1972β73 Buffalo Sabres | |
---|---|
Division | 4th East |
1972β73 record | 37β27β14 |
Home record | 30β6β3 |
Road record | 7β21β11 |
Goals for | 257 |
Goals against | 219 |
Team information | |
General manager | Punch Imlach |
Coach | Joe Crozier |
Captain | Gerry Meehan |
Arena | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium |
Average attendance | 15,632 |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Rene Robert (40) |
Assists | Gilbert Perreault (60) |
Points | Gilbert Perreault (88) |
Penalty minutes | Jim Schoenfeld (178) |
Wins | Roger Crozier (23) |
Goals against average | Dave Dryden (2.65) |
The 1972β73 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' third season of operation in the National Hockey League. The team made it to the playoffs for the first time, but lost in the first round to Montreal, four games to two.
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.
GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Montreal Canadiens | 78 | 52 | 10 | 16 | 329 | 184 | +145 | 120 |
2 | Boston Bruins | 78 | 51 | 22 | 5 | 330 | 235 | +95 | 107 |
3 | New York Rangers | 78 | 47 | 23 | 8 | 297 | 208 | +89 | 102 |
4 | Buffalo Sabres | 78 | 37 | 27 | 14 | 257 | 219 | +38 | 88 |
5 | Detroit Red Wings | 78 | 37 | 29 | 12 | 265 | 243 | +22 | 86 |
6 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 78 | 27 | 41 | 10 | 247 | 279 | β32 | 64 |
7 | Vancouver Canucks | 78 | 22 | 47 | 9 | 233 | 339 | β106 | 53 |
8 | New York Islanders | 78 | 12 | 60 | 6 | 170 | 347 | β177 | 30 |
Vs. East Division
|
Vs. West Division
|
Regular season results | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
1 | W | October 8, 1972 | 5β3 | Atlanta Flames ( 1972β73) | 1β0β0 |
2 | W | October 11, 1972 | 7β3 | Los Angeles Kings ( 1972β73) | 2β0β0 |
3 | T | October 14, 1972 | 1β1 | @ Atlanta Flames ( 1972β73) | 2β0β1 |
4 | W | October 15, 1972 | 3β2 | Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1972β73) | 3β0β1 |
5 | W | October 19, 1972 | 6β0 | Vancouver Canucks ( 1972β73) | 4β0β1 |
6 | T | October 21, 1972 | 1β1 | @ St. Louis Blues ( 1972β73) | 4β0β2 |
7 | W | October 22, 1972 | 7β2 | Atlanta Flames ( 1972β73) | 5β0β2 |
8 | T | October 25, 1972 | 2β2 | Boston Bruins ( 1972β73) | 5β0β3 |
9 | T | October 28, 1972 | 3β3 | @ Montreal Canadiens ( 1972β73) | 5β0β4 |
10 | W | October 29, 1972 | 2β1 | Minnesota North Stars ( 1972β73) | 6β0β4 |
11 | L | November 1, 1972 | 1β7 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1972β73) | 6β1β4 |
12 | L | November 4, 1972 | 3β5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers ( 1972β73) | 6β2β4 |
13 | T | November 5, 1972 | 1β1 | St. Louis Blues ( 1972β73) | 6β2β5 |
14 | T | November 9, 1972 | 0β0 | California Golden Seals ( 1972β73) | 6β2β6 |
15 | L | November 11, 1972 | 1β3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers ( 1972β73) | 6β3β6 |
16 | W | November 12, 1972 | 1β0 | Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1972β73) | 7β3β6 |
17 | T | November 15, 1972 | 3β3 | @ Los Angeles Kings ( 1972β73) | 7β3β7 |
18 | L | November 17, 1972 | 1β5 | @ California Golden Seals ( 1972β73) | 7β4β7 |
