# 1973–74 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1973–74 Montreal Canadiens season was the 65th season in team history. The Canadiens qualified for the playoffs, losing in the first round to the New York Rangers.

## Off-season

Ken Dryden shocked the hockey world as he sat out the entire 1973–74 season. He had won a Vezina Trophy and helped lead Canada past Russia in the dramatic Hockey Summit of 1972. Despite his bargaining power, most players in Dryden's position would have simply accepted what the Canadiens were giving him. Dryden bolted training camp, while general manager Sam Pollock fumed.

## Regular season

Wayne Thomas replaced Dryden as the starting goaltender and appeared in 42 games. Frank Mahovlich led the team in scoring with 80 points, while Yvan Cournoyer led the team in goals with 40.

### Final standings

East Division vte :
| | | 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
## Playoffs

The Canadiens qualified for the playoffs in second place, setting up a match-up with the third-place New York Rangers. The Rangers defeated the Canadiens twice at the Forum to win the series four games to two. Rookie goaltender Michel Larocque played all six games for the Canadiens.

## Schedule and results

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 10, 1973 | 5–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 13, 1973 | 4–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | L | October 17, 1973 | 3–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | L | October 20, 1973 | 2–4 | Atlanta Flames (1973–74) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | W | October 21, 1973 | 3–2 | @ New York Rangers (1973–74) | 3–2–0 |
| 6 | W | October 24, 1973 | 3–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) | 4–2–0 |
| 7 | W | October 25, 1973 | 4–0 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) | 5–2–0 |
| 8 | W | October 27, 1973 | 4–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) | 6–2–0 |
| 9 | T | October 31, 1973 | 1–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) | 6–2–1 |
| 10 | W | November 3, 1973 | 6–2 | California Golden Seals (1973–74) | 7–2–1 |
| 11 | T | November 4, 1973 | 1–1 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) | 7–2–2 |
| 12 | W | November 7, 1973 | 4–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) | 8–2–2 |
| 13 | L | November 8, 1973 | 1–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1973–74) | 8–3–2 |
| 14 | L | November 10, 1973 | 0–5 | St. Louis Blues (1973–74) | 8–4–2 |
| 15 | L | November 14, 1973 | 3–4 | Boston Bruins (1973–74) | 8–5–2 |
| 16 | W | November 17, 1973 | 8–5 | Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) | 9–5–2 |
| 17 | L | November 18, 1973 | 4–6 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) | 9–6–2 |
| 18 | W | November 21, 1973 | 4–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) | 10–6–2 |
| 19 | W | November 24, 1973 | 5–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) | 11–6–2 |
| 20 | W | November 25, 1973 | 6–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) | 12–6–2 |
| 21 | W | November 28, 1973 | 5–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) | 13–6–2 |
| 22 | L | December 1, 1973 | 0–5 | Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) | 13–7–2 |
| 23 | W | December 2, 1973 | 3–1 | @ Atlanta Flames (1973–74) | 14–7–2 |
| 24 | W | December 6, 1973 | 4–2 | @ New York Islanders (1973–74) | 15–7–2 |
| 25 | W | December 8, 1973 | 3–1 | New York Islanders (1973–74) | 16–7–2 |
| 26 | T | December 11, 1973 | 2–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) | 16–7–3 |
| 27 | T | December 14, 1973 | 2–2 | @ California Golden Seals (1973–74) | 16–7–4 |
| 28 | W | December 15, 1973 | 6–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) | 17–7–4 |
| 29 | W | December 18, 1973 | 4–1 | California Golden Seals (1973–74) | 18–7–4 |
| 30 | T | December 20, 1973 | 2–2 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) | 18–7–5 |
| 31 | W | December 22, 1973 | 7–1 | Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) | 19–7–5 |
| 32 | T | December 23, 1973 | 1–1 | @ New York Islanders (1973–74) | 19–7–6 |
