1972–73 Buffalo Sabres season

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1972–73 Buffalo Sabres
Division4th East
1972–73 record37–27–14
Home record30–6–3
Road record7–21–11
Goals for257
Goals against219
Team information
General manager Punch Imlach
Coach Joe Crozier
Captain Gerry Meehan
Arena Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Average attendance15,632
Team leaders
Goals Rene Robert (40)
Assists Gilbert Perreault (60)
Points Gilbert Perreault (88)
Penalty minutes Jim Schoenfeld (178)
Wins Roger Crozier (23)
Goals against average Dave Dryden (2.65)
  1971–72
1973–74  

The 1972–73 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' third season of operation in the National Hockey League. The team made it to the playoffs for the first time, but lost in the first round to Montreal, four games to two.

Contents

Offseason

The Sabres added future Hall of Fame defenseman Tim Horton in the intra-league draft. In the Amateur Draft, the Sabres picked defenseman Jim Schoenfeld as their first-round pick, fifth over-all.

Regular season

Final standings

East Division [1]
GPWLTGFGADIFFPts
1 Montreal Canadiens 78521016329184+145120
2 Boston Bruins 7851225330235+95107
3 New York Rangers 7847238297208+89102
4 Buffalo Sabres 78372714257219+3888
5 Detroit Red Wings 78372912265243+2286
6 Toronto Maple Leafs 78274110247279−3264
7 Vancouver Canucks 7822479233339−10653
8 New York Islanders 7812606170347−17730

