1972–73 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1972–73 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 64th season. The Canadiens finished 1st in the East Division and defeated the Chicago Black Hawks in the 1973 Stanley Cup Finals 4 games to 2 to win their 18th Stanley Cup.
==Regular Season==
Rookie goalie Wayne Thomas left his mark in Canadiens history by becoming only the second goaltender in over 50 seasons to record a shutout (3-0) in his NHL debut against Vancouver on January 14, 1973.http://habsgoalies.blogspot.com/2007/06/wayne-thomas-1972-74.html
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
Regular Season Schedule	Regular Season Schedule	Regular Season Schedule	Regular Season Schedule	Regular Season Schedule 	Regular Season Schedule
No. 	R 	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	W 	October 7, 1972 	3–0 	Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) 	1–0–0
2 	T 	October 11, 1972 	2–2 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) 	1–0–1
3 	W 	October 12, 1972 	3–0 	Atlanta Flames (1972–73) 	2–0–1
4 	W 	October 14, 1972 	6–1 	New York Rangers (1972–73) 	3–0–1
5 	T 	October 18, 1972 	4–4 	@ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) 	3–0–2
6 	W 	October 21, 1972 	5–3 	Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) 	4–0–2
7 	T 	October 22, 1972 	1–1 	@ New York Rangers (1972–73) 	4–0–3
8 	W 	October 24, 1972 	4–3 	@ New York Islanders (1972–73) 	5–0–3
9 	W 	October 26, 1972 	7–0 	St. Louis Blues (1972–73) 	6–0–3
10 	T 	October 28, 1972 	3–3 	Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) 	6–0–4
11 	W 	October 29, 1972 	2–1 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) 	7–0–4
12 	W 	November 1, 1972 	7–1 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) 	8–0–4
13 	W 	November 2, 1972 	6–1 	@ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) 	9–0–4
14 	L 	November 4, 1972 	2–4 	Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) 	9–1–4
15 	W 	November 8, 1972 	5–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) 	10–1–4
16 	W 	November 11, 1972 	5–2 	Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) 	11–1–4
17 	W 	November 12, 1972 	5–3 	@ Boston Bruins (1972–73) 	12–1–4
18 	W 	November 14, 1972 	7–2 	@ New York Islanders (1972–73) 	13–1–4
19 	W 	November 16, 1972 	6–5 	Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) 	14–1–4
20 	L 	November 18, 1972 	3–5 	Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) 	14–2–4
21 	T 	November 22, 1972 	3–3 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) 	14–2–5
22 	W 	November 24, 1972 	9–1 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) 	15–2–5
23 	L 	November 26, 1972 	2–3 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) 	15–3–5
24 	T 	November 29, 1972 	3–3 	Boston Bruins (1972–73) 	15–3–6
25 	T 	December 2, 1972 	4–4 	Atlanta Flames (1972–73) 	15–3–7
26 	L 	December 3, 1972 	2–5 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) 	15–4–7
27 	W 	December 6, 1972 	6–3 	Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) 	16–4–7
28 	W 	December 9, 1972 	2–1 	California Golden Seals (1972–73) 	17–4–7
29 	L 	December 10, 1972 	2–4 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) 	17–5–7
30 	T 	December 13, 1972 	2–2 	@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)	17–5–8
31 	W 	December 15, 1972 	4–2 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) 	18–5–8
32 	W 	December 16, 1972 	3–1 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) 	19–5–8
33 	W 	December 20, 1972 	4–2 	New York Islanders (1972–73) 	20–5–8
34 	W 	December 23, 1972 	6–3 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) 	21–5–8
35 	W 	December 26, 1972 	4–1 	@ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) 	22–5–8
36 	L 	December 27, 1972 	2–3 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) 	22–6–8
37 	T 	December 30, 1972 	1–1 	Atlanta Flames (1972–73) 	22–6–9
