1973–74 Montreal Canadiens season



The 1973–74 Montreal Canadiens season was the 65th season in team history. The Canadiens finished 2nd in the East Division and lost in the Quarter-finals to the New York Rangers 4 games to 2.

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. Wayne Thomas replaced Dryden as the starting goaltender and appeared in 42 games.

Regular Season
On March 23, 1974, the Boston Bruins played the Canadiens at home. After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, Gregg Sheppard and Wayne Cashman set up goals by Dave Forbes and Carol Vadnais. After an Andre Savard slapshot beat Montreal goalie Michel Plasse, Sheppard won a face-off back to Bobby Orr. Plasse kicked out Orr's slapshot to Sheppard who fired it in to cap off a Bruins four goal second period. Jimmy Roberts made it close in the third period, banking in a Murray Wilson centering pass before Phil Esposito scored on a breakaway. Sheppard won another face-off which lead to a Bobby Schmautz tip-in goal, putting the game out of reach for Montreal. Sheppard's four points powered the Bruins to a 6-3 victory.

New York Rangers 4, Montreal Canadiens 2
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.


 * 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

Regular Season

 * Scoring
 * Goaltending

Playoffs

 * Scoring
 * Goaltending

Note: 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 Masterton Memorial Trophy: Henri Richard