Select Page

1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 47th season in the NHL, and the club was coming off their third consecutive first-place finish in 1971–72, as they finished on top of the West Division with a 46–17–15 record, tying a club record with 107 points. The Hawks defeated the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers in the postseason before falling to the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Finals.[1]

During the off-season, the Black Hawks lost Bobby Hull to the Winnipeg Jets in the newly created World Hockey Association, who signed him to the first $1 million contract in hockey history.[2] The NHL also expanded once again, as the New York Islanders joined the East Division, while the Atlanta Flames were placed in the West.

Chicago, dealing with the loss of Hull, got off to a quick start of the season, winning their first four games, before sliding into a slump that saw their record fall to 7–7–2. The club broke out of its slump, won 14 of the next 18 games, and took hold of the top spot in the West Division. The Hawks then cruised to their fourth-straight first-place finish, as they had a record of 42–27–9, earning 93 points, which was their lowest point total since missing the playoffs in the 1968–69 season.[3]

Offensively, the Black Hawks were led by Jim Pappin, who had a career season, scoring 41 goals and 92 points. Pit Martin earned 61 assists and 90 points, while Dennis Hull scored 39 goals and 90 points. Stan Mikita earned 83 points despite missing 21 games due to injuries. Bill White lead the defense, registering 47 points, while Pat Stapleton scored 10 goals and 31 points. Rookie Phil Russell had a team-high 156 penalty minutes, and had a +31 rating, which tied him with Mikita for the team lead.

In goal, Tony Esposito led the club with 32 victories and a 2.51 GAA, along with four shutouts while appearing in 56 games.[4] Backup goaltender Gary Smith won 10 games while having a 3.54 GAA.[5]

Season standings

West Division[6]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Chicago Black Hawks 78 42 27 9 284 225 +59 93
2 Philadelphia Flyers 78 37 30 11 296 256 +40 85
3 Minnesota North Stars 78 37 30 11 254 230 +24 85
4 St. Louis Blues 78 32 34 12 233 251 −18 76
5 Pittsburgh Penguins 78 32 37 9 257 265 −8 73
6 Los Angeles Kings 78 31 36 11 232 245 −13 73
7 Atlanta Flames 78 25 38 15 191 239 −48 65
8 California Golden Seals 78 16 46 16 213 323 −110 48

Record vs. opponents


Playoffs

The Hawks opened the playoffs against the St. Louis Blues, who had a record of 32–34–12, earning 76 points, while placing fourth in the West Division. The series opened with two games at Chicago Stadium, and the Black Hawks easily defeated the Blues in the series opener, winning 7–1, before shutting out St. Louis, 1–0, in the second game to take an early series lead. The series shifted to the St. Louis Arena for the next two games; however, Chicago took a 3–0 series lead, winning 5–2 in the third game, but the Blues avoided the sweep, winning 5–3 in the fourth game. Chicago returned home for the fifth game, and easily took care of St. Louis, thumping the Blues 6–1 to win the series.

Chicago's next opponent was the New York Rangers for the third straight year, who had finished the season with a 47–23–8 record, earning 102 points, and a third-place finish in the East Division. The Rangers had just defeated the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Boston Bruins in their first playoff series. Since the Black Hawks won their division, they were given home-ice advantage in the series for the third straight year. The series opened up with two games at Chicago Stadium, but it was the Rangers who struck first, winning the series opener by a 4–1 score. he Black Hawks rebounded in the second game, holding off New York for a 5–4 victory to even the series. The series moved to Madison Square Garden for the next two games, and it would be the Hawks who took control of the series, defeating the Rangers 2–1 and 3–1 to take a 3–1 series lead back to Chicago for the fifth game. The Black Hawks stayed hot, and easily beat the Rangers 4–1 to win the series and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in three years.

The Hawks opponent in the 1973 Stanley Cup Finals was the Montreal Canadiens, who were the best team in the league during the regular season, as they had a 52–10–16 record, earning 120 points. The Canadiens had defeated the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers to earn a spot in the finals. The series opened at the Montreal Forum, and the powerful Canadiens easily won the first game by an 8–3 score, followed by a 4–1 win in the second game to take a 2–0 series lead. The finals shifted to Chicago Stadium for the next two games, and the Hawks cut into the Canadiens series lead with a 7–4 victory in the third game. Montreal rebounded in the fourth game though, shutting out Chicago 4–0 to take a 3–1 series lead. The fifth game returned to Montreal; however, the Black Hawks stayed alive with a wild 8–7 victory, cutting the Canadiens lead to 3–2 in the series. In the sixth game back in Chicago, Montreal rebounded, defeating the Hawks, 6–4, to win the Stanley Cup.

