1974–75 Quebec Nordiques season

The 1974–75 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques' third 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 club's 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 Colisée. 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 Colisée, 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.

Season standings

Canadian Division	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Quebec Nordiques	78	46	32	0	331	299	92
Toronto Toros	78	43	33	2	349	304	88
Winnipeg Jets	78	38	35	5	322	293	81
Vancouver Blazers	78	37	39	2	256	270	76
Edmonton Oilers	78	36	38	4	279	279	76

Schedule and results

Template:Game log start Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won | 1 || October 20 || Indianapolis Racers || 1–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–0–0 || 2 |- Template:Game-won | 2 || October 22 || Houston Aeros || 2–7 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–0–0 || 4 |- Template:Game-won | 3 || October 23 || Michigan Stags || 2–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–0–0 || 6 |- Template:Game-won | 4 || October 26 || Phoenix Roadrunners || 1–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–0–0 || 8 |- Template:Game-lost | 5 || October 27 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–5 || Indianapolis Racers || 4–1–0 || 8 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-lost | 6 || November 2 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–4 || New England Whalers || 4–2–0 || 8 |- Template:Game-won | 7 || November 4 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–3 || Toronto Toros || 5–2–0 || 10 |- Template:Game-won | 8 || November 6 || Vancouver Blazers || 3–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–2–0 || 12 |- Template:Game-lost | 9 || November 10 || San Diego Mariners || 4–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–3–0 || 12 |- Template:Game-won |10 || November 12 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–4 || Michigan Stags || 7–3–0 || 14 |- Template:Game-won |11 || November 13 || Indianapolis Racers || 3–10 || Quebec Nordiques || 8–3–0 || 16 |- Template:Game-won |12 || November 16 || Michigan Stags || 3–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 9–3–0 || 18 |- Template:Game-lost |13 || November 17 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 7–1 || Quebec Nordiques || 9–4–0 || 18 |- Template:Game-won |14 || November 20 || Edmonton Oilers || 2–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 10–4–0 || 20 |- Template:Game-won |15 || November 22 || Cleveland Crusaders || 2–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 11–4–0 || 22 |- Template:Game-lost |16 || November 23 || Toronto Toros || 9–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 11–5–0 || 22 |- Template:Game-lost |17 || November 24 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–3 || Cleveland Crusaders || 11–6–0 || 22 |- Template:Game-lost |18 || November 26 || New England Whalers || 5–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 11–7–0 || 22 |- Template:Game-won |19 || November 28 || Quebec Nordiques || 7–5 || Indianapolis Racers || 12–7–0 || 24 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-lost |20 || December 1 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–3 || Winnipeg Jets || 12–8–0 || 24 |- Template:Game-lost |21 || December 4 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 6–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 12–9–0 || 24 |- Template:Game-won |22 || December 5 || New England Whalers || 1–9 || Quebec Nordiques || 13–9–0 || 26 |- Template:Game-won |23 || December 8 || Houston Aeros || 1–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 14–9–0 || 28 |- Template:Game-won |24 || December 11 || Edmonton Oilers || 3–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 15–9–0 || 30 |- Template:Game-won |25 || December 12 || Cleveland Crusaders || 2–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 16–9–0 || 32 |- Template:Game-lost |26 || December 14 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–9 || New England Whalers || 16–10–0 || 32 |- Template:Game-lost |27 || December 15 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–6 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 16–11–0 || 32 |- Template:Game-won |28 || December 17 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–1 || Chicago Cougars || 17–11–0 || 34 |- Template:Game-won |29 || December 18 || Winnipeg Jets || 1–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 18–11–0 || 36 |- Template:Game-lost |30 || December 20 || Chicago Cougars || 5–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 18–12–0 || 36 |- Template:Game-lost |31 || December 22 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–3 || Michigan Stags || 18–13–0 || 36 |- Template:Game-lost |32 || December 27 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–4 || Cleveland Crusaders || 18–14–0 || 36 |- Template:Game-won |33 || December 28 || Michigan Stags || 1–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 19–14–0 || 38 |- Template:Game-lost |34 || December 30 || Phoenix Roadrunners || 6–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 19–15–0 || 38 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won |35 || January 1 || Indianapolis Racers || 3–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 20–15–0 || 40 |- Template:Game-won |36 || January 4 || Toronto Toros || 1–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 21–15–0 || 42 |- Template:Game-won |37 || January 7 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–2 || Michigan Stags || 22–15–0 || 44 |- Template:Game-won |38 || January 8 || Vancouver Blazers || 3–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 23–15–0 || 46 |- Template:Game-won |39 || January 10 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–1 || Winnipeg Jets || 24–15–0 || 48 |- Template:Game-won |40 || January 12 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–1 || Edmonton Oilers || 25–15–0 || 50 |- Template:Game-won |41 || January 14 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–2 || Vancouver Blazers || 26–15–0 || 52 |- Template:Game-won |42 || January 18 || New England Whalers || 2–8 || Quebec Nordiques || 27–15–0 || 54 |- Template:Game-won |43 || January 19 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–2 || Chicago Cougars || 28–15–0 || 56 |- Template:Game-lost |44 || January 23 || Cleveland Crusaders || 5–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 28–16–0 || 56 |- Template:Game-won |45 || January 25 || Chicago Cougars || 4–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 29–16–0 || 58 |- Template:Game-lost |46 || January 28 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–6 || Toronto Toros || 29–17–0 || 58 |- Template:Game-won |47 || January 30 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–2 || Chicago Cougars || 30–17–0 || 60 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won |48 || February 1 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–1 || Indianapolis Racers || 31–17–0 || 62 |- Template:Game-won |49 || February 2 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–3 || Cleveland Crusaders || 32–17–0 || 64 |- Template:Game-won |50 || February 6 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–3 || Houston Aeros || 33–17–0 || 66 |- Template:Game-won |51 || February 8 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–3 || Phoenix Roadrunners || 34–17–0 || 68 |- Template:Game-lost |52 || February 11 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–9 || San Diego Mariners || 34–18–0 || 68 |- Template:Game-won |53 || February 13 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–3 || Phoenix Roadrunners || 35–18–0 || 70 |- Template:Game-won |54 || February 14 || Quebec Nordiques || 7–3 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 36–18–0 || 72 |- Template:Game-lost |55 || February 17 || Houston Aeros || 5–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 36–19–0 || 72 |- Template:Game-lost |56 || February 19 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–10 || Houston Aeros || 36–20–0 || 72 |- Template:Game-lost |57 || February 20 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–5 || San Diego Mariners || 36–21–0 || 72 |- Template:Game-won |58 || February 23 || San Diego Mariners || 4–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 37–21–0 || 74 |- Template:Game-won |59 || February 24 || San Diego Mariners || 3–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 38–21–0 || 76 |- Template:Game-won |60 || February 27 || Vancouver Blazers || 7–9 || Quebec Nordiques || 39–21–0 || 78 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-lost |61 || March 1 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 4–1 || Quebec Nordiques || 39–22–0 || 78 |- Template:Game-lost |62 || March 4 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–8 || San Diego Mariners || 39–23–0 || 78 |- Template:Game-lost |63 || March 5 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–6 || Phoenix Roadrunners || 39–24–0 || 78 |- Template:Game-won |64 || March 7 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–1 || Toronto Toros || 40–24–0 || 80 |- Template:Game-won |65 || March 9 || Chicago Cougars || 5–7 || Quebec Nordiques || 41–24–0 || 82 |- Template:Game-won |66 || March 12 || Winnipeg Jets || 3–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 42–24–0 || 84 |- Template:Game-lost |67 || March 14 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–4 || Winnipeg Jets || 42–25–0 || 84 |- Template:Game-lost |68 || March 15 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–7 || Vancouver Blazers || 42–26–0 || 84 |- Template:Game-lost |69 || March 16 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–4 || Vancouver Blazers || 42–27–0 || 84 |- Template:Game-lost |70 || March 18 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–8 || Edmonton Oilers || 42–28–0 || 84 |- Template:Game-lost |71 || March 20 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–5 || Houston Aeros || 42–29–0 || 84 |- Template:Game-lost |72 || March 26 || Edmonton Oilers || 6–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 42–30–0 || 84 |- Template:Game-lost |73 || March 29 || Toronto Toros || 5–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 42–31–0 || 84 |- Template:Game-won |74 || March 30 || Phoenix Roadrunners || 5–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 43–31–0 || 86 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won |75 || April 1 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–3 || Edmonton Oilers || 44–31–0 || 88 |- Template:Game-won |76 || April 2 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–3 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 45–31–0 || 90 |- Template:Game-lost |77 || April 3 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–4 || New England Whalers || 45–32–0 || 90 |- Template:Game-won |78 || April 5 || Winnipeg Jets || 5–9 || Quebec Nordiques || 46–32–0 || 92 |- Template:Game log section end |- | Legend:

