# 1973–74 New England Whalers season

The 1973–74 New England Whalers season was the second season of the Whalers' franchise. The Whalers qualified for the playoffs for the second-straight season to attempt to defend their championship. They were defeated in the first round by the Chicago Cougars.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Eastern Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PIM | Pts |
| New England Whalers | 78 | 43 | 31 | 4 | 291 | 260 | 875 | 90 |
| Toronto Toros | 78 | 41 | 33 | 4 | 304 | 272 | 871 | 86 |
| Cleveland Crusaders | 78 | 37 | 32 | 9 | 266 | 264 | 1007 | 83 |
| Chicago Cougars | 78 | 38 | 35 | 5 | 271 | 273 | 1041 | 81 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 78 | 38 | 36 | 4 | 306 | 280 | 909 | 80 |
| NY Golden Blades / Jersey Knights | 78 | 32 | 42 | 4 | 268 | 313 | 933 | 68 |

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 7, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | W | October 9, 1973 | 3–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | W | October 13, 1973 | 6–4 | Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | W | October 14, 1973 | 2–1 OT | @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 3–1–0 |
| 5 | T | October 15, 1973 | 3–3 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 3–1–1 |
| 6 | L | October 17, 1973 | 1–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 3–2–1 |
| 7 | L | October 19, 1973 | 0–1 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 3–3–1 |
| 8 | W | October 21, 1973 | 4–3 | @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 4–3–1 |
| 9 | W | October 22, 1973 | 4–1 | New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 5–3–1 |
| 10 | W | October 25, 1973 | 8–3 | @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 6–3–1 |
| 11 | W | October 27, 1973 | 3–1 | Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 7–3–1 |
| 12 | L | November 3, 1973 | 4–5 | Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 7–4–1 |
| 13 | W | November 4, 1973 | 7–5 | Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 8–4–1 |
| 14 | W | November 7, 1973 | 9–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 9–4–1 |
| 15 | L | November 10, 1973 | 3–6 | Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 9–5–1 |
| 16 | L | November 11, 1973 | 2–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 9–6–1 |
| 17 | W | November 12, 1973 | 3–2 OT | New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 10–6–1 |
| 18 | W | November 15, 1973 | 5–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 11–6–1 |
| 19 | L | November 17, 1973 | 4–10 | Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 11–7–1 |
| 20 | W | November 18, 1973 | 5–2 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 12–7–1 |
| 21 | L | November 21, 1973 | 1–4 | @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 12–8–1 |
| 22 | L | November 22, 1973 | 5–7 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 12–9–1 |
| 23 | W | November 26, 1973 | 4–2 | New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 13–9–1 |
| 24 | W | November 29, 1973 | 5–2 | Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 14–9–1 |
| 25 | W | December 2, 1973 | 4–3 | Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 15–9–1 |
| 26 | L | December 8, 1973 | 1–2 OT | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 15–10–1 |
| 27 | W | December 9, 1973 | 3–2 | Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 16–10–1 |
| 28 | W | December 12, 1973 | 8–6 | Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 17–10–1 |
| 29 | W | December 14, 1973 | 3–1 | New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 18–10–1 |
| 30 | L | December 16, 1973 | 2–3 | Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 18–11–1 |
| 31 | W | December 19, 1973 | 4–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 19–11–1 |
| 32 | L | December 22, 1973 | 0–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 19–12–1 |
| 33 | W | December 24, 1973 | 5–4 OT | Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 20–12–1 |
| 34 | W | December 26, 1973 | 3–2 OT | @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 21–12–1 |
| 35 | W | December 27, 1973 | 5–1 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 22–12–1 |
| 36 | L | December 29, 1973 | 2–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 22–13–1 |
| 37 | L | December 30, 1973 | 5–6 OT | @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 22–14–1 |
| 38 | W | January 4, 1974 | 4–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 23–14–1 |
| 39 | L | January 5, 1974 | 0–1 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 23–15–1 |
| 40 | L | January 8, 1974 | 2–3 | Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 23–16–1 |
| 41 | T | January 10, 1974 | 6–6 | @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 23–16–2 |
| 42 | W | January 13, 1974 | 9–6 | Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 24–16–2 |
| 43 | W | January 16, 1974 | 4–2 | New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 25–16–2 |
| 44 | L | January 17, 1974 | 2–5 | Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 25–17–2 |
| 45 | W | January 19, 1974 | 5–2 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 26–17–2 |
| 46 | L | January 20, 1974 | 4–8 | @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 26–18–2 |
| 47 | L | January 22, 1974 | 3–5 | @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 26–19–2 |
| 48 | W | January 26, 1974 | 4–0 | Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 27–19–2 |
| 49 | W | January 28, 1974 | 6–4 | Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 28–19–2 |
| 50 | L | January 31, 1974 | 1–4 | @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 28–20–2 |
| 51 | W | February 2, 1974 | 5–2 | Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 29–20–2 |
| 52 | L | February 3, 1974 | 1–3 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 29–21–2 |
| 53 | L | February 6, 1974 | 0–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 29–22–2 |
| 54 | W | February 8, 1974 | 4–2 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 30–22–2 |
| 55 | L | February 10, 1974 | 2–5 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 30–23–2 |
| 56 | L | February 13, 1974 | 4–9 | @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 30–24–2 |
| 57 | W | February 15, 1974 | 7–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 31–24–2 |
| 58 | W | February 17, 1974 | 3–2 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 32–24–2 |
| 59 | L | February 20, 1974 | 2–4 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 32–25–2 |
| 60 | W | February 23, 1974 | 3–0 | @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 33–25–2 |
| 61 | L | February 24, 1974 | 0–2 | @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 33–26–2 |
| 62 | W | February 27, 1974 | 5–3 | Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 34–26–2 |
| 63 | T | February 28, 1974 | 3–3 | @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 34–26–3 |
| 64 | W | March 2, 1974 | 7–1 | Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 35–26–3 |
| 65 | W | March 3, 1974 | 6–3 | @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 36–26–3 |
| 66 | W | March 5, 1974 | 3–2 | @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 37–26–3 |
| 67 | L | March 6, 1974 | 6–8 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 37–27–3 |
| 68 | W | March 8, 1974 | 7–2 | @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 38–27–3 |
| 69 | L | March 12, 1974 | 3–5 | @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 38–28–3 |
| 70 | W | March 14, 1974 | 6–3 | @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 39–28–3 |
| 71 | W | March 15, 1974 | 6–2 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 40–28–3 |
| 72 | L | March 17, 1974 | 1–10 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 40–29–3 |
| 73 | T | March 20, 1974 | 2–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 40–29–4 |
| 74 | L | March 24, 1974 | 3–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 40–30–4 |
| 75 | W | March 27, 1974 | 7–1 | Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 41–30–4 |
| 76 | W | March 28, 1974 | 3–2 | Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 42–30–4 |
| 77 | W | March 31, 1974 | 3–2 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 43–30–4 |
| 78 | L | April 1, 1974 | 1–4 | Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 43–31–4 |