38 	W 	January 3, 1973 	8–4 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) 	23–6–9
39 	W 	January 6, 1973 	5–0 	California Golden Seals (1972–73) 	24–6–9
40 	T 	January 8, 1973 	3–3 	Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) 	24–6–10
41 	W 	January 10, 1973 	6–0 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) 	25–6–10
42 	T 	January 12, 1973 	3–3 	@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)	25–6–11
43 	W 	January 14, 1973 	3–0 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) 	26–6–11
44 	W 	January 17, 1973 	6–4 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) 	27–6–11
45 	W 	January 18, 1973 	5–2 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) 	28–6–11
46 	W 	January 20, 1973 	6–3 	Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) 	29–6–11
47 	W 	January 21, 1973 	3–2 	@ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) 	30–6–11
48 	W 	January 24, 1973 	6–1 	New York Islanders (1972–73) 	31–6–11
49 	W 	January 27, 1973 	4–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) 	32–6–11
50 	L 	January 28, 1973 	2–4 	Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) 	32–7–11
51 	T 	February 1, 1973 	3–3 	@ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) 	32–7–12
52 	W 	February 3, 1973 	7–1 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) 	33–7–12
53 	W 	February 4, 1973 	6–1 	@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)	34–7–12
54 	W 	February 7, 1973 	5–2 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) 	35–7–12
55 	W 	February 10, 1973 	2–1 	Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) 	36–7–12
56 	T 	February 11, 1973 	2–2 	@ New York Rangers (1972–73) 	36–7–13
57 	W 	February 14, 1973 	6–3 	New York Rangers (1972–73) 	37–7–13
58 	L 	February 17, 1973 	6–7 	Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) 	37–8–13
59 	W 	February 18, 1973 	2–1 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) 	38–8–13
60 	W 	February 21, 1973 	4–2 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) 	39–8–13
61 	T 	February 22, 1973 	3–3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) 	39–8–14
62 	W 	February 24, 1973 	7–3 	Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) 	40–8–14
63 	W 	February 28, 1973 	5–2 	Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) 	41–8–14
64 	W 	March 3, 1973 	5–1 	Boston Bruins (1972–73) 	42–8–14
65 	W 	March 4, 1973 	4–2 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) 	43–8–14
66 	W 	March 6, 1973 	3–2 	@ New York Islanders (1972–73) 	44–8–14
67 	W 	March 7, 1973 	4–1 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) 	45–8–14
68 	W 	March 10, 1973 	2–0 	Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) 	46–8–14
69 	L 	March 11, 1973 	3–5 	@ Boston Bruins (1972–73) 	46–9–14
70 	W 	March 14, 1973 	5–3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) 	47–9–14
71 	T 	March 17, 1973 	3–3 	Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) 	47–9–15
72 	T 	March 18, 1973 	4–4 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) 	47–9–16
73 	W 	March 21, 1973 	3–2 	Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) 	48–9–16
74 	W 	March 24, 1973 	11–4 	St. Louis Blues (1972–73) 	49–9–16
75 	L 	March 25, 1973 	5–6 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) 	49–10–16
76 	W 	March 28, 1973 	4–3 	Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) 	50–10–16
77 	W 	March 31, 1973 	5–1 	New York Rangers (1972–73) 	51–10–16
78 	W 	April 1, 1973 	5–3 	@ Boston Bruins (1972–73) 	52–10–16
==Playoffs==
===Montreal Canadiens 4, Buffalo Sabres 2===
The Canadiens met the Buffalo Sabres making their playoff debut in the first round, defeating the Sabres four games to two.
===Montreal Canadiens 4, Philadelphia Flyers 1===
In the second round, the Canadiens defeated the Philadelphia Flyers who had beaten the Minnesota North Stars, winning the series four games to one to advance to the finals against the Chicago Black Hawks.
