# 1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints season

The 1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints season was their first season of operation in the newly created World Hockey Association (WHA).

## Regular season
### Final standings

Western Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PIM | Pts |
| Winnipeg Jets | 78 | 43 | 31 | 4 | 285 | 249 | 757 | 90 |
| Houston Aeros | 78 | 39 | 35 | 4 | 284 | 269 | 1363 | 82 |
| Los Angeles Sharks | 78 | 37 | 35 | 6 | 259 | 250 | 1477 | 80 |
| Minnesota Fighting Saints | 78 | 38 | 37 | 3 | 250 | 269 | 843 | 79 |
| Alberta Oilers | 78 | 38 | 37 | 3 | 269 | 256 | 1134 | 79 |
| Chicago Cougars | 78 | 26 | 50 | 2 | 245 | 295 | 811 | 54 |

### Game log

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 13, 1972 | 3–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | W | October 15, 1972 | 3–2 | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 17, 1972 | 1–5 | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | L | October 19, 1972 | 1–5 | @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 1–3–0 |
| 5 | T | October 20, 1972 | 1–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 1–3–1 |
| 6 | W | October 22, 1972 | 5–4 | @ New York Raiders (1972–73) | 2–3–1 |
| 7 | L | October 23, 1972 | 1–5 | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 2–4–1 |
| 8 | L | October 26, 1972 | 4–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 2–5–1 |
| 9 | W | November 1, 1972 | 3–0 | Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 3–5–1 |
| 10 | L | November 2, 1972 | 2–4 | New York Raiders (1972–73) | 3–6–1 |
| 11 | W | November 5, 1972 | 3–1 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 4–6–1 |
| 12 | W | November 10, 1972 | 5–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 5–6–1 |
| 13 | W | November 14, 1972 | 5–3 | Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 6–6–1 |
| 14 | W | November 16, 1972 | 5–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 7–6–1 |
| 15 | W | November 18, 1972 | 5–4 OT | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 8–6–1 |
| 16 | L | November 19, 1972 | 3–4 | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 8–7–1 |
| 17 | W | November 21, 1972 | 4–3 OT | Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 9–7–1 |
| 18 | W | November 23, 1972 | 4–3 | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 10–7–1 |
| 19 | W | November 24, 1972 | 6–4 | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 11–7–1 |
| 20 | W | November 26, 1972 | 3–1 | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 12–7–1 |
| 21 | L | November 28, 1972 | 2–3 OT | @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 12–8–1 |
| 22 | L | November 30, 1972 | 2–5 | @ New York Raiders (1972–73) | 12–9–1 |
| 23 | W | December 1, 1972 | 6–4 | @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 13–9–1 |
| 24 | L | December 3, 1972 | 1–5 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 13–10–1 |
| 25 | L | December 5, 1972 | 2–3 OT | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 13–11–1 |
| 26 | W | December 7, 1972 | 3–0 | Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 14–11–1 |
| 27 | L | December 8, 1972 | 3–4 OT | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 14–12–1 |
| 28 | W | December 10, 1972 | 4–3 OT | Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 15–12–1 |
| 29 | T | December 12, 1972 | 3–3 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 15–12–2 |
| 30 | W | December 14, 1972 | 6–3 | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 16–12–2 |
| 31 | L | December 15, 1972 | 2–3 | Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 16–13–2 |
| 32 | W | December 17, 1972 | 4–2 | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 17–13–2 |
| 33 | W | December 19, 1972 | 7–5 | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 18–13–2 |
| 34 | W | December 21, 1972 | 3–0 | Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 19–13–2 |
| 35 | L | December 23, 1972 | 1–3 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 19–14–2 |
| 36 | L | December 26, 1972 | 2–6 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 19–15–2 |
| 37 | W | December 28, 1972 | 4–2 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 20–15–2 |
| 38 | L | December 29, 1972 | 2–5 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 20–16–2 |
| 39 | T | January 1, 1973 | 4–4 | Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 20–16–3 |
| 40 | L | January 7, 1973 | 2–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 20–17–3 |
| 41 | L | January 9, 1973 | 3–4 OT | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 20–18–3 |
| 42 | L | January 11, 1973 | 3–4 | Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 20–19–3 |
| 43 | W | January 12, 1973 | 3–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 21–19–3 |
| 44 | W | January 14, 1973 | 3–2 OT | Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 22–19–3 |
| 45 | L | January 16, 1973 | 1–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 22–20–3 |
| 46 | L | January 18, 1973 | 3–6 | @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 22–21–3 |
| 47 | W | January 20, 1973 | 10–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 23–21–3 |
| 48 | W | January 22, 1973 | 3–2 | @ New York Raiders (1972–73) | 24–21–3 |
| 49 | L | January 25, 1973 | 2–5 | Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 24–22–3 |
| 50 | W | January 26, 1973 | 4–2 | Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 25–22–3 |
| 51 | L | January 30, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 25–23–3 |
| 52 | L | February 1, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 25–24–3 |
| 53 | L | February 3, 1973 | 1–7 | @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 25–25–3 |
| 54 | W | February 5, 1973 | 6–3 | @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 26–25–3 |
| 55 | W | February 6, 1973 | 5–4 | New York Raiders (1972–73) | 27–25–3 |
| 56 | L | February 8, 1973 | 1–3 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 27–26–3 |
| 57 | L | February 9, 1973 | 0–6 | @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 27–27–3 |
| 58 | L | February 11, 1973 | 5–7 | @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 27–28–3 |
| 59 | W | February 15, 1973 | 3–0 | Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 28–28–3 |
| 60 | W | February 17, 1973 | 7–3 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 29–28–3 |
| 61 | W | February 18, 1973 | 7–5 | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 30–28–3 |
| 62 | L | February 25, 1973 | 1–4 | @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 30–29–3 |
| 63 | W | February 27, 1973 | 3–0 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 31–29–3 |
| 64 | L | March 1, 1973 | 1–4 | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 31–30–3 |
| 65 | W | March 4, 1973 | 4–2 | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 32–30–3 |
| 66 | W | March 6, 1973 | 4–3 OT | Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 33–30–3 |
| 67 | L | March 8, 1973 | 1–2 | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 33–31–3 |
| 68 | L | March 10, 1973 | 1–3 | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 33–32–3 |
| 69 | W | March 11, 1973 | 2–1 | Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 34–32–3 |
| 70 | W | March 15, 1973 | 7–4 | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 35–32–3 |
| 71 | L | March 16, 1973 | 4–7 | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 35–33–3 |
| 72 | L | March 20, 1973 | 3–5 | @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 35–34–3 |
| 73 | W | March 22, 1973 | 2–1 OT | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 36–34–3 |
| 74 | W | March 24, 1973 | 2–1 OT | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 37–34–3 |
| 75 | L | March 25, 1973 | 1–6 | @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 37–35–3 |
| 76 | W | March 27, 1973 | 4–3 | New York Raiders (1972–73) | 38–35–3 |
| 77 | L | March 29, 1973 | 3–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 38–36–3 |
| 78 | L | March 30, 1973 | 3–5 | Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 38–37–3 |

