1972–73 NHL season

The 1972–73 NHL season was the 56th season of the National Hockey League. Sixteen teams each played 78 games. Two new teams, the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Flames, made their debuts. The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup by beating the Chicago Black Hawks four games to two in the Stanley Cup Finals.

1972–73 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 7, 1972 – May 10, 1973
Number of games78
Number of teams16
TV partner(s)CBC, CTV, SRC (Canada)
NBC (United States)
Draft
Top draft pickBilly Harris
Picked byNew York Islanders
Regular season
Season championsMontreal Canadiens
Season MVPBobby Clarke (Flyers)
Top scorerPhil Esposito (Bruins)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPYvan Cournoyer (Canadiens)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsMontreal Canadiens
  Runners-upChicago Black Hawks

Pre-season

Prior to the start of the season, the 1972 Summit Series took place. It was the first ever meeting between Soviet Union and NHL calibre Canadian ice hockey players. Canada expected to easily beat the Soviets, but were shocked to find themselves with a losing record of one win, two losses, and a tie after four games in Canada. In game four, which Canada lost 5–3, Vancouver fans echoed the rest of Canada's thoughts of Team Canada's poor performance by booing them off the ice. The final four games were played in the Soviet Union. Canada lost game five, but won the last three for a final record of four wins, three losses, and a tie.

For the first time since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926, the National Hockey League had serious competition. A new professional hockey league, the World Hockey Association, made its season debut with 12 new teams, half of which were based in cities with existing NHL teams. Unlike the Western Hockey League, though, the new World Hockey Association would not challenge for the Stanley Cup. In response to the new league, the NHL hastily added two new teams in an unplanned expansion, the New York Islanders and Atlanta Flames, in an attempt to exclude the WHA from newly constructed arenas in those markets.

In February 1972, the Miami Screaming Eagles of the WHA signed Bernie Parent to a contract,[1] and when Bobby Hull was signed on June 27, 1972, to play with the Winnipeg Jets, the Chicago Black Hawks sued, claiming a violation of the reserve clause in NHL contracts. Others soon followed Hull to the WHA, including, J. C. Tremblay, Ted Green, Gerry Cheevers and Johnny McKenzie. In the expansion draft, the New York Islanders and Atlanta Flames made their picks and eleven Islander players skipped off to the WHA. The California Golden Seals, chafing under the unorthodox ownership of the unpopular Charlie Finley, were also a victim of the WHA, losing eight key players.

Regular season

The Montreal Canadiens took over first place in the East Division and the league from the Boston Bruins while for the third consecutive season the Chicago Black Hawks dominated the West Division.

Final standings
East Division[2]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1Montreal Canadiens78521016329184+145120
2Boston Bruins7851225330235+95107
3New York Rangers7847238297208+89102
4Buffalo Sabres78372714257219+3888
5Detroit Red Wings78372912265243+2286
6Toronto Maple Leafs78274110247279−3264
7Vancouver Canucks7822479233339−10653
8New York Islanders7812606170347−17730
West Division[2]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1Chicago Black Hawks7842279284225+5993
2Philadelphia Flyers78373011296256+4085
3Minnesota North Stars78373011254230+2485
4St. Louis Blues78323412233251−1876
5Pittsburgh Penguins7832379257265−873
6Los Angeles Kings78313611232245−1373
7Atlanta Flames78253815191239−4865
8California Golden Seals78164616213323−11048

East

West

Playoffs

No teams in the playoffs swept their opponents, the last time this would happen until 1991, and no series went to a seventh game, the last time this has happened to date. In addition, the Chicago Black Hawks reached the Stanley Cup Finals without a captain, the last time this would happen until 2014.

Playoff bracket
Quarterfinals Semifinals Stanley Cup Finals
         
E1 Montreal 4
E4 Buffalo 2
E1 Montreal 4
W2 Philadelphia 1
W2 Philadelphia 4
W3 Minnesota 2
E1 Montreal 4
W1 Chicago 2
W1 Chicago 4
W4 St. Louis 1
W1 Chicago 4
E3 NY Rangers 1
E2 Boston 1
E3 NY Rangers 4

(E1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (E4) Buffalo Sabres

The Montreal Canadiens finished first in the league with 120 points. The Buffalo Sabres finished fourth with 88 points. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. This was the Buffalo Sabres' first playoff appearance in their third season since entering the league in the 1970–71 NHL season. Montreal won the five-game regular season series earning six of ten points.