| 33 | L | December 26, 1973 | 2–9 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) | 19–8–6 |
| 34 | W | December 29, 1973 | 7–1 | New York Rangers (1973–74) | 20–8–6 |
| 35 | L | January 2, 1974 | 4–8 | @ St. Louis Blues (1973–74) | 20–9–6 |
| 36 | W | January 5, 1974 | 5–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) | 21–9–6 |
| 37 | W | January 7, 1974 | 2–1 | Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) | 22–9–6 |
| 38 | W | January 10, 1974 | 8–3 | New York Islanders (1973–74) | 23–9–6 |
| 39 | W | January 12, 1974 | 7–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1973–74) | 24–9–6 |
| 40 | L | January 15, 1974 | 1–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) | 24–10–6 |
| 41 | W | January 17, 1974 | 6–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) | 25–10–6 |
| 42 | L | January 19, 1974 | 0–8 | Boston Bruins (1973–74) | 25–11–6 |
| 43 | W | January 20, 1974 | 3–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) | 26–11–6 |
| 44 | W | January 23, 1974 | 4–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) | 27–11–6 |
| 45 | W | January 24, 1974 | 4–1 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) | 28–11–6 |
| 46 | W | January 26, 1974 | 4–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) | 29–11–6 |
| 47 | L | February 1, 1974 | 3–5 | @ Atlanta Flames (1973–74) | 29–12–6 |
| 48 | W | February 3, 1974 | 4–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) | 30–12–6 |
| 49 | W | February 5, 1974 | 3–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1973–74) | 31–12–6 |
| 50 | L | February 6, 1974 | 3–4 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) | 31–13–6 |
| 51 | W | February 9, 1974 | 7–2 | New York Rangers (1973–74) | 32–13–6 |
| 52 | L | February 10, 1974 | 1–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) | 32–14–6 |
| 53 | L | February 13, 1974 | 2–3 | Atlanta Flames (1973–74) | 32–15–6 |
| 54 | W | February 15, 1974 | 9–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) | 33–15–6 |
| 55 | T | February 17, 1974 | 2–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) | 33–15–7 |
| 56 | L | February 19, 1974 | 3–5 | @ New York Islanders (1973–74) | 33–16–7 |
| 57 | W | February 21, 1974 | 5–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) | 34–16–7 |
| 58 | T | February 23, 1974 | 4–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) | 34–16–8 |
| 59 | W | February 24, 1974 | 3–2 | St. Louis Blues (1973–74) | 35–16–8 |
| 60 | W | February 26, 1974 | 6–5 | @ Atlanta Flames (1973–74) | 36–16–8 |
| 61 | W | February 28, 1974 | 7–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) | 37–16–8 |
| 62 | L | March 2, 1974 | 3–4 | California Golden Seals (1973–74) | 37–17–8 |
| 63 | L | March 3, 1974 | 0–6 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) | 37–18–8 |
| 64 | L | March 6, 1974 | 2–9 | @ New York Rangers (1973–74) | 37–19–8 |
| 65 | W | March 9, 1974 | 4–2 | New York Rangers (1973–74) | 38–19–8 |
| 66 | W | March 10, 1974 | 5–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) | 39–19–8 |
| 67 | T | March 13, 1974 | 3–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) | 39–19–9 |
| 68 | L | March 16, 1974 | 1–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) | 39–20–9 |
| 69 | W | March 17, 1974 | 4–2 | New York Islanders (1973–74) | 40–20–9 |
| 70 | L | March 20, 1974 | 6–7 | Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) | 40–21–9 |
| 71 | W | March 23, 1974 | 7–3 | St. Louis Blues (1973–74) | 41–21–9 |
| 72 | L | March 24, 1974 | 3–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1973–74) | 41–22–9 |
| 73 | W | March 26, 1974 | 4–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) | 42–22–9 |
| 74 | W | March 29, 1974 | 4–3 | @ California Golden Seals (1973–74) | 43–22–9 |
| 75 | W | March 30, 1974 | 5–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) | 44–22–9 |
| 76 | L | April 3, 1974 | 3–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) | 44–23–9 |
| 77 | W | April 6, 1974 | 6–2 | Boston Bruins (1973–74) | 45–23–9 |
| 78 | L | April 7, 1974 | 4–6 | @ New York Rangers (1973–74) | 45–24–9 |

