1973–74 Philadelphia Flyers season

NHLTeamSeason
Season=1973–74
Team=Philadelphia Flyers
Division=West
DivisionRank=1st
Record=50–16–12
HomeRecord=28–6–5
RoadRecord=22–10–7
GoalsFor=273
GoalsAgainst=164
GeneralManager=Keith Allen
Coach= Fred Shero
Captain=Bobby Clarke
AltCaptain=Terry Crisp
Gary Dornhoefer
Joe Watson
Arena=The Spectrum
Attendance=17,007 [FlyersHistory.net, [http://www.flyershistory.net/cgi-bin/attend.cgi All Time Team Attendance] ]
GoalsLeader=Bobby Clarke (35)
AssistsLeader=Bobby Clarke (52)
PointsLeader=Bobby Clarke (87)
PIMLeader=Dave Schultz (348)
PlusMinusLeader=Barry Ashbee (+52)
WinsLeader=Bernie Parent (47)
GAALeader=Bernie Parent (1.89)
StanleyCup=yes
DivisionWin=yesThe 1973–74 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers seventh season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers became the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup.

The Flyers traded 1973 1st Round Pick Bob Neely and futures Doug Favell to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the rights of Bernie Parent, a Original Flyer, and 1973 2nd Round Pick Larry Goodenough. The Flyers would prove that the expansion teams could challenge the Original Six in 1973–74. The Broad Street Bullies would continue their rough-and-tumble ways, led by Dave Schultz's 348 penalty minutes, and they would reach the top of the West Division with a record of 50–16–12. The return of Parent proved to be of great benefit as he established himself as one of if not the best goaltender in the league by winning a record 47 games.

Come playoff time, the Flyers swept the Atlanta Flames in four games in the first round. In the semifinals, the Flyers faced the New York Rangers. The Flyers had home ice advantage, which was a great help since the home teams were 7-0 during the series. Their opponent, Bobby Orr and the Boston Bruins, took Game 1 in Boston, but Bobby Clarke scored an overtime goal in Game 2 to even the series. The Flyers won Games 3 and 4 at home to take a 3–1 series lead, but Boston won Game 5 to stave off elimination. That set the stage for Game 6 at the Spectrum. The Flyers picked up the lead early when Rick MacLeish scored a first period goal. Late in the game, Orr hauled down Clarke on a breakaway; the penalty assured the Flyers of victory. Time expired as the Flyers brought the Stanley Cup to Philadelphia for the first time. Parent, having shutout Boston in Game 6, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Playoff MVP.

Regular season

The 1973-74 season opened on October 11, 1973 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was the first timeKate Smith performed, "God Bless America", in person at a Flyers' game. The Flyers would come out strong to begin the season winning their first four games and only allowing their opponents to score 3 goals total while they netted 18. The Flyers were 29-11-6 heading into the All Star Game, which the Western Division won 6-4 over the Eastern Division. The Flyers were represented in the All Star Game by Bobby Clarke, Bernie Parent, Ed Van Impe, and Joe Watson. The Flyers were 15- 9 - 6 against the Original Six. The Flyers finished 1st in the Western Division and Seven(7) Points ahead of second place team Chicago Blackhawks.

The team was lead offensively by Bobby Clarke, who led the team in Goals with 35, assists with 52 and points with 87. He finished fifth among scoring leader in points. Clarke would be named one of the 2nd Team All Stars along with Defenseman Barry Ashbee. Bobby Clark was followed by Bill Barber in goals (34), Rick MacLeish in assists (45) and Rick MacLeish in points (77).

In net, the Flyers were led by Goaltender Bernie Parent, who went 47-13-12, posted a 1.89GAA (136 Goals Against on 2038 shots) and 12 shutouts. Parent’s 47 wins was a record until Martin Brodeur won 48 games in the 2006–07 NHL season. Bernie Parent tied Chicago Black Hawks’ goaltender Tony Esposito for the Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position"

eason standings

Game log

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Playoffs

The Flyers opened the post season against the 4th place Atlanta Flames. The Flyers swept the Atlanta Flames with a combined score of a four games 17-6. Rick MacLeish led the Flyers with 4 goals during the series. He scored a Natural Hat Trick in Game 2. During this series, the Flyers would play against the father of Ron Hextall, Bryan Hextall Jr..

