1973–74 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1973–74 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's seventh season in the National Hockey League. The 'Century Line' of Syl Apps Jr., Lowell MacDonald and Jean Pronovost was established this season. The trio took their name as a result of combining for more than 100 goals over the course of the year.

1973–74 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division	5th West
1973–74 record	28–41–9
Goals for	242
Goals against	271
Team information
General manager	Jack Riley (Oct–Jan) Jack Button (Jan–Apr)
Coach	Ken Schinkel Marc Boileau
Captain	Ron Schock
Alternate captains	Syl Apps Dave Burrows Ron Lalonde
Arena	Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Lowell MacDonald (43)
Assists	Syl Apps (61)
Points	Syl Apps (85)
Penalty minutes	Steve Durbano (138)
Wins	Andy Brown (13)
Goals against average	Gary Inness (3.26

Regular season

Final standings

West Division[1]

		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	DIFF	Pts
1	Philadelphia Flyers	78	50	16	12	273	164	+109	112
2	Chicago Black Hawks	78	41	14	23	272	164	+108	105
3	Los Angeles Kings	78	33	33	12	233	231	+2	78
4	Atlanta Flames	78	30	34	14	214	238	−24	74
5	Pittsburgh Penguins	78	28	41	9	242	273	−31	65
6	St. Louis Blues	78	26	40	12	206	248	−42	64
7	Minnesota North Stars	78	23	38	17	235	275	−40	63
8	California Golden Seals	78	13	55	10	195	342	−147	36

Schedule and results

1973–74 Schedule
October: 4–4–1 (Home: 1–3–0 ; Road: 3–1–1), 9 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 1 Oct 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 1–0–0 2 2 Oct 13 New York Rangers 8–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–1–0 2 3 Oct 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 2–1–0 4 4 Oct 20 California Golden Seals 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 3–1–0 6 5 Oct 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–8 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 3–2–0 6 6 Oct 24 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 3–3–0 6 7 Oct 27 Philadelphia Flyers 6–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 3–4–0 6 8 Oct 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–2 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 4–4–0 8 9 Oct 31 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–1 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 4–4–1 9
November: 3–7–2 (Home: 2–3–2 ; Road: 1–4–0), 8 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 10 Nov 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–6 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 4–5–1 9 11 Nov 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–7 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 4–6–1 9 12 Nov 7 New York Islanders 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 4–6–2 10 13 Nov 10 Atlanta Flames 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 4–6–3 11 14 Nov 13 Minnesota North Stars 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 5–6–3 13 15 Nov 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena 5–7–3 13 16 Nov 17 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 5–8–3 13 17 Nov 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–7 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 5–9–3 13 18 Nov 21 Vancouver Canucks 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 6–9–3 15 19 Nov 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 7–9–3 17 20 Nov 24 Montreal Canadiens 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 7–10–3 17 21 Nov 28 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 7–11–3 17
December: 2–10–2 (Home: 1–4–1 ; Road: 1–6–1), 6 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 22 Dec 1 Atlanta Flames 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 7–11–4 18 23 Dec 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 7–12–4 18 24 Dec 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 7–13–4 18 25 Dec 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 California Golden Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena 7–14–4 18 26 Dec 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 7–15–4 18 27 Dec 12 California Golden Seals 1–9 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 8–15–4 20 28 Dec 15 Detroit Red Wings 2–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 8–16–4 20 29 Dec 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 9–16–4 22 30 Dec 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–6 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 9–17–4 22 31 Dec 22 New York Rangers 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 9–18–4 22 32 Dec 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 9–19–4 22 33 Dec 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 9–19–5 23 34 Dec 28 St. Louis Blues 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 9–20–5 23 35 Dec 29 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 9–21–5 23
January: 5–8–0 (Home: 3–5–0 ; Road: 2–3–0), 10 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 36 Jan 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–8 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 9–22–5 23 37 Jan 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–6 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 9–23–5 23 38 Jan 5 Buffalo Sabres 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 10–23–5 25 39 Jan 9 Toronto Maple Leafs 6–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 10–24–5 25 40 Jan 12 Buffalo Sabres 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 11–24–5 27 41 Jan 13 Boston Bruins 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 11–25–5 27 42 Jan 16 Los Angeles Kings 2–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 11–26–5 27 43 Jan 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–2 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 12–26–5 29 44 Jan 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–3 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 13–26–5 31 45 Jan 23 St. Louis Blues 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 14–26–5 33 46 Jan 26 Los Angeles Kings 2–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 14–27–5 33 47 Jan 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–6 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 14–28–5 33 48 Jan 30 New York Rangers 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 14–29–5 33
February: 5–6–1 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 2–4–0), 11 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 49 Feb 2 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 14–30–5 33 50 Feb 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–5 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 14–31–5 33 51 Feb 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–5 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 14–32–5 33 52 Feb 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 15–32–5 35 53 Feb 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 15–33–5 35 54 Feb 13 Detroit Red Wings 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–33–5 37 55 Feb 16 California Golden Seals 3–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 17–33–5 39 56 Feb 20 St. Louis Blues 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 17–33–6 40 57 Feb 23 Boston Bruins 6–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 17–34–6 40 58 Feb 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 18–34–6 42 59 Feb 27 Los Angeles Kings 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 19–34–6 44 60 Feb 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–7 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 19–35–6 44
March: 7–4–3 (Home: 3–1–2 ; Road: 4–3–1), 17 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 61 Mar 2 Vancouver Canucks 1–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 20–35–6 46 62 Mar 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 21–35–6 48 63 Mar 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 21–35–7 49 64 Mar 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–5 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena 22–35–7 51 65 Mar 10 Montreal Canadiens 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 22–36–7 51 66 Mar 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–5 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 22–37–7 51 67 Mar 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–1 California Golden Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena 23–37–7 53 68 Mar 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–6 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 24–37–7 55 69 Mar 20 New York Islanders 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 24–37–8 56 70 Mar 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–5 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 24–38–8 56 71 Mar 24 Detroit Red Wings 0–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 25–38–8 58 72 Mar 27 Minnesota North Stars 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 25–38–9 59 73 Mar 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena 25–39–9 59 74 Mar 31 Atlanta Flames 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 26–39–9 61
April: 2–2–0 (Home: 2–0–0 ; Road: 0–2–0), 4 Points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 75 Apr 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 26–40–9 61 76 Apr 4 Buffalo Sabres 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 27–40–9 63 77 Apr 6 Philadelphia Flyers 1–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 28–40–9 65 78 Apr 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 28–41–9 65
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

