# 1972–73 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 1972–73 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' sixth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers earned the nickname "Broad Street Bullies" en route to their first winning season and first playoff series victory, beating the Minnesota North Stars, before losing in the semifinals to the Montreal Canadiens.

## Regular season

It was during the 1972–73 season that the Flyers shed the mediocre expansion team label by recording their first winning season and becoming known as the intimidating "Broad Street Bullies", a nickname coined by Jack Chevalier and Pete Cafone of the Philadelphia Bulletin on January 3, 1973 after a 3–1 brawling victory over the Atlanta Flames that led Chevalier to write in his game account, "The image of the fightin' Flyers spreading gradually around the NHL, and people are dreaming up wild nicknames. They're the Mean Machine, the Bullies of Broad Street and Freddy's Philistines." Cafone wrote the accompanying headline, "Broad Street Bullies Muscle Atlanta".
That same month Bobby Clarke was the youngest player (at that time) in NHL history to be named team captain, replacing Ed Van Impe who had stepped aside in favor of Clarke. Rick MacLeish became the first Flyer to score 50 goals in a season.
After the season, Clarke was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.

### Season standings

West Division vte :
| | | 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

An overtime goal by Gary Dornhoefer in Game 5 turned the tide of their first round series with the Minnesota North Stars in the Flyers' favor, as the Flyers got their first playoff series win in six games. The goal was later immortalized as a bronze statue on the south side of the Spectrum. They were outmatched in the semi-finals by the Montreal Canadiens, however, losing in five games.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1972–73 regular season :
October: 4–4–2, 10 points (home: 3–1–0; road: 1–3–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
1October 7@ St. Louis Blues4–40–0–11Recap
2October 12Vancouver Canucks7–31–0–13Recap
3October 14@ Detroit Red Wings0–51–1–13Recap
4October 15California Golden Seals1–41–2–13Recap
5October 18@ Los Angeles Kings4–32–2–15Recap
6October 20@ California Golden Seals3–32–2–26Recap
7October 25@ New York Rangers1–62–3–26Recap
8October 26Detroit Red Wings2–13–3–28Recap
9October 28@ Minnesota North Stars1–23–4–28Recap
10October 29Toronto Maple Leafs5–24–4–210Recap :
November: 6–7–1, 13 points (home: 6–1–1; road: 0–6–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
11November 2Pittsburgh Penguins4–25–4–212Recap
12November 4Buffalo Sabres5–36–4–214Recap
13November 5New York Rangers2–36–5–214Recap
14November 8@ Pittsburgh Penguins2–56–6–214Recap
15November 9Chicago Black Hawks5–37–6–216Recap
16November 11Buffalo Sabres3–18–6–218Recap
17November 12California Golden Seals8–39–6–220Recap
18November 15@ New York Rangers3–79–7–220Recap
19November 16@ Montreal Canadiens5–69–8–220Recap
20November 19@ Atlanta Flames2–39–9–220Recap
21November 22New York Islanders5–310–9–222Recap
22November 25@ Detroit Red Wings4–610–10–222Recap
23November 26@ Boston Bruins4–610–11–222Recap
24November 30Atlanta Flames5–510–11–323Recap :
December: 6–6–3, 15 points (home: 5–2–0; road: 1–4–3)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
25December 2@ Toronto Maple Leafs2–210–11–424Recap
26December 3Montreal Canadiens5–211–11–426Recap
27December 7Minnesota North Stars6–212–11–428Recap
28December 9Boston Bruins3–412–12–428Recap
29December 10Toronto Maple Leafs5–213–12–430Recap
30December 13@ Minnesota North Stars2–713–13–430Recap
31December 14St. Louis Blues5–314–13–432Recap
32December 16@ New York Islanders2–115–13–434Recap
33December 17Boston Bruins3–515–14–434Recap
34December 20@ Chicago Black Hawks1–415–15–434Recap
35December 21Los Angeles Kings6–316–15–436Recap
36December 23@ St. Louis Blues1–616–16–436Recap
37December 27@ California Golden Seals2–216–16–537Recap
38December 29@ Vancouver Canucks4–416–16–638Recap
39December 30@ Los Angeles Kings3–516–17–638Recap :
January: 7–4–1, 15 points (home: 3–2–1; road: 4–2–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
40January 3@ Atlanta Flames3–117–17–640Recap
41January 7@ Buffalo Sabres0–217–18–640Recap
42January 11Los Angeles Kings2–317–19–640Recap
43January 13@ Chicago Black Hawks3–218–19–642Recap
44January 14New York Rangers2–518–20–642Recap
45January 18Minnesota North Stars6–119–20–644Recap
46January 20@ Montreal Canadiens3–619–21–644Recap
47January 21@ Buffalo Sabres4–320–21–646Recap
48January 23Detroit Red Wings4–420–21–747Recap
49January 25Pittsburgh Penguins6–321–21–749Recap
50January 27@ Pittsburgh Penguins5–322–21–751Recap
51January 28California Golden Seals4–323–21–753Recap :
February: 7–4–2, 16 points (home: 3–1–1; road: 4–3–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
52February 1Vancouver Canucks5–424–21–755Recap
53February 3Chicago Black Hawks2–224–21–856Recap
54February 4@ Boston Bruins2–224–21–957Recap
55February 7@ Los Angeles Kings1–224–22–957Recap
56February 9@ Vancouver Canucks10–525–22–959Recap
57February 11@ Chicago Black Hawks2–725–23–959Recap
58February 13New York Islanders8–226–23–961Recap
59February 15Boston Bruins1–326–24–961Recap
60February 17@ Montreal Canadiens7–627–24–963Recap
61February 18Minnesota North Stars5–128–24–965Recap
62February 20@ St. Louis Blues5–329–24–967Recap
63February 25@ California Golden Seals7–030–24–969Recap
64February 28@ Detroit Red Wings5–630–25–969Recap :
March: 7–4–2, 16 points (home: 7–1–1; road: 0–3–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
65March 1Los Angeles Kings0–230–26–969Recap
66March 4Toronto Maple Leafs10–031–26–971Recap
67March 7@ New York Rangers2–231–26–1072Recap
68March 10Atlanta Flames2–132–26–1074Recap
69March 11Pittsburgh Penguins3–233–26–1076Recap
70March 14@ Toronto Maple Leafs1–533–27–1076Recap
71March 18Montreal Canadiens4–433–27–1177Recap
72March 22Vancouver Canucks9–034–27–1179Recap
73March 24@ New York Islanders2–334–28–1179Recap
74March 25St. Louis Blues5–235–28–1181Recap
75March 28@ Buffalo Sabres3–635–29–1181Recap
76March 29Atlanta Flames4–236–29–1183Recap
77March 31New York Islanders10–237–29–1185Recap :
April: 0–1–0, 0 points (home: 0–0–0; road: 0–1–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
78April 1@ Pittsburgh Penguins4–537–30–1185Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1973 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota North Stars – Flyers win 4–2
GameDateOpponentScoreSeriesRecap
1April 4Minnesota North Stars0–3North Stars lead 1–0Recap
2April 5Minnesota North Stars4–1Series tied 1–1Recap
3April 7@ Minnesota North Stars0–5North Stars lead 2–1Recap
4April 8@ Minnesota North Stars3–0Series tied 2–2Recap
5April 10Minnesota North Stars3–2 OTFlyers lead 3–2Recap
6April 12@ Minnesota North Stars4–1Flyers win 4–2Recap :
Semifinals vs. Montreal Canadiens – Canadiens win 4–1
GameDateOpponentScoreSeriesRecap
1April 14@ Montreal Canadiens5–4 OTFlyers lead 1–0Recap
2April 16@ Montreal Canadiens3–4 OTSeries tied 1–1Recap
3April 19Montreal Canadiens1–2Canadiens lead 2–1Recap
4April 22Montreal Canadiens1–4Canadiens lead 3–1Recap
5April 24@ Montreal Canadiens3–5Canadiens win 4–1Recap :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## Player statistics
### Scoring

* Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 16 | Bobby Clarke | C | 78 | 37 | 67 | 104 | 32 | 80 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −1 | 6 |
| 19 | Rick MacLeish | C | 78 | 50 | 50 | 100 | 15 | 69 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −2 | 2 |
| 12 | Gary Dornhoefer | RW | 77 | 30 | 49 | 79 | 17 | 168 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 16 |
| 21 | Bill Flett | RW | 69 | 43 | 31 | 74 | 31 | 53 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −2 | 0 |
| 7 | Bill Barber | LW | 69 | 30 | 34 | 64 | 10 | 46 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −2 | 22 |
| 18 | Ross Lonsberry | LW | 77 | 21 | 29 | 50 | 6 | 59 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 7 | −1 | 9 |
| 23 | Tom Bladon | D | 78 | 11 | 31 | 42 | 9 | 26 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −3 | 2 |
| 17 | Simon Nolet | RW | 70 | 16 | 20 | 36 | −3 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| 10 | Bill Clement | C | 73 | 14 | 14 | 28 | −11 | 51 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Joe Watson | D | 63 | 2 | 24 | 26 | 30 | 46 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| 28 | Andre Dupont† | D | 46 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 8 | 164 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −4 | 29 |
| 11 | Don Saleski | RW | 78 | 12 | 9 | 21 | −20 | 205 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | Bob Kelly | LW | 77 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 1 | 238 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 8 | Dave Schultz | LW | 76 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 4 | 259 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 51 |
| 4 | Barry Ashbee | D | 64 | 1 | 17 | 18 | −2 | 106 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 20 |
| 5 | Brent Hughes‡ | D | 29 | 2 | 11 | 13 | −8 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | Jean Potvin‡ | D | 35 | 3 | 9 | 12 | −1 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | Ed Van Impe | D | 72 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 22 | 76 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 16 |
| 6 | Wayne Hillman | D | 74 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 33 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | Terry Crisp† | C | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −1 | 2 |
| 20 | Pierre Plante‡ | RW | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | Doug Favell | G | 44 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 35 | Michel Belhumeur | G | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 30 | Bobby Taylor | G | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | Larry Wright | C | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | Willie Brossart | D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 26 | Orest Kindrachuk | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | Jimmy Watson | D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | GP | GS | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | GS | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 1 | Doug Favell | 44 | 39 | 20 | 15 | 4 | 1365 | 114 | 2.83 | .916 | 3 | 2,413 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 359 | 29 | 2.61 | .919 | 1 | 666 |
| 35 | Michel Belhumeur | 23 | 19 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 617 | 60 | 3.23 | .903 | 0 | 1,115 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 5.94 | .889 | 0 | 10 |
| 30 | Bobby Taylor | 23 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 697 | 78 | 4.10 | .888 | 0 | 1,141 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Hart Memorial Trophy | Bobby Clarke |
| League (annual) | NHL second All-Star team | Bobby Clarke (Center) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Bobby Clarke |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Gary Dornhoefer |

### Records

Among the team records set during the 1972–73 season was a road losing streak of eight games from October 25 to November 26, which was later matched during the 1987–88 season. On February 13, Rick MacLeish became the first Flyer to score four goals in a game, a team record that has been tied but not surpassed in regular season play several times since. MacLeish's three goals in the second period of that game also tied the team record and the 19 minutes and 47 seconds it took him to score all four goals is the fastest four-goal game in team history. A few weeks later on March 4, MacLeish scored four goals in a game again, this time also tying the team record for points in a single period (4). On March 31, the Flyers scored a team record eight goals during the second period of a game against the New York Islanders. During a 4–1 win over the Minnesota North Stars on April 5, Barry Ashbee became the first Flyer to record three assists in a period during a playoff game. The victory was the Flyers first playoff win since game six of their 1968 series against the St. Louis Blues, snapping a franchise record ten game playoff losing streak.

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Tom Bladon | October 7, 1972 |
| First game | Bill Barber | October 29, 1972 |
| First game | Orest Kindrachuk | November 9, 1972 |
| First game | Michel Belhumeur | November 15, 1972 |
| First game | Jimmy Watson | February 20, 1973 |

### Franchise firsts

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| 4-goal game | Rick MacLeish | February 13, 1973 |
| 40-goal season | Rick MacLeish | March 4, 1973 |
| 100-point season | Bobby Clarke | March 29, 1973 |
| 50-goal season | Rick MacLeish | April 1, 1973 |
| Shutout, playoffs | Doug Favell | April 8, 1973 |

## Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 12, 1972, the day after the deciding game of the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 10, 1973, the day of the deciding game of the 1973 Stanley Cup Finals.

