1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season

The 1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques 6th season in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Nordiques finished 4th in the league and lost in the Semi-finals to the New England Whalers 4 games to 1.
==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 Czechoslovakian All-Stars would play games that would count in the final standings, as they played each WHA team once.
The Nordiques jerseys remained the same design as in the 1975-76 season.
==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 defense, 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.
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.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
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
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
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	Czechoslovakian 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
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
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
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
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
==Playoffs==
===Quebec Nordiques 4, Houston Aeros 2===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
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	1-2
4	April 21	Houston Aeros 	0–3 	Quebec Nordiques	1-3
5	April 23	Quebec Nordiques	2–5 	Houston Aeros 	3-2
6	April 25	Houston Aeros 	2–11 	Quebec Nordiques	2-4
===New England Whalers 4, Quebec Nordiques 1===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
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 	2-1
4	May 5 	New England Whalers	7–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	3-1
5	May 7 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–6 	New England Whalers	1-4
==Players Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
# 	Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
8 	Marc Tardif 	78	65	89	154	50
9 	Real Cloutier 	73	56	73	129	19
21	Serge Bernier 	58	26	52	78 	48
17	Paulin Bordeleau 	77	42	23	65 	29
10	Matti Hagman 	53	25	31	56 	16
5 	Garry Lariviere 	80	7 	49	56 	78
20	Norm Dube 	73	16	31	47 	17
12	Bob Fitchner 	72	15	28	43 	76
24	Jean Bernier 	74	10	32	42 	4
3 	J.C. Tremblay 	54	5 	37	42 	26
23	Warren Miller 	60	14	24	38 	50
4 	Paul Baxter 	76	6 	29	35 	240
19	Steve Sutherland 	75	23	10	33 	143
11	Christian Bordeleau	26	9 	22	31 	28
18	Andre Boudrias 	66	10	17	27 	22
15	Curt Brackenbury 	33	4 	9 	13 	54
10	Peter Driscoll 	21	3 	7 	10 	28
7 	Jim Dorey 	26	1 	9 	10 	23
6 	Pierre Guite 	18	4 	5 	9 	15
26	Alain Cote 	27	3 	5 	8 	8
22	Francois Lacombe 	22	1 	7 	8 	12
28	Pierre Lagace 	17	2 	4 	6 	2
14	Charles Constantin 	48	2 	4 	6 	50
27	Rick Morris 	25	0 	5 	5 	40
30	Don McLeod 	7 	0 	2 	2 	0
1 	Richard Brodeur 	36	0 	2 	2 	0
16	Chris Evans 	36	0 	2 	2 	22
25	Jim Corsi 	23	0 	1 	1 	2
16	Dave Inkpen 	24	0 	1 	1 	22
31	Markus Mattsson 	6 	0 	0 	0 	0
2 	Wally Weir 	13	0 	0 	0 	47
30	Ken Broderick 	24	0 	0 	0 	0
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	GAA 	Save %
Richard Brodeur	36	1962	18	15	2	121	0 	3.70	.892
Don McLeod 	7 	403 	2 	4 	0	28 	0 	4.17	.870
Ken Broderick 	24	1140	9 	8 	1	83 	0 	4.37	.859
Jim Corsi 	23	1089	10	7 	0	82 	0 	4.52	.873
Markus Mattsson	6 	266 	1 	3 	0	30 	0 	6.77	.819
==Playoff Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G	A 	Pts	PIM
Real Cloutier 	10	9	7 	16 	15
Marc Tardif 	11	6	9 	15 	11
Serge Bernier 	11	4	10	14 	17
Paul Baxter 	11	4	7 	11 	42
Paulin Bordeleau	11	4	6 	10 	2
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	GAA
Ken Broderick 	2 	48 	0	1	2 	0 	2.50
Richard Brodeur	11	622	5	5	38	1 	3.67
==Awards and Records==
*Gordie Howe Trophy (MVP): Marc Tardif
*Bill Hunter Trophy (Scoring Leader): Marc Tardif
*Marc Tardif, Left Wing, WHA First Team All-Star
*Real Cloutier, Right Wing, WHA Second Team All-Star
==Draft Picks==
Quebec's draft picks at the 1977 WHA Amateur Draft.
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	9 	Lucien DeBlois (F) 	 	Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
2 	14	John Anderson (LW) 	 	Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
2 	20	Benoit Gosselin (LW)	 	Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
3 	29	Tom Roulston (RW) 	 	Winnipeg Monarchs (WCHL)
4 	38	Robert Picard (D) 	 	Montreal Juniors (QMJHL)
5 	47	Alain Cote (LW) 	 	Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
6 	56	Yves Guillemette (G)	 	Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
7 	65	Eddy Godin (RW) 	 	Québec Remparts (QMJHL)
8 	73	Pierre Lagace (C) 	 	Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
9 	81	Dan Chicoine (RW) 	 	Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)
10 	89	Roland Cloutier (C) 	 	Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (QMJHL)
==Video==
Nordiques-Aeros Quarter-finals Game 5, April 23, 1978.
WHA- Houston Aeros vs. Quebec Nordiques, Game 5, 1978 Quarterfinals
==See Also==
*1977–78 WHA season
==References==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
Quebec Nordiques season, 1977–78
Quebec Nordiques season, 1977–78
Category:Quebec Nordiques seasons