1972–73 Buffalo Sabres season

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1972–73 Buffalo Sabres
Division	4th East
1972–73 record	37–27–14
Team information
General Manager	Punch Imlach
Coach	Joe Crozier
Captain	Gerry Meehan
Team leaders

<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

1 Offseason
2 Regular season
3 Player stats
4 Awards and records
5 Transactions
6 Roster
7 Draft picks
8 Farm teams
9 See also
10 References

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
Team	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PIM	PTS
Montreal Canadiens	78	52	10	16	329	184	783	120
Boston Bruins	78	51	22	5	330	235	1097	107
New York Rangers	78	47	23	8	297	208	765	102
Buffalo Sabres	78	37	27	14	257	219	940	88
Detroit Red Wings	78	37	29	12	265	243	893	86
Toronto Maple Leafs	78	27	41	10	247	279	716	64
Vancouver Canucks	78	22	47	9	233	339	943	53
New York Islanders	78	12	60	6	170	347	881	30

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Game log

Regular season results
No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 8, 1972	5–3	Atlanta Flames (1972–73)	1–0–0
2	W	October 11, 1972	7–3	Los Angeles Kings (1972–73)	2–0–0
3	T	October 14, 1972	1–1	@ Atlanta Flames (1972–73)	2–0–1
4	W	October 15, 1972	3–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)	3–0–1
5	W	October 19, 1972	6–0	Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)	4–0–1
6	T	October 21, 1972	1–1	@ St. Louis Blues (1972–73)	4–0–2
7	W	October 22, 1972	7–2	Atlanta Flames (1972–73)	5–0–2
8	T	October 25, 1972	2–2	Boston Bruins (1972–73)	5–0–3
9	T	October 28, 1972	3–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)	5–0–4
10	W	October 29, 1972	2–1	Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)	6–0–4
11	L	November 1, 1972	1–7	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)	6–1–4
12	L	November 4, 1972	3–5	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)	6–2–4
13	T	November 5, 1972	1–1	St. Louis Blues (1972–73)	6–2–5
14	T	November 9, 1972	0–0	California Golden Seals (1972–73)	6–2–6
15	L	November 11, 1972	1–3	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)	6–3–6
16	W	November 12, 1972	1–0	Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)	7–3–6
17	T	November 15, 1972	3–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73)	7–3–7
18	L	November 17, 1972	1–5	@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)	7–4–7
19	L	November 19, 1972	5–9	@ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)	7–5–7
20	L	November 22, 1972	2–6	@ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)	7–6–7
21	W	November 23, 1972	5–3	New York Rangers (1972–73)	8–6–7
22	W	November 26, 1972	9–2	New York Islanders (1972–73)	9–6–7
23	W	November 28, 1972	7–2	@ New York Islanders (1972–73)	10–6–7
24	L	November 30, 1972	4–5	@ Boston Bruins (1972–73)	10–7–7
25	L	December 2, 1972	6–8	@ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)	10–8–7
26	W	December 3, 1972	7–4	Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)	11–8–7
27	W	December 6, 1972	3–2	@ New York Rangers (1972–73)	12–8–7
28	W	December 7, 1972	6–1	Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)	13–8–7
29	W	December 10, 1972	4–2	Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)	14–8–7
30	W	December 13, 1972	7–3	Boston Bruins (1972–73)	15–8–7
31	W	December 16, 1972	4–3	@ St. Louis Blues (1972–73)	16–8–7
32	W	December 17, 1972	4–0	Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)	17–8–7
33	W	December 20, 1972	6–3	Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)	18–8–7