### Playoffs

* 4/10/1974 New York Rangers 1–4
* 4/11/1974 New York Rangers 4–1
* 4/13/1974 at New York Rangers 4–2
* 4/14/1974 at New York Rangers 4–6
* 4/16/1974 New York Rangers 2–3
* 4/18/1974 at New York Rangers 2–5

## Awards and records

* Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Henri Richard, Montreal Canadiens

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Frank Mahovlich | LW | 71 | 31 | 49 | 80 | 47 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 3 |
| Yvan Cournoyer | RW | 67 | 40 | 33 | 73 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 9 |
| Pete Mahovlich | C | 78 | 36 | 37 | 73 | 122 | 42 | 7 | 4 | 7 |
| Jacques Lemaire | C | 66 | 29 | 38 | 67 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 7 |
| Guy Lafleur | RW | 73 | 21 | 35 | 56 | 29 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Henri Richard | C | 75 | 19 | 36 | 55 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Chuck Lefley | LW | 74 | 23 | 31 | 54 | 34 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Guy Lapointe | D | 71 | 13 | 40 | 53 | 63 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| Steve Shutt | LW | 70 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 17 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Murray Wilson | LW | 72 | 17 | 14 | 31 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Larry Robinson | D | 78 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 66 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Claude Larose | RW | 39 | 17 | 7 | 24 | 52 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jim Roberts | D/RW | 67 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 39 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Serge Savard | D | 67 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 49 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Yvon Lambert | LW | 60 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 42 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pierre Bouchard | D | 60 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 25 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacques Laperriere | D | 42 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Dave Gardner | C | 31 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Gainey | LW | 66 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 34 | −9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Van Boxmeer | D | 20 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 18 | −3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Larocque | G | 27 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Thomas | G | 42 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Wilson | D | 21 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glenn Goldup | RW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Plasse | G | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Wayne Thomas | 2410 | 42 | 23 | 12 | 5 | 111 | 2.76 | 1 |
| Michel Larocque | 1431 | 27 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 69 | 2.89 | 0 |
| Michel Plasse | 839 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 57 | 4.08 | 0 |
| Team: | 4680 | 78 | 45 | 24 | 9 | 237 | 3.04 | 1 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Steve Shutt | LW | 6 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Yvan Cournoyer | RW | 6 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Henri Richard | C | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacques Lemaire | C | 6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pete Mahovlich | C | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Mahovlich | LW | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Serge Savard | D | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pierre Bouchard | D | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Guy Lapointe | D | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Larocque | G | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Claude Larose | RW | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Murray Wilson | LW | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Guy Lafleur | RW | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chuck Lefley | LW | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Robinson | D | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Gainey | LW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yvon Lambert | LW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Roberts | D/RW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Van Boxmeer | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Michel Larocque | 364 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 2.97 | 0 |
| Team: | 364 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 2.97 | 0 |
    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;

## Draft picks

| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/junior/club team (league) |
| 1 | 8 | Bob Gainey | Left wing | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 2 | 17 | Glenn Goldup | Right wing | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 2 | 22 | Peter Marrin | Centre | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 2 | 32 | Ron Andruff | Centre | Canada | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) |
| 3 | 37 | Ed Humphreys | Goaltender | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 4 | 56 | Alan Hangsleben | Defence | United States | University of North Dakota (NCAA) |
| 4 | 64 | Richard Latulippe | Centre | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 80 | Gerard Gibbons | Defence | Canada | St. Mary's University (CIAU) |
| 6 | 96 | Denis Patry | Right wing | Canada | Drummondville Rangers (QMJHL) |
| 7 | 112 | Michel Belisle | Centre | Canada | Montreal Junior Canadiens (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 128 | Mario Desjardins | Left wing | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 143 | Bob Wright | Right wing | Canada | Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJAHL) |
| 10 | 158 | Alain Labrecque | Centre | Canada | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) |
| 11 | 166 | Gord Halliday | Right wing | Canada | University of Pennsylvania (NCAA) |
| 12 | 167 | Cap Raeder | Goaltender | United States | University of New Hampshire (NCAA) |
| 13 | 168 | Louis Chiasson | Centre | Canada | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) |