Schedule and results

Regular season

1972–73 regular season[3]
October
Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points
1 October 7 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–0–0 2
2 October 8 New York Rangers 1–5 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0–0 4
3 October 11 Atlanta Flames 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0–0 6
4 October 14 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 St. Louis Blues 4–0–0 8
5 October 15 St. Louis Blues 3–1 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1–0 8
6 October 17 Chicago Black Hawks 3–6 Vancouver Canucks 4–2–0 8
7 October 21 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Los Angeles Kings 4–3–0 8
8 October 22 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 California Golden Seals 5–3–0 10
9 October 26 Chicago Black Hawks 6–3 Boston Bruins 6–3–0 12
10 October 28 Chicago Black Hawks 4–4 New York Islanders 6–3–1 13
11 October 29 Chicago Black Hawks 1–7 New York Rangers 6–4–1 13
November
Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points
12 November 1 New York Rangers 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 6–5–1 13
13 November 4 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Minnesota North Stars 6–6–1 13
14 November 5 California Golden Seals 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 6–6–2 14
15 November 8 New York Islanders 1–6 Chicago Black Hawks 7–6–2 16
16 November 9 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Philadelphia Flyers 7–7–2 16
17 November 12 Detroit Red Wings 1–5 Chicago Black Hawks 8–7–2 18
18 November 18 Chicago Black Hawks 5–3 Montreal Canadiens 9–7–2 20
19 November 19 Minnesota North Stars 5–1 Chicago Black Hawks 9–8–2 20
20 November 22 Vancouver Canucks 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 10–8–2 22
21 November 25 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 St. Louis Blues 11–8–2 24
22 November 26 Montreal Canadiens 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks 12–8–2 26
23 November 29 Detroit Red Wings 3–8 Chicago Black Hawks 13–8–2 28
December
Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points
24 December 2 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 13–9–2 28
25 December 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 14–9–2 30
26 December 6 Los Angeles Kings 0–6 Chicago Black Hawks 15–9–2 32
27 December 10 Minnesota North Stars 1–5 Chicago Black Hawks 16–9–2 34
28 December 12 Chicago Black Hawks 5–1 Vancouver Canucks 17–9–2 36
29 December 13 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Los Angeles Kings 17–10–2 36
30 December 15 Chicago Black Hawks 9–4 California Golden Seals 18–10–2 38
31 December 17 Los Angeles Kings 0–2 Chicago Black Hawks 19–10–2 40
32 December 20 Philadelphia Flyers 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 20–10–2 42
33 December 23 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Toronto Maple Leafs 20–11–2 42
34 December 24 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–5 Chicago Black Hawks 21–11–2 44
35 December 27 St. Louis Blues 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 21–12–2 44
36 December 28 Chicago Black Hawks 2–8 Buffalo Sabres 21–13–2 44
37 December 31 Buffalo Sabres 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 22–13–2 46
January
Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points
38 January 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 22–14–2 46
39 January 6 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0 Minnesota North Stars 23–14–2 48
40 January 7 Boston Bruins 4–5 Chicago Black Hawks 24–14–2 50
41 January 10 Chicago Black Hawks 2–5 Atlanta Flames 24–15–2 50
42 January 13 Philadelphia Flyers 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 24–16–2 50
43 January 14 California Golden Seals 6–6 Chicago Black Hawks 24–16–3 51
44 January 17 Chicago Black Hawks 6–4 Detroit Red Wings 25–16–3 53
45 January 18 Chicago Black Hawks 1–5 Buffalo Sabres 25–17–3 53
46 January 20 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Minnesota North Stars 25–17–4 54
47 January 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–9 Chicago Black Hawks 26–17–4 56
48 January 24 Vancouver Canucks 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 26–17–5 57
49 January 27 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 Boston Bruins 27–17–5 59
50 January 28 Minnesota North Stars 1–5 Chicago Black Hawks 28–17–5 61
February
Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points
51 February 1 Chicago Black Hawks 5–3 New York Islanders 29–17–5 63
52 February 3 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Philadelphia Flyers 29–17–6 64
53 February 4 St. Louis Blues 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 30–17–6 66
54 February 7 Buffalo Sabres 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks 31–17–6 68
55 February 9 Chicago Black Hawks 4–3 Atlanta Flames 32–17–6 70
56 February 11 Philadelphia Flyers 2–7 Chicago Black Hawks 33–17–6 72
57 February 14 New York Islanders 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 34–17–6 74
58 February 17 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 St. Louis Blues 34–18–6 74
59 February 18 Boston Bruins 4–1 Chicago Black Hawks 34–19–6 74
60 February 21 Montreal Canadiens 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 34–20–6 74
61 February 24 Chicago Black Hawks 0–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 34–21–6 74
62 February 25 Atlanta Flames 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 35–21–6 76
63 February 27 Chicago Black Hawks 5–3 New York Islanders 36–21–6 78
64 February 28 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 New York Rangers 36–21–7 79
March
Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points
65 March 3 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 36–21–8 80
66 March 4 Chicago Black Hawks 0–4 Boston Bruins 36–22–8 80
67 March 8 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 Los Angeles Kings 36–23–8 80
68 March 10 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 Vancouver Canucks 37–23–8 82
69 March 11 Chicago Black Hawks 5–1 California Golden Seals 38–23–8 84
70 March 14 New York Rangers 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 39–23–8 86
71 March 17 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 Atlanta Flames 39–24–8 86
72 March 18 Detroit Red Wings 2–0 Chicago Black Hawks 39–25–8 86
73 March 21 Buffalo Sabres 2–6 Chicago Black Hawks 40–25–8 88
74 March 24 Atlanta Flames 0–7 Chicago Black Hawks 41–25–8 90
75 March 25 Montreal Canadiens 5–6 Chicago Black Hawks 42–25–8 92
76 March 28 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 Montreal Canadiens 42–26–8 92
77 March 31 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 Detroit Red Wings 42–27–8 92
April
Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points
78 April 1 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–4 Chicago Black Hawks 42–27–9 93