34	L	December 22, 1972	2–4	@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)	18–9–7
35	L	December 23, 1972	0–2	@ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73)	18–10–7
36	W	December 27, 1972	4–1	@ New York Rangers (1972–73)	19–10–7
37	W	December 28, 1972	8–2	Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)	20–10–7
38	L	December 31, 1972	2–4	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)	20–11–7
39	W	January 3, 1973	4–1	New York Islanders (1972–73)	21–11–7
40	L	January 4, 1973	2–4	@ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)	21–12–7
41	W	January 6, 1973	4–1	@ New York Rangers (1972–73)	22–12–7
42	W	January 7, 1973	2–0	Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)	23–12–7
43	L	January 11, 1973	2–4	New York Rangers (1972–73)	23–13–7
44	L	January 14, 1973	0–6	@ Boston Bruins (1972–73)	23–14–7
45	W	January 18, 1973	5–1	Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)	24–14–7
46	L	January 20, 1973	2–4	@ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)	24–15–7
47	L	January 21, 1973	3–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)	24–16–7
48	W	January 25, 1973	5–2	Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)	25–16–7
49	L	January 28, 1973	5–8	Atlanta Flames (1972–73)	25–17–7
50	W	February 1, 1973	5–3	Los Angeles Kings (1972–73)	26–17–7
51	T	February 3, 1973	1–1	@ New York Islanders (1972–73)	26–17–8
52	W	February 4, 1973	5–1	New York Islanders (1972–73)	27–17–8
53	L	February 7, 1973	1–2	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)	27–18–8
54	W	February 8, 1973	4–0	California Golden Seals (1972–73)	28–18–8
55	L	February 10, 1973	1–2	@ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)	28–19–8
56	L	February 11, 1973	2–5	Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)	28–20–8
57	W	February 14, 1973	3–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)	29–20–8
58	W	February 15, 1973	4–1	New York Rangers (1972–73)	30–20–8
59	T	February 17, 1973	3–3	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)	30–20–9
60	W	February 18, 1973	4–1	Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)	31–20–9
61	W	February 22, 1973	3–1	Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)	32–20–9
62	L	February 24, 1973	2–4	@ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)	32–21–9
63	W	February 25, 1973	2–1	Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)	33–21–9
64	T	March 1, 1973	4–4	@ Atlanta Flames (1972–73)	33–21–10
65	L	March 4, 1973	2–4	Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)	33–22–10
66	T	March 6, 1973	2–2	@ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73)	33–22–11
67	T	March 7, 1973	2–2	@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)	33–22–12
68	L	March 9, 1973	2–5	@ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)	33–23–12
69	L	March 13, 1973	0–2	@ St. Louis Blues (1972–73)	33–24–12
70	L	March 15, 1973	1–4	Boston Bruins (1972–73)	33–25–12
71	T	March 17, 1973	3–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)	33–25–13
72	W	March 18, 1973	5–1	Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)	34–25–13
73	L	March 21, 1973	2–6	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)	34–26–13
74	T	March 24, 1973	4–4	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)	34–26–14
75	L	March 25, 1973	1–6	@ Boston Bruins (1972–73)	34–27–14
76	W	March 27, 1973	3–2	@ New York Islanders (1972–73)	35–27–14
77	W	March 28, 1973	6–3	Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)	36–27–14
78	W	April 1, 1973	3–1	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.^[1]

