# 1972–73 St. Louis Blues season

The 1972–73 St. Louis Blues season was the St. Louis Blues' sixth season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

## Offseason
### NHL Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 9 | Wayne Merrick | Center | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) |
| 3 | 41 | Jean Hamel | Defense | Canada | Drummondville Rangers (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 57 | Murray Myers | Right Wing | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 5 | 73 | Dave Johnson | Left Wing | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 89 | Tom Simpson | Right Wing | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OMJHL) |
| 7 | 105 | Brian Coughlin | Defense | Canada | Verdun Maple Leafs (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 121 | Gary Winchester | Center | Canada | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |

## Regular season
### Final 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
## Schedule and results

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

## Playoffs

Despite having a 32–34–12 record, the Blues managed to clinch a playoff spot. However, they lost in the first round to the Chicago Blackhawks 4–1.

### (W1) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (W4) St. Louis Blues

* Chicago won series 4–1

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Garry Unger | C | 78 | 41 | 39 | 80 | 119 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 5 |
| Jack Egers | RW | 78 | 24 | 24 | 48 | 26 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Gary Sabourin | RW | 76 | 21 | 27 | 48 | 30 | −5 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Mike Murphy | RW | 64 | 18 | 27 | 45 | 48 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Phil Roberto | RW | 77 | 20 | 22 | 42 | 99 | −12 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Danny O'Shea | C | 75 | 12 | 26 | 38 | 30 | −5 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Fran Huck | C | 58 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 20 | −1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Floyd Thomson | LW | 75 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 71 | −2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Barclay Plager | D | 68 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 102 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Bob Plager | D | 77 | 2 | 31 | 33 | 107 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Pierre Plante | RW | 49 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 56 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Frank St. Marseille | RW | 45 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 8 | −6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Merrick | C | 50 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 10 | −2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Evans | D | 77 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 31 | −2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Steve Durbano | D | 49 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 231 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob McCord | D | 43 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 33 | −5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ab DeMarco Jr. | D | 14 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Jean Hamel | D | 55 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 24 | −5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin O'Shea | RW | 37 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 31 | −13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Dupont | D | 25 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 51 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Lampman | LW | 18 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Curtis | D | 29 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Connie Madigan | D | 20 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brent Hughes | D | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chuck Hamilton | LW | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Noel Picard | D | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacques Caron | G | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Johnson | G | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roger Lafreniere | LW | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Noris | C/D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Stephenson | G | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Wayne Stephenson | 2535 | 45 | 18 | 15 | 7 | 128 | 3.03 | 1 |
| Jacques Caron | 1562 | 30 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 92 | 3.53 | 1 |
| Bob Johnson | 583 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 26 | 2.68 | 0 |
| Team: | 4680 | 78 | 32 | 34 | 12 | 246 | 3.15 | 2 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Fran Huck | C | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Phil Roberto | RW | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Garry Unger | C | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pierre Plante | RW | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ab DeMarco | D | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Sabourin | RW | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Steve Durbano | D | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Plager | D | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Egers | RW | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Evans | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Merrick | C | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barclay Plager | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Floyd Thomson | LW | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacques Caron | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Curtis | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean Hamel | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Connie Madigan | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Danny O'Shea | C | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin O'Shea | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Stephenson | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Wayne Stephenson | 160 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 5.25 | 0 |
| Jacques Caron | 140 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 3.43 | 0 |
| Team: | 300 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 4.40 | 0 |
    Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
    Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;