1972–73 Buffalo Sabres season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 April 2013 NHL 1972–73 1972 Buffalo Sabres East 4th 37–27–14 30–6–3 7–21–11 257 219 Punch Imlach Joe Crozier Gerry Meehan Tim HortonGilbert PerreaultTracy Pratt Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 15,632 Rene Robert (40) Gilbert Perreault (60) Gilbert Perreault (88) Jim Schoenfeld (178) Roger Crozier (23) Dave Dryden (2.65) The 1972–73 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' third season of operation in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team made it to the playoffs for the first time, but lost in the first round to Montreal, four games to two. 2 Offseason The Sabres added future Hall of Fame defenseman Tim Horton in the intra-league draft. In the Amateur Draft, the Sabres picked defenseman Jim Schoenfeld as their first-round pick, fifth over-all. Regular season Final standings BUF Record vs. opponents BUF Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#003087 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 5px solid; 1972–73 regular season1972-73 Buffalo Sabres Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BUF/1973_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 25, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||W||October 8, 1972||5–3 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1972–73) ||1–0–0 |- |2||W||October 11, 1972||7–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||2–0–0 |- |3||T||October 14, 1972||1–1 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) ||2–0–1 |- |4||W||October 15, 1972||3–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||3–0–1 |- |5||W||October 19, 1972||6–0 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||4–0–1 |- |6||T||October 21, 1972||1–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||4–0–2 |- |7||W||October 22, 1972||7–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1972–73) ||5–0–2 |- |8||T||October 25, 1972||2–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||5–0–3 |- |9||T||October 28, 1972||3–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) ||5–0–4 |- |10||W||October 29, 1972||2–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||6–0–4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |11||L||November 1, 1972||1–7 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||6–1–4 |- |12||L||November 4, 1972||3–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||6–2–4 |- |13||T||November 5, 1972||1–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||6–2–5 |- |14||T||November 9, 1972||0–0 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||6–2–6 |- |15||L||November 11, 1972||1–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||6–3–6 |- |16||W||November 12, 1972||1–0 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||7–3–6 |- |17||T||November 15, 1972||3–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||7–3–7 |- |18||L||November 17, 1972||1–5 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||7–4–7 |- |19||L||November 19, 1972||5–9 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||7–5–7 |- |20||L||November 22, 1972||2–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||7–6–7 |- |21||W||November 23, 1972||5–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1972–73) ||8–6–7 |- |22||W||November 26, 1972||9–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1972–73) ||9–6–7 |- |23||W||November 28, 1972||7–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1972–73) ||10–6–7 |- |24||L||November 30, 1972||4–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||10–7–7 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |25||L||December 2, 1972||6–8 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||10–8–7 |- |26||W||December 3, 1972||7–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||11–8–7 |- |27||W||December 6, 1972||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1972–73) ||12–8–7 |- |28||W||December 7, 1972||6–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||13–8–7 |- |29||W||December 10, 1972||4–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) ||14–8–7 |- |30||W||December 13, 1972||7–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||15–8–7 |- |31||W||December 16, 1972||4–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||16–8–7 |- |32||W||December 17, 1972||4–0 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||17–8–7 |- |33||W||December 20, 1972||6–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||18–8–7 |- |34||L||December 22, 1972||2–4 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||18–9–7 |- |35||L||December 23, 1972||0–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||18–10–7 |- |36||W||December 27, 1972||4–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1972–73) ||19–10–7 |- |37||W||December 28, 1972||8–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||20–10–7 |- |38||L||December 31, 1972||2–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||20–11–7 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |39||W||January 3, 1973||4–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1972–73) ||21–11–7 |- |40||L||January 4, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||21–12–7 |- |41||W||January 6, 1973||4–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1972–73) ||22–12–7 |- |42||W||January 7, 1973||2–0 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||23–12–7 |- |43||L||January 11, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1972–73) ||23–13–7 |- |44||L||January 14, 1973||0–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||23–14–7 |- |45||W||January 18, 1973||5–1 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||24–14–7 |- |46||L||January 20, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||24–15–7 |- |47||L||January 21, 1973||3–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||24–16–7 |- |48||W||January 25, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||25–16–7 |- |49||L||January 28, 1973||5–8 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1972–73) ||25–17–7 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |50||W||February 1, 1973||5–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||26–17–7 |- |51||T||February 3, 1973||1–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1972–73) ||26–17–8 |- |52||W||February 4, 1973||5–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1972–73) ||27–17–8 |- |53||L||February 7, 1973||1–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||27–18–8 |- |54||W||February 8, 1973||4–0 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||28–18–8 |- |55||L||February 10, 1973||1–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) ||28–19–8 |- |56||L||February 11, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||28–20–8 |- |57||W||February 14, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||29–20–8 |- |58||W||February 15, 1973||4–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1972–73) ||30–20–8 |- |59||T||February 17, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||30–20–9 |- |60||W||February 18, 1973||4–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||31–20–9 |- |61||W||February 22, 1973||3–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||32–20–9 |- |62||L||February 24, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||32–21–9 |- |63||W||February 25, 1973||2–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||33–21–9 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |64||T||March 1, 1973||4–4 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) ||33–21–10 |- |65||L||March 4, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) ||33–22–10 |- |66||T||March 6, 1973||2–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||33–22–11 |- |67||T||March 7, 1973||2–2 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||33–22–12 |- |68||L||March 9, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||33–23–12 |- |69||L||March 13, 1973||0–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||33–24–12 |- |70||L||March 15, 1973||1–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||33–25–12 |- |71||T||March 17, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) ||33–25–13 |- |72||W||March 18, 1973||5–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||34–25–13 |- |73||L||March 21, 1973||2–6 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||34–26–13 |- |74||T||March 24, 1973||4–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||34–26–14 |- |75||L||March 25, 1973||1–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||34–27–14 |- |76||W||March 27, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1972–73) ||35–27–14 |- |77||W||March 28, 1973||6–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||36–27–14 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |78||W||April 1, 1973||3–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||37–27–14 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs The 1972–73 season saw the Sabres qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time. The team would ultimately lose to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Canadiens in 6 games. After falling behind three games to none the Sabres won two straight to earn a final home game that was memorable for the "Thank you Sabres" chant from the end of the game.1972–73 http://forty.sabres.nhl.com/history.asp?year=1972 The 40th Anniversary Site of the Buffalo Sabres April 15, 2011 https://archive.today/20120716200716/http://forty.sabres.nhl.com/history.asp?year=1972 July 16, 2012 dead mdy-all background:#fff; border-top:#003087 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 5px solid; 1973 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; Quarterfinals vs. (E1) Montreal