1972–73 New York Rangers season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1972–73 1972 New York Rangers 47–23–8 26–8–5 21–15–3 East 3rd Emile Francis Emile Francis Vic Hadfield Rod GilbertBrad Park 297 208 Madison Square Garden Jean Ratelle (41) Rod Gilbert (59) Jean Ratelle (94) Dale Rolfe (74) Ed Giacomin (26) Peter McDuffe (1.00) The 1972–73 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 47th season. 2 Regular season Final standings NYR Record vs. opponents NYR Schedule and results background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid; 1972–73 regular season1972-73 New York Rangers Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/1973_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 31, 2025 y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; October: 6–3–1 (home: 5–0–1; road: 1–3–0) Game October Opponent Score Record |- | 1 || 7 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 5–3 || 0–1–0 |- | 2 || 8 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 5–1 || 0–2–0 |- | 3 || 11 || Vancouver Canucks || 5–3 || 1–2–0 |- | 4 || 14 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 6–1 || 1–3–0 |- | 5 || 15 || Minnesota North Stars || 6–2 || 2–3–0 |- | 6 || 18 || Boston Bruins || 7–1 || 3–3–0 |- | 7 || 21 || @ New York Islanders || 2–1 || 4–3–0 |- | 8 || 22 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–1 || 4–3–1 |- | 9 || 25 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–1 || 5–3–1 |- | 10 || 29 || Chicago Black Hawks || 7–1 || 6–3–1 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; November: 9–4–1 (home: 5–1–0; road: 4–3–1) Game November Opponent Score Record |- | 11 || 1 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 3–2 || 7–3–1 |- | 12 || 4 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–4 || 7–4–1 |- | 13 || 5 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 3–2 || 8–4–1 |- | 14 || 8 || Vancouver Canucks || 5–2 || 9–4–1 |- | 15 || 11 || California Golden Seals || 7–2 || 10–4–1 |- | 16 || 12 || Los Angeles Kings || 5–1 || 11–4–1 |- | 17 || 15 || Philadelphia Flyers || 7–3 || 12–4–1 |- | 18 || 18 || @ St. Louis Blues || 3–1 || 13–4–1 |- | 19 || 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || 13–5–1 |- | 20 || 21 || @ Atlanta Flames || 3–1 || 14–5–1 |- | 21 || 23 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 5–3 || 14–6–1 |- | 22 || 26 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 7–4 || 15–6–1 |- | 23 || 28 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 2–1 || 15–7–1 |- | 24 || 29 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 2–2 || 15–7–2 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; December: 8–5–1 (home: 5–3–0; road: 3–2–1) Game December Opponent Score Record |- | 25 || 1 || @ California Golden Seals || 3–3 || 15–7–3 |- | 26 || 3 || Atlanta Flames || 3–2 || 16–7–3 |- | 27 || 6 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–2 || 16–8–3 |- | 28 || 9 || @ New York Islanders || 4–1 || 17–8–3 |- | 29 || 10 || New York Islanders || 4–1 || 18–8–3 |- | 30 || 13 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–3 || 19–8–3 |- | 31 || 14 || @ Boston Bruins || 4–2 || 19–9–3 |- | 32 || 16 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 5–1 || 19–10–3 |- | 33 || 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 9–1 || 20–10–3 |- | 34 || 20 || @ St. Louis Blues || 5–4 || 21–10–3 |- | 35 || 21 || Atlanta Flames || 5–2 || 21–11–3 |- | 36 || 24 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–0 || 22–11–3 |- | 37 || 27 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–1 || 22–12–3 |- | 38 || 31 || St. Louis Blues || 6–1 || 23–12–3 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; January: 11–1–1 (home: 5–1–0; road: 6–0–1) Game January Opponent Score Record |- | 39 || 3 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–0 || 24–12–3 |- | 40 || 6 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–1 || 24–13–3 |- | 41 || 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–0 || 25–13–3 |- | 42 || 11 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 4–2 || 26–13–3 |- | 43 || 13 || @ St. Louis Blues || 5–3 || 27–13–3 |- | 44 || 14 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 5–2 || 28–13–3 |- | 45 || 17 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 4–4 || 28–13–4 |- | 46 || 19 || @ California Golden Seals || 6–0 || 29–13–4 |- | 47 || 20 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 4–3 || 30–13–4 |- | 48 || 24 || Boston