19 | L | November 19, 1972 | 5β9 | @ Vancouver Canucks ( 1972β73) | 7β5β7 |
20 | L | November 22, 1972 | 2β6 | @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1972β73) | 7β6β7 |
21 | W | November 23, 1972 | 5β3 | New York Rangers ( 1972β73) | 8β6β7 |
22 | W | November 26, 1972 | 9β2 | New York Islanders ( 1972β73) | 9β6β7 |
23 | W | November 28, 1972 | 7β2 | @ New York Islanders ( 1972β73) | 10β6β7 |
24 | L | November 30, 1972 | 4β5 | @ Boston Bruins ( 1972β73) | 10β7β7 |
25 | L | December 2, 1972 | 6β8 | @ Minnesota North Stars ( 1972β73) | 10β8β7 |
26 | W | December 3, 1972 | 7β4 | Minnesota North Stars ( 1972β73) | 11β8β7 |
27 | W | December 6, 1972 | 3β2 | @ New York Rangers ( 1972β73) | 12β8β7 |
28 | W | December 7, 1972 | 6β1 | Detroit Red Wings ( 1972β73) | 13β8β7 |
29 | W | December 10, 1972 | 4β2 | Montreal Canadiens ( 1972β73) | 14β8β7 |
30 | W | December 13, 1972 | 7β3 | Boston Bruins ( 1972β73) | 15β8β7 |
31 | W | December 16, 1972 | 4β3 | @ St. Louis Blues ( 1972β73) | 16β8β7 |
32 | W | December 17, 1972 | 4β0 | Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1972β73) | 17β8β7 |
33 | W | December 20, 1972 | 6β3 | Vancouver Canucks ( 1972β73) | 18β8β7 |
34 | L | December 22, 1972 | 2β4 | @ California Golden Seals ( 1972β73) | 18β9β7 |
35 | L | December 23, 1972 | 0β2 | @ Los Angeles Kings ( 1972β73) | 18β10β7 |
36 | W | December 27, 1972 | 4β1 | @ New York Rangers ( 1972β73) | 19β10β7 |
37 | W | December 28, 1972 | 8β2 | Chicago Black Hawks ( 1972β73) | 20β10β7 |
38 | L | December 31, 1972 | 2β4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks ( 1972β73) | 20β11β7 |
39 | W | January 3, 1973 | 4β1 | New York Islanders ( 1972β73) | 21β11β7 |
40 | L | January 4, 1973 | 2β4 | @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1972β73) | 21β12β7 |
41 | W | January 6, 1973 | 4β1 | @ New York Rangers ( 1972β73) | 22β12β7 |
42 | W | January 7, 1973 | 2β0 | Philadelphia Flyers ( 1972β73) | 23β12β7 |
43 | L | January 11, 1973 | 2β4 | New York Rangers ( 1972β73) | 23β13β7 |
44 | L | January 14, 1973 | 0β6 | @ Boston Bruins ( 1972β73) | 23β14β7 |
45 | W | January 18, 1973 | 5β1 | Chicago Black Hawks ( 1972β73) | 24β14β7 |
46 | L | January 20, 1973 | 2β4 | @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1972β73) | 24β15β7 |
47 | L | January 21, 1973 | 3β4 | Philadelphia Flyers ( 1972β73) | 24β16β7 |
48 | W | January 25, 1973 | 5β2 | Minnesota North Stars ( 1972β73) | 25β16β7 |
49 | L | January 28, 1973 | 5β8 | Atlanta Flames ( 1972β73) | 25β17β7 |
50 | W | February 1, 1973 | 5β3 | Los Angeles Kings ( 1972β73) | 26β17β7 |
51 | T | February 3, 1973 | 1β1 | @ New York Islanders ( 1972β73) | 26β17β8 |
52 | W | February 4, 1973 | 5β1 | New York Islanders ( 1972β73) | 27β17β8 |
53 | L | February 7, 1973 | 1β2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks ( 1972β73) | 27β18β8 |
54 | W | February 8, 1973 | 4β0 | California Golden Seals ( 1972β73) | 28β18β8 |
55 | L | February 10, 1973 | 1β2 | @ Montreal Canadiens ( 1972β73) | 28β19β8 |
56 | L | February 11, 1973 | 2β5 | Detroit Red Wings ( 1972β73) | 28β20β8 |
