The 1973–74 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' seventh

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

Offseason

Forward

Serge Bernier Serge Joseph Bernier (born April 29, 1947) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played seven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings and Quebec Nordiques and six seasons ...

(22 goals, 46 assists) jumped to the

Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques (, pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated "Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association (1972–1979) an ...

of the WHA.

Regular season

After finishing strong in 1972–73 and barely missing the playoffs, the Kings had high hopes for the 1973–74 season. But the team started slowly and by the end of November, they were 5–14–3 and in last place. Then they made a blockbuster trade, sending their best defenseman Gilles Marotte to the

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

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 21–30–10 for 52 points and 7th place in the 8 team Western Division. The Kings then went 9–0–2 over the next 3 weeks and climbed into 3rd place, passing the

Atlanta Flames The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta from 1972 until 1980. They played home games in the Omni Coliseum and were members of the West and later Patrick divisions of the National Hockey League (NHL). Along with t ...

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

, and

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

. 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 The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

by 8 goals to finish even in goal differential on the season, which was one of coach

Bob Pulford Robert Jesse Pulford (born March 31, 1936) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League. He later served as head coach of the Kings before spendi ...

's goals at the beginning of the season. Not only did the Kings win, they won 11–1 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 2016–17 season.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , L, , October 10, 1973, , 0–3 , , align="left",

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

( 1973–74) , , 0–1–0 , - , 2, , L, , October 13, 1973, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

( 1973–74) , , 0–2–0 , - , 3, , T, , October 14, 1973, , 1–1 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 0–2–1 , - , 4, , T, , October 16, 1973, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

( 1973–74) , , 0–2–2 , - , 5, , L, , October 18, 1973, , 2–6 , , align="left", @

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

( 1973–74) , , 0–3–2 , - , 6, , W, , October 20, 1973, , 3–0 , , align="left",

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 1973–74) , , 1–3–2 , - , 7, , W, , October 24, 1973, , 6–4 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 2–3–2 , - , 8, , L, , October 27, 1973, , 2–3 , , align="left",

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

( 1973–74) , , 2–4–2 , - , 9, , W, , October 30, 1973, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 3–4–2 , - , - , 10, , W, , November 1, 1973, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 4–4–2 , - , 11, , L, , November 3, 1973, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 4–5–2 , - , 12, , L, , November 7, 1973, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 4–6–2 , - , 13, , W, , November 8, 1973, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 5–6–2 , - , 14, , L, , November 10, 1973, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 5–7–2 , - , 15, , L, , November 11, 1973, , 0–3 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 5–8–2 , - , 16, , L, , November 14, 1973, , 4–5 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 5–9–2 , - , 17, , L, , November 17, 1973, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 5–10–2 , - , 18, , L, , November 20, 1973, , 5–6 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 5–11–2 , - , 19, , T, , November 24, 1973, , 5–5 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 5–11–3 , - , 20, , L, , November 25, 1973, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

( 1973–74) , , 5–12–3 , - , 21, , L, , November 28, 1973, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

( 1973–74) , , 5–13–3 , - , 22, , L, , November 29, 1973, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 5–14–3 , - , - , 23, , T, , December 1, 1973, , 1–1 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 5–14–4 , - , 24, , W, , December 4, 1973, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 6–14–4 , - , 25, , W, , December 5, 1973, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 7–14–4 , - , 26, , W, , December 8, 1973, , 3–0 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 8–14–4 , - , 27, , L, , December 11, 1973, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 8–15–4 , - , 28, , W, , December 13, 1973, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 9–15–4 , - , 29, , L, , December 15, 1973, , 2–6 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 9–16–4 , - , 30, , T, , December 18, 1973, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 9–16–5 , - , 31, , L, , December 19, 1973, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 9–17–5 , - , 32, , W, , December 22, 1973, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 10–17–5 , - , 33, , T, , December 26, 1973, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 10–17–6 , - , 34, , L, , December 27, 1973, , 4–6 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 10–18–6 , - , 35, , W, , December 29, 1973, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 11–18–6 , - , - , 36, , L, , January 2, 1974, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

California Golden Seals The California Golden Seals were a professional ice hockey club that competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1967–68 NHL season, 1967 to 1975–76 NHL season, 1976. Based in Oakland, California, they played their home games at the Oa ...