## Playoffs

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| E1 | New England Whalers | 3 | | | | | | |
| E4 | Chicago Cougars | 4 | | | | | | |
| E4 | Chicago Cougars | 4 | E4 | Chicago Cougars | 4 | | | |
| Eastern Division | Eastern Division | Eastern Division | E4 | Chicago Cougars | 4 | | | |
| Eastern Division | Eastern Division | Eastern Division | E2 | Toronto Toros | 3 | | | |
| E2 | Toronto Toros | 4 | E2 | Toronto Toros | 3 | | | |
| E3 | Cleveland Crusaders | 1 | | | | | | |
| E3 | Cleveland Crusaders | 1 | | | | E4 | Chicago Cougars | 0 |
| | | | | | | W1 | Houston Aeros | 4 |
| W1 | Houston Aeros | 4 | | | | | | | W1 | Houston Aeros | 4 |
| W4 | Winnipeg Jets | 0 | | | | | | |
| W4 | Winnipeg Jets | 0 | W1 | Houston Aeros | 4 | | | |
| Western Division | Western Division | Western Division | W1 | Houston Aeros | 4 | | | |
| Western Division | Western Division | Western Division | W2 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 2 | | | |
| W2 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 4 | W2 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 2 | | | |
| W3 | Edmonton Oilers | 1 | | | | | | |

### Chicago Cougars 4, New England Whalers 3 – Division Quarterfinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 6 | Chicago Cougars | 4–6 | New England Whalers | 1–0 |
| 2 | April 7 | Chicago Cougars | 3 – 4 OT | New England Whalers | 2–0 |
| 3 | April 9 | New England Whalers | 6–8 | Chicago Cougars | 2–1 |
| 4 | April 10 | New England Whalers | 1 – 2 OT | Chicago Cougars | 2–2 |
| 5 | April 12 | Chicago Cougars | 4–2 | New England Whalers | 3–2 |
| 6 | April 14 | New England Whalers | 2–0 | Chicago Cougars | 3–3 |
| 7 | April 16 | Chicago Cougars | 3–2 | New England Whalers | 3–4 |

## Draft picks

New England's draft picks at the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 2 | Glenn Goldup (F) | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 1 | 12 | Blake Dunlop (F) | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 2 | 26 | Mike Clarke (C) | Canada | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 3 | 38 | Tom Colley (C) | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHA) |
| 4 | 41 | Randy Holt (D) | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHA) |
| 4 | 51 | Alan Hangsleben (D) | United States | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
| 5 | 53 | Larry Patey (C) | Canada | Boston University (ECAC) |
| 5 | 64 | Cap Raeder (G) | United States | University of New Hampshire (ECAC) |
| 6 | 77 | Rick Chinnick (F) | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 7 | 90 | Steve Alley (LW) | United States | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |