# 1973–74 Minnesota Fighting Saints season

The 1973–74 Minnesota Fighting Saints' season was the Minnesota Fighting Saints' second season of operation in the World Hockey Association (WHA).

## Regular season
### Final standings

Western Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PIM | Pts |
| Houston Aeros | 78 | 48 | 25 | 5 | 318 | 219 | 1038 | 101 |
| Minnesota Fighting Saints | 78 | 44 | 32 | 2 | 332 | 275 | 1243 | 90 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 78 | 38 | 37 | 3 | 268 | 269 | 1273 | 79 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 78 | 34 | 39 | 5 | 264 | 296 | 673 | 73 |
| Vancouver Blazers | 78 | 27 | 50 | 1 | 278 | 345 | 1047 | 55 |
| Los Angeles Sharks | 78 | 25 | 53 | 0 | 239 | 339 | 1086 | 50 |

### Game log

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

## Playoffs
### Minnesota Fighting Saints 4, Edmonton Oilers 1 - Semifinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 6 | Edmonton Oilers | 1–2 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 1–0 |
| 2 | April 7 | Edmonton Oilers | 5–8 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 2–0 |
| 3 | April 10 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 6–2 | Edmonton Oilers | 3–0 |
| 4 | April 12 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 1–2 | Edmonton Oilers | 3–1 |
| 5 | April 14 | Edmonton Oilers | 4–5 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 4–1 |

### Houston Aeros 4, Minnesota Fighting Saints 2 - Division Finals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 18 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 5–4 OT | Houston Aeros | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 20 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 2–5 | Houston Aeros | 1–1 |
| 3 | April 21 | Houston Aeros | 1–4 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 1–2 |
| 4 | April 28 | Houston Aeros | 4–1 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 2–2 |
| 5 | April 29 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 4–9 | Houston Aeros | 3–2 |
| 6 | May 1 | Houston Aeros | 3–1 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 4–2 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| 4-Mike Walton | C | 78 | 57 | 60 | 117 | 88 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
| 7-Wayne Connelly | C | 78 | 42 | 53 | 95 | 16 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 6 |
| 9-George Morrison | LW | 73 | 40 | 38 | 78 | 37 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 3 |
| 11-Murray Heatley | RW | 71 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 10-Ted Hampson | C | 77 | 17 | 38 | 55 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 20-Jim Johnson | C | 71 | 15 | 39 | 54 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 12-Mike Antonovich | C | 68 | 21 | 29 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 17-John Arbour | D | 77 | 6 | 43 | 49 | 192 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14-Bob MacMillan | RW | 78 | 14 | 34 | 48 | 81 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 33-Steve Cardwell | LW | 77 | 23 | 23 | 46 | 100 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 23-Mike McMahon | D | 71 | 10 | 35 | 45 | 82 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 3-Rick Smith | D | 71 | 10 | 28 | 38 | 98 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 6-Keith Christiansen | C | 74 | 11 | 25 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 21-Terry Ball | D | 71 | 8 | 28 | 36 | 34 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 5-Rob Walton | C | 45 | 8 | 23 | 31 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 16-Gord Gallant | LW | 72 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 223 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8-Bill Klatt | RW | 65 | 14 | 6 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 24-Bob Boyd | D | 41 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2-Dick Paradise | D | 67 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1-Mike Curran | G | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35-John Garrett | G | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30-Jack McCartan | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blaine Rydman | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| 1-Mike Curran | 2382 | 40 | 23 | 14 | 2 | 130 | 3.27 | 2 |
| 35-John Garrett | 2290 | 40 | 21 | 18 | 0 | 137 | 3.59 | 1 |
| 30-Jack McCartan | 42 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7.14 | 0 |
| Team: | 4714 | 78 | 44 | 32 | 2 | 272 | 3.46 | 3 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| 4-Mike Walton | C | 11 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7-Wayne Connelly | C | 11 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9-George Morrison | LW | 11 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17-John Arbour | D | 11 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10-Ted Hampson | C | 11 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 23-Mike McMahon | D | 11 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8-Bill Klatt | RW | 11 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14-Bob MacMillan | RW | 11 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12-Mike Antonovich | C | 11 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20-Jim Johnson | C | 11 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21-Terry Ball | D | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16-Gord Gallant | LW | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11-Murray Heatley | RW | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6-Keith Christiansen | C | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3-Rick Smith | D | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24-Bob Boyd | D | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33-Steve Cardwell | LW | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1-Mike Curran | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35-John Garrett | G | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18-Bill Goldthorpe | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2-Dick Paradise | D | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| 35-John Garrett | 372 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 4.03 | 0 |
| 1-Mike Curran | 289 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 2.91 | 0 |
| Team: | 661 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 39 | 3.54 | 0 |
Source:
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;

## Transactions

Rob Walton was traded to Vancouver Blazers for Jean Tetreault, January 1974.
Bill Goldthorpe was signed to a contract, May 1974.

## Draft picks

Minnesota's draft picks at the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 7 | Bob Gainey (F) | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 2 | 21 | Rick Middleton (F) | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
| 3 | 33 | Bob Gassoff (D) | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) |
| 4 | 46 | Steve Langdon (RW) | Canada | London Knights (OHA) |
| 5 | 59 | Nelson Pyatt (C) | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
| 6 | 72 | John Flesch (LW) | Canada | Lake Superior State University (CCHA) |
| 7 | 85 | Tom Machowski (D) | United States | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
| 8 | 97 | Bob Young (D) | United States | University of Denver (WCHA) |
| 9 | 108 | Neil Korzack (F) | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 10 | 118 | Pat Phippen (LW) | United States | St. Paul Bruins |