April 4 Buffalo Sabres 1–2 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Craig Ramsay (1) – 03:13 Second period 17:01 – Jacques Lemaire (1)
No scoring Third period 04:27 – pp – Yvan Cournoyer (1)
Dave Dryden Goalie stats Ken Dryden
April 5 Buffalo Sabres 3–7 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Gilbert Perreault (1) – 01:06
Richard Martin (1) – pp – 16:48		 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 04:48 – Serge Savard (1)
06:07 – Yvan Cournoyer (2)
10:39 – Marc Tardif (1)
16:21 – pp – Guy Lapointe (1)
17:29 – Jacques Lemaire (2)
Jim Schoenfeld (1) – 17:45 Third period 03:10 – Yvan Cournoyer (3)
15:31 – Yvan Cournoyer (4)
Dave Dryden Goalie stats Ken Dryden
April 7 Montreal Canadiens 5–2 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Recap  
Guy Lafleur (1) – pp – 16:56 First period No scoring
Peter Mahovlich (1) – pp – 08:44
Murray Wilson (1) – 09:00		 Second period 01:13 – Larry Mickey (1)
Frank Mahovlich (1) – 12:15
Henri Richard (1) – 19:12		 Third period 00:54 – pp – Rene Robert (1)
Ken Dryden Goalie stats Roger Crozier
April 8 Montreal Canadiens 1–5 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Recap  
Yvan Cournoyer (5) – 18:37 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 11:13 – Jim Schoenfeld (2)
14:29 – pp – Gilbert Perreault (2)
No scoring Third period 01:28 – Rene Robert (2)
19:19 – Don Luce (1)
19:41 – Gilbert Perreault (3)
Ken Dryden Goalie stats Roger Crozier
April 10 Buffalo Sabres 3–2 OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period 16:22 – Frank Mahovlich (2)
Richard Martin (2) – 12:03
Rene Robert (3) – 13:11		 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 12:46 – Guy Lapointe (2)
Rene Robert (4) – 09:18 First overtime period No scoring
Roger Crozier Goalie stats Ken Dryden
April 12 Montreal Canadiens 4–2 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Recap  
Serge Savard (2) – 01:32
Murray Wilson (2) – 07:33
Guy Lafleur (2) – 08:53
Guy Lapointe (3) – 16:03		 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 11:41 – Rene Robert (5)
19:48 – pp – Richard Martin (3)
Ken Dryden Goalie stats Roger Crozier
Montreal won series 4–2

(E2) Boston Bruins vs. (E3) New York Rangers

The Boston Bruins finished second in the East Division with 107 points. The New York Rangers finished third in the East Division with 102 points. This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams with Boston winning six of the eight previous series. They last met in the previous year's Stanley Cup Finals which Boston won in six games. The teams split this year's six-game regular season series.

April 4 New York Rangers 6–2 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
Brad Park (1) – pp – 15:59 First period 14:21 – Doug Roberts (1)
Bruce MacGregor (1) – 07:25
Brad Park (2) – 08:53
Walt Tkaczuk (1) – 11:48
Walt Tkaczuk (2) – 15:55		 Second period No scoring
Derek Sanderson (1) – 11:17 Third period 03:11 – Pete Stemkowski (1)
Ed Giacomin Goalie stats Jacques Plante
April 5 New York Rangers 4–2 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
Steve Vickers (1) – 13:20 First period 07:55 – Wayne Cashman (1)
Ted Irvine (1) – pp – 09:47
Pete Stemkowski (2) – pp – 13:29		 Second period 16:34 – Doug Roberts (2)
Walt Tkaczuk (3) – pp – 05:37 Third period No scoring
Ed Giacomin
Gilles Villemure		 Goalie stats Jacques Plante
April 7 Boston Bruins 4–2 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden Recap  
Gregg Sheppard (1) – sh – 06:53 First period 18:35 – Pete Stemkowski (3)
Fred Stanfield (1) – 03:13 Second period No scoring
Gregg Sheppard (2) – 10:39
Mike Walton (1) – 19:08		 Third period 06:12 – Jean Ratelle (1)
Ed Johnston Goalie stats Ed Giacomin
April 8 Boston Bruins 0–4 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden Recap  
No scoring First period 02:35 – Rod Gilbert (1)
16:30 – Pete Stemkowski (4)
No scoring Second period 11:22 – Bobby Rousseau (1)
19:15 – Steve Vickers (2)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Ed Johnston Goalie stats Ed Giacomin
April 10 New York Rangers 6–3 Boston Bruins Boston Garden Recap  
Steve Vickers (3) – 00:38
Steve Vickers (4) – 14:34
Bruce MacGregor (2) – 16:33		 First period 01:54 – Bobby Orr (1)
12:45 – pp – Ken Hodge (1)
Walt Tkaczuk (4) – 18:59 Second period No scoring
Rod Gilbert (2) – 04:10
Steve Vickers (5) – 17:51		 Third period 07:10 – Don Marcotte (1)
Ed Giacomin Goalie stats Ross Brooks
Ed Johnston
New York won series 4–1

