1973–74 Atlanta Flames season

{{1973–74 NHL West Division standings|team=ATL}}

{{1973–74 NHL Record vs. opponents (West)|team=ATL}}

{{Game log start|style=background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 5px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 5px solid;|title=1973–74 regular season{{cite web |title=1973-74 Atlanta Flames Schedule |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/ATF/1974_games.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=March 24, 2025}}}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid;|title=October| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Attendance}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|1||T||October 10, 1973||1–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1973–74) ||0–0–1 ||12,144

|- {{Game-lost}}

|2||L||October 12, 1973||3–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) ||0–1–1 ||13,287

|- {{Game-won}}

|3||W||October 13, 1973||1–0 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1973–74) ||1–1–1 ||18,836

|- {{Game-won}}

|4||W||October 17, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1973–74) ||2–1–1 ||14,498

|- {{Game-won}}

|5||W||October 20, 1973||4–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) ||3–1–1 ||16,616

|- {{Game-lost}}

|6||L||October 23, 1973||0–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) ||3–2–1 ||15,570

|- {{Game-lost}}

|7||L||October 24, 1973||4–6 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) ||3–3–1 ||8,367

|- {{Game-won}}

|8||W||October 26, 1973||3–1 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1973–74) ||4–3–1 ||N/A

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid;|title=November| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Attendance}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|9||W||November 1, 1973||7–2 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1973–74) ||5–3–1 ||13,480

|- {{Game-won}}

|10||W||November 3, 1973||2–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) ||6–3–1 ||17,007

|- {{Game-won}}

|11||W||November 4, 1973||2–0 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) ||7–3–1 ||13,659

|- {{Game-tied}}

|12||T||November 7, 1973||2–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1973–74) ||7–3–2 ||14,217

|- {{Game-tied}}

|13||T||November 9, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1973–74) ||7–3–3 ||15,141

|- {{Game-tied}}

|14||T||November 10, 1973||4–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) ||7–3–4 ||11,342

|- {{Game-lost}}

|15||L||November 14, 1973||1–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) ||7–4–4 ||13,123

|- {{Game-lost}}

|16||L||November 16, 1973||1–6 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) ||7–5–4 ||15,141

|- {{Game-lost}}

|17||L||November 18, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1973–74) ||7–6–4 ||15,003

|- {{Game-won}}

|18||W||November 21, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) ||8–6–4 ||12,889

|- {{Game-won}}

|19||W||November 23, 1973||4–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) ||9–6–4 ||15,141

|- {{Game-won}}

|20||W||November 25, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) ||10–6–4 ||15,858

|- {{Game-lost}}

|21||L||November 27, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1973–74) ||10–7–4 ||12,016

|- {{Game-won}}

|22||W||November 29, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) ||11–7–4 ||13,128

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid;|title=December| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Attendance}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|23||T||December 1, 1973||2–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) ||11–7–5 ||10,413

|- {{Game-lost}}

|24||L||December 2, 1973||1–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) ||11–8–5 ||13,892

|- {{Game-tied}}

|25||T||December 5, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1973–74) ||11–8–6 ||3,137

|- {{Game-won}}

|26||W||December 7, 1973||2–0 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) ||12–8–6 ||15,570

|- {{Game-lost}}

|27||L||December 8, 1973||0–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) ||12–9–6 ||10,535

|- {{Game-lost}}

|28||L||December 13, 1973||1–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) ||12–10–6 ||13,220

|- {{Game-won}}

|29||W||December 15, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) ||13–10–6 ||17,007

|- {{Game-lost}}

|30||L||December 16, 1973||1–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) ||13–11–6 ||12,510

|- {{Game-lost}}

|31||L||December 19, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) ||13–12–6 ||14,756

|- {{Game-lost}}

|32||L||December 21, 1973||1–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1973–74) ||13–13–6 ||13,454

|- {{Game-won}}

|33||W||December 23, 1973||3–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1973–74) ||14–13–6 ||13,627

|- {{Game-won}}

|34||W||December 27, 1973||6–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) ||15–13–6 ||15,141

|- {{Game-tied}}

|35||T||December 29, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) ||15–13–7 ||16,485

|- {{Game-lost}}

|36||L||December 30, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) ||15–14–7 ||14,518