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Regular season results
No.RDateScoreOpponentRecord
1WOctober 8, 19725–3 Atlanta Flames (1972–73)1–0–0
2WOctober 11, 19727–3 Los Angeles Kings (1972–73)2–0–0
3TOctober 14, 19721–1@ Atlanta Flames (1972–73)2–0–1
4WOctober 15, 19723–2 Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)3–0–1
5WOctober 19, 19726–0 Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)4–0–1
6TOctober 21, 19721–1@ St. Louis Blues (1972–73)4–0–2
7WOctober 22, 19727–2 Atlanta Flames (1972–73)5–0–2
8TOctober 25, 19722–2 Boston Bruins (1972–73)5–0–3
9TOctober 28, 19723–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)5–0–4
10WOctober 29, 19722–1 Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)6–0–4
11LNovember 1, 19721–7@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)6–1–4
12LNovember 4, 19723–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)6–2–4
13TNovember 5, 19721–1 St. Louis Blues (1972–73)6–2–5
14TNovember 9, 19720–0 California Golden Seals (1972–73)6–2–6
15LNovember 11, 19721–3@ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)6–3–6
16WNovember 12, 19721–0 Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)7–3–6
17TNovember 15, 19723–3@ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73)7–3–7
18LNovember 17, 19721–5@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)7–4–7
19LNovember 19, 19725–9@ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)7–5–7
20LNovember 22, 19722–6@ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)7–6–7
21WNovember 23, 19725–3 New York Rangers (1972–73)8–6–7
22WNovember 26, 19729–2 New York Islanders (1972–73)9–6–7
23WNovember 28, 19727–2@ New York Islanders (1972–73)10–6–7
24LNovember 30, 19724–5@ Boston Bruins (1972–73)10–7–7
25LDecember 2, 19726–8@ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)10–8–7
26WDecember 3, 19727–4 Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)11–8–7
27WDecember 6, 19723–2@ New York Rangers (1972–73)12–8–7
28WDecember 7, 19726–1 Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)13–8–7
29WDecember 10, 19724–2 Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)14–8–7
30WDecember 13, 19727–3 Boston Bruins (1972–73)15–8–7
31WDecember 16, 19724–3@ St. Louis Blues (1972–73)16–8–7
32WDecember 17, 19724–0 Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)17–8–7
33WDecember 20, 19726–3 Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)18–8–7
34LDecember 22, 19722–4@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)18–9–7
35LDecember 23, 19720–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73)18–10–7
36WDecember 27, 19724–1@ New York Rangers (1972–73)19–10–7
37WDecember 28, 19728–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)20–10–7
38LDecember 31, 19722–4@ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)20–11–7
39WJanuary 3, 19734–1 New York Islanders (1972–73)21–11–7
40LJanuary 4, 19732–4@ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)21–12–7
41WJanuary 6, 19734–1@ New York Rangers (1972–73)22–12–7
42WJanuary 7, 19732–0 Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)23–12–7
43LJanuary 11, 19732–4 New York Rangers (1972–73)23–13–7
44LJanuary 14, 19730–6@ Boston Bruins (1972–73)23–14–7
45WJanuary 18, 19735–1 Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)24–14–7
46LJanuary 20, 19732–4@ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)24–15–7
47LJanuary 21, 19733–4 Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)24–16–7
48WJanuary 25, 19735–2 Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)25–16–7
49LJanuary 28, 19735–8 Atlanta Flames (1972–73)25–17–7
50WFebruary 1, 19735–3 Los Angeles Kings (1972–73)26–17–7
51TFebruary 3, 19731–1@ New York Islanders (1972–73)26–17–8
52WFebruary 4, 19735–1 New York Islanders (1972–73)27–17–8
53LFebruary 7, 19731–2@ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)27–18–8
54WFebruary 8, 19734–0 California Golden Seals (1972–73)28–18–8
55LFebruary 10, 19731–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)28–19–8
56LFebruary 11, 19732–5 Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)28–20–8
57WFebruary 14, 19733–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)29–20–8
58WFebruary 15, 19734–1 New York Rangers (1972–73)30–20–8
59TFebruary 17, 19733–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)30–20–9
60WFebruary 18, 19734–1 Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)31–20–9
61WFebruary 22, 19733–1 Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)32–20–9
62LFebruary 24, 19732–4@ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)32–21–9
63WFebruary 25, 19732–1 Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)33–21–9
64TMarch 1, 19734–4@ Atlanta Flames (1972–73)33–21–10
65LMarch 4, 19732–4 Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)33–22–10
66TMarch 6, 19732–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73)33–22–11
67TMarch 7, 19732–2@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)33–22–12
68LMarch 9, 19732–5@ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)33–23–12
69LMarch 13, 19730–2@ St. Louis Blues (1972–73)33–24–12
70LMarch 15, 19731–4 Boston Bruins (1972–73)33–25–12
71TMarch 17, 19733–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)33–25–13
72WMarch 18, 19735–1 Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)34–25–13
73LMarch 21, 19732–6@ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)34–26–13
74TMarch 24, 19734–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)34–26–14
75LMarch 25, 19731–6@ Boston Bruins (1972–73)34–27–14
76WMarch 27, 19733–2@ New York Islanders (1972–73)35–27–14
77WMarch 28, 19736–3 Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)36–27–14
78WApril 1, 19733–1 St. Louis Blues (1972–73)37–27–14

Playoffs

The 1972–73 season saw the Sabres qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time. The team would ultimately lose to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Canadiens in 6 games. After falling behind three games to none the Sabres won two straight to earn a final home game that was memorable for the "Thank you Sabres" chant from the end of the game. [3]


1973 Stanley Cup playoffs
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTMontreal goalsBuffalo goalsDecisionAttendanceSeriesRecap
1April 4Buffalo Sabres1–2Montreal Canadiens0–1
2April 5Buffalo Sabres3–7Montreal Canadiens0–2
3April 7Montreal Canadiens5–2Buffalo Sabres0–3
4April 8Montreal Canadiens1–5Buffalo Sabres1–3
5April 10Buffalo Sabres3–2Montreal Canadiens9:182–3
6April 12Montreal Canadiens4–2Buffalo Sabres2–4

