1972–73 New York Rangers season

The 1972–73 New York Rangers season was the 47th season for the team in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Rangers finished 3rd in the East Division and lost in the Semi-finals to the Chicago Black Hawks 4 games to 1.
==Off-season==
==Regular Season==
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results 	Regular Season Results
No. 	R 	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	L 	October 7, 1972 	3–5 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) 	0–1–0
2 	L 	October 8, 1972 	1–5 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) 	0–2–0
3 	W 	October 11, 1972 	5–3 	Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) 	1–2–0
4 	L 	October 14, 1972 	1–6 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) 	1–3–0
5 	W 	October 15, 1972 	6–2 	Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) 	2–3–0
6 	W 	October 18, 1972 	7–1 	Boston Bruins (1972–73) 	3–3–0
7 	W 	October 21, 1972 	2–1 	@ New York Islanders (1972–73) 	4–3–0
8 	T 	October 22, 1972 	1–1 	Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) 	4–3–1
9 	W 	October 25, 1972 	6–1 	Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) 	5–3–1
10 	W 	October 29, 1972 	7–1 	Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) 	6–3–1
11 	W 	November 1, 1972 	3–2 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) 	7–3–1
12 	L 	November 4, 1972 	4–6 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) 	7–4–1
13 	W 	November 5, 1972 	3–2 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) 	8–4–1
14 	W 	November 8, 1972 	5–2 	Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) 	9–4–1
15 	W 	November 11, 1972 	7–2 	California Golden Seals (1972–73) 	10–4–1
16 	W 	November 12, 1972 	5–1 	Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) 	11–4–1
17 	W 	November 15, 1972 	7–3 	Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) 	12–4–1
18 	W 	November 18, 1972 	3–1 	@ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) 	13–4–1
19 	L 	November 19, 1972 	3–5 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) 	13–5–1
20 	W 	November 21, 1972 	3–1 	@ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) 	14–5–1
21 	L 	November 23, 1972 	3–5 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) 	14–6–1
22 	W 	November 26, 1972 	7–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) 	15–6–1
23 	L 	November 28, 1972 	1–2 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) 	15–7–1
24 	T 	November 29, 1972 	2–2 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) 	15–7–2
25 	T 	December 1, 1972 	3–3 	@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)	15–7–3
26 	W 	December 3, 1972 	3–2 	Atlanta Flames (1972–73) 	16–7–3
27 	L 	December 6, 1972 	2–3 	Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) 	16–8–3
28 	W 	December 9, 1972 	4–1 	@ New York Islanders (1972–73) 	17–8–3
29 	W 	December 10, 1972 	4–1 	New York Islanders (1972–73) 	18–8–3
30 	W 	December 13, 1972 	4–3 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) 	19–8–3
31 	L 	December 14, 1972 	2–4 	@ Boston Bruins (1972–73) 	19–9–3
32 	L 	December 16, 1972 	1–5 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) 	19–10–3
33 	W 	December 17, 1972 	9–1 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) 	20–10–3
34 	W 	December 20, 1972 	5–4 	@ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) 	21–10–3
35 	L 	December 21, 1972 	2–5 	Atlanta Flames (1972–73) 	21–11–3
36 	W 	December 24, 1972 	5–0 	Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) 	22–11–3
37 	L 	December 27, 1972 	1–4 	Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) 	22–12–3
38 	W 	December 31, 1972 	6–1 	St. Louis Blues (1972–73) 	23–12–3
39 	W 	January 3, 1973 	3–0 	Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) 	24–12–3
40 	L 	January 6, 1973 	1–4 	Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) 	24–13–3
41 	W 	January 7, 1973 	3–0 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) 	25–13–3
42 	W 	January 11, 1973 	4–2 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) 	26–13–3
43 	W 	January 13, 1973 	5–3 	@ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) 	27–13–3
44 	W 	January 14, 1973 	5–2 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) 	28–13–3
45 	T 	January 17, 1973 	4–4 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) 	28–13–4
46 	W 	January 19, 1973 	6–0 	@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)	29–13–4
47 	W 	January 20, 1973 	4–3 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) 	30–13–4
48 	W 	January 24, 1973 	4–2 	Boston Bruins (1972–73) 	31–13–4
49 	W 	January 27, 1973 	6–3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) 	32–13–4
50 	W 	January 28, 1973 	5–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) 	33–13–4
51 	W 	January 31, 1973 	3–1 	California Golden Seals (1972–73) 	34–13–4
52 	W 	February 3, 1973 	7–3 	@ Boston Bruins (1972–73) 	35–13–4
53 	W 	February 4, 1973 	6–0 	Atlanta Flames (1972–73) 	36–13–4
54 	W 	February 7, 1973 	6–0 	New York Islanders (1972–73) 	37–13–4
55 	W 	February 10, 1973 	6–0 	@ New York Islanders (1972–73) 	38–13–4
56 	T 	February 11, 1973 	2–2 	Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) 	38–13–5
57 	L 	February 14, 1973 	3–6 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) 	38–14–5
58 	L 	February 15, 1973 	1–4 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) 	38–15–5
59 	W 	February 18, 1973 	3–2 	New York Islanders (1972–73) 	39–15–5
60 	W 	February 21, 1973 	4–3 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) 	40–15–5
61 	L 	February 23, 1973 	3–5 	@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)	40–16–5
62 	W 	February 25, 1973 	6–5 	Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) 	41–16–5
63 	T 	February 28, 1973 	3–3 	Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) 	41–16–6
64 	W 	March 3, 1973 	6–3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) 	42–16–6
65 	L 	March 4, 1973 	3–4 	Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) 	42–17–6
66 	T 	March 7, 1973 	2–2 	Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) 	42–17–7
67 	W 	March 10, 1973 	5–4 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) 	43–17–7
68 	W 	March 11, 1973 	4–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) 	44–17–7
69 	L 	March 14, 1973 	2–4 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) 	44–18–7
70 	L 	March 17, 1973 	5–7 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) 	44–19–7
71 	W 	March 18, 1973 	3–1 	St. Louis Blues (1972–73) 	45–19–7
72 	W 	March 20, 1973 	6–1 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) 	46–19–7
73 	W 	March 22, 1973 	4–1 	@ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) 	47–19–7
74 	L 	March 24, 1973 	0–3 	@ Boston Bruins (1972–73) 	47–20–7
75 	L 	March 25, 1973 	1–2 	Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) 	47–21–7
76 	L 	March 28, 1973 	3–6 	Boston Bruins (1972–73) 	47–22–7
77 	L 	March 31, 1973 	1–5 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) 	47–23–7
78 	T 	April 1, 1973 	3–3 	Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) 	47–23–8
==Playoffs==
===New York Rangers 4, Boston Bruins 1===
The teams met the year before in the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals where the Bruins prevailed in six games. Rangers coach Emile Francis had watched game films of the Bruins and noticed that Bobby Orr was favoring his knee. Instead of trying to keep the puck away from Orr when shooting the puck in Boston's zone, Francis instructed his players to put the puck in Orr's corner and then forecheck him aggressively. Although he had played well in his short time with the Bruins, goalie Jacques Plante didn't hold up in this series. He was replaced with Eddie Johnston and Ross Brooks but all were outplayed by the Rangers Eddie Giacomin.
Game 1 at the Boston Garden saw Plante and Giacomin start in goal. The Bruins Doug Roberts and the Rangers Brad Park traded first period goals before Bruce MacGregor put New York up 2-1 at 7:25. The next shift, Ted Irvine targeted Orr and the two fought, both receiving seven penalty minutes. With Orr off, the Rangers scored three goals, Park with his second of the game and two goals from Walt Tkaczuk. With New York leading 5-1 heading into the third period, Pete Stemkowski and Derek Sanderson traded goals. Orr was held pointless as was Phil Esposito's line, which was badly outplayed by Tkaczuk's line, as the Rangers stunned the Bruins 6-2.
Game 2 at Boston again saw Plante and Giacomin start in goal. The teams traded goals in the first period with Wayne Cashman and Steve Vickers scoring. Phil Esposito assisted on Cashman's goal which would be his only point of the series. In the second period, disaster struck the Bruins after the Rangers Ron Harris caught Esposito with a hip check, tearing Esposito's right knee ligaments and putting him out of the series. The Bruins then took two penalties in quick succession which the Rangers Ted Irvine and Pete Stemkowski scored on. Doug Roberts scored his second of the series to cut the Rangers lead to 3-2 heading into the third period. With Roberts in the penalty box, Walt Tkaczuk scored his third of the series. Orr was again held scoreless as the Rangers won 4-2 and took a two games to none lead with the series heading to New York.
Game 3 at Madison Square Garden saw Plante replaced by Eddie Johnston in net for the Bruins. Reaching the end of his brilliant career, Plante played his last NHL match in Game 2. Derek Sanderson took Phil Esposito's place centering Wayne Cashman and Ken Hodge. The changes sparked the Bruins, who took a 1-0 lead on a shorthanded goal by Gregg Sheppard. Pete Stemkowski tied it up just before the first period ended. Boston's second line scored its first goal of the series as Fred Stanfield put the Bruins up 2-1 at 3:13 of the second period. Jean Ratelle tied it up at 6:12 of the third period, deflecting in a Dale Rolfe shot. Just past the halfway mark, Sheppard intercepted a Steve Vickers pass and scored his second of the game on a breakaway which proved to be the winner. Mike Walton scored an empty net goal as the Bruins won 4-2 behind a stellar performance by Johnston, despite New York out shooting Boston 37-27. Bobby Orr didn't have a point for the third straight game.
Game 4 at New York saw Johnston start again for Boston while Giacomin remained in the net for the Rangers. New York scored early as Brad Park led a 3 on 1 which ended with a tap-in by Rod Gilbert at 2:35 of the first period. At 16:30, after the Bruins twice failed to clear the puck from their zone, a Bruce MacGregor shot caromed off the boards to Pete Stemkowski who knocked it in the short side on Johnston for a 2-0 Rangers lead. In the second period, Bobby Rousseau beat Johnston with a slapshot while on a partial breakaway before Don Marcotte overskated the puck which resulted in Steve Vickers gaining the puck alone in front of Johnston. He fired a low shot past Johnston for a 4-0 Rangers lead. The third period was scoreless, even though Boston twice had a two man advantage. Despite being outshot 33-25, a brilliant defensive effort saw the Rangers take a three games to one stranglehold on the series. Giacomin earned the shutout, the first by a Ranger goalie in the playoffs since Chuck Rayner had one in the 1950 Semi-finals.
Game 5 at Boston saw the desperate Bruins start Ross Brooks in goal for his only career playoff game while Giacomin started his fifth straight game. Steve Vickers scored on the first shift of the game but a little over a minute later, Bobby Orr evened the score with his only goal of the series. Ken Hodge gave Boston a 2-1 lead at 12:45 on the power play before Vickers and Bruce MacGregor scored two quick goals. Ed Johnston went in for Brooks to start the second period and held the Rangers at bay until the last minute when Walt Tkaczuk potted his fourth of the series. Rod Gilbert put New York up 5-2 at 4:10 of the third period until three minutes later, Don Marcotte cut the lead to 5-3. However, it was all the offense the Bruins could muster. Vickers completed his first career playoff hat trick as the Rangers won 6-3 and took the series.
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 4 	New York Rangers	6-2 	Boston Bruins 	1-0
2	April 5 	New York Rangers	4-2 	Boston Bruins 	2-0
3	April 7 	Boston Bruins 	4-2 	New York Rangers	1-2
4	April 8 	Boston Bruins 	0-4 	New York Rangers	1-3
5	April 10	New York Rangers	6-3 	Boston Bruins 	4-1
===Chicago Black Hawks 4, New York Rangers 1===
==Player Stats==
===Regular Season===
;Scoring
Player	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	C 	78	41	53	94 	12 	24 	11 	0 	4
 	RW 	76	25	59	84 	25 	12 	6 	0 	4
 	C 	76	27	39	66 	59 	35 	6 	1 	7
 	RW 	78	30	33	63 	23 	36 	5 	2 	5
 	LW 	63	28	34	62 	60 	13 	9 	0 	4
 	C 	78	22	37	59 	71 	28 	2 	0 	1
 	LW 	61	30	23	53 	37 	35 	2 	0 	5
 	D 	52	10	43	53 	51 	31 	4 	0 	1
 	RW 	78	8 	37	45 	14 	1 	2 	0 	3
 	D 	72	9 	33	42 	36 	43 	1 	1 	2
 	D 	72	7 	25	32 	74 	41 	1 	0 	0
 	C 	52	14	12	26 	12 	14 	0 	0 	4
 	LW 	77	11	15	26 	64 	16 	1 	1 	2
 	LW 	53	8 	12	20 	54 	4 	1 	0 	1
 	D 	52	4 	16	20 	35 	22 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	50	9 	10	19 	50 	-4 	1 	0 	1
 	D 	51	4 	13	17 	15 	16 	1 	0 	2
 	D 	46	3 	10	13 	17 	2 	1 	0 	0
 	RW 	15	4 	4 	8 	5 	-5 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	12	0 	2 	2 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	43	0 	2 	2 	6 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	4 	1 	0 	1 	0 	1 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	8 	1 	0 	1 	4 	1 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	8 	1 	0 	1 	0 	-1 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	3 	0 	1 	1 	4 	3 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	8 	0 	1 	1 	0 	1 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	11	0 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	16	0 	1 	1 	11 	-2 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	8 	0 	0 	0 	14 	-3 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	34	0 	0 	0 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L 	T	GA 	GAA 	SO
 	2580	43	26	11	6	125	2.91	4
 	2040	34	20	12	2	78 	2.29	3
 	60 	1 	1 	0 	0	1 	1.00	0
Team: 	4680	78	47	23	8	204	2.62	7
===Playoffs===
;Scoring
Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	C 	10	7	2	9 	8 	1 	0 	1
 	LW 	10	5	4	9 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	10	2	7	9 	0 	1 	0 	0
 	RW 	10	1	8	9 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	10	2	5	7 	8 	1 	0 	1
 	RW 	10	5	1	6 	2 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	10	4	2	6 	6 	1 	0 	1
 	RW 	10	2	3	5 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	8 	0	5	5 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	9 	2	2	4 	11 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	10	2	2	4 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	10	1	3	4 	20 	1 	0 	0
 	D 	10	0	4	4 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	10	0	3	3 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	1 	0	1	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	6 	0	1	1 	8 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	1 	0	0	0 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	9 	0	0	0 	7 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	10	0	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	2 	0	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	10	0	0	0 	4 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA 	SO
 	539	10	5	4	23	2.56	1
 	61 	2 	0	1	2 	1.97	0
Team: 	600	10	5	5	25	2.50	1
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 
==Awards and Records==
*Calder Memorial Trophy: Steve Vickers
*Brad Park, Defense, NHL Second Team All-Star
==Transactions==
==Draft Picks==
==Farm Teams==
==Trivia==
*Rangers who recorded a Hat trick this season include:
**Steve Vickers during the 6-3 win over the Boston Bruins, Game 5 of the 1973 Quarter-finals, April 10, 1973.
==Gallery==
3Feb1973-Bruins_NYR_brawl.jpg|Bruins-Rangers brawl, February 3, 1973.
Sheppard_goal-24Mar1972.gif|Gregg Sheppard scores the winner from Bobby Orr, March 24, 1973.
5Apr1972-Espo_knee_injury.jpg|Phil Esposito suffers torn right knee ligaments and is lost for the playoffs, 1973 Quarter-finals Game 2, April 5, 1973.
==See Also==
*1972–73 NHL season
==References==
* 
* Rangers on Hockey Database
category:New York Rangers seasons
Category:1972 in hockey
Category:1973 in hockey