1973–74 Minnesota Fighting Saints season

The 1973–74 Minnesota Fighting Saints season was the 2nd season of the Fighting Saints franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Fighting Saints finished 2nd in the Western Division and lost in the Semi-finals to the Houston Aeros 4 games to 2.
==Off-season==
The Fighting Saints jersey design stayed the same as in the 1972-73 season with two exceptions. The primarily yellow jersey was dropped, leaving the Saints with two jerseys, the primarily white home jersey and primarily dark blue away jersey. The logo with the stylized "S" with "SAINTS" written inside it was also dropped and replaced by a pugnacious-looking hockey tyke with angel wings. These jerseys would remained unchanged for the next two seasons.
==Regular Season==
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results 	Regular Season Results
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===
#	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 1===
Bill Goldthorpe made his WHA debut in this series, picked up 25 penalty minutes and was ejected from Game 4.
#	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 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable"	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
# 	Player	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
4 	 	C 	78	57	60	117	88 	0 	9 	9 	7
7 	 	C 	78	42	53	95 	16 	0 	15 	0 	6
9 	 	LW 	73	40	38	78 	37 	0 	12 	1 	3
11 	 	RW 	71	26	32	58 	23 	0 	3 	0 	5
10 	 	C 	77	17	38	55 	9 	0 	2 	4 	4
20 	 	C 	71	15	39	54 	30 	0 	1 	1 	2
12 	 	C 	68	21	29	50 	4 	0 	2 	0 	4
17 	 	D 	77	6 	43	49 	192	0 	0 	0 	1
14 	 	RW 	78	14	34	48 	81 	0 	3 	0 	0
33 	 	LW 	77	23	23	46 	100	0 	1 	1 	3
23 	 	D 	71	10	35	45 	82 	0 	1 	3 	1
3 	 	D 	71	10	28	38 	98 	0 	0 	1 	3
6 	 	C 	74	11	25	36 	36 	0 	4 	0 	1
21 	 	D 	71	8 	28	36 	34 	0 	4 	0 	0
5 	 	C 	45	8 	23	31 	24 	0 	1 	0 	1
16 	 	LW 	72	7 	15	22 	223	0 	0 	0 	2
8 	 	RW 	65	14	6 	20 	12 	0 	3 	0 	1
24 	 	D 	41	1 	14	15 	14 	0 	0 	0 	0
2 	 	D 	67	2 	7 	9 	71 	0 	0 	0 	0
22 	 	D 	8 	0 	0 	0 	21 	0 	0 	0 	0
30 	 	G 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
1 	 	G 	40	0 	0 	0 	6 	0 	0 	0 	0
35 	 	G 	40	0 	0 	0 	10 	0 	0 	0 	0
Playoffs	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Scoring 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable"	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Player 	Pos	GP	G 	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	C 	11	10	8	18 	16 	0 	0 	3
 	C 	11	6 	7	13 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	11	5 	5	10 	12 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	11	3 	6	9 	27 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	11	4 	4	8 	8 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	11	1 	7	8 	9 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	11	3 	2	5 	18 	0 	0 	1
 	RW 	11	2 	3	5 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	11	1 	4	5 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	11	1 	4	5 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	11	1 	2	3 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	11	1 	2	3 	67 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	10	1 	0	1 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	10	0 	1	1 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	11	0 	1	1 	22 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	3 	0 	0	0 	25 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	7 	0 	0	0 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	7 	0 	0	0 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	10	0 	0	0 	20 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	5 	0 	0	0 	10 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	7 	0 	0	0 	14 	0 	0 	0
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 
==Awards and Records==
*Bill Hunter Trophy (Scoring Leader): Mike Walton
*Mike Walton, Right Wing, WHA Second Team All-Star
==Transactions==
==Draft Picks==
==Farm Teams==
*Johnstown Jets, NAHL
==Gallery==
73-74WHAExhWindsorGameAd.jpg|Pre-season @ Windsor, Ontario
1973-Oct12-McKenzie-Beewitt-Hampson.jpg|Opening night face-off, John McKenzie, WHA VP Beewitt, Ted Hampson, October 12, 1973.
==See Also==
*1973–74 WHA season
==References==
Minnesota Fighting Saints season, 1973–74
Minnesota Fighting Saints season, 1973–74
category:Minnesota Fighting Saints seasons