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1973 Stanley Cup playoffs[3]
Quarterfinals vs. (W4) St. Louis Blues – Black Hawks win 4–1
Game Date Visitor Score Home Series
1 April 4 St. Louis Blues 1–7 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0
2 April 5 St. Louis Blues 0–1 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0
3 April 7 Chicago Black Hawks 5–2 St. Louis Blues 3–0
4 April 8 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 St. Louis Blues 3–1
5 April 10 St. Louis Blues 1–6 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1
Semifinals vs. (E3) New York Rangers – Black Hawks win 4–1
Game Date Visitor Score Home Series
1 April 12 New York Rangers 4–1 Chicago Black Hawks 0–1
2 April 15 New York Rangers 4–5 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1
3 April 17 Chicago Black Hawks 2–1 New York Rangers 2–1
4 April 19 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 New York Rangers 3–1
5 April 24 New York Rangers 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1
Stanley Cup Finals vs. (E1) Montreal Canadiens – Canadiens win 4–2
Game Date Visitor Score Home Series
1 April 29 Chicago Black Hawks 3–8 Montreal Canadiens 0–1
2 May 1 Chicago Black Hawks 1–4 Montreal Canadiens 0–2
3 May 3 Montreal Canadiens 4–7 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2
4 May 6 Montreal Canadiens 4–0 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3
5 May 8 Chicago Black Hawks 8–7 Montreal Canadiens 2–3
6 May 10 Montreal Canadiens 6–4 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4

Legend:   Win   Loss

Season stats

Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Jim Pappin 76 41 51 92 82
Dennis Hull 78 39 51 90 27
Pit Martin 78 29 61 90 30
Stan Mikita 57 27 56 83 32
Cliff Koroll 77 33 24 57 38

Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
Tony Esposito 56 3340 32 17 7 140 5 2.51
Gary Smith 28 1340 10 10 2 79 0 3.54

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Dennis Hull 16 9 15 24 4
Stan Mikita 15 7 13 20 8
Pat Stapleton 16 2 15 17 10
Pit Martin 15 10 6 16 6
Jim Pappin 16 8 7 15 24

Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Tony Esposito 15 895 10 5 46 1 3.08
Gary Smith 2 65 0 1 5 0 4.62

Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 13 Phil Russell  Canada Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
2 29 Brian Ogilvie  Canada Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
3 45 Mike Veisor  Canada Peterborough Petes (OHA)
4 61 Tom Peluso  United States University of Denver (NCAA)
5 77 Rejean Giroux  Canada Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
6 93 Rob Palmer  United States University of Denver (NCAA)
7 109 Terry Smith  Canada Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
8 125 Billy Reay  Canada University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
9 141 Gary Donaldson  Canada Victoria Cougars (WCHL)

References

  1. ^ 1972–73 NHL Season Summary – Hockey-Reference.com
  2. ^ Legends of Hockey – The Legends – Honoured Player – Hull, Bobby – Biography
  3. ^ a b c "1972-73 Chicago Black Hawks Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  4. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history : Tony Esposito". Archived from the original on February 17, 2008. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  5. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history: Gary Smith". Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  6. ^ "1972–1973 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  7. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.

Sources