The 1973–74 Philadelphia Flyers season was the franchise's seventh season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers became the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup. Prior to this season, no post-1967 expansion team had either beaten an Original Six team in a playoff round or won a Stanley Cup Final game.
Goaltender Bernie Parent, an "Original Flyer", returned to the franchise in the off-season, and the Flyers proved that the expansion teams could challenge the Original Six in 1973–74. The Bullies continued their rough-and-tumble ways, led by Dave Schultz's 348 penalty minutes, and reached the top of the West Division with a record of 50–16–12. The return of Parent proved to be of great benefit as he established himself as one of if not the best goaltender in the league by winning 47 games, a record which stood for 33 years. Since the Flyers, along with Chicago, allowed the fewest goals in the league, Parent also shared the Vezina Trophy with Chicago's Tony Esposito.
Come playoff time, the Flyers swept the Atlanta Flames in four games in the first round. In the semifinals, the Flyers faced the New York Rangers. The series, which saw the home team win every game, went seven games. The Flyers had home-ice advantage as they advanced to the 1974 Stanley Cup Final by winning game seven. Their opponent, Bobby Orr and the Boston Bruins, took game one in Boston, but Bobby Clarke scored an overtime goal in game two to even the series. The Flyers won games three and four at home to take a 3–1 series lead, but Boston won game five to stave off elimination. That set the stage for game six at the Spectrum. The Flyers picked up the lead early when Rick MacLeish scored a first-period goal. Late in the game, Orr hauled down Clarke on a breakaway, a penalty which assured the Flyers of victory. Time expired as the Flyers brought the Stanley Cup to Philadelphia for the first time. Parent, having shut out Boston in game six, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Playoff MVP.
Regular season
The 1973–74 season opened on October 11, 1973, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was the first time Kate Smith performed "God Bless America" in person at a Flyers' game. The Flyers started strong to begin the season winning their first four games and only allowing their opponents to score three goals total while they netted 18. The Flyers were 29–11–6 heading into the All Star Game, scoring 154 goals, while allowing 93. The Flyers were represented in the All Star Game by Bobby Clarke, Bernie Parent, Ed Van Impe and Joe Watson. The Flyers finished 1st in the Western Division, seven points ahead of the second place Chicago Black Hawks.
The team was led offensively by Bobby Clarke, who led the team in goals with 35, assists with 52 and points with 87. He finished fifth among scoring leader in points. Clarke was named a 2nd Team All Stars along with defenseman Barry Ashbee. Clarke was followed by Bill Barber in goals (34), and by Rick MacLeish both in assists (45) and in points (77).
In net, the Flyers were led by goaltender Bernie Parent, who went 47–13–12, posted a 1.89 goals against average (136 goals against on 2038 shots) and 12 shutouts. Parent's 47 wins was a record until Martin Brodeur won 48 games in the 2006–07 NHL season. It remains the record for most regulation wins by a goaltender in a single season as several of Brodeur's wins came in overtime and the shootout, neither of which existed in the 1970s. Parent was a co-winner of the Vezina Trophy, which was awarded at the time to any goaltenders who played 25 or more games for the team allowing the fewest goals against, with Black Hawks' goaltender Tony Esposito.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Playoffs The Flyers opened the post season against the 4th place Atlanta Flames. The Flyers swept the Atlanta Flames in four games with a combined score of 17–6. Rick MacLeish led the Flyers with four goals during the series. He scored a natural hat-trick in game two.
The Flyers headed into a grueling semifinals match up against the New York Rangers, who had won the regular season series 2–1–2. The series opened up in Philadelphia at the Spectrum with the Flyers shutting out the Rangers 4–0 in game one and taking game two 5–2. The series switched back to New York and the Rangers would take game three 5–3 and game four in overtime 2–1. The Flyers won game five at home 4–1. With the Rangers on the verge of defeat in game six the Rangers won 4–1. In game seven Gary Dornhoefer scored the game-winning goal with 10:59 left in the third. Rick MacLeish again led the Flyers in scoring in this series with seven goals. The home team was the winner of every game in the series.