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid;|title=January| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Attendance}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|37||W||January 3, 1974||3–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) ||16–14–7 ||14,002

|- {{Game-lost}}

|38||L||January 6, 1974||2–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1973–74) ||16–15–7 ||17,500

|- {{Game-lost}}

|39||L||January 7, 1974||2–6 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) ||16–16–7 ||16,485

|- {{Game-won}}

|40||W||January 9, 1974||3–0 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) ||17–16–7 ||12,522

|- {{Game-lost}}

|41||L||January 11, 1974||6–7 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) ||17–17–7 ||15,141

|- {{Game-lost}}

|42||L||January 13, 1974||0–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) ||17–18–7 ||17,007

|- {{Game-lost}}

|43||L||January 15, 1974||3–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1973–74) ||17–19–7 ||12,524

|- {{Game-won}}

|44||W||January 18, 1974||6–2 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1973–74) ||18–19–7 ||14,118

|- {{Game-lost}}

|45||L||January 20, 1974||1–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1973–74) ||18–20–7 ||14,247

|- {{Game-lost}}

|46||L||January 23, 1974||1–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1973–74) ||18–21–7 ||17,500

|- {{Game-tied}}

|47||T||January 25, 1974||2–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) ||18–21–8 ||14,568

|- {{Game-lost}}

|48||L||January 27, 1974||2–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) ||18–22–8 ||13,192

|- {{Game-lost}}

|49||L||January 31, 1974||2–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1973–74) ||18–23–8 ||15,003

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid;|title=February| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Attendance}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|50||W||February 1, 1974||5–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) ||19–23–8 ||15,141

|- {{Game-tied}}

|51||T||February 3, 1974||2–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) ||19–23–9 ||14,123

|- {{Game-tied}}

|52||T||February 6, 1974||1–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) ||19–23–10 ||N/A

|- {{Game-lost}}

|53||L||February 8, 1974||0–3 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) ||19–24–10 ||15,141

|- {{Game-lost}}

|54||L||February 10, 1974||3–6 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) ||19–25–10 ||13,652

|- {{Game-won}}

|55||W||February 12, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1973–74) ||20–25–10 ||13,376

|- {{Game-won}}

|56||W||February 13, 1974||3–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) ||21–25–10 ||16,581

|- {{Game-lost}}

|57||L||February 16, 1974||2–7 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) ||21–26–10 ||16,485

|- {{Game-lost}}

|58||L||February 19, 1974||1–7 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1973–74) ||21–27–10 ||18,249

|- {{Game-tied}}

|59||T||February 21, 1974||4–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) ||21–27–11 ||15,858

|- {{Game-won}}

|60||W||February 23, 1974||5–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) ||22–27–11 ||15,570

|- {{Game-lost}}

|61||L||February 26, 1974||5–6 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) ||22–28–11 ||14,598

|- {{Game-lost}}

|62||L||February 28, 1974||1–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) ||22–29–11 ||14,064

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid;|title=March| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Attendance}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|63||W||March 3, 1974||5–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) ||23–29–11 ||13,126

|- {{Game-won}}

|64||W||March 5, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1973–74) ||24–29–11 ||15,141

|- {{Game-won}}

|65||W||March 8, 1974||3–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) ||25–29–11 ||15,141

|- {{Game-won}}

|66||W||March 10, 1974||4–0 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) ||26–29–11 ||12,193

|- {{Game-lost}}

|67||L||March 13, 1974||1–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) ||26–30–11 ||14,886

|- {{Game-lost}}

|68||L||March 15, 1974||0–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) ||26–31–11 ||15,570

|- {{Game-tied}}

|69||T||March 17, 1974||3–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) ||26–31–12 ||N/A

|- {{Game-tied}}

|70||T||March 21, 1974||5–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1973–74) ||26–31–13 ||15,141

|- {{Game-won}}

|71||W||March 23, 1974||4–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1973–74) ||27–31–13 ||15,003

|- {{Game-lost}}

|72||L||March 24, 1974||4–6 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1973–74) ||27–32–13 ||15,141

|- {{Game-tied}}

|73||T||March 28, 1974||3–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) ||27–32–14 ||15,141

|- {{Game-won}}

|74||W||March 30, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) ||28–32–14 ||15,141

|- {{Game-lost}}

|75||L||March 31, 1974||2–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) ||28–33–14 ||10,518

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid;|title=April| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Attendance}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|76||L||April 3, 1974||2–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) ||28–34–14 ||11,519

|- {{Game-won}}

|77||W||April 5, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1973–74) ||29–34–14 ||4,867

|- {{Game-won}}

|78||W||April 7, 1974||6–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) ||30–34–14 ||15,141

|-

{{Game log section end}}

|-

|

Legend:

{{legend2|#cfc|Win (2 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#fcc|Loss (0 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#ffc|Tie (1 point)|border=1px solid black}}

{{Game log end}}

The Flames made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in 1973–74, as they finished in fourth place in the West Division, setting up a first round playoff matchup against the first place Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers finished the season with a 50–16–12 record, earning 112 points, which was 38 more points than Atlanta.

The best of seven series opened up at the Spectrum in Philadelphia in front of a sellout crowd of 17,007, and the Flyers opened the scoring with four seconds remaining in the first period, when Gary Dornhoefer scored a shorthanded goal. The Flyers extended their lead to 2–0 in the second period after Tom Bladon scored on the powerplay. In the third period, Orest Kindrachuk gave Philadelphia a 3–0 lead, however, thirty seconds later, Bob Murray scored the first ever playoff goal for Atlanta, cutting the lead to 3–1. Orest Kindrachuk added a second goal later in the third to give the Flyers a 4–1 opening game victory. Bernie Parent made 31 saves for the victory, while Phil Myre took the loss for Atlanta.

In the second game of the series, the Flyers took an early 1–0 lead on a goal by Terry Crisp. In the second period, Rick MacLeish scored a natural hat-trick, scoring three goals in a row, to give the Flyers a 4–0 lead. Rey Comeau broke the Flyers shutout bid in the third period, however, Jimmy Watson scored for Philadelphia, as the Flyers won the second game 5–1, taking a 2–0 series lead.

The series shifted to the Omni Coliseum for the third game, as the arena was sold out with 15,141 fans for the first ever playoff game in Atlanta. The Flyers opened the scoring with two quick goals in the first period, as Don Saleski and Bobby Clarke scored in the first 5:02 of the game to give Philadelphia a 2–0 lead. In the second period, Larry Romanchych responded for the Flames, cutting the lead to 2–1, however, the Flyers regained their two-goal lead when Rick MacLeish scored his fourth goal of the series. In the third period, Bill Barber scored for the Flyers, as they took the third game 4–1, and now had a 3–0 series lead.

In the fourth game, facing elimination, and in front of another sold out crowd, the Flames opened the scoring 3:28 into the game, when Larry Romanchych beat Bernie Parent to give Atlanta a 1–0 lead, their first lead of the series. In the second period, the Flames took a 3–0 lead, after goals by Jean Lemieux and Rey Comeau, however, the Flyers Andre Dupont scored a late period goal to cut the Flames lead to 3–1. Early in the third period, the Flyers Gary Dornhoefer scored on the powerplay to make the score 3–2. On another powerplay, Tom Bladon scored for Philadelphia, tying the game at 3–3. The game went into overtime, and the Flyers completed the comeback, when Dave Schultz beat Phil Myre, as the Flyers won the game 4–3, and eliminated the Flames from the post-season

{{Game log start|style=background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 5px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 5px solid;|title=1974 Stanley Cup playoffs}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid;|title=Quarterfinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers – Flyers win 4–0| Game| Date| Visitor| Score| Home| Series| Attendance}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 1 || April 9 || Atlanta Flames || 1–4 || Philadelphia Flyers || 0–1 || 17,007

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 2 || April 11 || Atlanta Flames || 1–5 || Philadelphia Flyers || 0–2 || 17,007

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 3 || April 12 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–1 || Atlanta Flames || 0–3 || 15,141

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 4 || April 14 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–3 || Atlanta Flames || 0–4 || 15,141

|-

{{Game log section end}}

|-

|

Legend:

{{legend2|#cfc|Win|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#fcc|Loss|border=1px solid black}}

{{Game log end}}

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Atlanta. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.

^‡Traded mid-season

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1973–74 season.

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{{inc-sport|date=October 2021}}

{{see also|1973 NHL amateur draft}}

• [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0002351974.html Flames on Hockey Database]

{{reflist}}

{{1973–74 NHL season by team}}

{{Atlanta Flames seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1973-74 Atlanta Flames season}}

Atlanta

Category:Atlanta Flames seasons