Bruins || 4–2 || 31–13–4 |- | 49 || 27 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 6–3 || 32–13–4 |- | 50 || 28 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–2 || 33–13–4 |- | 51 || 31 || California Golden Seals || 3–1 || 34–13–4 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; February: 7–3–2 (home: 4–0–2; road: 3–3–0) Game February Opponent Score Record |- | 52 || 3 || @ Boston Bruins || 7–3 || 35–13–4 |- | 53 || 4 || Atlanta Flames || 6–0 || 36–13–4 |- | 54 || 7 || New York Islanders || 6–0 || 37–13–4 |- | 55 || 10 || @ New York Islanders || 6–0 || 38–13–4 |- | 56 || 11 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–2 || 38–13–5 |- | 57 || 14 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 6–3 || 38–14–5 |- | 58 || 15 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 4–1 || 38–15–5 |- | 59 || 18 || New York Islanders || 3–2 || 39–15–5 |- | 60 || 21 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 4–3 || 40–15–5 |- | 61 || 23 || @ California Golden Seals || 5–3 || 40–16–5 |- | 62 || 25 || Minnesota North Stars || 6–5 || 41–16–5 |- | 63 || 28 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–3 || 41–16–6 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; March: 6–7–1 (home: 2–3–1; road: 4–4–0) Game March Opponent Score Record |- | 64 || 3 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 6–3 || 42–16–6 |- | 65 || 4 || Vancouver Canucks || 4–3 || 42–17–6 |- | 66 || 7 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–2 || 42–17–7 |- | 67 || 10 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–4 || 43–17–7 |- | 68 || 11 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–2 || 44–17–7 |- | 69 || 14 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 4–2 || 44–18–7 |- | 70 || 17 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 7–5 || 44–19–7 |- | 71 || 18 || St. Louis Blues || 3–1 || 45–19–7 |- | 72 || 20 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 6–1 || 46–19–7 |- | 73 || 22 || @ Atlanta Flames || 4–1 || 47–19–7 |- | 74 || 24 || @ Boston Bruins || 3–0 || 47–20–7 |- | 75 || 25 || Minnesota North Stars || 2–1 || 47–21–7 |- | 76 || 28 || Boston Bruins || 6–3 || 47–22–7 |- | 77 || 31 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 5–1 || 47–23–7 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; April: 0–0–1 (home: 0–0–1; road: 0-0-0) Game April Opponent Score Record |- | 78 || 1 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–3 || 47–23–8 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs 1973 Stanley Cup playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid; 1973 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; Quarterfinals vs. (E2) Boston Bruins – Rangers win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series |- | 1 || April 4 || New York Rangers || 6–2 || Boston Bruins || || New York Rangers lead series 1–0 |- | 2 || April 5 || New York Rangers || 4–2 || Boston Bruins || || New York Rangers lead series 2–0 |- | 3 || April 7 || Boston Bruins || 4–2 || New York Rangers || || New York Rangers lead series 2–1 |- | 4 || April 8 || Boston Bruins || 0–4 || New York Rangers || || New York Rangers lead series 3–1 |- | 5 || April 10 || New York Rangers || 6–3 || Boston Bruins || || New York Rangers win series 4–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid; Semifinals vs. (W1) Chicago Black Hawks – Black Hawks win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series |- | 1 || April 12 || New York Rangers || 4–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || || New York Rangers lead series 1–0 |- | 2 || April 15 || New York Rangers || 4–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || || Series tied 1–1 |- | 3 || April 17 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–1 || New York Rangers || || Chicago leads series 2–1 |- | 4 || April 19 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–1 || New York Rangers || || Chicago leads series 3–1 |- | 5 || April 24 || New York Rangers || 1–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || || Chicago wins series 4–1 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Skaters Regular season Player GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points PIM Penalty minutes Jean Ratelle 78 41 53 94 12 Rod Gilbert 76 25 59 84 25 Walt Tkaczuk 76 27 39 66 59 Bill Fairbairn 78 30 33 63 23 Vic Hadfield 63 28 34 62 60 Pete Stemkowski 78 22 37 59 71 Steve Vickers Steve Vickers (ice hockey) 61 30 23 53 37 Brad Park 52 10 43 53 51 Bobby Rousseau 78 8 37 45 14 Rod Seiling 72 9 33 42 36 Dale Rolfe 72 7 25 32 74 Bruce MacGregor 52 14 12 26 12 Glen Sather 77 11 15 26 64 Ted Irvine 53 8 12 20 54 Jim Neilson 52 4 16 20 35 Gene Carr Gene Carr (ice hockey) 50 9 10 19 50 Ab DeMarco Ab DeMarco Jr.