(W1) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (W4) St. Louis Blues

The Chicago Black Hawks finished first in the West Division with 93 points. The St. Louis Blues finished fourth in the West Division with 76 points. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. The teams split this year's six-game regular season series.

April 4 St. Louis Blues 1–7 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 15:02 – Dick Redmond (1)
15:20 – Dick Redmond (2)
No scoring Second period 02:13 – Dick Redmond (3)
09:38 – Jim Pappin (1)
10:32 – Pit Martin (1)
Phil Roberto (1) – 19:07 Third period 12:33 – pp – Pit Martin (2)
16:24 – pp – Pit Martin (3)
Wayne Stephenson Goalie stats Tony Esposito
April 5 St. Louis Blues 0–1 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 14:06 – Lou Angotti (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Jacques Caron Goalie stats Tony Esposito
April 7 Chicago Blackhawks 5–2 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena Recap  
Dennis Hull (1) – pp – 02:29
Ralph Backstrom (1) – 11:26
Jim Pappin (2) – 13:51		 First period 05:52 – pp – Ab DeMarco Jr. (1)
10:26 – Pierre Plante (1)
Ralph Backstrom (2) – 03:10 Second period No scoring
Jim Pappin (3) – pp – 07:31 Third period No scoring
Tony Esposito Goalie stats Jacques Caron
April 8 Chicago Blackhawks 3–5 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena Recap  
Ralph Backstrom (3) – 06:33
Cliff Koroll (1) – 11:11		 First period 16:48 – Pierre Plante (2)
No scoring Second period 14:03 – Phil Roberto (2)
15:31 – Fran Huck (1)
18:29 – Gary Sabourin (1)
Chico Maki (1) – 14:21 Third period 16:56 – Garry Unger (1)
Gary Smith Goalie stats Wayne Stephenson
April 10 St. Louis Blues 1–6 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 01:14 – Jim Pappin (4)
14:52 – Stan Mikita (1)
Fran Huck (2) – pp – 04:20 Second period 00:30 – Cliff Koroll (2)
11:37 – Chico Maki (2)
No scoring Third period 15:32 – sh – Ralph Backstrom (4)
17:41 – Lou Angotti (2)
Wayne Stephenson
Jacques Caron		 Goalie stats Tony Esposito
Chicago won series 4–1

(W2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (W3) Minnesota North Stars

The Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota North Stars finished tied for second in the West Division each with 85 points (Philadelphia won the tiebreaker in season series 3–2). This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Philadelphia won three of the five games in this year's regular season series.

April 4 Minnesota North Stars 3–0 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Dennis Hextall (1) – 09:21
Dennis O'Brien (1) – 19:45		 Second period No scoring
Jude Drouin (1) – 09:17 Third period No scoring
Cesare Maniago Goalie stats Doug Favell
April 5 Minnesota North Stars 1–4 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum Recap  
No scoring First period 05:48 – Don Saleski (1)
No scoring Second period 01:08 – sh – Bill Flett (1)
08:37 – Bill Barber (1)
18:46 – Terry Crisp (1)
Dean Prentice (1) – pp – 04:14 Third period No scoring
Gilles Gilbert Goalie stats Doug Favell
April 7 Philadelphia Flyers 0–5 Minnesota North Stars Met Center Recap  
No scoring First period 09:35 – Dennis Hextall (2)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 00:54 – pp – Barry Gibbs (1)
09:36 – Lou Nanne (1)
09:54 – Danny Grant (1)
15:27 – Danny Grant (2)
Doug Favell
Michel Belhumeur		 Goalie stats Cesare Maniago
April 8 Philadelphia Flyers 3–0 Minnesota North Stars Met Center Recap  
Bobby Clarke (1) – pp – 18:57 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Bill Barber (2) – 14:16
Ross Lonsberry (1) – 16:00		 Third period No scoring
Doug Favell Goalie stats Cesare Maniago
April 10 Minnesota North Stars 2–3 OT Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum Recap  
Danny Grant (3) – 10:48 First period 11:24 – pp – Rick MacLeish (1)
No scoring Second period 02:17 – pp – Rick MacLeish (2)
Bill Goldsworthy (1) – 13:00 Third period No scoring
No scoring First overtime period 08:35 – Gary Dornhoefer (1)
Cesare Maniago Goalie stats Doug Favell
April 12 Philadelphia Flyers 4–1 Minnesota North Stars Met Center Recap  
No scoring First period 13:40 – pp – Bill Goldsworthy (2)
Terry Crisp (2) – pp – 04:10
Ross Lonsberry (2) – 16:42
Dave Schultz (1) – 18:01		 Second period No scoring
Ross Lonsberry (3) – 19:48 Third period No scoring
Doug Favell Goalie stats Cesare Maniago
Philadelphia won series 4–2

