1973β74 Los Angeles Kings | |
---|---|
Division | 3rd West |
1973β74 record | 33β33β12 |
Goals for | 233 |
Goals against | 231 |
Team information | |
General manager |
Larry Regan (OctβDec) Jake Milford (DecβApr) |
Coach | Bob Pulford |
Captain | Terry Harper |
Alternate captains |
Dan Maloney Juha Widing |
Arena | Los Angeles Forum |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Butch Goring (28) |
Assists | Frank St. Marseille (36) |
Points | Frank St. Marseille (50) |
Penalty minutes |
Mike Corrigan (150) Terry Harper (150) |
Wins | Rogie Vachon (28) |
Goals against average | Rogie Vachon (2.81) |
The 1973β74 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' seventh season in the National Hockey League.
Forward Serge Bernier (22 goals, 46 assists) jumped to the Quebec Nordiques of the WHA.
After finishing strong in 1972β73 and barely missing the playoffs, the Kings had high hopes for the 1973β74 season. But the team started slowly and by the end of November, they were 5β14β3 and in last place. Then they made a blockbuster trade, sending their best defenseman Gilles Marotte to the New York Rangers for defenseman Sheldon Kannegiesser, forwards Mike Murphy, and Tom Williams, and speedy center Gene Carr. They improved a little, but were still 9 games under .500 at the end of February at 21β30β10 for 52 points and 7th place in the 8 team Western Division. The Kings then went 9β0β2 over the next 3 weeks and climbed into 3rd place, passing the Atlanta Flames, Minnesota North Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues. Going into the final game of the season, the Kings had clinched 3rd, but needed a win to finish .500 and needed to outscore the Vancouver Canucks by 8 goals to finish even in goal differential on the season, which was one of coach Bob Pulford's goals at the beginning of the season. Not only did the Kings win, they won 11β1 to finish .500 and with a plus goal differential for the first time in their history. The season also marked the debut of hall of fame broadcaster Bob Miller, who would broadcast Kings games until his retirement after the 2016β17 season.
GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Philadelphia Flyers | 78 | 50 | 16 | 12 | 273 | 164 | +109 | 112 |
2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 78 | 41 | 14 | 23 | 272 | 164 | +108 | 105 |
3 | Los Angeles Kings | 78 | 33 | 33 | 12 | 233 | 231 | +2 | 78 |
4 | Atlanta Flames | 78 | 30 | 34 | 14 | 214 | 238 | β24 | 74 |
5 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 78 | 28 | 41 | 9 | 242 | 273 | β31 | 65 |
6 | St. Louis Blues | 78 | 26 | 40 | 12 | 206 | 248 | β42 | 64 |
7 | Minnesota North Stars | 78 | 23 | 38 | 17 | 235 | 275 | β40 | 63 |
8 | California Golden Seals | 78 | 13 | 55 | 10 | 195 | 342 | β147 | 36 |
Vs. West Division
|
Vs. East Division
|
No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | L | October 10, 1973 | 0β3 | Chicago Black Hawks ( 1973β74) | 0β1β0 |
2 | L | October 13, 1973 | 3β6 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1973β74) | 0β2β0 |
3 | T | October 14, 1973 | 1β1 | @ New York Rangers ( 1973β74) | 0β2β1 |
4 | T | October 16, 1973 | 4β4 | @ New York Islanders ( 1973β74) | 0β2β2 |
5 | L | October 18, 1973 | 2β6 | @ Buffalo Sabres ( 1973β74) | 0β3β2 |
6 | W | October 20, 1973 | 3β0 | Philadelphia Flyers ( 1973β74) | 1β3β2 |
7 | W | October 24, 1973 | 6β4 | Atlanta Flames ( 1973β74) | 2β3β2 |
8 | L | October 27, 1973 | 2β3 | Detroit Red Wings ( 1973β74) | 2β4β2 |
9 | W | October 30, 1973 | 3β2 | @ St. Louis Blues ( 1973β74) | 3β4β2 |
10 | W | November 1, 1973 | 2β1 | New York Rangers ( 1973β74) | 4β4β2 |
11 | L | November 3, 1973 | 3β4 | St. Louis Blues ( 1973β74) | 4β5β2 |
12 | L | November 7, 1973 | 2β5 | @ Minnesota North Stars ( 1973β74) | 4β6β2 |
13 | W | November 8, 1973 | 3β2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers ( 1973β74) | 5β6β2 |
14 | L | November 10, 1973 | 3β5 | Buffalo Sabres ( 1973β74) | 5β7β2 |
15 | L | November 11, 1973 | 0β3 | Chicago Black Hawks ( 1973β74) | 5β8β2 |
16 | L | November 14, 1973 | 4β5 | Philadelphia Flyers ( 1973β74) | 5β9β2 |
17 | L | November 17, 1973 | 3β4 | Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1973β74) | 5β10β2 |