‡ 51 4 13 17 15 Ron Harris Ron Harris (ice hockey)† 46 3 10 13 17 Mike Murphy Mike Murphy (ice hockey b. 1950)† 15 4 4 8 5 Randy Legge 12 0 2 2 2 Bill Heindl 4 1 0 1 0 Jerry Butler Jerry Butler (ice hockey) 8 1 0 1 4 Larry Sacharuk 8 1 0 1 0 Sheldon Kannegiesser† 3 0 1 1 4 Tom Williams Tom Williams (ice hockey b. 1951) 10 0 1 1 0 Ron Stewart‡ 11 0 1 1 0 Curt Bennett‡ 16 0 1 1 11 Bert Marshall† 8 0 0 0 14 Playoffs Player GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points PIM Penalty minutes Steve Vickers Steve Vickers (ice hockey) 10 5 4 9 4 Bill Fairbairn 10 1 8 9 2 Walt Tkaczuk 10 7 2 9 8 Jean Ratelle 10 2 7 9 0 Brad Park 10 2 5 7 8 Pete Stemkowski 10 4 2 6 6 Rod Gilbert 10 5 1 6 2 Dale Rolfe 8 0 5 5 6 Bobby Rousseau 10 2 3 5 4 Jim Neilson 10 0 4 4 2 Ted Irvine 10 1 3 4 20 Bruce MacGregor 10 2 2 4 2 Vic Hadfield 9 2 2 4 11 Ron Harris Ron Harris (ice hockey) 10 0 3 3 2 Bert Marshall 6 0 1 1 8 Gene Carr Gene Carr (ice hockey) 1 0 1 1 0 Sheldon Kannegiesser 1 0 0 0 2 Mike Murphy Mike Murphy (ice hockey b. 1950) 10 0 0 0 0 Glen Sather 9 0 0 0 7 Goaltenders Regular season Player GP Games played TOI Time on ice W Win L Loss T Tie GA Goals against GAA Goals against average SO Shutouts Ed Giacomin 43 2580 26 11 6 125 2.91 4 Gilles Villemure 34 2040 20 12 2 78 2.29 3 Peter McDuffe 1 60 1 0 0 1 1.00 0 Playoffs Player GP Games played TOI Time on ice W Win L Loss GA Goals against GAA Goals against average SO Shutouts Ed Giacomin 10 539 5 4 23 2.56 1 Gilles Villemure 2 61 0 1 2 1.97 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only. ‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only. hockeydb.com 2010-08-08 1972–73 New York Rangers https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000481973.html Transactions The Rangers defense lost their gifted-defenseman, Brad Park due to a knee injury that occurred on 11/15/72 against the Flyers, which forced him out of the lineup for the next 18 games. Looking to plug that hole, they searched around the league for another talented-defenseman but prospects were sparse. So, on 11/28/72, they settled on veteran defenseman Ron Harris of the Flames who had minimal offensive skills but played a physical checking game. A 26-year-old forward, by the name of Curt Bennett was still scoreless with the Rangers while mostly sitting on the bench, so he was sent to the Flames in exchange. Both guys ultimately paid dividends for their new teams. Harris was instrumental in winning key games for the Rangers in different ways such as: against the rival-Bruins in game #2 of the 1973 playoffs, he threw a legal, rolling, hip-check at Phil Esposito which injured him, thus, sinking the hopes of the Bruins since they lost that playoff series; plus then, in a key 1974 playoff game against the Canadians, Harris scored the game-winning goal in overtime which eventually sparked the Rangers in winning that playoff series. Likewise, the Flames cashed in on Curt Bennett since he finally and quickly matured with them by becoming an excellent goal-scorer and their toughest fighter. Draft picks New York's picks at the 1972 NHL amateur draft in Montreal, Canada. Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League) 1 10 Al Blanchard LW Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHA) 1 15 Bob MacMillan C Canada St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) 2 21 Larry Sacharuk D Canada Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) 2 31 Rene Villemure LW Canada Shawinigan Bruins (QMJHL) 3 47 Gerry Teeple C Canada Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) 4 63 Doug Horbul LW Canada Calgary Centennials (WCHL) 5 79 Marty Gateman D Canada Hamilton Red Wings (OHA) 6 95 Ken Ireland C Canada New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) 7 111 Jeff Hunt D Canada Winnipeg Jets (WCHL) 8 127 Yvon Blais D Canada Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) 9 137 Pierre Archambault D Canada Saint-Jerome Alouettes (QMJHL) See also 1972–73 NHL season References External links Rangers on Hockey Database 1972-73 Category:1972–73 NHL season by team Category:1972 in sports in New York City Category:1973 in sports in New York City 1972-73 New York Rangers season