===Montreal Canadiens 4, Chicago Black Hawks 2===
Date 	Visitors	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
April 29	Chicago 	3 	Montreal	8 	
May 1 	Chicago 	1 	Montreal	4 	
May 3 	Montreal	4 	Chicago 	7 	
May 6 	Montreal	4 	Chicago 	0 	
May 8 	Chicago 	8 	Montreal	7 	
May 10 	Montreal	6 	Chicago 	4 	
==Player Stats==
===Regular Season===
;Scoring
Player	Pos 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	C 	77	44	51	95 	16 	59 	9 	0 	5
 	LW 	78	38	55	93 	51 	42 	8 	2 	5
 	RW 	67	40	39	79 	18 	50 	6 	0 	4
 	C 	61	21	38	59 	49 	21 	3 	4 	3
 	RW 	69	28	27	55 	51 	16 	9 	0 	7
 	D 	76	19	35	54 	117	51 	3 	0 	2
 	LW 	76	25	25	50 	48 	18 	3 	0 	4
 	W 	72	13	35	48 	36 	24 	3 	0 	1
 	LW 	65	21	25	46 	22 	35 	1 	1 	7
 	C 	71	8 	35	43 	21 	34 	0 	0 	2
 	D 	74	7 	32	39 	58 	70 	2 	1 	0
 	RW 	73	11	23	34 	30 	29 	0 	0 	0
 	D/RW	77	14	18	32 	28 	33 	0 	1 	3
 	LW 	52	18	9 	27 	16 	14 	0 	0 	3
 	D 	69	2 	22	24 	55 	39 	0 	0 	2
 	D 	57	7 	16	23 	34 	78 	2 	0 	0
 	LW 	50	8 	8 	16 	24 	5 	1 	0 	2
 	D 	41	0 	7 	7 	69 	11 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	36	2 	4 	6 	20 	3 	0 	0 	1
 	G 	54	0 	4 	4 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	19	1 	1 	2 	2 	-1 	1 	0 	0
 	C 	5 	1 	1 	2 	0 	0 	1 	0 	0
 	C/LW	2 	1 	1 	2 	0 	2 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	25	0 	2 	2 	2 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	10	0 	1 	1 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	17	0 	0 	0 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L 	T 	GA 	GAA 	SO
 	3165	54	33	7 	13	119	2.26	6
 	932 	17	11	2 	3 	40 	2.58	0
 	583 	10	8 	1 	0 	23 	2.37	1
Team: 	4680	78	52	10	16	182	2.33	7
===Playoffs===
;Scoring
Player	Pos 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	RW 	17	15	10	25 	2 	3 	0 	3
 	LW 	17	9 	14	23 	6 	1 	0 	0
 	C 	17	7 	13	20 	2 	3 	0 	1
 	D 	17	6 	7 	13 	20 	2 	0 	1
 	C 	17	4 	9 	13 	22 	2 	1 	0
 	LW 	14	6 	6 	12 	6 	2 	0 	2
 	D 	17	3 	8 	11 	22 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	17	6 	4 	10 	14 	0 	0 	2
 	W 	17	3 	6 	9 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	17	3 	5 	8 	9 	2 	0 	1
 	LW 	17	3 	5 	8 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	17	3 	4 	7 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	16	2 	4 	6 	6 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	11	1 	4 	5 	9 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	17	1 	3 	4 	13 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	10	1 	3 	4 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	13	0 	3 	3 	10 	0 	0 	0
 	D/RW	17	0 	2 	2 	22 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	17	0 	0 	0 	2 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L	GA	GAA 	SO
 	1039	17	12	5	50	2.89	1
Team: 	1039	17	12	5	50	2.89	1
Note: 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 
==Awards and Records==
*Prince of Wales Trophy: Montreal Canadiens
*Vezina Trophy: Ken Dryden
*Conn Smythe Trophy: Yvan Cournoyer
*James Norris Memorial Trophy: Guy Lapointe, Runner-up National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 222, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5.
*Frank Mahovlich, Left Wing, NHL First Team All-Star
*Guy Lapointe, Defense, NHL First Team All-Star
*Ken Dryden, Goalie, NHL First Team All-Star
*Yvan Cournoyer, Right Wing, NHL Second Team All-Star
==Transactions==
==Montreal Canadiens 1973 Stanley Cup Champions==
==Draft Picks==
==Trivia==
*Canadiens who recorded a Hat trick this season include:
**Jacques Lemaire during the 4-3 win over the New York Islanders on October 24, 1972.
**Rejean Houle during the 6-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 17, 1973.
**Yvan Cournoyer during the 7-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres, Game 2 of the 1973 Quarter-finals, April 5, 1973.
==Video==
Over eight minutes of highlights of the January 18, 1973 Canadiens-Penguins game.
NHL Films - Canadiens vs Penguins - Jan.18,1973
Ten minutes of highlights of Game 1 of the 1973 Stanley Cup Finals.
'73 Stanley cup final - Chicago vs Montreal game 1 highlights
==See Also==
* 1972–73 NHL season
* List of Stanley Cup champions
==References==
*Canadiens on Hockey Database
*Canadiens on NHL Reference
Category:Stanley Cup championship seasons
Category:Montreal Canadiens seasons
Category:1972 in hockey
Category:1973 in hockey