1972 – 73 Ottawa Nationals season The 1972 – 73 Ottawa Nationals season was the Nationals first season , as they were one of the original teams in the newly created WHA . The Nationals would play the season in Ottawa , but transferred their playoff games to Toronto . Due to low attendance in Ottawa , an arena lease dispute and much better attendance in their two playoff games in Toronto , where they averaged over 5000 fans per game , the Nationals would relocate to Toronto permanently beginning in the 1973 - 74 , and the club would be renamed the Toronto Toros . Offseason . The Nationals were originally owned by Doug Michel , with rumours he would place the team in either Hamilton or Toronto , however , and he placed the club in Ottawa . After the team was placed to play in Ottawa , Nick Trbovich became the majority owner , with Michel running hockey operations . The club was placed in the six team Eastern Division , with the top four clubs earning a playoff berth . The Nationals hired former Toronto Maple Leafs player Billy Harris to coach the team . Ottawa ' s top signing was Wayne Carleton , who had previously played with the Maple Leafs , Boston Bruins and California Golden Seals in the NHL . Regular season . The first game in the WHA was a match between the Nationals and the Alberta Oilers at the Civic Centre , with Alberta winning the game 7 - 4 on October 11 , 1972 . Ottawa recorded their first victory in their fourth game , a 6 - 2 decision over the Chicago Cougars . The Nationals would eventually find themselves a season high two games over . 500 with a 12 - 10 - 1 record before falling into a long slump , in which the club had a record of 7 - 21 - 3 in their next 31 games and see themselves in last place in the Eastern Division . Ottawa would play very good hockey down the stretch , and finish the season at 35 - 39 - 4 , earning 74 points and the fourth and final playoff position . Attendance was an issue for the club though , as they drew an average of just over 3000 fans per game , as the team was competing against the very popular Ottawa 67 ' s OHA team for fans . Offensively , Ottawa was led by Carleton , who scored a team high 42 goals and 49 assists for 91 points , which ranked him tenth in league scoring . Twenty year old Gavin Kirk had a very good season , earning 68 points in 78 games , while Bob Charlebois earned 64 points . On the blueline , Brian Gibbons had 42 points to lead the way , while Rick Cunningham had 41 points , and a team high 121 penalty minutes . In goal , Gilles Gratton had the majority of playing time , winning a team high 25 games and posting a 3 . 71 GAA . Les Binkley backed him up , earning 10 wins and a GAA of 3 . 72 . Playoffs . The Nationals would open the playoffs with a best of seven series against the New England Whalers , who had a league high 94 points . The series opened up with two games in New England , and the Whalers took advantage of their home ice , defeating Ottawa 6 - 3 and 4 - 3 to take a two game series lead . The series moved to Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto , as the Nationals ownership decided to move their playoff games from Ottawa due to attendance problems . The Nationals use their " home ice " advantage in the third game , defeating the Whalers 4 - 2 to get back into the series , however , New England easily defeated Ottawa in the fourth game 7 - 3 to take a 3 - 1 series lead . The Whalers would close out the series in the fifth game back in New England , as they beat Ottawa 5 - 4 in overtime to eliminate the Nationals . Player stats . Playoffs . Team Roster