1972–73 Montreal Canadiens season

NHL hockey team season (18th Stanley Cup win) March 2026 August 2023 Montreal Canadiens NHL 1972–73 1972 East 1st 52–10–13 29–4–6 23–6–10 329 184 Sam Pollock Scotty Bowman Henri Richard Yvan CournoyerFrank Mahovlich Montreal Forum Jacques Lemaire (44) Frank Mahovlich (55) Jacques Lemaire (95) Guy Lapointe (117) Ken Dryden (38) Ken Dryden (2.24) yes yesThe 1972–73 Montreal Canadiens season, the club's 64th season, led to the Canadiens winning their 18th Stanley Cup in club history. 2 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.https://habsgoalies.blogspot.com/2007/06/wayne-thomas-1972-74.html Wayne Thomas 1972-74 Final standings MON Record vs. opponents MTL Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 5px solid; border-bottom:#192168 5px solid; 1972–73 regular season1972-73 Montreal Canadiens Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1973_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 6, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||W||October 7, 1972||3–0 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||1–0–0 |- |2||T||October 11, 1972||2–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||1–0–1 |- |3||W||October 12, 1972||3–0 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1972–73) ||2–0–1 |- |4||W||October 14, 1972||6–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1972–73) ||3–0–1 |- |5||T||October 18, 1972||4–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||3–0–2 |- |6||W||October 21, 1972||5–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||4–0–2 |- |7||T||October 22, 1972||1–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1972–73) ||4–0–3 |- |8||W||October 24, 1972||4–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1972–73) ||5–0–3 |- |9||W||October 26, 1972||7–0 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||6–0–3 |- |10||T||October 28, 1972||3–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) ||6–0–4 |- |11||W||October 29, 1972||2–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||7–0–4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |12||W||November 1, 1972||7–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||8–0–4 |- |13||W||November 2, 1972||6–1 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) ||9–0–4 |- |14||L||November 4, 1972||2–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||9–1–4 |- |15||W||November 8, 1972||5–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||10–1–4 |- |16||W||November 11, 1972||5–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||11–1–4 |- |17||W||November 12, 1972||5–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||12–1–4 |- |18||W||November 14, 1972||7–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1972–73) ||13–1–4 |- |19||W||November 16, 1972||6–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||14–1–4 |- |20||L||November 18, 1972||3–5 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||14–2–4 |- |21||T||November 22, 1972||3–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||14–2–5 |- |22||W||November 24, 1972||9–1 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||15–2–5 |- |23||L||November 26, 1972||2–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||15–3–5 |- |24||T||November 29, 1972||3–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||15–3–6 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |25||T||December 2, 1972||4–4 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1972–73) ||15–3–7 |- |26||L||December 3, 1972||2–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||15–4–7 |- |27||W||December 6, 1972||6–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||16–4–7 |- |28||W||December 9, 1972||2–1 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||17–4–7 |- |29||L||December 10, 1972||2–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) ||17–5–7 |- |30||T||December 13, 1972||2–2 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||17–5–8 |- |31||W||December 15, 1972||4–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||18–5–8 |- |32||W||December 16, 1972||3–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||19–5–8 |- |33||W||December 20, 1972||4–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1972–73) ||20–5–8 |- |34||W||December 23, 1972||6–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||21–5–8 |- |35||W||December 26, 1972||4–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||22–5–8 |- |36||L||December 27, 1972||2–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||22–6–8 |- |37||T||December 30, 1972||1–1 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1972–73) ||22–6–9 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |38||W||January 3, 1973||8–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||23–6–9 |- |39||W||January 6, 1973||5–0 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||24–6–9 |- |40||T||January 8, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||24–6–10 |- |41||W||January 10, 1973||6–0 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||25–6–10 |- |42||T||January 12, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||25–6–11 |- |43||W||January 14, 1973||3–0 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||26–6–11 |- |44||W||January 17, 1973||6–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||27–6–11 |- |45||W||January 18, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||28–6–11 |- |46||W||January 20, 1973||6–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||29–6–11 |- |47||W||January 21, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) ||30–6–11 |- |48||W||January 24, 1973||6–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1972–73) ||31–6–11 |- |49||W||January 27, 1973||4–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||32–6–11 |- |50||L||January 28, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||32–7–11 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |51||T||February 1, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||32–7–12 |- |52||W||February 3, 1973||7–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||33–7–12 |- |53||W||February 4, 1973||6–1 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||34–7–12 |- |54||W||February 7, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||35–7–12 |- |55||W||February 10, 1973||2–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) ||36–7–12 |- |56||T||February 11, 1973||2–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1972–73) ||36–7–13 |- |57||W||February 14, 