1974–75 New York Islanders season

The 1974–75 New York Islanders season was the third season for the franchise in the National Hockey League. During the regular season, the Islanders finished in third place in the Patrick Division with a 33–25–22 record and qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in the franchise's history. In the first round of the playoffs, New York defeated the New York Rangers in three games to advance to the Quarter-finals, where the team defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games, after they had lost the first three. The team almost repeated the feat in the next round, but lost in the semi-finals to the Philadelphia Flyers in seven games. In doing so, they set a record for most consecutive games won when facing elimination with eight.^[1]

1974–75 New York Islanders
Division	3rd Patrick
Conference	3rd Campbell
1974–75 record	33–25–22
Home record	22–6–12
Road record	11–19–10
Goals for	264
Goals against	221
Team information
General manager	Bill Torrey
Coach	Al Arbour
Captain	Ed Westfall
Arena	Nassau Coliseum
Team leaders
Goals	Bob Nystrom (27)
Assists	Denis Potvin (55)
Points	Denis Potvin (76)
Penalty minutes	Gerry Hart (143)
Wins	Billy Smith (21)
Goals against average	Chico Resch (2.47)
← 1973–74 1975–76 →

Regular season

Season standings

Patrick Division^[2]

• v
• t
• e

		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	DIFF	Pts
1	Philadelphia Flyers	80	51	18	11	293	181	+112	113
2	New York Rangers	80	37	29	14	319	276	+43	88
3	New York Islanders	80	33	25	22	264	221	+43	88
4	Atlanta Flames	80	34	31	15	243	233	+10	83

Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Patrick Division 1974–75 NHL records Team ATL NYI NYR PHI Total Atlanta — 2–1–3 3–3 2–3–1 7–7–4 N.Y. Islanders 1–2–3 — 2–3–1 1–3–2 4–8–6 N.Y. Rangers 3–3 3–2–1 — 2–3–1 8–8–2 Philadelphia 3–2–1 3–1–2 3–2–1 — 9–5–4 Vs. Smythe Division 1974–75 NHL records Team CHI KCS MIN STL VAN Total Atlanta 2–3 4–0–1 3–1–1 2–3 1–2–2 12–9–4 N.Y. Islanders 1–1–3 4–1 4–0–1 2–2–1 1–2–2 12–6–7 N.Y. Rangers 3–1–1 4–0–1 4–1 3–1–1 3–2 17–5–3 Philadelphia 4–1 4–0–1 4–1 3–2 4–1 19–5–1 Vs. Adams Division 1974–75 NHL records Team BOS BUF CAL TOR Total Atlanta 0–4–1 2–1–1 2–2 3–1 7–8–2 N.Y. Islanders 2–2 0–2–2 2–1–1 2–2–1 6–7–4 N.Y. Rangers 1–3 1–4 2–0–2 1–2–1 5–9–3 Philadelphia 1–2–1 3–0–1 3–2 3–0–1 10–4–3 Vs. Norris Division 1974–75 NHL records[3] Team DET LAK MTL PIT WSH Total Atlanta 2–2 2–1–1 0–3–1 1–1–2 3–0–1 8–7–5 N.Y. Islanders 2–2 1–0–3 2–0–2 2–2 4–0 11–4–5 N.Y. Rangers 2–1–1 1–1–2 0–2–2 2–2 2–1–1 7–7–6 Philadelphia 2–1–1 2–1–1 2–1–1 3–1 4–0 13–4–3

