Expectations were high for the club after their improbable playoff run, in which the team was only one round away from a berth in the Stanley Cup finals.
Michel Goulet had a breakout season, scoring a team record 57 goals, which was the fourth highest total in the league.
The Nordiques opened the 1983 Stanley Cup playoffs with a best of five Adams Division semi-final series against the Boston Bruins.
The Bruins came back, led by two goals by Mike O'Connell and one by Barry Pederson to even the game up, setting up overtime.
In the fourth game, Bruins goaltender Pete Peeters stole the show, making 38 saves, as Boston held on for a 2–1 win, and eliminated the Nordiques.