The legendary Guy Lafleur is first and foremost known for his prowess in the jersey of the Montreal Canadiens, with whom he won the Stanley Cup five times, but here are seven memorable moments from his two seasons with the Quebec Nordiques for conclude his career, from 1989 to 1991.
• Read also: A state funeral for Guy Lafleur
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Grand premiere at the Colosseum
On October 7, 1989, Lafleur played his first home game, at the Coliseum in Quebec, in a Nordiques uniform. The “Blonde Demon” had a sense of showmanship, having then collected a goal and an assist in a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins. Two days earlier, Lafleur had also hit the target in his debut with the Fleurdelisé in a 4-3 loss of the Nordiques against the Sabers in Buffalo.
One last winning goal
Guy Lafleur totaled 94 game-winning goals in the regular season during his prolific career. His last was recorded on November 11, 1989 in a 3-2 victory of the Nordiques against the Vancouver Canucks. With less than five minutes to play in the third period, Lafleur had found the back of the net, on the power play. Peter Stastny and Bryan Fogarty had then been his accomplices.
Christmas in advance
After being sidelined for a few weeks, Guy Lafleur marked his return to the game on December 23, 1989, by collecting three assists at the Coliseum in a game against the Sabers. However, his performance was not enough for the Nordiques, who lost the game by a score of 6 to 5. Sabers defender Phil Housley had also finished the game with five points, taking advantage that day of the largesse of goalkeeper Mario Brunetta.
Against the Canadian
Due to his injury suffered in mid-November, fans had to wait until January 9, 1990 before seeing Lafleur face the Montreal Canadiens in the colors of the Nordiques. That evening, at the Colosseum, “Flower” had outmaneuvered Brian Hayward during a power play. The Quebec club had the upper hand over the Habs by the score of 5 to 2.
Defeat at the Forum
Despite a bitter 7 to 3 loss by the Nordiques at the Forum, it was very special for Guy Lafleur to play his first game in Montreal with the Fleurdelisé on January 24, 1990. We have to admit that the great comeback of “Guy, Guy , Guy” at the Forum with the New York Rangers on February 4, 1989, however, had been more grandiose with his two goals.
A 560th goal…
Lafleur’s second and final season with the Nordiques marked the end of his career. In the best of scenarios, he played his last two games against the Canadiens. On March 30, 1991, at the Forum, the famous number 10 scored his 560th and final goal in the National Hockey League. He thus thwarted Patrick Roy during a power play, but the CH had finally won 4 to 3.
Last round of ice
The next day, at the Coliseum in Quebec, Lafleur concluded on a pleasant note with a 4-1 win for the Nordiques against the Canadiens. Bleached from the score sheet, the “Blonde Demon” was going to bow out, at age 39, after 1126 games played in the regular season and 128 others in the playoffs.