Schedule and results

1974–75 regular season[4]
October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 1 T October 9, 1974 5–5 @ Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 0–0–1 2 W October 12, 1974 6–2 Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) 1–0–1 3 W October 15, 1974 6–3 Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 2–0–1 4 L October 19, 1974 2–4 New York Rangers (1974–75) 2–1–1 5 W October 20, 1974 5–0 @ Washington Capitals (1974–75) 3–1–1 6 W October 22, 1974 2–1 Atlanta Flames (1974–75) 4–1–1 7 W October 26, 1974 4–0 Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) 5–1–1 8 W October 28, 1974 10–1 California Golden Seals (1974–75) 6–1–1 9 T October 30, 1974 1–1 @ New York Rangers (1974–75) 6–1–2
November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 10 W November 2, 1974 3–2 Boston Bruins (1974–75) 7–1–2 11 L November 3, 1974 1–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 7–2–2 12 T November 5, 1974 4–4 Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 7–2–3 13 L November 6, 1974 1–2 @ Atlanta Flames (1974–75) 7–3–3 14 L November 9, 1974 2–4 @ St. Louis Blues (1974–75) 7–4–3 15 L November 13, 1974 2–8 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 7–5–3 16 L November 15, 1974 2–4 @ Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) 7–6–3 17 L November 16, 1974 3–5 @ Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 7–7–3 18 W November 19, 1974 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 8–7–3 19 T November 20, 1974 4–4 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) 8–7–4 20 W November 22, 1974 6–0 Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 9–7–4 21 T November 23, 1974 3–3 Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) 9–7–5 22 T November 27, 1974 3–3 @ Los Angeles Kings (1974–75) 9–7–6 23 T November 29, 1974 3–3 @ California Golden Seals (1974–75) 9–7–7 24 L November 30, 1974 0–3 @ Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) 9–8–7
December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 25 T December 5, 1974 3–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 9–8–8 26 W December 7, 1974 4–1 Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) 10–8–8 27 L December 8, 1974 2–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 10–9–8 28 W December 10, 1974 3–2 St. Louis Blues (1974–75) 11–9–8 29 W December 14, 1974 3–0 Los Angeles Kings (1974–75) 12–9–8 30 L December 15, 1974 2–5 @ Boston Bruins (1974–75) 12–10–8 31 L December 17, 1974 4–8 @ St. Louis Blues (1974–75) 12–11–8 32 L December 18, 1974 2–3 @ Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 12–12–8 33 T December 21, 1974 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) 12–12–9 34 W December 22, 1974 5–2 @ Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) 13–12–9 35 L December 26, 1974 1–2 @ Atlanta Flames (1974–75) 13–13–9 36 L December 28, 1974 1–3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 13–14–9 37 W December 29, 1974 7–0 @ Washington Capitals (1974–75) 14–14–9
January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 38 W January 2, 1975 5–2 Washington Capitals (1974–75) 15–14–9 39 L January 4, 1975 3–5 New York Rangers (1974–75) 15–15–9 40 W January 7, 1975 5–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 16–15–9 41 W January 9, 1975 3–1 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 17–15–9 42 T January 11, 1975 2–2 Atlanta Flames (1974–75) 17–15–10 43 L January 12, 1975 3–4 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 17–16–10 44 T January 14, 1975 3–3 St. Louis Blues (1974–75) 17–16–11 45 W January 18, 1975 5–1 Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 18–16–11 46 L January 23, 1975 1–3 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) 18–17–11 47 T January 25, 1975 5–5 Los Angeles Kings (1974–75) 18–17–12 48 W January 28, 1975 6–2 Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) 19–17–12 49 W January 29, 1975 4–3 @ Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) 20–17–12
February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 50 W February 1, 1975 4–1 @ Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 21–17–12 51 T February 2, 1975 1–1 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) 21–17–13 52 T February 6, 1975 2–2 Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 21–17–14 53 W February 8, 1975 5–1 Washington Capitals (1974–75) 22–17–14 54 L February 9, 1975 1–5 @ Boston Bruins (1974–75) 22–18–14 55 W February 11, 1975 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 23–18–14 56 W February 12, 1975 4–2 @ Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) 24–18–14 57 T February 15, 1975 1–1 Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 24–18–15 58 L February 16, 1975 2–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 24–19–15 59 L February 18, 1975 2–3 Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 24–20–15 60 L February 21, 1975 1–4 Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) 24–21–15 61 W February 22, 1975 7–6 @ Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 25–21–15 62 W February 25, 1975 3–0 St. Louis Blues (1974–75) 26–21–15
March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 63 W March 1, 1975 6–1 California Golden Seals (1974–75) 27–21–15 64 T March 2, 1975 3–3 @ Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 27–21–16 65 T March 6, 1975 2–2 @ Los Angeles Kings (1974–75) 27–21–17 66 W March 8, 1975 7–5 @ Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) 28–21–17 67 L March 9, 1975 2–4 @ California Golden Seals (1974–75) 28–22–17 68 L March 11, 1975 2–4 Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 28–23–17 69 L March 12, 1975 3–5 @ New York Rangers (1974–75) 28–24–17 70 W March 15, 1975 3–1 Boston Bruins (1974–75) 29–24–17 71 T March 18, 1975 4–4 Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) 29–24–18 72 W March 19, 1975 3–1 @ Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) 30–24–18 73 W March 22, 1975 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) 31–24–18 74 T March 23, 1975 3–3 @ Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) 31–24–19 75 T March 25, 1975 3–3 Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 31–24–20 76 W March 29, 1975 6–4 New York Rangers (1974–75) 32–24–20 77 T March 30, 1975 2–2 @ Atlanta Flames (1974–75) 32–24–21
April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 78 T April 1, 1975 2–2 Atlanta Flames (1974–75) 32–24–22 79 L April 5, 1975 1–4 Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 32–25–22 80 W April 6, 1975 6–4 @ New York Rangers (1974–75) 33–25–22
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