The Flyers would head into the a grueling match up against the New York Rangers. The Rangers won the Regular Season Series 1-2-2. The series opened up in Philadelphia at the Spectrum. The Flyers would shutout the Rangers 4-0 in Game 1 and take Game 2 5-2. The Series switched back to New York and the Rangers would take Game 3 5-3 and Game 4 in overtime 2-1. The series came to Philadelphia with a Flyers win 4-1. With the Rangers on the verge of defeat in Game 6 the Rangers won 4-1. This led up to Game 7 in Philadelphia and every home team in this series has won. The Flyers chose to not disappoint and Gary Dornhoefer scored the game winning goal with 10:59 left in the third. Rick MacLeish again led the Flyers in scoring in this series with 7 goals.

This set up a Stanley Cup Championship against the Boston Bruins. The Bruins took the Regular Season Series 1-3-1. The series opened in Boston at the Boston Garden with Boston winning Game 1, 3 -2 and the Flyers winning Game 2, 3-2 in overtime on a Bobby Clarke goal. The Series would swing back to Philadelphia were the Flyers would win Game 3, 4-1 and Game 4, 4-2. The series would swing back to Boston with the Bruins on the verge of losing the series. The Bruins would make one last stand by winning Game 5, 5-1. The series arrived back in Philadelphia for Game 6. Kate Smith performed "God Bless America" to a sell out crowd of 17,007 prior to the game. The Flyers would win their first Stanley Cup on the lone goal of the game by Rick MacLeish in the First Period. With seconds left on the ClockGene Hart, Philadelphia Flyers Announcer, made his famous call “Ladies and gentlemen, the Flyers are going to win the Stanley Cup. The Flyers win the Stanley Cup. The Flyers win the Stanley Cup. The Flyers have won the Stanley Cup!” [cite web
last = Rogers
first = Danny
title = Memories of the Spectrum
publisher =
date =
url =http://novasportspicks.com/DannyRogersblog/2008/07/memories_of_the_spectrum.html] Bobby Clark led the Flyers in scoring in this series with 3 goals. Bernie Parent won the Conn Smythe Trophy, Playoff MVP and Fred Shero won the Jack Adams Award

Game log

Player stats

katers

"Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes"

Records

Additions and subtractions

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft in Montreal, Quebec. [hockeydb.com, [http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1973a.html 1973 NHL Amateur Draft] ]

Farm teams

The Flyers were affliated with the Richmond Robins of the AHL and the San Diego Gulls of the WHL. [FlyersHistory.net, [http://www.flyershistory.net/cgi-bin/otheraffiliates.cgi Non-AHL Affiliates] ] Rene Drolet led the Robins with 73 points and Richmond finished 4th in their division and lost in five games to the Baltimore Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. [FlyersHistory.net, [http://www.flyershistory.net/cgi-bin/ml-season.cgi?1973-74 AHL Season Overview: 1973–74] ] San Diego finished 3rd in the 6-team WHL's final season in existence. The Gulls also ceased operations once the New Jersey Knights of the WHA moved to San Diego and became the San Diego Mariners.

ee also

*1973–74 NHL season
*1974 Stanley Cup Finals

References

*General: [http://www.flyershistory.net/cgi-bin/season.cgi?1973-74 1973–74 Flyers season] on FlyersHistory.net
*Regular season game log: [http://www.flyershistory.net/cgi-bin/games.cgi?1973-74 Philadelphia Flyers regular season game log] on FlyersHistory.net
*Playoffs game log: [http://www.flyershistory.net/cgi-bin/poffs.cgi Philadelphia Flyers playoffs game log] on FlyersHistory.net