1974 WHA playoffs

Last updated

1974 WHA playoffs
Tournament details
DatesApril 6 – May 19, 1974
Season 1973–74
Teams8
Final positions
Champions Houston Aeros (1st title)
Runner-up Chicago Cougars
Semifinalists
←  1973
1975  →

The 1974 WHA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the World Hockey Association's 1973-1974 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Division champion Houston Aeros defeating the Eastern Division champion Chicago Cougars in four games for their first Avco Cup championship. [1] [2]

Contents

Playoff seeds

The top four teams in each division made the playoffs.

Eastern Division

  1. New England Whalers, Eastern Division champions – 90 points
  2. Toronto Toros – 86 points
  3. Cleveland Crusaders – 83 points
  4. Chicago Cougars – 81 points

Western Division

  1. Houston Aeros, Western Division champions – 101 points
  2. Minnesota Fighting Saints – 90 points
  3. Edmonton Oilers – 79 points
  4. Winnipeg Jets – 73 points


Bracket

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
         
E1 New England Whalers 3
E4 Chicago Cougars 4
E4Chicago Cougars4
Eastern Division
E2 Toronto Toros 3
E2 Toronto Toros 4
E3 Cleveland Crusaders 1
E4 Chicago Cougars 0
W1Houston Aeros4
W1 Houston Aeros 4
W4 Winnipeg Jets 0
W1Houston Aeros4
Western Division
W2 Minnesota Fighting Saints 2
W2 Minnesota Fighting Saints 4
W3 Edmonton Oilers 1

Division Semifinals

Eastern Division Semifinals

(E1) New England Whalers vs. (E4) Chicago Cougars

The series matched Chicago, a team that had a negative goal differential (271-273) with the Whalers, who had the 2nd best defense with a 5th best goal attack to go along with home-field advantage. The Whalers won the first two games, including an overtime win in Game 2, but the Cougars struck back with wins back home and an OT win of their own. The teams traded wins on the road to set up a Game 7 in Boston. The Cougars pulled off the upset victory. As it turned out, Game 6 was the last playoff game played by the franchise at the International Amphitheatre, as the next home game would be moved to Randhurst Twin Ice Arena due to unforeseen commitments made at their venue. Game 7 also was the last playoff game played by the Whalers, who had already announced their move to Hartford months earlier. [3]

April 6Chicago Cougars4–6
(3–1, 1–3, 0–2)		New England Whalers Eastern States Coliseum
Cam Newton Goalies Al Smith
Jocelyn Hardy
Bob Sicinski
Darryl Maggs
Duke Harris 		Goals Larry Pleau (2)
Tom Webster (2)
John Danby
Don Blackburn
11 18 11 - 40Shots10 11 9 - 30
April 7Chicago Cougars3–4
(1–1, 1–1, 1–1, 0–1)		New England Whalers Eastern States Coliseum
Andre Gill Goalies Al Smith
Larry Mavety
Jan Popiel
Jocelyn Hardy 		Goals Tom Webster
Tim Sheehy
Al Karlander
GW - John French (2:51)
12 15 9 1 37Shots13 9 12 3 37
April 9New England Whalers6–8
(0–5, 4–3, 2–0)		Chicago Cougars International Amphitheatre
Al Smith / Bruce Landon Goalies Cam Newton
Tim Sheehy (2)
Byers
Don Blackburn
John Cunniff
John French 		Goals Bob Liddington (2)
Don Gordon
Jocelyn Hardy
Rosaire Paiement
Jim Watson
Jan Popiel
Bob Sicinski
9 9 11 - 29Shots12 9 7 - 28
April 10New England Whalers1–2 (OT)
(0–0, 0–0, 1–1, 0–1)		Chicago Cougars International Amphitheatre
Al Smith Goalies Cam Newton
Tim Sheehy Goals3rd - Jan Popiel (19:35)
GW - Ralph Backstrom (17:45)
7 6 9 8 30Shots7 12 14 15 48
April 12Chicago Cougars4–2
(1–0, 1–2, 2–0)		New England Whalers Eastern States Coliseum
Andre Gill Goalies Al Smith
Duke Harris (2)
Larry Mavety
Bob Sicinski 		Goals Mike Byers
John French
6 6 11 - 23Shots10 13 4 - 27

April 14		New England Whalers2–0
(0–0, 0–0, 2–0)		Chicago Cougars International Amphitheatre
Al Smith Goalies Cam Newton
John French
Rick Ley 		GoalsNo scoring
14 9 8 - 31Shots11 11 9 - 31
April 16Chicago Cougars3–2
(1–0, 0–2, 2–0)		New England Whalers Eastern States Coliseum
Andre Gill Goalies Al Smith
Jocelyn Hardy
Ralph Backstrom
13:26 (3rd) - Jan Popiel 		Goals Tom Webster (2)

(E2) Toronto Toros vs. (E3) Cleveland Crusaders

April 7Cleveland Crusaders0–4
(0–1, 0–1, 0–2)		Toronto Toros Maple Leaf Gardens
Gerry Cheevers Goalies Gilles Gratton
No scoringGoals Wayne Dillon (2)
Gavin Kirk
Guy Trottier
29 (14-6-9)Shots39 (13-13-13)
April 9Cleveland Crusaders3–4
(0–0, 3–1, 0–3)		Toronto Toros Maple Leaf Gardens
Gerry Cheevers Goalies Gilles Gratton
Ron Ward
Tom Edur
Paul Andrea 		Goals(2nd) - Tom Martin
(3rd) - Wayne Carleton
13:28 (3rd) - Wayne Carleton
16:49 (3rd) - Tom Martin
27 (12-9-6)Shots44 (14-14-6)
April 12Toronto Toros4–2
(1–1, 3–1, 0–0)		Cleveland Crusaders Cleveland Arena
Gilles Gratton Goalies Gerry Cheevers
Dick Sentes (3)
Gavin Kirk 		Goals Gary Jarrett
Ron Morgan
30 (8-15-7)Shots34 (14-5-15)
April 13Toronto Toros2–3 (OT)
(1–0, 0–2, 1–0, 0-1)		Cleveland Crusaders Cleveland Arena
Gilles Gratton Goalies Gerry Cheevers
Brian Gibbons
15:05 (3rd) - Tom Martin 		Goals Russ Walker
Ron Ward
WG - Wayne Muloin (4:17)
34 (8-10-14-2)Shots39 (9-11-16-3)
April 14Cleveland Crusaders1–4
(0–3, 1–0, 0–1)		Toronto Toros Maple Leaf Gardens
Gerry Cheevers Goalies Gilles Gratton
Ron Ward Goals Tom Simpson (2)
Pat Hickey (2)
28 (6-9-13)Shots49 (18-19-12)

Western Division Semifinals

(W1) Houston Aeros vs. (W4) Winnipeg Jets

After the first two games, Winnipeg goaltender Joe Daley and his backup Ernie Wakely each came down with pneumonia. Winnipeg was forced to loan a goalie, which resulted in them receiving Frank Blum (a goalie who had played just seven professional games in the WHA) from the Toronto Toros. In Game 3, Larry Lund led the attack for the Aeros, scoring four goals to set a new postseason record for goals that was not broken for five years. In total, Blum allowed fourteen goals in the resulting two games for the Jets as they were swept (as it turned out, Blum never played in the WHA ever again). [4] [5] [6] This would be the first of four times the Aeros and Jets would face each other in the playoffs.

April 8Houston Aeros5–2
(2–0, 0–0, 3–2)		Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Arena
Don McLeod Goalies Joe Daley
Murray Hall (2)
Frank Hughes
Jim Sherrit
Mark Howe 		Goals Danny Johnson
Norm Beaudin
35 (14-8-13)Shots19 (6-10-3)
April 10Houston Aeros3–2
(0–1, 1–0, 2–1)		Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Arena
Don McLeod Goalies Joe Daley
Marty Howe
Mark Howe
André Hinse 		Goals Norm Beaudin
Milt Black
22 (3-9-10)Shots22 (6-9-7)
April 13Winnipeg Jets1–10
(0–5, 1–1, 0–4)		Houston Aeros Sam Houston Coliseum
Frank Blum Goalies Don McLeod
Christian Bordeleau Goals Larry Lund (4)
Frank Hughes (2)
Gordie Howe
Gord Labossiere
Ted Taylor
Don Grierson
31 (7-11-13)Shots44 (18-8-18)
April 14Winnipeg Jets4–5
(0–2, 1–2, 3–1)		Houston Aeros Sam Houston Coliseum
Frank Blum Goalies Don McLeod
Christian Bordeleau (2)
Norm Beaudin
Bobby Hull 		Goals John Schella
Larry Hale
Murray Hall
Ted Taylor
Mark Howe
26 (10-8-8)Shots30 (12-13-5)

(W2) Minnesota Fighting Saints vs. (W3) Edmonton Oilers

April 6Edmonton Oilers1–2
(0–0, 1–2, 0–0)		Minnesota Fighting Saints St. Paul Civic Center
Jack Norris Goalies John Garrett
Blair MacDonald Goals Murray Heatley
Mike Walton
34 (10-12-12)Shots37 (12-16-9)
April 7Edmonton Oilers5–8
(0–2, 1–3, 4–3)		Minnesota Fighting Saints St. Paul Civic Center
Jack Norris Goalies Mike Curran
Blair MacDonald (2)
Bob McAneeley
Ron Climie
Bobby Sheehan 		Goals John Arbour (2)
Mike Walton (2)
George Morrison
Terry Ball
Gord Gallant
Ted Hampson
42 (7-19-16)Shots36 (13-14-9)
April 10Minnesota Fighting Saints6–2
(1–0, 2–1, 3–1)		Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Coliseum
John Garrett Goalies Ian Wilkie / Jack Norris
Bob MacMillan (2)
Bill Klatt (2)
George Morrison
Wayne Connelly 		Goals Al Hamilton
Ross Perkins
29 (9-11-9)Shots41 (12-15-14)
April 12Minnesota Fighting Saints1–2
(0–0, 0–1, 1–1)		Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Coliseum
Mike Curran Goalies Chris Worthy
Wayne Connelly Goals Val Fonteyne
Eddie Joyal
25 (8-5-12)Shots36 (10-12-14)
April 14Edmonton Oilers4–5
(0–2, 2–2, 2–1)		Minnesota Fighting Saints Saint Paul Civic Center
Chris Worthy Goalies John Garrett
Ken Baird
Eddie Joyal
Doug Barrie
Blair MacDonald 		Goals Mike Walton (3)
George Morrison
Wayne Connelly
40 (7-13-20)Shots35 (19-9-7)

Division Finals

Eastern Division Finals

(E2) Toronto Toros vs. (E4) Chicago Cougars

Both teams played their games away from their usual homes: The Cougars, left with no choice due to commitments, played at Randhurst Twin Ice Arena while the Toros elected to play their postseason games at Maple Leaf Gardens. [7]

April 19Chicago Cougars4–6
(1–1, 2–2, 1–3)		Toronto Toros Maple Leaf Gardens
Cam Newton Goalies Gilles Gratton / Les Binkley
Jim Benzelock
Duke Harris
Rick Morris
Rod Zaine 		Goals Wayne Dillon (2)
Steve Cuddie
Tom Martin
Dick Sentes
Bob Leduc
10 17 7 - 34Shots12 9 16 - 37
April 22Chicago Cougars4–3
(1–0, 2–3, 1–0)		Toronto Toros Maple Leaf Gardens
Andre Gill Goalies Les Binkley
Ralph Backstrom (2)
Don Gordon
9:28 (3rd) - Frank Rochon 		Goals Bob Leduc
Tom Martin
Wayne Dillon
6 13 10 - 29Shots11 16 11 - 38
April 28Toronto Toros2–3
(2–1, 0–0, 0–2)		Chicago Cougars Randhurst Twin Ice Arena
Gilles Gratton / Les Binkley Goalies Andre Gill
Bob Leduc
Brian Gibbons 		Goals Rosaire Paiement
Bob Sicinski
6:42 (3rd) - Rosaire Paiement
7 8 9 - 24Shots11 10 11 - 32
April 30Toronto Toros7–6
(2–2, 5–2, 0–2)		Chicago Cougars Randhurst Twin Ice Arena
Les Binkley / Gilles Gratton Goalies Andre Gill / Cam Newton
Guy Trottier (3)
Wayne Carleton
Tom Simpson
Bob Leduc
19:49 (2nd) - Dick Sentes 		Goals Larry Mavety
Rosaire Paiement
Jim Benzelock
Jan Popiel
Rick Morris
Bob Liddington
9 12 9 - 30Shots15 11 10 - 36
May 1Chicago Cougars3–5
(0–2, 3–1, 0–2)		Toronto Toros Maple Leaf Gardens
Cam Newton Goalies Gilles Gratton
Rosaire Paiement
Duke Harris
Jim Watson 		Goals Billy Orr
Brit Selby
Pat Hickey
Jack Gibson
Guy Trottier
6 12 8 - 26Shots8 9 17 - 34
May 4Toronto Toros2–9
(1–4, 0–3, 1–2)		Chicago Cougars Randhurst Twin Ice Arena
Les Binkley Goalies Andre Gill
Tom Martin
Dick Sentes 		Goals Rosaire Paiement (3)
Bob Liddington
Bob Sicinski
Darryl Maggs
Don Gordon
Rod Zaine
Jan Popiel
9 10 8 - 27Shots14 12 12 - 38
May 6Chicago Cougars5–2
(0–1, 4–0, 1–1)		Toronto Toros Maple Leaf Gardens
Andre Gill Goalies Gilles Gratton
Bob Liddington
Jan Popiel
Bob Sicinski
Darryl Maggs
Duke Harris 		Goals Tom Simpson
Dick Sentes
12 9 7 - 28Shots17 8 13 - 38

Western Division Finals

(W1) Houston Aeros vs. (W2) Minnesota Fighting Saints

The series was a matchup of the two top scoring offenses (Minnesota, Houston) and defenses (Houston, Minnesota).

April 18Minnesota Fighting Saints5–4 (OT)
(2–1, 1–1, 1–2, 1–0)		Houston Aeros Sam Houston Coliseum
John Garrett Goalies Don McLeod
John Arbour
Bill Klatt
Jim Johnson
Mike McMahon Jr
GW - Mike Walton (1:40)		Goals Mark Howe
Poul Popiel
Larry Lund
Ted Taylor
9 8 13 3 33Shots19 11 14 0 44
April 20Minnesota Fighting Saints2–5
(1–3, 1–2, 0–0)		Houston Aeros Sam Houston Coliseum
John Garrett Goalies Don McLeod
Wayne Connelly
Mike Walton 		Goals André Hinse
Larry Lund
Murray Hall
Jim Sherrit
Gord Labossiere
4 8 2 - 14Shots20 18 12 - 50
April 21Houston Aeros1–4
(1–0, 0–0, 0–0)		Minnesota Fighting Saints St. Paul Civic Center
Don McLeod Goalies Mike Curran
Frank Hughes Goals George Morrison (2)
Ted Hampson
Wayne Connelly
6 15 15 - 36Shots10 5 5 - 20
April 28Houston Aeros4–1
(1–0, 1–1, 2–0)		Minnesota Fighting Saints St. Paul Civic Center
Don McLeod Goalies Mike Curran
John Schella
Gordie Howe
Gord Labossiere
Frank Hughes 		Goals Wayne Connelly
11 7 16 - 34Shots9 9 14 - 32
April 29Minnesota Fighting Saints4–9
(0–3, 1–4, 3–2)		Houston Aeros Sam Houston Coliseum
John Garrett Goalies Don McLeod
Mike Walton (2)
Mike Antonovich
Ted Hampson 		Goals Mark Howe (2)
André Hinse
Gordie Howe
Gord Labossiere
Frank Hughes
Larry Lund
Murray Hall
Jim Sherrit
5 10 9 - 24Shots25 11 15 - 51
Houston Aeros3–1
(0–0, 1–1, 2–0)		Minnesota Fighting Saints St. Paul Civic Center
Don McLeod Goalies Mike Curran / John Garrett
Mark Howe (2)
Jim Sherrit 		Goals Ted Hampson
13 11 13 - 37Shots13 12 6 - 31

Avco Cup Final

(W1) Houston Aeros vs. (E4) Chicago Cougars

The Aeros, having lost only one playoff game leading to the Finals, were well rested to play Chicago. The Final matched two brothers with Jan Popiel for Chicago (who finished the postseason tied for third-most goals with 8) and Poul Popiel for Houston (who tied the postseason for most assists with 14).

Houston took the lead early in Game 1, but Chicago threatened late and tied the game in the third period before the Aeros scored with four minutes remaining to take the lead again and win. The next three games saw Houston dominate and never trail at any moment on their way to a sweep. This was the first professional sports championship for Houston since the Houston Oilers won the AFL in 1961.

May 12Chicago Cougars2–3Houston Aeros Sam Houston Coliseum  
No scoringFirst period6:31 - Larry Hale (Hall, Labossiere)
9:15 - Gord Labossiere (Taylor, Grierson)
No scoringSecond periodNo scoring
5:42 - Bob Liddington (Stapleton, Backstrom)
13:45 - Don Gordon (Mavety, Proceviat)		Third period15:48 - Frank Hughes
Andre Gill 26 saves / 29 shotsGoalie stats Don McLeod 29 saves / 31 shots
May 15Chicago Cougars1–6Houston Aeros Sam Houston Coliseum  
No scoringFirst period13:21 - Murray Hall (Taylor, Lund)
18:08 - Gord Labossiere (P. Popiel, Taylor)
No scoringSecond period16:50 - André Hinse (G. Howe, Hughes)
19:44 - Frank Rochon Third period1:59 - Jim Sherrit (Mark Howe, G. Howe)
2:23 - André Hinse (Lund, Hughes)
13:16 - Ted Taylor (Hall)
Andre Gill & Cam Newton 26 saves / 32 shotsGoalie stats Don McLeod 26 saves / 27 shots
May 17Houston Aeros7–4Chicago Cougars Randhurst Twin Ice Arena  
5:19 - Murray Hall
10:51 - Frank Hughes (G. Howe, Hinse)
13:22 - Mark Howe (Sherrit, G. Howe)		First period12:17 - Ralph Backstrom
1:34 - André Hinse (G. Howe, P. Popiel)
3:21 - Larry Hale (Sherrit)
14:08 - André Hinse (Lund, P. Popiel)		Second period5:01 - Rosaire Paiement
11:38 - Rick Morris (Hardy, Gordon)
15:34 - Larry Mavety (Stapleton, Sicinski)
0:48 - Frank Hughes (Hinse)Third periodNo scoring
Don McLeod 24 saves / 28 shotsGoalie stats Andre Gill & Cam Newton 23 saves / 30 shots
May 19Houston Aeros6–2Chicago Cougars Randhurst Twin Ice Arena  
14:34 - Larry Lund (Hinse, Hale)
15:47 - Murray Hall (Mark Howe, G. Howe)
16:55 - Murray Hall (P. Popiel, G. Howe)		First periodNo scoring
12:40 - André Hinse (G. Howe, P. Popiel)
13:58 - Gord Labossiere (P. Popiel, Schella)
15:52 - Larry Lund (G. Howe, P. Popiel)		Second period17:29 - Jan Popiel (Paiement, Sicinski)
No scoringThird period10:12 - Rick Morris (Mavety)
Don McLeod 28 saves / 30 shotsGoalie stats Cam Newton 27 saves / 33 shots
Houston won series 4–0

Statistical leaders

Skaters

These were the top ten skaters based on points. Bold denotes the statistical leader. [8]

PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Larry Lund Houston Aeros 149142356
Ralph Backstrom Chicago Cougars 18514194
Mark Howe Houston Aeros 14910194
Mike Walton Minnesota Fighting Saints 111081816
André Hinse Houston Aeros 14891718
Gordie Howe Houston Aeros 133141734
Gord Labossiere Houston Aeros 14791620
Murray Hall Houston Aeros 1496156
Rosaire Paiement Chicago Cougars 18961516
Poul Popiel Houston Aeros 141141522

Goaltending

These were the top eight goaltenders in terms of minutes. [9]

PlayerTeamGPGASASVSV%SOMIN
Don McLeod Houston Aeros 1435386351.9090842
Andre Gill Chicago Cougars 1138318280.8810614
Gilles Gratton Toronto Toros 1025287262.9131539
Cam Newton Chicago Cougars 1034254220.8660486
Al Smith New England Whalers 721240219.9131399
John Garrett Minnesota Fighting Saints 725256231.9020372
Gerry Cheevers Cleveland Crusaders 518196178.9080303
Mike Curran Minnesota Fighting Saints 514161147.9130289

References

  1. ↑ https://www.surgent.net/wha/year/197374/playoffs.html
  2. ↑ Surgent, Scott (1990). The Complete World Hockey Association 11th Edition. Surgent. p. 108-109, 130-131. ISBN   978-1727753424.
  3. ↑ https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1974-chicago-cougars-vs-new-england-whalers-east-division-semi-finals.html
  4. ↑ http://curtiswalker.com/jets/games.php
  5. ↑ https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/blumfr01.html
  6. ↑ http://wha-hof.com/playerdetail.php?id=2
  7. ↑ https://www.museumoftoronto.com/collection/toronto-toros/
  8. ↑ https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/WHA_1974_skaters.html#stats::points
  9. ↑ https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/WHA_1974_goalies.html

WHA playoffs

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