1973–74 Boston Bruins season

The 1973–74 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 50th season in the NHL. They made it back to the Stanley Cup Finals, but lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.

1973–74 Boston Bruins
East Division champions
Division	1st East
1973–74 record	52–17–9
Home record	33–4–2
Road record	19–13–7
Goals for	349
Goals against	221
Team information
General manager	Harry Sinden
Coach	Bep Guidolin
Captain	Johnny Bucyk
Alternate captains	Bobby Orr Dallas Smith
Arena	Boston Garden
Team leaders
Goals	Phil Esposito (68)
Assists	Bobby Orr (90)
Points	Phil Esposito (145)
Penalty minutes	Carol Vadnais (123)
Wins	Gilles Gilbert (34)
Goals against average	Ross Brooks (2.36)
← 1972–73 1974–75 →

Offseason

NHL draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College/junior/club team
1	6	Andre Savard	Center	Canada	Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
2	31	Jimmy Jones	Right wing	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OHA)
3	36	Doug Gibson	Center	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OHA)
3	47	Al Sims	Defense	Canada	Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)
4	63	Steve Langdon	Left wing	Canada	London Knights (OHA)
5	79	Peter Crosbie	Goaltender	Canada	London Knights (OHA)
6	95	Jean-Pierre Burgoyne	Defense	Canada	Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL)
7	111	Walter Johnson	Right wing	United States	Oshawa Generals (OHA)
8	127	Virgil Gates	Defense	Canada	Swift Current Broncos (WCHL)
9	142	Jim Pettie	Goaltender	Canada	St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
10	157	Yvan Bouillon	Center	Canada	Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)

Regular season

Season standings

East Division^[1]

• v
• t
• e

		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	DIFF	Pts
1	Boston Bruins	78	52	17	9	349	221	+128	113
2	Montreal Canadiens	78	45	24	9	293	240	+53	99
3	New York Rangers	78	40	24	14	300	251	+49	94
4	Toronto Maple Leafs	78	35	27	16	274	230	+44	86
5	Buffalo Sabres	78	32	34	12	242	250	−8	76
6	Detroit Red Wings	78	29	39	10	255	319	−64	68
7	Vancouver Canucks	78	24	43	11	224	296	−72	59
8	New York Islanders	78	19	41	18	182	247	−65	56

Record vs. opponents

Vs. East Division 1973–74 NHL records[2] Team BOS BUF DET MTL NYI NYR TOR VAN Total Boston — 4–1 4–1–1 4–2 4–1 4–1 4–2 4–0–1 28–8–2 Buffalo 1–4 — 5–1 0–3–2 3–0–2 2–2–1 2–3–1 2–4 15–17–6 Detroit 1–4–1 1–5 — 2–3 4–1 2–3–1 2–2–1 2–3 14–21–3 Montreal 2–4 3–0–2 3–2 — 4–1–1 4–2 2–3 4–0–1 22–12–4 N.Y. Islanders 1–4 0–3–2 1–4 1–4–1 — 1–4 0–4–2 2–1–3 6–24–8 N.Y. Rangers 1–4 2–2–1 3–2–1 2–4 4–1 — 1–2–2 4–1–1 17–16–5 Toronto 2–4 3–2–1 2–2–1 3–2 4–0–2 2–1–2 — 0–4–1 16–15–7 Vancouver 0–4–1 4–2 3–2 0–4–1 1–2–3 1–4–1 4–0–1 — 13–18–7