### Trades

| Date | Details | Details |
| June 8, 1972 (1972-06-08) | To Philadelphia Flyers cash | To Minnesota North Stars 10th-round pick in 1972 |
| August 10, 1972 (1972-08-10) | To Philadelphia Flyers John McKenzie | To Boston Bruins cash |
| December 14, 1972 (1972-12-14) | To Philadelphia Flyers Andre Dupont3rd-round pick in 1973 | To St. Louis Blues Brent HughesPierre Plante |
| March 5, 1973 (1973-03-05) | To Philadelphia Flyers Terry Crisp | To New York Islanders Jean PotvinPlayer to be named later |
| May 1973 (1973-05) | To Philadelphia Flyers Jim Stanfield | To Portland Buckaroos (WHL) cash |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Via | Ref |
| September 1972 (1972-09) | Jack McIlhargey | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) | Free agency | |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| May 25, 1972 (1972-05-25) | Dick Sarrazin | New England Whalers (WHA) | Free agency |
| May 30, 1972 (1972-05-30) | Earl Heiskala | Los Angeles Sharks (WHA) | Free agency |
| June 6, 1972 (1972-06-06) | Larry Hale | Atlanta Flames | Expansion draft |
| June 6, 1972 (1972-06-06) | Eddie Joyal | Alberta Oilers (WHA) | Free agency |
| June 6, 1972 (1972-06-06) | Jim Mair | New York Islanders | Expansion draft |
| June 6, 1972 (1972-06-06) | Lew Morrison | Atlanta Flames | Expansion draft |
| June 8, 1972 (1972-06-08) | Andre Gaudette | Richmond Robins (AHL) | Reverse draft |
| June 8, 1972 (1972-06-08) | Hank Nowak | Hershey Bears (AHL) | Reverse draft |
| June 28, 1972 (1972-06-28) | Michel Parizeau | Quebec Nordiques (WHA) | Free agency |
| July 19, 1972 (1972-07-19) | Ralph MacSweyn | Los Angeles Sharks (WHA) | Free agency |
| August 8, 1972 (1972-08-08) | Don McLeod | Houston Aeros (WHA) | Free agency |
| August 29, 1972 (1972-08-29) | Jean-Guy Gendron | Quebec Nordiques (WHA) | Free agency |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term |
| May 21, 1972 (1972-05-21) | Dave Schultz | 2-year |
| May 22, 1972 (1972-05-22) | Rick Foley | 3-year |
| May 22, 1972 (1972-05-22) | Bob Kelly | 2-year |
| May 22, 1972 (1972-05-22) | Simon Nolet | multi-year |
| May 24, 1972 (1972-05-24) | Rick MacLeish | 3-year |
| May 26, 1972 (1972-05-26) | Bill Clement | 2-year |
| May 26, 1972 (1972-05-26) | Joe Watson | 2-year |
| May 31, 1972 (1972-05-31) | Don Saleski | 2-year |
| June 2, 1972 (1972-06-02) | Michel Belhumeur | 3-year |
| June 2, 1972 (1972-06-02) | Gary Dornhoefer | 3-year |
| June 2, 1972 (1972-06-02) | Ross Lonsberry | multi-year |
| June 2, 1972 (1972-06-02) | Lew Morrison | 2-year |
| June 2, 1972 (1972-06-02) | Jean Potvin | multi-year |
| June 2, 1972 (1972-06-02) | Ed Van Impe | multi-year |
| June 5, 1972 (1972-06-05) | Doug Favell | 3-year |
| June 19, 1972 (1972-06-19) | Bill Flett | 3-year |
| June 20, 1972 (1972-06-20) | Bill Barber | 3-year |
| June 20, 1972 (1972-06-20) | Tom Bladon | 3-year |
| June 20, 1972 (1972-06-20) | Al MacAdam | 2-year |
| June 20, 1972 (1972-06-20) | Jimmy Watson | 2-year |
| August 15, 1972 (1972-08-15) | Barry Ashbee | 3-year |
| August 15, 1972 (1972-08-15) | Yvon Bilodeau | |
| August 15, 1972 (1972-08-15) | Willie Brossart | |
| August 15, 1972 (1972-08-15) | Bob Currier | 2-year |
| August 15, 1972 (1972-08-15) | Rene Drolet | |
| August 15, 1972 (1972-08-15) | Andre Gaudette | |
| August 15, 1972 (1972-08-15) | Wayne Hillman | |
| August 15, 1972 (1972-08-15) | Orest Kindrachuk | |
| August 15, 1972 (1972-08-15) | Roger Kosar | |
| August 15, 1972 (1972-08-15) | Danny Schock | |
| August 15, 1972 (1972-08-15) | Tom Trevelyan | |
| September 12, 1972 (1972-09-12) | Brent Hughes | |

## Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1972 NHL amateur draft, which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, on June 8, 1972. The Flyers traded their tenth round pick, 148th overall, to the Minnesota North Stars for cash during the draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | Team (league) |
| 1 | 7 | Bill Barber | Left wing | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHA) |
| 2 | 23 | Tom Bladon | Defense | Canada | Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) |
| 3 | 39 | Jimmy Watson | Defense | Canada | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 4 | 55 | Al MacAdam | Right wing | Canada | Charlottetown Islanders (MJHL) |
| 5 | 71 | Daryl Fedorak | Goaltender | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) |
| 6 | 87 | Dave Hasting | Goaltender | Canada | Charlottetown Islanders (MJHL) |
| 7 | 103 | Serge Beaudoin | Defense | Canada | Trois-Rivières Ducs (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 119 | Pat Russell | Right wing | Canada | Vancouver Nats (WCHL) |
| 9 | 135 | Ray Boutin | Goaltender | Canada | Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL) |

## Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Richmond Robins of the AHL, the San Diego Gulls of the WHL, and the Jersey Devils of the EHL.