Round 1 (5) New York Islanders vs. (4) New York Rangers

Game #	Away	Home	Score
1	New York Islanders	New York Rangers	3–2
2	New York Rangers	New York Islanders	8–3
3	New York Islanders	New York Rangers	4–3 (OT)

New York Islanders Win Series 2–1

Round 2 (5) New York Islanders vs (4) Pittsburgh Penguins

Game #	Away	Home	Score
1	New York Islanders	Pittsburgh Penguins	4–5
2	New York Islanders	Pittsburgh Penguins	1–3
3	Pittsburgh Penguins	New York Islanders	6–4
4	Pittsburgh Penguins	New York Islanders	1–3
5	New York Islanders	Pittsburgh Penguins	4–2
6	Pittsburgh Penguins	New York Islanders	1–4
7	New York Islanders	Pittsburgh Penguins	1–0

New York Wins Series 4–3

Round 3 (5) New York Islanders vs (1) Philadelphia Flyers

Game #	Away	Home	Score
1	New York Islanders	Philadelphia Flyers	0–4
2	New York Islanders	Philadelphia Flyers	4–5 (OT)
3	Philadelphia Flyers	New York Islanders	1–0
4	Philadelphia Flyers	New York Islanders	3–4 (OT)
5	New York Islanders	Philadelphia Flyers	5–1
6	Philadelphia Flyers	New York Islanders	1–2
7	New York Islanders	Philadelphia Flyers	1–4

New York Loses Series 4–3

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Denis Potvin D 79 21 55 76 105 28 5 2 4 Billy Harris RW 80 25 37 62 34 4 4 0 5 Bob Nystrom RW 76 27 28 55 122 17 3 0 3 Ed Westfall D/RW 73 22 33 55 28 19 6 1 1 Garry Howatt LW 77 18 30 48 121 32 1 0 3 Clark Gillies LW 80 25 22 47 66 −4 8 0 4 Andre St. Laurent C 78 14 27 41 60 22 1 0 0 Ralph Stewart C 70 16 24 40 12 −9 6 1 2 Bob Bourne C 77 16 23 39 12 9 2 0 2 Jean Potvin D 73 9 24 33 59 −3 6 1 4 Jude Drouin C 40 14 18 32 6 8 2 0 2 J.P. Parise LW 41 14 16 30 22 10 4 0 1 Bert Marshall D 77 2 28 30 58 18 0 0 0 Billy MacMillan RW 69 13 12 25 12 0 2 1 1 Dave Lewis D 78 5 14 19 98 8 0 0 1 Dave Fortier D 65 6 12 18 79 14 1 0 0 Gerry Hart D 71 4 14 18 143 28 0 1 0 Lorne Henning C 60 5 6 11 6 7 0 4 0 Doug Rombough C 28 5 6 11 6 6 0 0 0 Ernie Hicke LW 20 2 6 8 40 7 0 0 0 Craig Cameron RW 37 1 6 7 4 −3 0 0 0 Walt Ledingham LW 2 0 1 1 0 −3 0 0 0 Tom Miller C 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Chico Resch G 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Billy Smith G 58 0 0 0 21 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO Billy Smith 3368 58 21 18 17 156 2.78 3 Chico Resch 1432 25 12 7 5 59 2.47 3 Team: 4800 80 33 25 22 215 2.69 6