1973||6–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1972–73) ||37–7–13 |- |58||L||February 17, 1973||6–7 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||37–8–13 |- |59||W||February 18, 1973||2–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||38–8–13 |- |60||W||February 21, 1973||4–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||39–8–13 |- |61||T||February 22, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||39–8–14 |- |62||W||February 24, 1973||7–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||40–8–14 |- |63||W||February 28, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||41–8–14 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |64||W||March 3, 1973||5–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||42–8–14 |- |65||W||March 4, 1973||4–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) ||43–8–14 |- |66||W||March 6, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1972–73) ||44–8–14 |- |67||W||March 7, 1973||4–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||45–8–14 |- |68||W||March 10, 1973||2–0 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||46–8–14 |- |69||L||March 11, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||46–9–14 |- |70||W||March 14, 1973||5–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||47–9–14 |- |71||T||March 17, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) ||47–9–15 |- |72||T||March 18, 1973||4–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||47–9–16 |- |73||W||March 21, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||48–9–16 |- |74||W||March 24, 1973||11–4 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||49–9–16 |- |75||L||March 25, 1973||5–6 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||49–10–16 |- |76||W||March 28, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||50–10–16 |- |77||W||March 31, 1973||5–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1972–73) ||51–10–16 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |78||W||April 1, 1973||5–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||52–10–16 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs The Canadiens met the Buffalo Sabres making their playoff debut in the first round, defeating the Sabres four games to two. 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. Finals 1973 Stanley Cup Finals Chicago Black Hawks vs. Montreal Canadiens Date Visitors Score Home Score NotesApril 29 Chicago 3 Montreal 8 May 1 Chicago 1 Montreal 4 May 3 Montreal 4Chicago 7 May 6 Montreal 4 Chicago 0 May 8 Chicago 8 Montreal 7 May 10 Montreal 6 Chicago 4 Montreal wins the series 4–2. Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Jacques Lemaire C 77 44 51 95 1659905 Frank Mahovlich LW 78 38 55 93 5142825 Yvan Cournoyer RW 67 40 39 79 1850604 Pete Mahovlich C 61 21 38 59 4921343 Guy Lafleur RW 69 28 27 55 5116907 Guy Lapointe D 76 19 35 54 11751302 Marc Tardif LW 76 25 25 50 4818304 Rejean Houle Réjean Houle W 72 13 35 48 3624301 Chuck Lefley LW 65 21 25 46 2235117 Henri Richard C 71 8 35 43 2134002 Serge Savard D 74 7 32 39 5870210 Claude Larose Claude Larose (ice hockey, born 1942) RW 73 11 23 34 3029000 Jim Roberts Jim Roberts (ice hockey, born 1940) D/RW 77 14 18 32 2833013 Murray Wilson LW 52 18 9 27 1614003 Bob Murdoch Bob Murdoch (ice hockey, born 1946) D 69 2 22 24 5539002 Jacques Laperriere Jacques Laperrière D 57 7 16 23 3478200 Steve Shutt LW 50 8 8 16 245102 Pierre Bouchard D 41 0 7 7 6911000 Larry Robinson D 36 2 4 6 203001 Ken Dryden G 54 0 4 4 20000 Chuck Arnason RW 19 1 1 2 2−1100 Dave Gardner Dave Gardner (ice hockey) C 5 1 1 2 00100 Randy Rota C/LW 2 1 1 2 02001 Dale Hoganson D 25 0 2 2 24000 Wayne Thomas Wayne Thomas (ice hockey) G 10 0 1 1 20000 Yvon Lambert LW 1 0 0 0 00000 Michel Plasse G 17 0 0 0 40000 Goaltending = Indicates league leader PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SO Ken Dryden 3165 54 33 7 13 119 2.26 6 Michel Plasse 932 17 11 2 3 40 2.58 0 Wayne Thomas Wayne Thomas (ice hockey) 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 Yvan Cournoyer RW 17 15 10 25 2303 Frank Mahovlich LW 17 9 14 23 6100 Jacques Lemaire C 17 7 13 20 2301 Guy Lapointe D 17 6 7 13 20201 Pete Mahovlich C 17 4 9 13 22210 Marc Tardif LW 14 6 6 12 6202 Serge Savard D 17 3 8 11 22000 Henri Richard C 17 6 4 10 14002 Rejean Houle Réjean Houle W 17 3 6 9 0000 Guy Lafleur RW 17 3 5 8 9201 Chuck Lefley LW 17 3 5 8 6000 Claude Larose Claude Larose (ice hockey, born 1942) RW 17 3 4 7 6000 Murray Wilson LW 16 2 4 6 6001 Larry Robinson D 11 1 4 5 9001 Pierre Bouchard D 17 1 3 4 13000 Jacques Laperriere Jacques Laperrière D 10 1 3 4 2000 Bob Murdoch Bob Murdoch (ice hockey, born 1946) D 13 0 3 3 10000 Jim Roberts Jim Roberts (ice hockey, born 1940) D/RW 17 0 2 2 22000 Ken Dryden G 17 0 0 0 2000 Steve Shutt LW 1 0 0 0 0000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LGAGAA SO Ken Dryden 1039 17 12 5 50 2.89 1 Team: 1039 17 12 5 50 2.89 1 hockey-reference.com 2009-05-28 1972-73 Montreal Canadiens Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1973.html Awards and records Prince of Wales Trophy. Guy Lapointe, runner up, Norris Trophy.National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 222, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 0-920445-98-5. Yvan Cournoyer won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Draft picks Montreal's draft picks at the 1972 NHL amateur draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)14 Steve Shutt Canada Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL)16 Michel Larocque Canada Ottawa 67's (OMJHL)18 Dave Gardner Canada Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL)114 John Van Boxmeer Canada Guelph CMC's (SOJHL)346 Ed Gilbert Canada Hamilton Red Wings (OMJHL)462 Dave Elenbaas Canada Cornell University (ECAC)566 Bill Nyrop United States University of Notre Dame (WCHA)694 D'Arcy Ryan Canada Yale University (ECAC)7110 Yves Archambault Canada Sorel Eperviers (QMJHL)8126 Graham Parsons Canada Red Deer Rustlers (AJHL)9142 Eddie Bumbacco Canada University of Notre Dame (WCHA)10151 Fred Riggall Canada Dartmouth College (ECAC)11152 Ron LeBlanc Canada Universite de Moncton (CIAU) See also 1972–73 NHL season List of Stanley Cup champions Citations References Canadiens on Hockey Database Canadiens on NHL Reference Category:Stanley Cup championship seasons Category:Montreal Canadiens seasons Mon Mon Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens Category:1972 in Montreal Category:1973 in Montreal