# 1972–73 New England Whalers season

The 1972–73 New England Whalers season was the Whalers' first season (based in Boston). The Whalers were competitive from the start, placing first in the Eastern Division to qualify for the playoffs. They then won three playoff series to become the first winner of the Avco World Trophy.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Eastern Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PIM | Pts |
| New England Whalers | 78 | 46 | 30 | 2 | 318 | 263 | 858 | 94 |
| Cleveland Crusaders | 78 | 43 | 32 | 3 | 287 | 239 | 1095 | 89 |
| Philadelphia Blazers | 78 | 38 | 40 | 0 | 288 | 305 | 1260 | 76 |
| Ottawa Nationals | 78 | 35 | 39 | 4 | 279 | 301 | 1067 | 74 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 78 | 33 | 40 | 5 | 276 | 313 | 1354 | 71 |
| New York Raiders | 78 | 33 | 43 | 2 | 303 | 334 | 900 | 68 |

## Schedule and results

1972–73 game log :

## Playoffs

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| E1 | New England Whalers | 4 | | | | | | |
| E4 | Ottawa Nationals | 1 | | | | | | |
| E4 | Ottawa Nationals | 1 | E1 | New England Whalers | 4 | | | |
| Eastern Division | Eastern Division | Eastern Division | E1 | New England Whalers | 4 | | | |
| Eastern Division | Eastern Division | Eastern Division | E2 | Cleveland Crusaders | 1 | | | |
| E2 | Cleveland Crusaders | 4 | E2 | Cleveland Crusaders | 1 | | | |
| E3 | Philadelphia Blazers | 0 | | | | | | |
| E3 | Philadelphia Blazers | 0 | | | | E1 | New England Whalers | 4 |
| | | | | | | W1 | Winnipeg Jets | 1 |
| W1 | Winnipeg Jets | 4 | | | | | | | W1 | Winnipeg Jets | 1 |
| W4 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 1 | | | | | | |
| W4 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 1 | W1 | Winnipeg Jets | 4 | | | |
| Western Division | Western Division | Western Division | W1 | Winnipeg Jets | 4 | | | |
| Western Division | Western Division | Western Division | W2 | Houston Aeros | 0 | | | |
| W2 | Houston Aeros | 4 | W2 | Houston Aeros | 0 | | | |
| W3 | Los Angeles Sharks | 2 | | | | | | |

### Eastern Division Semifinal vs. Ottawa Nationals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 7 | Ottawa Nationals | 3–6 | New England Whalers | 1–0 |
| 2 | April 8 | Ottawa Nationals | 3 – 4 OT | New England Whalers | 2–0 |
| 3 | April 10 | New England Whalers | 2–4 | Ottawa Nationals | 2–1 |
| 4 | April 12 | New England Whalers | 7 – 3 OT | Ottawa Nationals | 3–1 |
| 5 | April 14 | Ottawa Nationals | 4–5 | New England Whalers | 4–1 |

### Eastern Division Final vs. Cleveland Crusaders

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 18 | Cleveland Crusaders | 2–3 | New England Whalers | 1–0 |
| 2 | April 19 | Cleveland Crusaders | 2–3 | New England Whalers | 2–0 |
| 3 | April 21 | New England Whalers | 5–4 | Cleveland Crusaders | 3–0 |
| 4 | April 22 | New England Whalers | 2–5 | Cleveland Crusaders | 3–1 |
| 5 | April 26 | Cleveland Crusaders | 1–3 | New England Whalers | 4–1 |

### Avco World Trophy Finals vs. Winnipeg Jets

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 29 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–7 | New England Whalers | 1–0 |
| 2 | May 2 | New England Whalers | 7–4 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–0 |
| 3 | May 3 | New England Whalers | 3–4 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–1 |
| 4 | May 5 | Winnipeg Jets | 2–4 | New England Whalers | 3–1 |
| 5 | May 6 | Winnipeg Jets | 6–9 | New England Whalers | 4–1 |