(E1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (W3) Philadelphia Flyers

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. The teams split this year's five-game regular season series.

April 14 Philadelphia Flyers 5–4 OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Bill Barber (3) – 14:20 First period 04:48 – Yvan Cournoyer (6)
Simon Nolet (1) – 03:16 Second period 17:28 – pp – Guy Lapointe (4)
Simon Nolet (2) – 10:18
Gary Dornhoefer (2) – 12:04		 Third period 08:58 – Guy Lapointe (5)
15:25 – Jacques Lemaire (3)
Rick MacLeish (3) – 02:56 First overtime period No scoring
Doug Favell Goalie stats Ken Dryden
April 17 Philadelphia Flyers 3–4 OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Andre Dupont (1) – 05:50
Gary Dornhoefer (3) – pp – 08:12		 First period 19:13 – pp – Guy Lafleur (3)
Bill Flett (2) – 00:36 Second period 00:25 – Henri Richard (2)
No scoring Third period 11:50 – Yvan Cournoyer (7)
No scoring First overtime period 06:45 – Larry Robinson (1)
Doug Favell Goalie stats Ken Dryden
April 19 Montreal Canadiens 2–1 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum Recap  
Rejean Houle (1) – 06:34
Henri Richard (3) – 18:19		 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 10:09 – Terry Crisp (3)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Ken Dryden Goalie stats Doug Favell
April 22 Montreal Canadiens 4–1 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum Recap  
No scoring First period 04:08 – pp – Bobby Clarke (2)
Rejean Houle (2) – 07:38
Marc Tardif (2) – pp – 14:07
Yvan Cournoyer (8) – pp – 16:01		 Second period No scoring
Frank Mahovlich (3) – 19:27 Third period No scoring
Ken Dryden Goalie stats Doug Favell
April 24 Philadelphia Flyers 3–5 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Ross Lonsberry (4) – 08:57 First period 15:29 – Marc Tardif (3)
Simon Nolet (3) – 06:18 Second period 00:23 – pp – Jacques Lemaire (4)
Bill Flett (3) – 05:30 Third period 05:44 – Frank Mahovlich (4)
12:07 – Henri Richard (4)
13:42 – Yvan Cournoyer (9)
Doug Favell Goalie stats Ken Dryden
Montreal won series 4–1

(W1) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (E3) New York Rangers

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams with Chicago winning three of the four previous series. They last met in the previous year's Stanley Cup Semifinals which New York won in a four-game sweep. The teams split this year's five-game regular season series.