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
Gilbert Perreault C782860881011807
Rene Robert RW754043838316906
Rick Martin LW753736737941104
Jim Lorentz C/RW782735623061105
Gerry Meehan C77312960214316
Don Luce C78182543327032
Hugh Harris C60122638179000
Larry Hillman D785242956−3200
Craig Ramsay LW761117281513011
Larry Mickey RW771592447−6102
Mike Robitaille D6541721409000
Jim Schoenfeld D664151917812100
Steve Atkinson RW61991836−5201
Tim Horton D69116175612000
Tracy Pratt D74115161169000
Norm Gratton LW216511120201
Larry Carriere D40281052−1100
Paul Terbenche D4207787000
Randy Wyrozub C453364−1002
Doug Rombough C520202000
Butch Deadmarsh LW3411226−3100
Rick Dudley LW60117−2000
John Gould RW801100000
Ron Busniuk RW100090000
Roger Crozier G4900040000
Dave Dryden G3700000000
Rocky Farr G100000000
Ray McKay D100000000
Bob Richer C300000000
Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLTGAGAASO
Roger Crozier 263349231371212.763
Dave Dryden 20183714137892.653
Rocky Farr 29101036.210
Team:4680783727142132.736
Playoffs
Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIMPPGSHGGWG
Gilbert Perreault C637102101
Rene Robert RW65382101
Rick Martin LW632512200
Jim Schoenfeld D62134000
Jim Lorentz C/RW60332000
Don Luce C61122000
Craig Ramsay LW61120000
Larry Mickey RW61015000
Larry Carriere D60118000
Roger Crozier G40112000
Norm Gratton LW60112000
Tim Horton D60114000
Gerry Meehan C60110000
Steve Atkinson RW10000000
Dave Dryden G20000000
Hugh Harris C30000000
Larry Hillman D60008000
Tracy Pratt D60006000
Mike Robitaille D60000000
Paul Terbenche D60000000
Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLGAGAASO
Roger Crozier 249422112.650
Dave Dryden 12020294.500
Team:369624203.250

[4]

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;

Awards and records

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Gilbert Perreault

Transactions

Trades

Date
Details
June 6, 1972To New York Islanders
7th-round pick in 1972 (Don McLaughlin)
8th-round pick in 1972 (Rene Levasseur)
9th-round pick in 1972 (Bill Ennos)
10th-round pick in 1972 (Rene Lambert)
To Buffalo Sabres
Islanders promised to not draft certain players in the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft
June 8, 1972To Montreal Canadiens
Cash
To Buffalo Sabres
Ron Busniuk
February 14, 1973To Atlanta Flames
Butch Deadmarsh
To Buffalo Sabres
Norm Gratton

Lost via retirement

Player
Dick Duff

Lost in the Expansion Draft

June 6, 1972To New York Islanders
Tom Miller
June 6, 1972To New York Islanders
Ken Murray
June 6, 1972To Atlanta Flames
Rod Zaine

1972 NHL Intraleague Draft

June 5, 1972From Pittsburgh Penguins
Tim Horton

Draft picks

NHL draft

Round#PlayerNationalityCollege/Junior/Club team
15 Jim Schoenfeld Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA)
225 Larry Carriere Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Loyola University (CIAU)
337 Jim McMasters Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Calgary Centennials (WCHL)
453 Rychard Campeau Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
569 Gilles Gratton Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA)
685 Peter McNab Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada U. of Denver (WCHA)

Farm teams

The 1972–73 AHL season was a successful one for the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Swords. The Swords would finish first overall in the regular season with a 54–17–5 record. They would go on to win the Calder Cup in the playoffs losing only 3 games in the 3 round best-of-7 event. It would be the only championship won by the team in its short existence.

See also

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References

  1. "1972–1973 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  2. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  3. "1972–73". The 40th Anniversary Site of the Buffalo Sabres. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
  4. "1972-73 Buffalo Sabres Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2009.