18 | L | November 20, 1973 | 5β6 | @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1973β74) | 5β11β2 |
19 | T | November 24, 1973 | 5β5 | @ New York Rangers ( 1973β74) | 5β11β3 |
20 | L | November 25, 1973 | 1β3 | @ Boston Bruins ( 1973β74) | 5β12β3 |
21 | L | November 28, 1973 | 3β5 | @ Montreal Canadiens ( 1973β74) | 5β13β3 |
22 | L | November 29, 1973 | 1β2 | @ Buffalo Sabres ( 1973β74) | 5β14β3 |
23 | T | December 1, 1973 | 1β1 | Minnesota North Stars ( 1973β74) | 5β14β4 |
24 | W | December 4, 1973 | 3β2 | @ Vancouver Canucks ( 1973β74) | 6β14β4 |
25 | W | December 5, 1973 | 4β1 | Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1973β74) | 7β14β4 |
26 | W | December 8, 1973 | 3β0 | Atlanta Flames ( 1973β74) | 8β14β4 |
27 | L | December 11, 1973 | 3β6 | @ Minnesota North Stars ( 1973β74) | 8β15β4 |
28 | W | December 13, 1973 | 3β2 | New York Islanders ( 1973β74) | 9β15β4 |
29 | L | December 15, 1973 | 2β6 | Montreal Canadiens ( 1973β74) | 9β16β4 |
30 | T | December 18, 1973 | 4β4 | @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1973β74) | 9β16β5 |
31 | L | December 19, 1973 | 1β3 | @ St. Louis Blues ( 1973β74) | 9β17β5 |
32 | W | December 22, 1973 | 5β2 | Minnesota North Stars ( 1973β74) | 10β17β5 |
33 | T | December 26, 1973 | 3β3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks ( 1973β74) | 10β17β6 |
34 | L | December 27, 1973 | 4β6 | @ Atlanta Flames ( 1973β74) | 10β18β6 |
35 | W | December 29, 1973 | 4β1 | Boston Bruins ( 1973β74) | 11β18β6 |
36 | L | January 2, 1974 | 2β5 | @ California Golden Seals ( 1973β74) | 11β19β6 |
37 | W | January 5, 1974 | 5β3 | Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1973β74) | 12β19β6 |
38 | W | January 8, 1974 | 3β1 | @ New York Islanders ( 1973β74) | 13β19β6 |
39 | T | January 9, 1974 | 4β4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks ( 1973β74) | 13β19β7 |
40 | L | January 12, 1974 | 0β6 | @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1973β74) | 13β20β7 |
41 | W | January 15, 1974 | 2β1 | @ Montreal Canadiens ( 1973β74) | 14β20β7 |
42 | W | January 16, 1974 | 2β0 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1973β74) | 15β20β7 |
43 | L | January 19, 1974 | 0β2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers ( 1973β74) | 15β21β7 |
44 | L | January 20, 1974 | 2β5 | @ Boston Bruins ( 1973β74) | 15β22β7 |
45 | W | January 23, 1974 | 3β1 | Minnesota North Stars ( 1973β74) | 16β22β7 |
46 | T | January 24, 1974 | 4β4 | Philadelphia Flyers ( 1973β74) | 16β22β8 |
47 | W | January 26, 1974 | 2β0 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1973β74) | 17β22β8 |
48 | L | January 27, 1974 | 3β5 | @ New York Rangers ( 1973β74) | 17β23β8 |
49 | L | January 31, 1974 | 2β4 | New York Islanders ( 1973β74) | 17β24β8 |
50 | W | February 2, 1974 | 3β1 | California Golden Seals ( 1973β74) | 18β24β8 |
51 | W | February 6, 1974 | 5β1 | Buffalo Sabres ( 1973β74) | 19β24β8 |
52 | W | February 9, 1974 | 2β1 | @ St. Louis Blues ( 1973β74) | 20β24β8 |
53 | W | February 10, 1974 | 6β3 | @ Atlanta Flames ( 1973β74) | 21β24β8 |
54 | L | February 13, 1974 | 0β4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks ( 1973β74) | 21β25β8 |
55 | L | February 14, 1974 | 2β4 | @ Buffalo Sabres ( 1973β74) | 21β26β8 |
56 | L | February 16, 1974 | 2β5 | Boston Bruins ( 1973β74) | 21β27β8 |
57 | L | February 19, 1974 | 3β4 | Vancouver Canucks ( 1973β74) | 21β28β8 |
58 | L | February 21, 1974 | 3β5 | New York Rangers ( 1973β74) | 21β29β8 |
59 | T | February 23, 1974 | 4β4 | @ Montreal Canadiens ( 1973β74) | 21β29β9 |
60 | T | February 24, 1974 | 3β3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1973β74) | 21β29β10 |
61 | L | February 27, 1974 | 1β4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1973β74) | 21β30β10 |
62 | W | February 28, 1974 | 3β1 | @ Atlanta Flames ( 1973β74) | 22β30β10 |
63 | W | March 2, 1974 | 4β2 | St. Louis Blues ( 1973β74) | 23β30β10 |
64 | W | March 5, 1974 | 2β1 | California Golden Seals ( 1973β74) | 24β30β10 |
65 | W | March 7, 1974 | 3β2 | Chicago Black Hawks ( 1973β74) | 25β30β10 |
66 | T | March 9, 1974 | 4β4 | Boston Bruins ( 1973β74) | 25β30β11 |
67 | W | March 13, 1974 | 5β1 | Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1973β74) | 26β30β11 |
68 | W | March 16, 1974 | 2β0 | Detroit Red Wings ( 1973β74) | 27β30β11 |