This set up a Stanley Cup Final matchup against the Boston Bruins, who won the season series 3–1–1. The series opened in Boston at the Boston Garden with Boston winning game one, 3–2 and the Flyers winning game two, 3–2 in overtime on a Bobby Clarke goal. The series moved to Philadelphia where the Flyers won game three, 4–1 and game four, 4–2. The series returned to Boston and Bruins won game five, 5–1. The series returned to Philadelphia for game six. Kate Smith performed "God Bless America" to a sell out crowd of 17,007 prior to the game. The Flyers won their first Stanley Cup on the lone goal of the game by Rick MacLeish in the first period. With seconds left on the Clock Gene Hart, the Flyers play-by-play announcer, made his famous call "Ladies and gentlemen, the Flyers are going to win the Stanley Cup. The Flyers win the Stanley Cup. The Flyers win the Stanley Cup. The Flyers have won the Stanley Cup!". Bernie Parent was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 11 || 2–0 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Parent || 17,007 || 1–0–0 || 2 ||
| 2 || October 13 || 6–0 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Parent || 13,057 || 2–0–0 || 4 ||
| 3 || October 14 || 5–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Parent || 17,007 || 3–0–0 || 6 ||
| 4 || October 17 || 5–1 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals || Parent || 4,679 || 4–0–0 || 8 ||
| 5 || October 19 || 1–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks || Parent || 15,570 || 4–1–0 || 8 ||
| 6 || October 20 || 0–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Parent || 11,734 || 4–2–0 || 8 ||
| 7 || October 25 || 0–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Parent || 17,007 || 4–3–0 || 8 ||
| 8 || October 27 || 6–0 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Parent || 11,217 || 5–3–0 || 10 ||
| 9 || October 28 || 2–1 || align="left"| California Golden Seals || Parent || 17,007 || 6–3–0 || 12 ||
| 10 || November 1 || 1–0 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks || Parent || 17,007 || 7–3–0 || 14 ||
| 11 || November 3 || 1–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames || Parent || 17,007 || 7–4–0 || 14 ||
| 12 || November 4 || 7–0 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Parent || 17,007 || 8–4–0 || 16 ||
| 13 || November 7 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Parent || 12,509 || 9–4–0 || 18 ||
| 14 || November 8 || 2–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings || Parent || 17,007 || 9–5–0 || 18 ||
| 15 || November 11 || 4–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues || Parent || 17,007 || 10–5–0 || 20 ||
| 16 || November 14 || 5–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Parent || 10,045 || 11–5–0 || 22 ||
| 17 || November 16 || 2–1 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals || Parent || 6,511 || 12–5–0 || 24 ||
| 18 || November 17 || 2–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks || Parent || 15,570 || 12–5–1 || 25 ||
| 19 || November 22 || 2–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Taylor || 15,003 || 12–6–1 || 25 ||
| 20 || November 24 || 1–0 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues || Parent || 19,274 || 13–6–1 || 27 ||
| 21 || November 29 || 2–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Parent || 17,007 || 13–6–2 || 28 ||
| 22 || December 1 || 2–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Parent || 14,865 || 14–6–2 || 30 ||
| 23 || December 2 || 5–1 || align="left"| California Golden Seals || Parent || 17,007 || 15–6–2 || 32 ||
| 24 || December 8 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Parent || 16,485 || 16–6–2 || 34 ||
| 25 || December 9 || 3–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Parent || 17,007 || 16–6–3 || 35 ||
| 26 || December 12 || 2–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks || Parent || 11,000 || 16–6–4 || 36 ||
| 27 || December 15 || 2–3 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames || Parent || 17,007 || 16–7–4 || 36 ||
| 28 || December 16 || 4–0 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Parent || 17,007 || 17–7–4 || 38 ||
| 29 || December 20 || 9–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks || Parent || 17,007 || 18–7–4 || 40 ||
| 30 || December 22 || 4–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks || Parent || 17,007 || 19–7–4 || 42 ||
| 31 || December 26 || 1–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Parent || 17,500 || 19–8–4 || 42 ||
| 32 || December 29 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues || Parent || 10,265 || 20–8–4 || 44 ||
| 33 || December 30 || 5–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Parent || 15,858 || 21–8–4 || 46 ||
| 34 || January 3 || 4–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Parent || 17,007 || 22–8–4 || 48 ||
| 35 || January 5 || 3–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars || Parent || 15,296 || 22–8–5 || 49 ||
| 36 || January 7 || 1–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Parent || 19,040 || 22–9–5 || 49 ||
| 37 || January 10 || 7–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars || Parent || 17,007 || 23–9–5 || 51 ||
| 38 || January 11 || 7–6 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames || Taylor || 5,141 || 24–9–5 || 53 ||
| 39 || January 13 || 1–0 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames || Parent || 17,007 || 25–9–5 || 55 ||
| 40 || January 17 || 7–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Parent || 17,007 || 26–9–5 || 57 ||
| 41 || January 19 || 2–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings || Parent || 17,007 || 27–9–5 || 59 ||
| 42 || January 20 || 3–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Parent || 17,007 || 27–10–5 || 59 ||
| 43 || January 22 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks || Taylor || 15,570 || 28–10–5 || 61 ||
| 44 || January 24 || 4–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Parent || 14,343 || 28–10–6 || 62 ||
| 45 || January 25 || 5–0 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals || Parent || 10,776 || 29–10–6 || 64 ||
| 46 || January 27 || 3–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Taylor || 15,003 || 29–11–6 || 64 ||
| 47 || January 31 || 4–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Parent || 17,007 || 30–11–6 || 66 ||
| 48 || February 2 || 12–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Parent || 17,007 || 31–11–6 || 68 ||
| 49 || February 3 || 2–2 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames || Parent || 14,123 || 31–11–7 || 69 ||
| 50 || February 7 || 5–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Parent || 17,007 || 32–11–7 || 71 ||
| 51 || February 9 || 3–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Parent || 15,003 || 32–12–7 || 71 ||
| 52 || February 10 || 3–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Parent || 17,007 || 33–12–7 || 73 ||
| 53 || February 13 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Parent || 16,485 || 34–12–7 || 75 ||
| 54 || February 14 || 4–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Parent || 17,007 || 34–12–8 || 76 ||
| 55 || February 17 || 2–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Parent || 17,757 || 34–12–9 || 77 ||
| 56 || February 20 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Parent || 15,128 || 35–12–9 || 79 ||
| 57 || February 23 || 1–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks || Parent || 16,666 || 35–13–9 || 79 ||
| 58 || February 24 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Parent || 17,500 || 35–14–9 || 79 ||
| 59 || February 28 || 2–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars || Parent || 17,007 || 35–14–10 || 80 ||
| 60 || March 2 || 4–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Parent || 17,007 || 36–14–10 || 82 ||