( 1973–74) , , 11–19–6 , - , 37, , W, , January 5, 1974, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 12–19–6 , - , 38, , W, , January 8, 1974, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 13–19–6 , - , 39, , T, , January 9, 1974, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 13–19–7 , - , 40, , L, , January 12, 1974, , 0–6 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 13–20–7 , - , 41, , W, , January 15, 1974, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 14–20–7 , - , 42, , W, , January 16, 1974, , 2–0 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 15–20–7 , - , 43, , L, , January 19, 1974, , 0–2 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 15–21–7 , - , 44, , L, , January 20, 1974, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 15–22–7 , - , 45, , W, , January 23, 1974, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 16–22–7 , - , 46, , T, , January 24, 1974, , 4–4 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 16–22–8 , - , 47, , W, , January 26, 1974, , 2–0 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 17–22–8 , - , 48, , L, , January 27, 1974, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 17–23–8 , - , 49, , L, , January 31, 1974, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 17–24–8 , - , - , 50, , W, , February 2, 1974, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 18–24–8 , - , 51, , W, , February 6, 1974, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 19–24–8 , - , 52, , W, , February 9, 1974, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 20–24–8 , - , 53, , W, , February 10, 1974, , 6–3 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 21–24–8 , - , 54, , L, , February 13, 1974, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 21–25–8 , - , 55, , L, , February 14, 1974, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 21–26–8 , - , 56, , L, , February 16, 1974, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 21–27–8 , - , 57, , L, , February 19, 1974, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 21–28–8 , - , 58, , L, , February 21, 1974, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 21–29–8 , - , 59, , T, , February 23, 1974, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 21–29–9 , - , 60, , T, , February 24, 1974, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 21–29–10 , - , 61, , L, , February 27, 1974, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 21–30–10 , - , 62, , W, , February 28, 1974, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 22–30–10 , - , - , 63, , W, , March 2, 1974, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 23–30–10 , - , 64, , W, , March 5, 1974, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 24–30–10 , - , 65, , W, , March 7, 1974, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 25–30–10 , - , 66, , T, , March 9, 1974, , 4–4 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 25–30–11 , - , 67, , W, , March 13, 1974, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 26–30–11 , - , 68, , W, , March 16, 1974, , 2–0 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 27–30–11 , - , 69, , T, , March 19, 1974, , 1–1 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 27–30–12 , - , 70, , W, , March 21, 1974, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 28–30–12 , - , 71, , W, , March 23, 1974, , 5–0 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 29–30–12 , - , 72, , W, , March 24, 1974, , 7–1 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 30–30–12 , - , 73, , L, , March 26, 1974, , 1–5 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 30–31–12 , - , 74, , W, , March 28, 1974, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 31–31–12 , - , 75, , L, , March 30, 1974, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 31–32–12 , - , - , 76, , W, , April 3, 1974, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 32–32–12 , - , 77, , L, , April 5, 1974, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1973–74) , , 32–33–12 , - , 78, , W, , April 6, 1974, , 11–1 , , align="left",

( 1973–74) , , 33–33–12 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

*Kings 1 at Black Hawks 3 *Kings 1 at Black Hawks 4 *Black Hawks 1 at Kings 0 *Black Hawks 1 at Kings 5 *Kings 0 at Black Hawks 1 The Kings were heavy underdogs against the

but put up a strong showing. While Kings goalie

Rogie Vachon Rogatien Rosaire "Rogie the Goalie" Vachon (born September 8, 1945) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey Leagu ...

was excellent, the difference was Chicago goalie

Tony Esposito Anthony James "Tony O" Esposito (April 23, 1943 – August 10, 2021) was a Canadian-American professional ice hockey goaltender, who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), 15 of those for the Chicago Black Hawks. He was one of ...

who was brilliant. Game one saw the Black Hawks score in the 3rd period to take a 2–1 lead and they added an empty net goal to win, 3–1. Game two was similar; this time Chicago led 3–1 when they scored an empty net goal late to make it 4–1. 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 1–0 and had a commanding 3–0 series lead. Game 4 was played the very next day so both coaches rested their #1 goalies; the Kings played Gary Edwards over

and Chicago went with Mike Veisor over

. The Kings were so relieved to have Esposito out that they dominated in a 5–1 win, their first playoff victory since a game 7 win over the

Oakland Seals The California Golden Seals were a professional ice hockey club that competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1967 to 1976. Based in Oakland, California, they played their home games at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena. The ...

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 0–0 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.

Player statistics

Awards and records

Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1973–74 season.

Trades

Free agent signings

Intra-league Draft

Draft picks

Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1973 NHL amateur draft held at the

Queen Elizabeth Hotel Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth () is a historic grand hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. With 950 rooms and 21 floors it is the largest hotel in Quebec, and the second largest Fairmont hotel in Canada after the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Lo ...

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1973-74 Los Angeles Kings season Los Los Angeles Kings seasons Los Los 1970s in Los Angeles County, California