Vs. West Division 1973–74 NHL records Team ATL CAL CHI LAK MIN PHI PIT STL Total Boston 2–3 4–1 0–2–3 3–1–1 3–0–2 3–1–1 5–0 4–1 24–9–7 Buffalo 1–3–1 3–2 2–0–3 4–1 3–1–1 0–5 2–3 2–2–1 17–17–6 Detroit 1–3–1 4–1 0–4–1 3–1–1 2–1–2 0–5 2–2–1 3–1–1 15–18–7 Montreal 2–3 3–1–1 2–2–1 3–1–1 4–1 2–2–1 4–0–1 3–2 23–12–5 N.Y. Islanders 3–1–1 2–1–2 1–2–2 1–3–1 3–1–1 0–5 1–2–2 2–2–1 13–17–10 N.Y. Rangers 2–1–2 5–0 1–3–1 2–1–2 4–0–1 2–1–2 4–1 3–1–1 23–8–9 Toronto 4–0–1 4–0–1 1–3–1 2–1–2 3–1–1 0–4–1 3–1–1 2–2–1 19–12–9 Vancouver 2–3 4–1 0–4–1 2–3 0–4–1 1–3–1 1–4 1–3–1 11–25–4

Schedule and results

1973–74 regular season[3]
October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 1 W October 10, 1973 6–4 Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) 1–0–0 2 W October 13, 1973 9–4 @ Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) 2–0–0 3 W October 14, 1973 3–2 New York Islanders (1973–74) 3–0–0 4 L October 17, 1973 3–4 @ Atlanta Flames (1973–74) 3–1–0 5 W October 21, 1973 8–2 Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) 4–1–0 6 L October 23, 1973 2–3 @ St. Louis Blues (1973–74) 4–2–0 7 W October 25, 1973 9–4 Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) 5–2–0 8 W October 27, 1973 3–2 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) 6–2–0 9 T October 28, 1973 3–3 Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) 6–2–1 10 W October 31, 1973 5–0 @ Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) 7–2–1
November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 11 L November 3, 1973 4–6 @ New York Islanders (1973–74) 7–3–1 12 W November 4, 1973 4–1 California Golden Seals (1973–74) 8–3–1 13 L November 7, 1973 3–7 @ New York Rangers (1973–74) 8–4–1 14 W November 8, 1973 2–1 Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) 9–4–1 15 W November 11, 1973 4–2 Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) 10–4–1 16 W November 14, 1973 4–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) 11–4–1 17 W November 15, 1973 10–2 New York Rangers (1973–74) 12–4–1 18 W November 17, 1973 8–0 Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) 13–4–1 19 W November 18, 1973 5–2 Atlanta Flames (1973–74) 14–4–1 20 W November 22, 1973 4–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) 15–4–1 21 W November 25, 1973 3–1 Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) 16–4–1 22 T November 28, 1973 3–3 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) 16–4–2
December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 23 W December 2, 1973 5–3 New York Islanders (1973–74) 17–4–2 24 W December 8, 1973 5–2 Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) 18–4–2 25 T December 9, 1973 3–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) 18–4–3 26 W December 13, 1973 4–2 Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) 19–4–3 27 W December 15, 1973 7–2 Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) 20–4–3 28 W December 16, 1973 5–3 California Golden Seals (1973–74) 21–4–3 29 W December 20, 1973 6–5 Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) 22–4–3 30 L December 22, 1973 2–4 @ Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) 22–5–3 31 W December 23, 1973 4–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) 23–5–3 32 L December 29, 1973 1–4 @ Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) 23–6–3 33 W December 30, 1973 8–1 @ California Golden Seals (1973–74) 24–6–3
January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 34 T January 1, 1974 2–2 @ Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) 24–6–4 35 W January 4, 1974 4–2 @ New York Rangers (1973–74) 25–6–4 36 W January 5, 1974 6–2 @ New York Islanders (1973–74) 26–6–4 37 T January 10, 1974 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) 26–6–5 38 L January 12, 1974 3–7 Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) 26–7–5 39 W January 13, 1974 5–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) 27–7–5 40 T January 16, 1974 5–5 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) 27–7–6 41 W January 19, 1974 8–0 @ Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) 28–7–6 42 W January 20, 1974 5–2 Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) 29–7–6 43 W January 22, 1974 1–0 @ St. Louis Blues (1973–74) 30–7–6 44 L January 24, 1974 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) 30–8–6 45 W January 26, 1974 4–0 @ New York Islanders (1973–74) 31–8–6 46 W January 27, 1974 5–3 Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) 32–8–6 47 W January 31, 1974 4–2 Atlanta Flames (1973–74) 33–8–6
February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 48 L February 2, 1974 2–6 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) 33–9–6 49 W February 3, 1974 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) 34–9–6 50 W February 7, 1974 5–3 St. Louis Blues (1973–74) 35–9–6 51 W February 9, 1974 5–3 Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) 36–9–6 52 W February 10, 1974 4–0 Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) 37–9–6 53 W February 13, 1974 9–6 @ California Golden Seals (1973–74) 38–9–6 54 W February 15, 1974 4–2 @ Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) 39–9–6 55 W February 16, 1974 5–2 @ Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) 40–9–6 56 T February 20, 1974 5–5 @ Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) 40–9–7 57 W February 23, 1974 6–2 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) 41–9–7 58 L February 24, 1974 2–3 @ Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) 41–10–7 59 W February 28, 1974 8–1 Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) 42–10–7
March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 60 T March 2, 1974 4–4 @ Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) 42–10–8 61 L March 3, 1974 4–6 Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) 42–11–8 62 L March 5, 1974 1–4 @ Atlanta Flames (1973–74) 42–12–8 63 W March 6, 1974 8–0 @ St. Louis Blues (1973–74) 43–12–8 64 T March 9, 1974 4–4 @ Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) 43–12–9 65 L March 10, 1974 2–6 @ California Golden Seals (1973–74) 43–13–9 66 W March 12, 1974 4–0 Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) 44–13–9 67 W March 14, 1974 4–3 @ Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) 45–13–9 68 W March 16, 1974 5–2 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) 46–13–9 69 W March 17, 1974 5–2 New York Rangers (1973–74) 47–13–9 70 W March 21, 1974 7–0 St. Louis Blues (1973–74) 48–13–9 71 L March 23, 1974 3–4 Atlanta Flames (1973–74) 48–14–9 72 W March 24, 1974 6–3 Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) 49–14–9 73 W March 27, 1974 3–2 @ New York Rangers (1973–74) 50–14–9 74 L March 30, 1974 3–5 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) 50–15–9 75 W March 31, 1974 6–1 Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) 51–15–9
April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 76 L April 3, 1974 2–6 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) 51–16–9 77 L April 6, 1974 2–6 @ Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) 51–17–9 78 W April 7, 1974 6–4 Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) 52–17–9
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Notable games

