1973-74

• The Jack Adams Award is given to the NHL's coach of the year for the first time. The first winner was Fred Shero of the Philadelphia Flyers.

• Shero's Flyers become the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, beating the Boston Bruins in six games. Before the decisive game, the Flyers brought out their secret weapon -- singer Kate Smith, who performed "God Bless America" in place of "The Star Spangled Banner" before the opening faceoff. Going into that game, the Flyers were 36-3-1 when Smith performed "God Bless America." In an effort to counter the boost Smith gives to the Flyers, Bruins greats Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito congratulated Smith following her performance. It didn't work. The Flyers won the game, 1-0, clinching their first ever Stanley Cup.