April 12 New York Rangers 4–1 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Bobby Rousseau (2) – 14:09 First period 12:37 – Pit Martin (4)
No scoring Second period No scoring
Vic Hadfield (1) – 04:04
Walt Tkaczuk (5) – 17:45
Walt Tkaczuk (6) – 19:35		 Third period No scoring
Ed Giacomin Goalie stats Tony Esposito
April 15 New York Rangers 4–5 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Rod Gilbert (3) – 18:54 First period 05:32 – Pat Stapleton (1)
07:55 – pp – Pat Stapleton (2)
11:20 – Dennis Hull (2)
Jean Ratelle (2) – pp – 05:31
Bill Fairbairn (1) – 08:22
Rod Gilbert (4) – 17:26		 Second period 12:02 – pp – Dennis Hull (3)
14:40 – Dick Redmond (4)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Ed Giacomin
Gilles Villemure		 Goalie stats Tony Esposito
April 17 Chicago Blackhawks 2–1 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden Recap  
Jim Pappin (5) – 08:20 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 14:51 – Walt Tkaczuk (7)
Stan Mikita (2) – 06:16 Third period No scoring
Tony Esposito Goalie stats Ed Giacomin
April 19 Chicago Blackhawks 3–1 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Dennis Hull (4) – pp – 11:20 Second period No scoring
Pit Martin (5) – 14:11
Dennis Hull (5) – 16:56		 Third period 02:16 – Vic Hadfield (2)
Tony Esposito Goalie stats Ed Giacomin
April 24 New York Rangers 1–4 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 19:20 – pp – Stan Mikita (3)
Rod Gilbert (5) – 19:19 Second period 14:07 – Dennis Hull (6)
No scoring Third period 04:47 – Stan Mikita
08:15 – Cliff Koroll (3)
Ed Giacomin Goalie stats Tony Esposito
Chicago won series 4–1

Stanley Cup Finals
Main article: 1973 Stanley Cup Finals

It was the 16th playoff meeting between these two teams. Montreal lead 10–5 in their previous meetings. This was a rematch of the 1971 Stanley Cup Finals, which Montreal won in seven games. Chicago won three of the five games in this year's regular season series.

April 29 Chicago Blackhawks 3–8 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Pit Martin (6) – 00:35
Ralph Backstrom (5) – 01:02
Pit Martin (7) – 12:07		 First period 02:28 – Jacques Laperriere (1)
08:07 – Marc Tardif (7)
No scoring Second period 03:01 – Chuck Lefley (1)
16:23 – pp – Jacques Lemaire (5)
No scoring Third period 08:38 – pp – Jacques Lemaire (6)
12:36 – sh Peter Mahovlich (2)
13:34 – Frank Mahovlich (5)
14:35 – Chuck Lefley (2)
Tony Esposito
Gary Smith		 Goalie stats Ken Dryden
May 1 Chicago Blackhawks 1–4 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
No scoring First period 05:36 – Pierre Bouchard (1)
Cliff Koroll (4) – 07:28 Second period 12:08 – Yvan Cournoyer (10)
No scoring Third period 05:01 – pp Yvan Cournoyer (11)
19:26 – Frank Mahovlich (6)
Tony Esposito Goalie stats Ken Dryden
May 3 Montreal Canadiens 4–7 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
No scoring First period 01:59 – pp – Dennis Hull (7)
11:44 – pp – J.P. Bordeleau (1)
13:20 – sh – Bill White (1)
14:20 – sh – Stan Mikita (5)
Frank Mahovlich (7) – 10:25 Second period 02:08 – pp – John Marks (1)
Yvan Cournoyer (12) – 01:20
Guy Lapointe (6) – 07:15
Jacques Lemaire (7) – 08:01		 Third period 19:29 – Dennis Hull (8)
19:49 – Jim Pappin (6)
Ken Dryden Goalie stats Tony Esposito
May 6 Montreal Canadiens 4–0 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Marc Tardif (5) – 01:08 First period No scoring
Yvan Cournoyer (13) – 14:13
Chuck Lefley (3) – 15:43		 Second period No scoring
Claude Larose (1) – 03:45 Third period No scoring
Ken Dryden Goalie stats Tony Esposito
May 8 Chicago Blackhawks 8–7 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Recap  
Dennis Hull (9) – 09:34
Stan Mikita (6) – 11:24		 First period 02:47 – Frank Mahovlich (8)
14:52 – pp – Peter Mahovlich (3)
Dave Kryskow (1) – 03:10
Stan Mikita (7) – 06:21
Jim Pappin (7) – 11:24
Len Frig (1) – pp – 16:21
Jim Pappin (8) – 19:03		 Second period 00:37 – Claude Larose (2)
04:23 – Claude Larose (3)
07:09 – Yvan Cournoyer (14)
Lou Angotti (3) – 04:06 Third period 01:15 – Serge Savard (3)
11:43 – Henri Richard (5)
Tony Esposito Goalie stats Ken Dryden
May 10 Montreal Canadiens 6–4 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Stadium Recap  
Henri Richard (6) – 19:48 First period 10:35 – Pit Martin (8)
11:31 – pp – Pit Martin (9)
Peter Mahovlich (4) – 05:05
Rejean Houle (3) – 06:37
Frank Mahovlich (9) – pp – 10:54		 Second period 08:32 – Dave Kryskow (2)
17:05 – pp – Pit Martin (10)
Yvan Cournoyer (15) – 08:13
Marc Tardif (6) – pp – 12:42		 Third period No scoring
Ken Dryden Goalie stats Tony Esposito
Montreal won series 4–2