• January 24: Bobby Orr is ejected by referee Wally Harris for arguing that he was tripped by Chicago's Bill White. The ejection draws a heated response from Harry Sinden and the Boston Garden crowd. They lost to the Black Hawks 2-1.

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Date	Visitors	Score	Home	Score	Notes
April 10	Toronto	0	Boston	1
April 11	Toronto	3	Boston	6
April 13	Boston	6	Toronto	3
April 14	Boston	4	Toronto	3	OT

Semifinals

Boston Bruins vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Date	Visitors	Score	Home	Score	Notes
April 18	Chicago	4	Boston	2
April 21	Chicago	6	Boston	8
April 23	Boston	3	Chicago	4	OT
April 25	Boston	5	Chicago	2
April 28	Chicago	2	Boston	6
April 30	Boston	4	Chicago	2

Stanley Cup Finals

The Bruins returned to the Stanley Cup, but were defeated by the Flyers in six games.

Boston Bruins vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Date	Visitors	Score	Home	Score	Notes
May 7	Philadelphia	2	Boston	3
May 9	Philadelphia	3	Boston	2	OT
May 12	Boston	1	Philadelphia	4
May 14	Boston	2	Philadelphia	4
May 16	Philadelphia	1	Boston	5
May 19	Boston	0	Philadelphia	1