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Jude Drouin C 17 6 12 18 6 1 0 1 J.P. Parise LW 17 8 8 16 22 4 0 1 Ed Westfall D/RW 17 5 10 15 12 2 1 2 Denis Potvin D 17 5 9 14 30 3 1 0 Billy Harris RW 17 3 7 10 12 2 0 1 Bert Marshall D 17 2 5 7 16 0 0 0 Clark Gillies LW 17 4 2 6 36 0 0 2 Garry Howatt LW 17 3 3 6 59 0 0 1 Ralph Stewart C 13 3 3 6 2 1 0 0 Jean Potvin D 15 2 4 6 9 0 0 0 Gerry Hart D 17 2 2 4 42 0 0 1 Andre St. Laurent C 15 2 2 4 6 1 0 0 Bob Nystrom RW 17 1 3 4 27 0 0 0 Bob Bourne C 9 1 2 3 4 1 0 0 Dave Fortier D 14 0 2 2 33 0 0 0 Lorne Henning C 17 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 Dave Lewis D 17 0 1 1 28 0 0 0 Billy MacMillan RW 17 0 1 1 23 0 0 0 Chico Resch G 12 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 Billy Smith G 6 0 0 0 6 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO Chico Resch 692 12 8 4 25 2.17 1 Billy Smith 333 6 1 4 23 4.14 0 Team: 1025 17 9 8 48 2.81 1

^[5]

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;

Awards & records

Transactions

Draft picks

The 1974 NHL amateur draft was held via conference call at the NHL office in Montreal. Below are listed the selections of the New York Islanders:

Pick #	Player	Position	Nationality	College/junior/club team
4	Clark Gillies	Forward	Canada	Regina Pats (WCHL)
22	Bryan Trottier	Center	Canada	Swift Current Broncos (WCHL)
40	Brad Anderson	Center	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WCHL)
76	Carlo Torresan	Defense	Canada	Sorel Eperviers (QMJHL)
94	Sid Prysunka	Left wing	Canada	New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
112	Dave Langevin	Defense	United States	University of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA)
129	Dave Inkpen	Defense	Canada	Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
146	Jim Foubister	Goaltender	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WCHL)
163	Bob Ferguson	Center	Canada	Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)
178	Murray Fleck	Defense	Canada	Estevan Bruins (SJHL)
192	Dave Rooke	Defense	Canada	Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)
204	Neil Smith	Defense	Canada	Brockville Braves (CJHL)
214	Stefan Persson	Defense	Sweden	Brynäs IF (Sweden)
221	Dave Otness	Center	United States	University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
226	Jim Murray	Defense	Canada	Michigan Technological University (WCHA)
229	Mike Dibble	Goaltender	United States	University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
232	Brian Bye	Left wing	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OMJHL)
235	Martti Jarkko	Center	Finland	Tappara Tampere (Finland)
238	Ron Phillips	Defense	Canada	St. Catharines Black Hawks (OMJHL)
Reference: "1974 NHL amateur draft hockeydraftcentral.com". Retrieved November 10, 2013.

See also

• 1974–75 NHL season