1973–74 New England Whalers season

The was the 2nd season of the Whalers' franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Whalers finished 1st in the Eastern Division and lost in the Quarter-finals to the Chicago Cougars 4 games to 3.
==Off-season==
The Whalers green away jersey remained unchanged from the 1972-73 season. The white home jersey had yellow highlights added to the stripes, collar, numbers and socks. But most significantly, the logo had the roundel removed, the "W" was enlarged and the horizontal harpoon was enlarged and changed from black to green. The white jersey would remain unchanged for the rest of the Whalers stint in the WHA.
==Pre-season==
In order to promote the New York Golden Blades, a four team mini-tournament featuring the Houston Aeros, Winnipeg Jets and New England Whalers was held at Madison Square Garden on September 25, 1973.
==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 	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==
===Chicago Cougars 4, New England Whalers 3===
#	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
==Player Stats==
===Skaters===
Note: GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties In Minutes
# 	Player 	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
# 	Player 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
11	John French 	77 	24 	48 	72 	31 	7 	4 	2 	6 	2
8 	Tom Webster 	64 	43 	27 	70 	28 	3 	5 	0 	5 	7
4 	Larry Pleau 	77 	26 	43 	69 	35 	2 	2 	0 	2 	0
14	Al Karlander 	77 	20 	41 	61 	46 	7 	1 	3 	4 	2
22	Don Blackburn 	75 	20 	39 	59 	18 	7 	2 	4 	6 	4
15	Tim Sheehy 	77 	29 	29 	58 	22 	7 	4 	2 	6 	4
9 	Tom Williams 	70 	21 	37 	58 	6 	4 	0 	3 	3 	10
16	Hugh Harris 	75 	24 	28 	52 	78 	7 	0 	4 	4 	11
21	Mike Byers 	78 	29 	21 	50 	6 	7 	2 	4 	6 	12
10	Jim Dorey 	77 	6 	40 	46 	134 	6 	0 	6 	6 	26
2 	Rick Ley 	72 	6 	35 	41 	148 	7 	1 	5 	6 	18
3 	Brad Selwood 	76 	9 	28 	37 	91 	7 	0 	2 	2 	11
6 	Ted Green 	75 	7 	26 	33 	42 	7 	0 	4 	4 	2
27	Tommy Earl 	78 	10 	10 	20 	29 	7 	0 	2 	2 	2
5 	Paul Hurley 	52 	3 	11 	14 	21 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
17	John Cunniff 	30 	7 	5 	12 	21 	5 	1 	1 	2 	0
18	Bob Charlebois	74 	4 	7 	11 	6 	7 	0 	0 	0 	0
19	Guy Smith 	16 	1 	5 	6 	25 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
12	John Danby 	72 	2 	2 	4 	6 	7 	1 	0 	1 	0
20	Ric Jordan 	34 	0 	3 	3 	14 	7 	1 	0 	1 	6
1 	Al Smith 	55 	0 	1 	1 	39 	7 	0 	1 	1 	12
 	Mike Keeler 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
35	Bill Berglund 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
30	Bruce Landon 	24 	0 	0 	0 	24 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
Statistics for all players reflect only games played with the Whalers.
===Goaltenders===
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
# 	Player 	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
# 	Player 	GP 	TOI 	W 	L 	T 	GA 	SO 	SV% 	GAA 	GP 	TOI 	W 	L 	GA 	SO 	SV% 	GAA
1 	Al Smith 	55 	3194 	30 	21 	2 	164 	2 	0.895 	3.08 	7 	399 	3 	4 	21 	1 	0.854 	3.22
 	Bill Berglund	3 	180 	2 	1 	0 	10 	0 	0.888 	3.33 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
30	Bruce Landon 	24 	1386 	11 	9 	2 	82 	0 	0.882 	3.55 	1 	40 	0 	0 	3 	0 	.913 	4.50
==Awards and Records==
*The Whalers did not win any awards this season.
==Transactions==
==Draft Picks==
==Farm Teams==
==See Also==
*1973–74 WHA season
==References==
* 
New England Whalers season, 1973–74
New England Whalers season, 1973–74
category:Hartford Whalers seasons
category:New England Whalers seasons