69 | T | March 19, 1974 | 1β1 | Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1973β74) | 27β30β12 |
70 | W | March 21, 1974 | 6β3 | California Golden Seals ( 1973β74) | 28β30β12 |
71 | W | March 23, 1974 | 5β0 | Vancouver Canucks ( 1973β74) | 29β30β12 |
72 | W | March 24, 1974 | 7β1 | @ California Golden Seals ( 1973β74) | 30β30β12 |
73 | L | March 26, 1974 | 1β5 | @ Minnesota North Stars ( 1973β74) | 30β31β12 |
74 | W | March 28, 1974 | 4β1 | New York Islanders ( 1973β74) | 31β31β12 |
75 | L | March 30, 1974 | 2β5 | Montreal Canadiens ( 1973β74) | 31β32β12 |
76 | W | April 3, 1974 | 4β2 | Atlanta Flames ( 1973β74) | 32β32β12 |
77 | L | April 5, 1974 | 2β5 | @ Vancouver Canucks ( 1973β74) | 32β33β12 |
78 | W | April 6, 1974 | 11β1 | Vancouver Canucks ( 1973β74) | 33β33β12 |
The Kings were heavy underdogs against the Chicago Black Hawks but put up a strong showing. While Kings goalie Rogie Vachon was excellent, the difference was Chicago goalie Tony Esposito who was brilliant. Game one saw the Black Hawks score in the 3rd period to take a 2β1 lead and they added an empty net goal to win, 3β1. Game two was similar; this time Chicago led 3β1 when they scored an empty net goal late to make it 4β1.
Game 3 in Los Angeles was the Kings first home playoff game in 5 years and was one of the strangest games in post season history. Chicago scored goal in the first minute of the game and then went into a defensive shell, practically daring the Kings to try to beat Esposito. Almost the entire rest of the game was played in the Black Hawk zone with the Kings dominating the action. But try as they might, they could not get the puck past Tony Esposito. Their best chance came midway through the 3rd period when Bob Berry pounced on a rebound and shot it over Esposito but the puck glanced off the cross bar. Despite totaling only 5 shots on goal for the game, the Black Hawks won 1β0 and had a commanding 3β0 series lead. Game 4 was played the very next day so both coaches rested their #1 goalies; the Kings played Gary Edwards over Rogie Vachon and Chicago went with Mike Veisor over Tony Esposito. The Kings were so relieved to have Esposito out that they dominated in a 5β1 win, their first playoff victory since a game 7 win over the Oakland Seals in the 1969 quarter-finals.
Another defensive struggle ensued in game 5 with Vachon and Esposito back in the nets; both made a number of brilliant saves and the game was 0β0 midway through the 3rd period. The Black Hawks won when Cliff Koroll scuffed the ice on a slap shot; the puck acted like a knuckleball change up and fooled Vachon for the game winner.
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The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1973β74 season. [3]
May 15, 1973 | To
Los Angeles Kings Cash |
To
Detroit Red Wings 8th round pick in 1973 β Dennis Polonich |
May 15, 1973 | To
Los Angeles Kings Cash |
To
Minnesota North Stars 11th round pick in 1973 β Max Hansen |
May 29, 1973 | To
Los Angeles Kings Bob Murdoch Randy Rota |
To
Montreal Canadiens 1st round pick in 1974 β Mario Tremblay Cash |
November 30, 1973 | To
Los Angeles Kings Sheldon Kannegiesser Mike Murphy Tom Williams |
To
New York Rangers Gilles Marotte Real Lemieux |
February 14, 1974 | To
Los Angeles Kings Gene Carr |
To
New York Rangers 1st round pick in 1977 β Ron Duguay |
March 1, 1974 | To
Los Angeles Kings Jim McElmury |
To
Minnesota North Stars Cash |
March 12, 1974 | To
Los Angeles Kings Tom Cassidy |
To
California Golden Seals Cash |
September 1, 1973 | From
Suncoast Suns (
EHL) Dale Lewis |
September 1, 1973 | From
University of Minnesota Duluth (
NCAA) Mark Heaslip |
June 13, 1973 | From
Minnesota North Stars Bob Nevin |
Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.
Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 38 | Russ Walker | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
4 | 54 | Jim McCrimmon | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) |
5 | 70 | Dennis Abgrall | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
6 | 86 | Blair MacDonald | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
7 | 102 | Roly Kimble | Canada | Hamilton Red Wings (OHA) |
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