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

= Indicates league leader

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Phil Esposito	C	78	68	77	145	58	51	14	4	9
Bobby Orr	D	74	32	90	122	82	84	11	0	4
Ken Hodge	RW	76	50	55	105	43	40	15	0	11
Wayne Cashman	LW	78	30	59	89	111	49	5	2	2
John Bucyk	LW	76	31	44	75	8	13	12	0	9
Carol Vadnais	D	78	16	43	59	123	35	6	0	1
Don Marcotte	LW	78	24	26	50	18	44	0	3	3
Gregg Sheppard	C	75	16	31	47	21	23	0	3	3
Terry O'Reilly	RW	76	11	24	35	94	30	0	0	1
Andre Savard	C	72	16	14	30	39	16	0	0	1
Dallas Smith	D	77	6	21	27	64	26	0	0	0
Dave Forbes	LW	63	10	16	26	41	9	0	0	1
Chris Oddleifson	C	49	10	11	21	25	16	0	0	1
Derek Sanderson	C	29	8	12	20	48	17	0	0	1
Bobby Schmautz	RW	27	7	13	20	31	6	1	0	1
Fred O'Donnell	RW	43	5	7	12	43	3	0	0	1
Al Sims	D	76	3	9	12	22	64	0	0	1
Darryl Edestrand	D	52	3	8	11	20	19	1	0	2
Rich LeDuc	C	28	3	3	6	12	3	0	0	0
Gary Doak	D	69	0	4	4	44	−2	0	0	0
Ken Broderick	G	5	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
Gilles Gilbert	G	54	0	1	1	9	0	0	0	0
Doug Roberts	RW	7	0	1	1	2	2	0	0	0
Nick Beverley	D	1	0	0	0	0	−1	0	0	0
Ross Brooks	G	21	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
Doug Gibson	C	2	0	0	0	0	−1	0	0	0
Bob Gryp	LW	1	0	0	0	0	−2	0	0	0
Dave Hynes	LW	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Al Simmons	D	3	0	0	0	0	−1	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
Gilles Gilbert	3210	54	34	12	8	158	2.95	6
Ross Brooks	1170	21	16	3	0	46	2.36	3
Ken Broderick	300	5	2	2	1	16	3.20	0
Team:	4680	78	52	17	9	220	2.82	9

Playoffs

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
Gregg Sheppard	C	16	11	8	19	4	0	2	2
John Bucyk	LW	16	8	10	18	4	3	0	1
Bobby Orr	D	16	4	14	18	28	1	0	2
Ken Hodge	RW	16	6	10	16	16	2	0	1
Phil Esposito	C	16	9	5	14	25	4	0	2
Wayne Cashman	LW	16	5	9	14	46	1	0	1
Carol Vadnais	D	16	1	12	13	42	1	0	0
Bobby Schmautz	RW	16	3	6	9	44	0	0	0
Dallas Smith	D	16	1	7	8	20	0	0	0
Terry O'Reilly	RW	16	2	5	7	38	0	0	0
Don Marcotte	LW	16	4	2	6	8	0	0	1
Andre Savard	C	16	3	2	5	24	0	0	0
Darryl Edestrand	D	16	1	2	3	15	0	0	0
Gilles Gilbert	G	16	0	3	3	8	0	0	0
Dave Forbes	LW	16	0	2	2	6	0	0	0
Doug Gibson	C	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Rich LeDuc	C	5	0	0	0	9	0	0	0
Al Simmons	D	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Al Sims	D	16	0	0	0	12	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA	SO
Gilles Gilbert	977	16	10	6	43	2.64	1
Team:	977	16	10	6	43	2.64	1

^[4]

Note:

Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

• Prince of Wales Trophy
• Phil Esposito, Art Ross Trophy winner
• Phil Esposito, Hart Memorial Trophy winner
• Phil Esposito, NHL leader, goals (68) ^[5]
• Phil Esposito, NHL leader, points (145)^[5]
• Bobby Orr, Norris Trophy
• Bobby Orr, NHL leader, assists (90)^[5]
• Single-game record for points in one game: (7) on November 15, 1973, by Bobby Orr^[6]

See also

• 1974 Stanley Cup Finals