Canadiens – Canadiens win 4–2 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series |- |1|| April 4 || Buffalo Sabres || 1–2 || Montreal Canadiens || || 0–1 |- |2|| April 5 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–7 || Montreal Canadiens || || 0–2 |- |3|| April 7 || Montreal Canadiens || 5–2 || Buffalo Sabres || || 0–3 |- |4|| April 8 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–5 || Buffalo Sabres || || 1–3 |- |5 || April 10 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–2 || Montreal Canadiens || 9:18 || 2–3 |- |6 || April 12 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–2 || Buffalo Sabres || || 2–4 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Gilbert Perreault C 78 28 60 88 1011807 Rene Robert René Robert RW 75 40 43 83 8316906 Rick Martin LW 75 37 36 73 7941104 Jim Lorentz C/RW 78 27 35 62 3061105 Gerry Meehan C 77 31 29 60 214316 Don Luce C 78 18 25 43 327032 Hugh Harris Hugh Harris (ice hockey) C 60 12 26 38 179000 Larry Hillman D 78 5 24 29 56−3200 Craig Ramsay LW 76 11 17 28 1513011 Larry Mickey RW 77 15 9 24 47−6102 Mike Robitaille D 65 4 17 21 409000 Jim Schoenfeld D 66 4 15 19 17812100 Steve Atkinson RW 61 9 9 18 36−5201 Tim Horton D 69 1 16 17 5612000 Tracy Pratt D 74 1 15 16 1169000 Norm Gratton LW 21 6 5 11 120201 Larry Carriere D 40 2 8 10 52−1100 Paul Terbenche D 42 0 7 7 87000 Randy Wyrozub C 45 3 3 6 4−1002 Doug Rombough C 5 2 0 2 02000 Butch Deadmarsh LW 34 1 1 2 26−3100 Rick Dudley LW 6 0 1 1 7−2000 John Gould John Gould (ice hockey) RW 8 0 1 1 00000 Ron Busniuk RW 1 0 0 0 90000 Roger Crozier G 49 0 0 0 40000 Dave Dryden G 37 0 0 0 00000 Rocky Farr G 1 0 0 0 00000 Ray McKay D 1 0 0 0 00000 Bob Richer C 3 0 0 0 00000Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO Roger Crozier 2633 49 23 13 7 121 2.76 3 Dave Dryden 2018 37 14 13 7 89 2.65 3 Rocky Farr 29 1 0 1 0 3 6.21 0 Team: 4680 78 37 27 14 213 2.73 6 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Gilbert Perreault C 6 3 7 10 2101 Rene Robert René Robert RW 6 5 3 8 2101 Rick Martin LW 6 3 2 5 12200 Jim Schoenfeld D 6 2 1 3 4000 Jim Lorentz C/RW 6 0 3 3 2000 Don Luce C 6 1 1 2 2000 Craig Ramsay LW 6 1 1 2 0000 Larry Mickey RW 6 1 0 1 5000 Larry Carriere D 6 0 1 1 8000 Roger Crozier G 4 0 1 1 2000 Norm Gratton LW 6 0 1 1 2000 Tim Horton D 6 0 1 1 4000 Gerry Meehan C 6 0 1 1 0000 Steve Atkinson RW 1 0 0 0 0000 Dave Dryden G 2 0 0 0 0000 Hugh Harris Hugh Harris (ice hockey) C 3 0 0 0 0000 Larry Hillman D 6 0 0 0 8000 Tracy Pratt D 6 0 0 0 6000 Mike Robitaille D 6 0 0 0 0000 Paul Terbenche D 6 0 0 0 0000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO Roger Crozier 249 4 2 2 11 2.65 0 Dave Dryden 120 2 0 2 9 4.50 0 Team: 369 6 2 4 20 3.25 0 hockey-reference.com July 13, 2009 1972-73 Buffalo Sabres Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BUF/1973.html 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 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Gilbert Perreault Transactions Trades DateDetails June 6, 1972 To New York Islanders7th-round pick in 1972 (Don McLaughlin)8th-round pick in 1972 (Rene Levasseur)9th-round pick in 1972 (Bill Ennos)10th-round pick in 1972 (Rene Lambert) To Buffalo Sabres Islanders promised to not draft certain players in the 1972 NHL expansion draft June 8, 1972 To Montreal CanadiensCash To Buffalo SabresRon Busniuk February 14, 1973 To Atlanta FlamesButch Deadmarsh To Buffalo SabresNorm Gratton Lost via retirement Player Dick Duff Claimed via Waivers Player Former team Date claimed off waivers Lost via Waivers Player New team Date claimed off waivers Kevin O'Shea St. Louis Blues March 3, 1972 Lost in the expansion draft 1972 NHL expansion draft June 6, 1972To New York IslandersTom Miller June 6, 1972To New York IslandersKen Murray June 6, 1972To Atlanta FlamesRod Zaine 1972 NHL Intraleague Draft June 5, 1972From Pittsburgh PenguinsTim Horton Draft picks NHL draft 1972 NHL amateur draft Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team 1 5 Jim Schoenfeld Canada Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA) 2 25 Larry Carriere Canada Loyola University (CIAU) 3 37 Jim McMasters Canada Calgary Centennials (WCHL) 4 53 Rychard Campeau Canada Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL) 5 69 Gilles Gratton Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA) 6 85 Peter McNab Canada U. of Denver (WCHA) Farm teams The 1972–73 AHL season was a successful one for the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Swords. The Swords would finish first overall in the regular season with a 54–17–5 record. They would go on to win the Calder Cup in the playoffs losing only 3 games in the 3 round best-of-7 event. It would be the only championship won by the team in its short existence. See also 1972–73 NHL season References Category:Buffalo Sabres seasons Buff Buffalo Buffalo Category:1970s in Buffalo, New York