1973–74 New England Whalers season

The 1973–74 New England Whalers season was the second season of the Whalers' franchise. The Whalers qualified for the playoffs for the second-straight season to attempt to defend their championship. They were defeated in the first round by the Chicago Cougars.[1][2]

1973–74 New England Whalers
Division1st East
1973–74 record43–31–4
Home record26-11-2
Road record17-20-2
Goals for291
Goals against260
Team information
General managerJack Kelley
CoachRon Ryan
CaptainTed Green
Alternate captainsJim Dorey
Tommy Williams
Larry Pleau
ArenaBoston Garden
Average attendance5,970 (39.8%)
Team leaders
GoalsTom Webster (43)
AssistsJohn French (48)
PointsJohn French (72)
Penalty minutesRick Ley (148)
WinsAl Smith (30)
Goals against averageAl Smith (3.08)

Offseason

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Regular season

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Final standings

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Eastern Division
GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
New England Whalers 78 43 31 4 291 260 875 90
Toronto Toros 78 41 33 4 304 272 871 86
Cleveland Crusaders 78 37 32 9 266 264 1007 83
Chicago Cougars 78 38 35 5 271 273 1041 81
Quebec Nordiques 78 38 36 4 306 280 909 80
NY Golden Blades / Jersey Knights 78 32 42 4 268 313 933 68

Schedule and results

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No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1 L October 7, 1973 2–4 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 0–1–0
2 W October 9, 1973 3–2 Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 1–1–0
3 W October 13, 1973 6–4 Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 2–1–0
4 W October 14, 1973 2–1 OT @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 3–1–0
5 T October 15, 1973 3–3 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 3–1–1
6 L October 17, 1973 1–3 Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 3–2–1
7 L October 19, 1973 0–1 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 3–3–1
8 W October 21, 1973 4–3 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 4–3–1
9 W October 22, 1973 4–1 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 5–3–1
10 W October 25, 1973 8–3 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 6–3–1
11 W October 27, 1973 3–1 Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 7–3–1
12 L November 3, 1973 4–5 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 7–4–1
13 W November 4, 1973 7–5 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 8–4–1
14 W November 7, 1973 9–2 Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 9–4–1
15 L November 10, 1973 3–6 Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 9–5–1
16 L November 11, 1973 2–3 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 9–6–1
17 W November 12, 1973 3–2 OT New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 10–6–1
18 W November 15, 1973 5–3 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 11–6–1
19 L November 17, 1973 4–10 Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 11–7–1
20 W November 18, 1973 5–2 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 12–7–1
21 L November 21, 1973 1–4 @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) 12–8–1
22 L November 22, 1973 5–7 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 12–9–1
23 W November 26, 1973 4–2 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 13–9–1
24 W November 29, 1973 5–2 Houston Aeros (1973–74) 14–9–1
25 W December 2, 1973 4–3 Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 15–9–1
26 L December 8, 1973 1–2 OT @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 15–10–1
27 W December 9, 1973 3–2 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 16–10–1
28 W December 12, 1973 8–6 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 17–10–1
29 W December 14, 1973 3–1 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 18–10–1
30 L December 16, 1973 2–3 Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 18–11–1
31 W December 19, 1973 4–2 Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 19–11–1
32 L December 22, 1973 0–2 Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 19–12–1
33 W December 24, 1973 5–4 OT Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 20–12–1
34 W December 26, 1973 3–2 OT @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) 21–12–1
35 W December 27, 1973 5–1 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 22–12–1
36 L December 29, 1973 2–6 @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 22–13–1
37 L December 30, 1973 5–6 OT @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 22–14–1
38 W January 4, 1974 4–3 @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 23–14–1
39 L January 5, 1974 0–1 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 23–15–1
40 L January 8, 1974 2–3 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 23–16–1
41 T January 10, 1974 6–6 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 23–16–2
42 W January 13, 1974 9–6 Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 24–16–2
43 W January 16, 1974 4–2 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 25–16–2
44 L January 17, 1974 2–5 Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 25–17–2
45 W January 19, 1974 5–2 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 26–17–2
46 L January 20, 1974 4–8 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 26–18–2
47 L January 22, 1974 3–5 @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 26–19–2
48 W January 26, 1974 4–0 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 27–19–2
49 W January 28, 1974 6–4 Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 28–19–2
50 L January 31, 1974 1–4 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 28–20–2
51 W February 2, 1974 5–2 Houston Aeros (1973–74) 29–20–2
52 L February 3, 1974 1–3 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 29–21–2
53 L February 6, 1974 0–3 Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 29–22–2
54 W February 8, 1974 4–2 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 30–22–2
55 L February 10, 1974 2–5 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 30–23–2
56 L February 13, 1974 4–9 @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 30–24–2
57 W February 15, 1974 7–3 @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 31–24–2
58 W February 17, 1974 3–2 OT @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 32–24–2
59 L February 20, 1974 2–4 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 32–25–2
60 W February 23, 1974 3–0 @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 33–25–2
61 L February 24, 1974 0–2 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 33–26–2
62 W February 27, 1974 5–3 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 34–26–2
63 T February 28, 1974 3–3 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 34–26–3
64 W March 2, 1974 7–1 Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 35–26–3
65 W March 3, 1974 6–3 @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) 36–26–3
66 W March 5, 1974 3–2 @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 37–26–3
67 L March 6, 1974 6–8 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 37–27–3
68 W March 8, 1974 7–2 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 38–27–3
69 L March 12, 1974 3–5 @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 38–28–3
70 W March 14, 1974 6–3 @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 39–28–3
71 W March 15, 1974 6–2 @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 40–28–3
72 L March 17, 1974 1–10 @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 40–29–3
73 T March 20, 1974 2–2 Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 40–29–4
74 L March 24, 1974 3–4 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 40–30–4
75 W March 27, 1974 7–1 Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 41–30–4
76 W March 28, 1974 3–2 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 42–30–4
77 W March 31, 1974 3–2 OT Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 43–30–4
78 L April 1, 1974 1–4 Houston Aeros (1973–74) 43–31–4

