philadelphia Flyers 	3-4 	Quebec Nordiques 	27–20–8 	62 	
56	February 7 	Quebec Nordiques 	5–5 	Washington Capitals 	27–20–9 	63 	
57	February 11	Quebec Nordiques 	4–4 	Los Angeles Kings 	27–20–10	64 	
58	February 12	Quebec Nordiques 	2–9 	Colorado Rockies 	27–21–10	64 	
59	February 14	Quebec Nordiques 	2–5 	New York Rangers 	27–22–10	64 	
60	February 16	Winnipeg Jets 	3–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	28–22–10	66 	
61	February 19	Quebec Nordiques 	4–4 	Winnipeg Jets 	28–22–11	67 	
62	February 21	Quebec Nordiques 	3–5 	Chicago Black Hawks 	28–23–11	67 	
63	February 23	Montreal Canadiens 	3–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	29–23–11	69 	
64	February 25	Quebec Nordiques 	4-4 	Montreal Canadiens 	29–23–12	70 	
65	February 27	Quebec Nordiques 	5–5 	New York Islanders 	29–23–13	71 	
66	March 1 	Los Angeles Kings 	5–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	29–23-14	72 	
67	March 3 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	30–23–14	74 	
68	March 6 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	6–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	30–24–14	74 	
69	March 9 	Calgary Flames 	9–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	30–25–14	74 	
70	March 13 	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–9 	Quebec Nordiques 	31–25–14	76 	
71	March 16 	Hartford Whalers 	7-5 	Quebec Nordiques 	31–26-14	76 	
72	March 17 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–6 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	31–27–14	76 	
73	March 20 	Vancouver Canucks 	3–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	31–27–15	77 	
74	March 22 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–5 	Boston Bruins 	31–28–15	77 	
75	March 24 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–3 	Hartford Whalers 	31–28–16	78 	
76	March 27 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–4 	Montreal Canadiens 	31–29–16	78 	
77	March 30 	Buffalo Sabres 	6–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	31–30–16	78 	
78	April 1 	Quebec Nordiques 	8–5 	Boston Bruins 	32–30–16	80 	
79	April 3 	Boston Bruins 	5–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	32–31–16	80 	
80	April 4 	Quebec Nordiques 	7–4 	Buffalo Sabres 	33–31–16	82 	
==Playoffs==
The Nordiques opened the 1982 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a best of five Adams Division quarter-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.The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D’Arcy Jenish, p.243, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
The series opened with two games at the Montreal Forum, and the Canadiens handled the Nordiques easily in the first game, cruising to a 5-1 victory, however, Quebec fought back in the second game, winning a close 3-2 game to even the series up. The series shifted to Le Colisee for the next two games, and the Nordiques took a 2-1 series lead in the third game, as they held off the Canadiens for a 2-1 victory. Montreal fought back in the fourth game, which featured had 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.The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D’Arcy Jenish, p.244, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0 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 teams were tied at two goals each after regulation time, and in overtime, Dale Hunter emerged as the hero, as he scored against Montreal goalie Rick Wamsley to clinch the series.The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D’Arcy Jenish, p.244, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0 Quebec completed the upset over the heavily favoured Canadiens, and the Nordiques moved on to the Adams Division finals.
Quebec would face the Boston Bruins in the best of seven Adams Division finals. Boston had a 43-27-10 record, earning 96 points, and a second place finish in the division. The Bruins defeated the Buffalo Sabres in four games in their first playoff round. The series opened with two games at the Boston Garden, and the Bruins took an early 2-0 series lead, defeating Quebec 4-3 and 8-4 in the first two games. The series moved to Quebec City for the next two games, and the Nordiques responded on their home ice, winning the third game in overtime by a 3-2 score, followed by a 7-2 thrashing in the fourth game to even the series up. The fifth game was back in Boston, however, the Nordiques surprised the Bruins, defeating them 4-3 to push Boston on the brink of elimination. The series moved back to Quebec for the sixth game, however, the Bruins stayed alive with a 6-5 overtime win, setting up a seventh and deciding game at the Boston Garden. The Nordiques once again came out with an upset victory, as Quebec squeaked out a 2-1 victory to win the series in seven games, and advance to the Wales Conference finals.
The Nordiques opponent in the Wales Conference finals was the two time defending Stanley Cup champions, the New York Islanders. The best of seven series opened with two games at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island, New York. The powerful Islanders took control of the series early, defeating Quebec 4-1 and 5-2 in the first two games. New York stayed hot as the series moved back to Le Colisee for the next two games, as they won the third game in overtime by a 5-4 score, before defeating the Nordiques 4-2 in the fourth game to sweep Quebec out of the playoffs.
===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 	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
==Season Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
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
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	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
==Playoff Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
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===
Player 	GP	TOI	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
==Awards & Records==
==Transactions==
==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 	 	Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)
3 	53 	Jean-Marc Gaulin	 	Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
4 	74 	Clint Malarchuk 	 	Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
5 	95 	Ed Lee 	 	Princeton University (NCAA)
6 	116	Mike Eagles 	 	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
8 	158	Andre Cote 	 	Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
9 	179	Marc Brisebois 	 	Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
10 	200	Kari Takko 	 	Assat Pori (Finland)
==References==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
*Hockey Reference
*Goalies Archive
Quebec Nordiques season, 1981–82
Quebec Nordiques season, 1981–82
Category:Quebec Nordiques seasons