## Playoffs

The Oilers and the Minnesota Fighting Saints were tied at the end of the season. They had the same number of victories and points, and they had both won four games against each other. Subsequently, it was decided that the two teams would play a one game playoff to decide the final spot in the playoffs, to be played in Calgary.
| Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| April 4 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 4–2 | Alberta Oilers | 1–0 |

### Winnipeg Jets 4, Minnesota Fighting Saints 1

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 6 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 1–3 | Winnipeg Jets | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 8 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 2–5 | Winnipeg Jets | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 10 | Winnipeg Jets | 4–6 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 1–2 |
| 4 | April 11 | Winnipeg Jets | 3–2 OT | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 1–3 |
| 5 | April 15 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 5–8 | Winnipeg Jets | 1–4 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Wayne Connelly | C | 78 | 40 | 30 | 70 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 6 |
| Ted Hampson | C | 77 | 17 | 45 | 62 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Bill Klatt | RW | 78 | 36 | 22 | 58 | 22 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 5 |
| Mike McMahon | D | 75 | 12 | 39 | 51 | 87 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Keith Christiansen | C | 64 | 12 | 30 | 42 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| George Morrison | LW | 70 | 16 | 24 | 40 | 20 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob MacMillan | RW | 75 | 13 | 27 | 40 | 48 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Terry Ball | D | 78 | 6 | 34 | 40 | 66 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Antonovich | C | 75 | 20 | 19 | 39 | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| John Arbour | D | 76 | 6 | 27 | 33 | 186 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fred Speck | C | 47 | 13 | 16 | 29 | 52 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Johnson | C | 33 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Len Lilyholm | RW | 77 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mel Pearson | LW | 70 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terry Ryan | C | 76 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Dick Paradise | D | 77 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 189 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Sanders | D | 76 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 94 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| George Konik | D/LW | 54 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Young | LW | 23 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Falkman | RW | 45 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Curran | G | 43 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blaine Rydman | D | 29 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack McCartan | G | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carl Wetzel | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Mike Curran | 2540 | 43 | 23 | 17 | 2 | 131 | 3.09 | 4 |
| Jack McCartan | 2160 | 38 | 15 | 19 | 1 | 129 | 3.58 | 1 |
| Carl Wetzel | 60 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3.00 | 0 |
| Team: | 4760 | 78 | 38 | 37 | 3 | 263 | 3.32 | 5 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Mike McMahon | D | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ted Hampson | C | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Connelly | C | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Klatt | RW | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Johnson | C | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terry Ball | D | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob MacMillan | RW | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Antonovich | C | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mel Pearson | LW | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| George Morrison | LW | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Young | LW | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Terry Ryan | C | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Keith Christiansen | C | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Len Lilyholm | RW | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Arbour | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack McCartan | G | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dick Paradise | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Sanders | D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Curran | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blaine Rydman | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Jack McCartan | 213 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 3.94 | 0 |
| Mike Curran | 90 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6.00 | 0 |
| Team: | 303 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 4.55 | 0 |
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;