1973 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Round 1 Series A vs Montreal Canadiens : Sabres Lost Series 4-2 (Home 1-2; Road 1-2)
#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Philadelphia goals	Buffalo goals	Decision	Attendance	Series	Recap
1	April 4	Buffalo Sabres	1-2	Montreal Canadiens						0-1
2	April 5	Buffalo Sabres	3-7	Montreal Canadiens						0-2
3	April 7	Montreal Canadiens	5-2	Buffalo Sabres						0-3
4	April 8	Montreal Canadiens	1-5	Buffalo Sabres						1-3
5	April 10	Buffalo Sabres	3-2	Montreal Canadiens	9:18					2-3
6	April 12	Montreal Canadiens	4-2	Buffalo Sabres						2-4

Scorer of game-winning goal in italics
*Denotes if necessary

Player stats

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Perreault, GilbertGilbert Perreault	C	78	28	60	88	10	11	8	0	7
Robert, ReneRene Robert	RW	75	40	43	83	83	16	9	0	6
Martin, RickRick Martin	LW	75	37	36	73	79	4	11	0	4
Lorentz, JimJim Lorentz	C/RW	78	27	35	62	30	6	11	0	5
Meehan, GerryGerry Meehan	C	77	31	29	60	21	4	3	1	6
Luce, DonDon Luce	C	78	18	25	43	32	7	0	3	2
Harris, HughHugh Harris	C	60	12	26	38	17	9	0	0	0
Hillman, LarryLarry Hillman	D	78	5	24	29	56	-3	2	0	0
Ramsay, CraigCraig Ramsay	LW	76	11	17	28	15	13	0	1	1
Mickey, LarryLarry Mickey	RW	77	15	9	24	47	-6	1	0	2
Robitaille, MikeMike Robitaille	D	65	4	17	21	40	9	0	0	0
Schoenfeld, JimJim Schoenfeld	D	66	4	15	19	178	12	1	0	0
Atkinson, SteveSteve Atkinson	RW	61	9	9	18	36	-5	2	0	1
Horton, TimTim Horton	D	69	1	16	17	56	12	0	0	0
Pratt, TracyTracy Pratt	D	74	1	15	16	116	9	0	0	0
Gratton, NormNorm Gratton	LW	21	6	5	11	12	0	2	0	1
Carriere, LarryLarry Carriere	D	40	2	8	10	52	-1	1	0	0
Terbenche, PaulPaul Terbenche	D	42	0	7	7	8	7	0	0	0
Wyrozub, RandyRandy Wyrozub	C	45	3	3	6	4	-1	0	0	2
Rombough, DougDoug Rombough	C	5	2	0	2	0	2	0	0	0
Deadmarsh, ButchButch Deadmarsh	LW	34	1	1	2	26	-3	1	0	0
Dudley, RickRick Dudley	LW	6	0	1	1	7	-2	0	0	0
Gould, JohnJohn Gould	RW	8	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
Busniuk, RonRon Busniuk	RW	1	0	0	0	9	0	0	0	0
Crozier, RogerRoger Crozier	G	49	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0
Dryden, DaveDave Dryden	G	37	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Farr, RockyRocky Farr	G	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
McKay, RayRay McKay	D	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Richer, BobBob Richer	C	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO
Crozier, RogerRoger Crozier	2633	49	23	13	7	121	2.76	3
Dryden, DaveDave Dryden	2018	37	14	13	7	89	2.65	3
Farr, RockyRocky Farr	29	1	0	1	0	3	6.21	0
Team:	4680	78	37	27	14	213	2.73	6

Playoffs

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	GWG
Perreault, GilbertGilbert Perreault	C	6	3	7	10	2	1	1
Robert, ReneRene Robert	RW	6	5	3	8	2	1	1
Martin, RickRick Martin	LW	6	3	2	5	12	2	0
Schoenfeld, JimJim Schoenfeld	D	6	2	1	3	4	0	0
Lorentz, JimJim Lorentz	C/RW	6	0	3	3	2	0	0
Luce, DonDon Luce	C	6	1	1	2	2	0	0
Ramsay, CraigCraig Ramsay	LW	6	1	1	2	0	0	0
Mickey, LarryLarry Mickey	RW	6	1	0	1	5	0	0
Carriere, LarryLarry Carriere	D	6	0	1	1	8	0	0
Crozier, RogerRoger Crozier	G	4	0	1	1	2	0	0
Gratton, NormNorm Gratton	LW	6	0	1	1	2	0	0
Horton, TimTim Horton	D	6	0	1	1	4	0	0
Meehan, GerryGerry Meehan	C	6	0	1	1	0	0	0
Atkinson, SteveSteve Atkinson	RW	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dryden, DaveDave Dryden	G	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
Harris, HughHugh Harris	C	3	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hillman, LarryLarry Hillman	D	6	0	0	0	8	0	0
Pratt, TracyTracy Pratt	D	6	0	0	0	6	0	0
Robitaille, MikeMike Robitaille	D	6	0	0	0	0	0	0
Terbenche, PaulPaul Terbenche	D	6	0	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA
Crozier, RogerRoger Crozier	249	4	2	2	11	2.65
Dryden, DaveDave Dryden	120	2	0	2	9	4.50
Team:	369	6	2	4	20	3.25

^[2]

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;