1. REDIRECT Template:Legend inline
2. REDIRECT Template:Legend inline
3. REDIRECT Template:Legend inline

Playoffs

Template:Game log start Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won | 1 || April 8 || Phoenix Roadrunners || 2–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–0 |- Template:Game-won | 2 || April 10 || Phoenix Roadrunners || 2–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–0 |- Template:Game-won | 3 || April 12 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–0 || Phoenix Roadrunners || 3–0 |- Template:Game-lost | 4 || April 15 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–6 || Phoenix Roadrunners || 3–1 |- Template:Game-won | 5 || April 17 || Phoenix Roadrunners || 2–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–1 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won | 1 || April 22 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 1–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–0 |- Template:Game-lost | 2 || April 23 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 5–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–1 |- Template:Game-won | 3 || April 26 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–1 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 2–1 |- Template:Game-lost | 4 || April 27 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–4 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 2–2 |- Template:Game-won | 5 || April 29 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 3–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–2 |- Template:Game-won | 6 || May 1 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–2 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 4–2 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-lost | 1 || May 3 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–6 || Houston Aeros || 0–1 |- Template:Game-lost | 2 || May 6 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–5 || Houston Aeros || 0–2 |- Template:Game-lost | 3 || May 10 || Houston Aeros || 2–0 || Quebec Nordiques || 0–3 |- Template:Game-lost | 4 || May 12 || Houston Aeros || 7–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 0–4 |- Template:Game log section end |- | Legend:

1. REDIRECT Template:Legend inline
2. REDIRECT Template:Legend inline

Season stats

Scoring leaders

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Serge Bernier	76	54	68	122	75
Rejean Houle	64	40	52	92	37
Michel Parizeau	78	28	46	74	69
Marc Tardif	53	38	34	72	70
J. C. Tremblay	68	16	56	72	18

Goaltending

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	SO	GAA	Save %
Serge Aubry	31	1762	17	11	0	109	0	3.71	.886
Richard Brodeur	51	2938	29	21	0	188	0	3.84	.892

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Marc Tardif	15	10	11	21	10
Rejean Houle	15	10	6	16	2
Serge Bernier	15	8	8	16	6
Chris Bordeleau	15	2	13	15	2
Rene LeClerc	14	7	7	14	41

Goaltending

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	GAA
Richard Brodeur	15	906	8	7	48	1	3.18

Draft picks

Quebec's draft picks at the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
WHA Secret Amateur Draft
1	12	Alain Daigle	Template:Flagu	Trois-Rivières Ducs (QMJHL)
WHA Amateur Draft
1	9	Real Cloutier	Template:Flagu	Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
2	24	Charles Constantin	Template:Flagu	Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
4	54	Jean Bernier	Template:Flagu	Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL)
5	68	Dave Logan	Template:Flagu	Laval National (QMJHL)
6	83	Michel Bergeron	Template:Flagu	Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
7	98	Denis Carufel	Template:Flagu	Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
8	113	Claude Dupuis	Template:Flagu	Laval National (QMJHL)
9	128	Mario Lessard	Template:Flagu	Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)
10	141	Claude Arvisais	Template:Flagu	Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL)