1973–74 New York Rangers season

The 1973–74 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 48th season. The Rangers compiled 94 points during the regular season and finished third in the East Division. The team made the Stanley Cup playoffs, where New York defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4–2 in the quarter-finals. The Rangers then lost in a seven-game semi-finals series to the Philadelphia Flyers, who went on to win the Stanley Cup that season.

Offseason

• On July 27, 1973, E. Michael Burke handed in his resignation to the New York Yankees, so that he could become president of Madison Square Garden. This would make Burke the president of the New York Rangers hockey club and the New York Knicks basketball club.

Regular season

Final standings

East Division

		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	DIFF	Pts
1	Boston Bruins	78	52	17	9	349	221	+128	113
2	Montreal Canadiens	78	45	24	9	293	240	+53	99
3	New York Rangers	78	40	24	14	300	251	+49	94
4	Toronto Maple Leafs	78	35	27	16	274	230	+44	86
5	Buffalo Sabres	78	32	34	12	242	250	−8	76
6	Detroit Red Wings	78	29	39	10	255	319	−64	68
7	Vancouver Canucks	78	24	43	11	224	296	−72	59
8	New York Islanders	78	19	41	18	182	247	−65	56

Schedule and results

Template:Game log start Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won | 1 || 10 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–1 || 1–0–0 |- Template:Game-won | 2 || 13 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–2 || 2–0–0 |- Template:Game-tied | 3 || 14 || Los Angeles Kings || 1–1 || 2–0–1 |- Template:Game-won | 4 || 17 || St. Louis Blues || 4–0 || 3–0–1 |- Template:Game-lost | 5 || 20 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–2 || 3–1–1 |- Template:Game-lost | 6 || 21 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 || 3–2–1 |- Template:Game-lost | 7 || 27 || @ New York Islanders || 3–2 || 3–3–1 |- Template:Game-lost | 8 || 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–2 || 3–4–1 |- Template:Game-tied | 9 || 30 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 3–3 || 3–4–2 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-lost | 10 || 1 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 2–1 || 3–5–2 |- Template:Game-lost | 11 || 4 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 4–1 || 3–6–2 |- Template:Game-won | 12 || 7 || Boston Bruins || 7–3 || 4–6–2 |- Template:Game-tied | 13 || 9 || @ Atlanta Flames || 3–3 || 4–6–3 |- Template:Game-won | 14 || 11 || New York Islanders || 5–2 || 5–6–3 |- Template:Game-tied | 15 || 14 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–4 || 5–6–4 |- Template:Game-lost | 16 || 15 || @ Boston Bruins || 10–2 || 5–7–4 |- Template:Game-won | 17 || 17 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 6–3 || 6–7–4 |- Template:Game-won | 18 || 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–0 || 7–7–4 |- Template:Game-won | 19 || 21 || California Golden Seals || 3–0 || 8–7–4 |- Template:Game-won | 20 || 22 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 7–6 || 9–7–4 |- Template:Game-tied | 21 || 24 || Los Angeles Kings || 5–5 || 9–7–5 |- Template:Game-won | 22 || 25 || Vancouver Canucks || 5–0 || 10–7–5 |- Template:Game-tied | 23 || 29 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–2 || 10–7–6 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-tied | 24 || 1 || @ St. Louis Blues || 4–4 || 10–7–7 |- Template:Game-won | 25 || 2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6–4 || 11–7–7 |- Template:Game-won | 26 || 5 || St. Louis Blues || 5–1 || 12–7–7 |- Template:Game-lost | 27 || 6 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 8–4 || 12–8–7 |- Template:Game-won | 28 || 9 || California Golden Seals || 6–3 || 13–8–7 |- Template:Game-tied | 29 || 12 || Buffalo Sabres || 1–1 || 13–8–8 |- Template:Game-tied | 30 || 15 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–2 || 13–8–9 |- Template:Game-lost | 31 || 16 || Chicago Black Hawks || 6–1 || 13–9–9 |- Template:Game-won | 32 || 20 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–2 || 14–9–9 |- Template:Game-won | 33 || 22 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || 15–9–9 |- Template:Game-lost | 34 || 23 || @ Atlanta Flames || 3–1 || 15–10–9 |- Template:Game-won | 35 || 26 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 || 16–10–9 |- Template:Game-lost | 36 || 29 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 7–1 || 16–11–9 |- Template:Game-won | 37 || 30 || Minnesota North Stars || 4–3 || 17–11–9 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-lost | 38 || 3 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 4–2 || 17–12–9 |- Template:Game-lost | 39 || 4 || Boston Bruins || 4–2 || 17–13–9 |- Template:Game-won | 40 || 6 || Atlanta Flames || 5–2 || 18–13–9 |- Template:Game-lost | 41 || 10 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 7–2 || 18–14–9 |- Template:Game-won | 42 || 12 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 6–1 || 19–14–9 |- Template:Game-won | 43 || 13 || @ California Golden Seals || 7–2 || 20–14–9 |- Template:Game-tied | 44 || 16 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 4–4 || 20–14–10 |- Template:Game-lost | 45 || 17 || @ St. Louis Blues || 3–2 || 20–15–10 |- Template:Game-won | 46 || 19 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 3–2 || 21–15–10 |- Template:Game-won | 47 || 23 || Atlanta Flames || 4–1 || 22–15–10 |- Template:Game-won | 48 || 27 || Los Angeles Kings || 5–3 || 23–15–10 |- Template:Game-won | 49 || 30 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || 24–15–10 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won | 50 || 2 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 3–1 || 25–15–10 |- Template:Game-tied | 51 || 3 || Minnesota North Stars || 5–5 || 25–15–11 |- Template:Game-won | 52 || 6 || New York Islanders || 6–0 || 26–15–11 |- Template:Game-lost | 53 || 9 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 7–2 || 26–16–11 |- Template:Game-won | 54 || 10 || St. Louis Blues || 4–2 || 27–16–11 |- Template:Game-tied | 55 || 14 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 4–4 || 27–16–12 |- Template:Game-won | 56 || 16 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 9–4 || 28–16–12 |- Template:Game-won | 57 || 21 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 5–3 || 29–16–12 |- Template:Game-won | 58 || 22 || @ California Golden Seals || 4–3 || 30–16–12 |- Template:Game-won | 59 || 24 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–2 || 31–16–12 |- Template:Game-won | 60 || 27 || Vancouver Canucks || 4–2 || 32–16–12 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won | 61 || 2 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 3–1 || 33–16–12 |- Template:Game-won | 62 || 3 || California Golden Seals || 8–2 || 34–16–12 |- Template:Game-won | 63 || 6 || Montreal Canadiens || 9–2 || 35–16–12 |- Template:Game-lost | 64 || 9 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 4–2 || 35–17–12 |- Template:Game-won | 65 || 10 || New York Islanders || 4–2 || 36–17–12 |- Template:Game-lost | 66 || 14 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–2 || 36–18–12 |- Template:Game-won | 67 || 16 || @ New York Islanders || 3–1 || 37–18–12 |- Template:Game-lost | 68 || 17 || @ Boston Bruins || 5–2 || 37–19–12 |- Template:Game-lost | 69 || 20 || Vancouver Canucks || 7–5 || 37–20–12 |- Template:Game-tied | 70 || 21 || @ Atlanta Flames || 5–5 || 37–20–13 |- Template:Game-lost | 71 || 23 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 5–3 || 37–21–13 |- Template:Game-won | 72 || 24 || Buffalo Sabres || 5–3 || 38–21–13 |- Template:Game-lost | 73 || 27 || Boston Bruins || 3–2 || 38–22–13 |- Template:Game-lost | 74 || 30 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 7–3 || 38–23–13 |- Template:Game-tied | 75 || 31 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–3 || 38–23–14 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won | 76 || 3 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–3 || 39–23–14 |- Template:Game-lost | 77 || 6 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 8–3 || 39–24–14 |- Template:Game-won | 78 || 7 || Montreal Canadiens || 6–4 || 40–24–14 |- Template:Game log section end |- | Legend:

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Playoffs

Template:Game log start Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won | 1 || April 10 || New York Rangers || 4–1 || Montreal Canadiens || || New York Rangers lead series 1–0 |- Template:Game-lost | 2 || April 11 || New York Rangers || 1–4 || Montreal Canadiens || || Series tied 1–1 |- Template:Game-lost | 3 || April 13 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–2 || New York Rangers || || Montreal leads series 2–1 |- Template:Game-won | 4 || April 14 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–6 || New York Rangers || || Series tied 2–2 |- Template:Game-won | 5 || April 16 || New York Rangers || 3–2 || Montreal Canadiens || OT || New York Rangers lead series 3–2 |- Template:Game-won | 6 || April 18 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–5 || New York Rangers || || New York Rangers win series 4–2 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-lost | 1 || April 20 || New York Rangers || 0–4 || Philadelphia Flyers || || Philadelphia leads series 1–0 |- Template:Game-lost | 2 || April 23 || New York Rangers || 2–5 || Philadelphia Flyers || || Philadelphia leads series 2–0 |- Template:Game-won | 3 || April 25 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–5 || New York Rangers || || Philadelphia leads series 2–1 |- Template:Game-won | 4 || April 28 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–2 || New York Rangers || OT || Series tied 2–2 |- Template:Game-lost | 5 || April 30 || New York Rangers || 1–4 || Philadelphia Flyers || || Philadelphia leads series 3–2 |- Template:Game-won | 6 || May 2 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–4 || New York Rangers || || Series tied 3–3 |- Template:Game-lost | 7 || May 5 || New York Rangers || 3–4 || Philadelphia Flyers || || Philadelphia wins series 4–3 |- Template:Game log section end |- | Legend:

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Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
	78	25	57	82	148
	75	36	41	77	20
	78	25	45	70	74
	68	28	39	67	16
	71	21	42	63	58
	78	18	44	62	12
	75	34	24	58	18
	77	27	28	55	75
	72	10	41	51	4
	75	26	20	46	105
	66	17	27	44	6
	68	7	23	30	32
†	46	2	17	19	28
	26	6	10	16	24
	48	3	12	15	56
	63	2	12	14	25
	72	4	7	11	38
	23	2	4	6	4
‡	29	1	5	6	15
‡	12	1	3	4	6
†	28	1	3	4	6
‡	16	2	1	3	0
‡	14	1	2	3	4
	5	1	1	2	2
‡	2	0	0	0	0
†‡	7	0	0	0	0

Playoffs

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
	13	6	6	12	35
	13	4	8	12	38
	13	1	8	9	23
	12	1	8	9	4
	13	6	2	8	2
	13	3	5	8	16
	13	4	4	8	17
	13	3	5	8	6
	13	3	5	8	4
	13	2	4	6	0
	13	0	5	5	22
	11	3	0	3	14
	12	0	2	2	25
	13	0	2	2	19
	8	1	0	1	4
	12	0	1	1	4
	12	0	1	1	6
	6	1	0	1	0

Goaltenders

Regular Season

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
	56	3286	30	15	10	168	3.07	5
	21	1054	7	7	3	62	3.53	0
	6	340	3	2	1	18	3.18	0

Playoffs

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	GAA	SO
	13	788	7	6	37	2.82	0
	1	1	0	0	0	0.00	0

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
^‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1973 NHL amateur draft in Montreal, Canada.

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	14	Rick Middleton	RW	Template:Flagu	Oshawa Generals (OHA)
2	30	Pat Hickey	LW	Template:Flagu	Hamilton Red Wings (OHA)
3	46	John Campbell	LW	Template:Flagu	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)
4	62	Brian Molvik	D	Template:Flagu	Calgary Centennials (WCHL)
5	78	Pierre Laganiere	RW	Template:Flagu	Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)
6	94	Dwayne Pentland	D	Template:Flagu	Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)