Michel Goulet’s Game-Winning Surge Lifts Nordiques in 1983-84 Season

In the heart of the 1983-84 NHL season, Michel Goulet was on an absolute tear. On December 10, 1983, he capped a seven-game winning streak for the Quebec Nordiques with a two-goal, one-assist performance against the Los Angeles Kings at the Forum. Quebec skated off with a 6-4 road win, thanks largely to their high-flying left winger.

Goulet’s second goal of the night, and 18th of the season, came on the power play. Assisted by Dave Pichette and Anton Stastny, it marked his fifth game-winning goal in just six games. That surge helped propel him to 16 game-winning goals on the season, tying Phil Esposito’s NHL record, originally set in both 1970-71 and 1971-72. That record still stands today.

The 1983-84 campaign would turn out to be a career year for Goulet: 56 goals, 65 assists, 121 points in just 75 games.

Still, this memorable night in Los Angeles might have gone the other way if not for Quebec goaltender DanBouchard, who stood tall under pressure. Bouchard faced 45 shots and made 41 saves, including several key stops against Marcel Dionne, who fired eight shots and scored once. Kings netminder Mike Blake, on the other hand, had a rough night, giving up six goals on only 24 shots.

About Michel Goulet

Michel Goulet played 1,089 regular season and 92 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Quebec Nordiques and Chicago Blackhawks. He topped the 50 goal plateau four times with Quebec and finished his career with 548 regular season markers. He also surpassed 100 points on four occasions.

Originally a first round pick by the Nordiques at the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, Goulet was coming off a season in the WHA with the Birmingham Bulls. Previously, he'd played major junior with the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. Michel was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998. 

Michel Goulet's 4 Straight 50 Goal Seasons Tie Him For 7th All-Time

Michel Goulet jumped from the WHA to the NHL when the two leagues merged for the 1979-80 season. However, the Quebec Nordiques were a new team for Michel, having playing his only year in the WHA with the Birmingham Bulls.

In the interesting world created by the merger, Goulet was drafted by the NHL Nordiques in the first round of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, 20th overall. Prior to his year with Birmingham, Michel was a standout with the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. In his final season of major junior, he scored 73 goals in 72 games with Quebec in 1977-78 while totaling 135 points. 

He started slow with the Nordiques, scoring just 22 goals in his rookie NHL season. He steadily improved and by 1982-83, he put in 57 goals. This was good for fourth in the league, 14 behind leader Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers.

Goulet topped the 50 goal plateau for the next three campaigns but would never up his career high of 57. Just six players have scored 50 in more consecutive NHL seasons: Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky, Guy Lafleur, Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito and Brett Hull.

Between 1979-80 and 1993-94, Michel Goulet scored 548 goals in 1,089 regular season NHL games with the Nordiques and Chicago Blackhawks. This goal total places him 32th all-time, four goals ahead of Maurice Richard and one behind Ron Francis. Michel was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998.