The Penguins failed to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season[2] Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Syl Apps Jr. 75 24 61 85 21 37 Lowell MacDonald 78 43 39 82 17 14 Jean Pronovost 77 40 32 72 9 22 Ron Schock 77 14 29 43 –27 22 Al McDonough^‡ 37 14 22 36 –3 12 Ron Lalonde 73 10 17 27 2 14 Greg Polis^‡ 41 14 13 27 –18 32 Wayne Bianchin 69 12 13 25 –15 38 Ron Stackhouse^† 36 4 15 19 12 33 Bob McManama 47 5 14 19 –12 18 Ab Demarco Jr.^† 34 7 12 19 5 4 Bernie Lukowich 53 9 10 19 –4 32 Chuck Arnason^† 41 13 5 18 –2 4 Steve Durbano^† 33 4 14 18 17 138 David Burrows 71 3 14 17 –13 30 J. Bob Kelly^† 30 7 10 17 –5 78 Nick Beverley^† 67 2 14 16 –16 21 Ted Snell 55 4 12 16 –22 8 Blaine Stoughton 34 5 6 11 –12 8 Bryan Hextall Jr.^‡ 37 2 7 9 –13 39 Bob Paradise^† 38 2 7 9 –3 39 Jean-Guy Lagace 31 2 6 8 –12 34 Jack Lynch^‡ 17 0 7 7 –15 21 Bryan Watson^‡ 38 1 4 5 –12 137 Yvon Labre 16 1 2 3 –7 13 Ron Jones 25 0 3 3 –14 15 Jim Wiley 22 0 3 3 –4 2 Larry Bignell 20 0 3 3 –3 2 Darryl Edestrand^‡ 3 0 0 0 –2 0 Hank Nowak 13 0 0 0 –14 11 Total 242 394 636 — 878

Goaltenders

Regular Season[3]

Player	GP	W	L	T	GA	SO
Andy Brown	36	13	16	4	115	1
Gary Inness	20	7	10	1	56	0
James Rutherford^‡	26	7	12	4	82	0
Denis Herron	5	1	3	0	18	0
Total		28	41	9	271	1

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
^‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Awards and records

• Jean Pronovost became the first person to play 400 games for the Penguins. He did so in a 3–5 loss to Boston on January 13.
• Bryan Watson earned his 871st and final penalty minute for the Penguins on Jan 16th against Los Angeles, establishing a career high for the Penguins.
• Lowell MacDonald became the first player to score 40 goals in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 3–4 loss to St. Louis on March 30.
• Syl Apps Jr. became the first player to record 60 assists in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 4–2 win over Atlanta on March 31.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1973–74 season:

Trades

July 3, 1973	To Toronto Maple Leafs Eddie Shack	To Pittsburgh Penguins cash
October 4, 1973	To St. Louis Blues Nick Harbaruk	To Pittsburgh Penguins Bob Johnson
October 25, 1973	To Boston Bruins Darryl Edestrand	To Pittsburgh Penguins Nick Beverley
January 4, 1974	To Atlanta Flames Al McDonough	To Pittsburgh Penguins Chuck Arnason Bob Paradise
January 17, 1974	To St. Louis Blues Greg Polis Bryan Watson 1974 2nd round pick	To Pittsburgh Penguins Ab DeMarco Jr. Steve Durbano Bob Kelly
January 17, 1974	To Detroit Red Wings Jack Lynch Jim Rutherford	To Pittsburgh Penguins Ron Stackhouse

Additions and subtractions

Additions Player Former team Via Gary Inness University of Toronto Varsity Blues (CIAU) free agency (1973–06) Ron Jones Boston Bruins Intra-league Draft (1973–06–12) Bob McManama Harvard Crimson (Ivy League) free agency (1973–08) Ted Snell Hershey Bears (AHL) free agency (1973–10)

Subtractions Player New team Via Steve Cardwell Minnesota Fighting Saints (WHA) free agency (1973) Paul Hoganson Los Angeles Sharks (WHA) free agency (1973) Cam Newton Chicago Cougars (WHA) free agency (1973–05) Rick Kessell California Golden Seals Reverse Draft (1973–06–13) Bryan Hextall Atlanta Flames waivers (1974–01–06)

Roster

#	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	NHL Draft	Birthplace
26		Syl Apps Jr. (A)	C	R	26	1964	Toronto, Ontario
9		Ernest Arnason	RW	R	22	1971	Dauphin, Manitoba
25		Nick Beverley	D	R	27	Undrafted	Toronto, Ontario
14		Wayne Bianchin	RW	L	20	1973	Nanaimo, British Columbia
23		Larry Bignell	D	L	24	1970	Edmonton, Alberta
30		Andy Brown	G	L	30	Undrafted	Hamilton, Ontario
4		David Burrows (A)	D	L	25	Undrafted	Toronto, Ontario
5		Ab Demarco Jr.	D	R	25	Undrafted	Cleveland, Ohio
7		Steve Durbano	D	L	22	1971	Toronto, Ontario
1		Denis Herron	G	L	21	1972	Chambly, Quebec
29		Gary Inness	G	L	24	Undrafted	Toronto, Ontario
6		Ron Jones	D	L	23	1971	Vermilion, Alberta
22		John Kelly	RW	L	27	1967	Fort William, Ontario
20		Yvon Labre	D	L	24	1969	Sudbury, Ontario
24		Jean-Guy Lagace	D	R	29	Undrafted	L'Abord-a-Plouffe, Quebec
16		Robert Lalonde (A)	C	L	21	1972	Toronto, Ontario
11		Bernie Lukowich	RW	R	22	1972	North Battleford, Saskatchewan
18		Lowell MacDonald	LW	R	32	Undrafted	New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
15		Bob McManama	C	L	22	Undrafted	Belmont, Massachusetts
27		Hank Nowak	LW	L	23	1970	Oshawa, Ontario
2		Robert Paradise	D	L	30	Undrafted	St. Paul, Minnesota
19		Jean Pronovost	RW	R	28	Undrafted	Shawinigan Falls, Quebec
17		Ron Schock (C)	C	L	30	Undrafted	Chapleau, Ontario
10		Ted Snell	RW	R	27	Undrafted	Ottawa, Ontario
3		Ronald Stackhouse	D	R	24	1969	Haliburton, Ontario
12		Blaine Stoughton	LW	R	21	1973	Gilbert Plains, Manitoba
8		Thomas Wiley	C	L	24	Undrafted	Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Draft picks

Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft.[4]

Round	#	Player	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1	7	Blaine Stoughton	Left Wing	Canada	Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)
2	23	Wayne Bianchin	Right Wing	Canada	Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)
2	27^[a]	Colin Campbell	Defense	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OHA)
4	55	Dennis Owchar	Defense	Canada	Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
5	71	Guido Tenesi	Defense	United States	Oshawa Generals (OHA)
6	87	Don Seiling	Left Wing	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OHA)
7	103	Terry Ewasiuk	Left Wing	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WCHL)
8	119	Fred Comrie	Center	Canada	Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
9	134	Gordon Lane	Defense	Canada	New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
10	150	Randy Aimoe	Defense	Canada	Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)
11	164	Don McLeod	Center	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)

Draft notes[5]

• ^a The Detroit Red Wings' second-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of an October 6, 1972, trade that sent Roy Edwards to the Red Wings in exchange for a 1974 second-round pick and this pick.
• The Pittsburgh Penguins' third-round pick went to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a February 25, 1973, trade that sent Andy Brown to the Penguins in exchange for this pick.

References

1. "1973-1974 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
2. "1973–1974 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
3. "1973–1974 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
4. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
5. "1973 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved February 25, 2013.