Awards
1973 NHL awards
Prince of Wales Trophy:
(East Division champion, regular season)		Montreal Canadiens
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl:
(West Division champion, regular season)		Chicago Black Hawks
Art Ross Trophy:
(Top scorer, regular season)		Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:
(Perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication)		Lowell MacDonald, Pittsburgh Penguins
Calder Memorial Trophy:
(Top first-year player)		Steve Vickers, New York Rangers
Conn Smythe Trophy:
(Most valuable player, playoffs)		Yvan Cournoyer, Montreal Canadiens
Hart Memorial Trophy:
(Most valuable player, regular season)		Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers
James Norris Memorial Trophy:
(Best defenceman)		Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:
(Excellence and sportsmanship)		Gilbert Perreault, Buffalo Sabres
Lester B. Pearson Award:
(Outstanding player, regular season)		Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers
Vezina Trophy:
(Goaltender(s) of team with best goaltending record)		Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens
Lester Patrick Trophy:
(Service to hockey in the U.S.)		Walter L. Bush, Jr.

All-Star teams
First team  Position  Second team
Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens G Tony Esposito, Chicago Black Hawks
Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins D Brad Park, New York Rangers
Guy Lapointe, Montreal Canadiens D Bill White, Chicago Black Hawks
Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins C Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers
Mickey Redmond, Detroit Red Wings RW Yvan Cournoyer, Montreal Canadiens
Frank Mahovlich, Montreal Canadiens LW Dennis Hull, Chicago Black Hawks

Player statistics

Scoring leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Phil EspositoBoston Bruins78557513087
Bobby ClarkePhiladelphia Flyers78376710480
Bobby OrrBoston Bruins63297210199
Rick MacLeishPhiladelphia Flyers78505010069
Jacques LemaireMontreal Canadiens7744519516
Jean RatelleNew York Rangers7841539412
Mickey RedmondDetroit Red Wings7652419324
Johnny BucykBoston Bruins7840539312
Frank MahovlichMontreal Canadiens7838559351
Jim PappinChicago Black Hawks7641519282

Source: NHL.[5]

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts

Player Team GP MIN GA GAA W L T SO
Ken DrydenMontreal Canadiens5431651192.26337136
Gilles VillemureNew York Rangers342040782.29201223
Tony EspositoChicago Black Hawks5633401402.51321774
Roy EdwardsDetroit Red Wings5230121322.63271776
Dave DrydenBuffalo Sabres372018892.65141373
Roger CrozierBuffalo Sabres4926331212.76231373
Doug FavellPhiladelphia Flyers4424191142.83201543
Rogie VachonLos Angeles Kings5331201482.852220104
Cesare ManiagoMinnesota North Stars4727361322.89211865
Jim RutherfordPittsburgh Penguins4926601292.91202253

Other statistics

Coaches

East

West

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1972–73 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):

Last games

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1972–73 (listed with their last team):

NOTE: Plante, Stapleton, Backstrom, Howell and Balon would finish their major professional careers in the World Hockey Association.

Broadcasting

Hockey Night in Canada on CBC Television televised Saturday night regular season games and Stanley Cup playoff games. HNIC also produced Wednesday night regular season game telecasts for CTV.

This was the first season under the U.S. rights agreement with NBC, airing weekend afternoon regular season games and playoff games.

See also

References
  • Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Hockey. Kingston, NY: Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X.
  • Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto, ON: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.
  • Dryden, Steve, ed. (2000). Century of hockey. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart Ltd. ISBN 0-7710-4179-9.
  • Fischler, Stan; Fischler, Shirley; Hughes, Morgan; Romain, Joseph; Duplacey, James (2003). The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League. Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International Inc. ISBN 0-7853-9624-1.
Notes
  1. Dunell, Milt (February 22, 1972). "Hockey's first 'Super Series' will be played in the courtrooms". Montreal Gazette. p. 31. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  2. "1972–1973 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  3. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  4. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  5. Dinger 2011, p. 150.
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