Playoffs

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Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
         
E1 New England Whalers 3
E4 Chicago Cougars 4
E4 Chicago Cougars 4
Eastern Division
E2 Toronto Toros 3
E2 Toronto Toros 4
E3 Cleveland Crusaders 1
E4 Chicago Cougars 0
W1 Houston Aeros 4
W1 Houston Aeros 4
W4 Winnipeg Jets 0
W1 Houston Aeros 4
Western Division
W2 Minnesota Fighting Saints 2
W2 Minnesota Fighting Saints 4
W3 Edmonton Oilers 1

Chicago Cougars 4, New England Whalers 3 – Division Quarterfinals

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 6 Chicago Cougars 4–6 New England Whalers 1–0
2 April 7 Chicago Cougars 3 – 4 OT New England Whalers 2–0
3 April 9 New England Whalers 6–8 Chicago Cougars 2–1
4 April 10 New England Whalers 1 – 2 OT Chicago Cougars 2–2
5 April 12 Chicago Cougars 4–2 New England Whalers 3–2
6 April 14 New England Whalers 2–0 Chicago Cougars 3–3
7 April 16 Chicago Cougars 3–2 New England Whalers 3–4

Player statistics

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Awards and records

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Transactions

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Draft picks

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New England's draft picks at the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.[3]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 2 Glenn Goldup (F)   Canada Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
1 12 Blake Dunlop (F)   Canada Ottawa 67's (OHA)
2 26 Mike Clarke (C)   Canada Calgary Centennials (WCHL)
3 38 Tom Colley (C)   Canada Sudbury Wolves (OHA)
4 41 Randy Holt (D)   Canada Sudbury Wolves (OHA)
4 51 Alan Hangsleben (D)   United States University of North Dakota (WCHA)
5 53 Larry Patey (C)   Canada Boston University (ECAC)
5 64 Cap Raeder (G)   United States University of New Hampshire (ECAC)
6 77 Rick Chinnick (F)   Canada Peterborough Petes (OHA)
7 90 Steve Alley (LW)   United States University of Wisconsin (WCHA)

Farm teams

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ World Hockey Association (1973). WHA 1973-74 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  2. ^ World Hockey Association (1974). WHA 1974-75 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  3. ^ "1973 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
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