57 | W | February 14, 1973 | 3β2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1972β73) | 29β20β8 |
58 | W | February 15, 1973 | 4β1 | New York Rangers ( 1972β73) | 30β20β8 |
59 | T | February 17, 1973 | 3β3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1972β73) | 30β20β9 |
60 | W | February 18, 1973 | 4β1 | Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1972β73) | 31β20β9 |
61 | W | February 22, 1973 | 3β1 | Vancouver Canucks ( 1972β73) | 32β20β9 |
62 | L | February 24, 1973 | 2β4 | @ Minnesota North Stars ( 1972β73) | 32β21β9 |
63 | W | February 25, 1973 | 2β1 | Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1972β73) | 33β21β9 |
64 | T | March 1, 1973 | 4β4 | @ Atlanta Flames ( 1972β73) | 33β21β10 |
65 | L | March 4, 1973 | 2β4 | Montreal Canadiens ( 1972β73) | 33β22β10 |
66 | T | March 6, 1973 | 2β2 | @ Los Angeles Kings ( 1972β73) | 33β22β11 |
67 | T | March 7, 1973 | 2β2 | @ California Golden Seals ( 1972β73) | 33β22β12 |
68 | L | March 9, 1973 | 2β5 | @ Vancouver Canucks ( 1972β73) | 33β23β12 |
69 | L | March 13, 1973 | 0β2 | @ St. Louis Blues ( 1972β73) | 33β24β12 |
70 | L | March 15, 1973 | 1β4 | Boston Bruins ( 1972β73) | 33β25β12 |
71 | T | March 17, 1973 | 3β3 | @ Montreal Canadiens ( 1972β73) | 33β25β13 |
72 | W | March 18, 1973 | 5β1 | Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1972β73) | 34β25β13 |
73 | L | March 21, 1973 | 2β6 | @ Chicago Black Hawks ( 1972β73) | 34β26β13 |
74 | T | March 24, 1973 | 4β4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1972β73) | 34β26β14 |
75 | L | March 25, 1973 | 1β6 | @ Boston Bruins ( 1972β73) | 34β27β14 |
76 | W | March 27, 1973 | 3β2 | @ New York Islanders ( 1972β73) | 35β27β14 |
77 | W | March 28, 1973 | 6β3 | Philadelphia Flyers ( 1972β73) | 36β27β14 |
78 | W | April 1, 1973 | 3β1 | St. Louis Blues ( 1972β73) | 37β27β14 |
The 1972β73 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. [3]
1973 Stanley Cup playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Montreal goals | Buffalo goals | Decision | Attendance | Series | Recap | ||||||||||||
1 | April 4 | Buffalo Sabres | 1β2 | Montreal Canadiens | 0β1 | ||||||||||||||||||
2 | April 5 | Buffalo Sabres | 3β7 | Montreal Canadiens | 0β2 | ||||||||||||||||||
3 | April 7 | Montreal Canadiens | 5β2 | Buffalo Sabres | 0β3 | ||||||||||||||||||
4 | April 8 | Montreal Canadiens | 1β5 | Buffalo Sabres | 1β3 | ||||||||||||||||||
5 | April 10 | Buffalo Sabres | 3β2 | Montreal Canadiens | 9:18 | 2β3 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | April 12 | Montreal Canadiens | 4β2 | Buffalo Sabres | 2β4 |
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Scoring | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Goaltending | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Scoring | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Goaltending | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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;
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Gilbert Perreault
Date | Details
| |
---|---|---|
June 6, 1972 | To
New York Islanders 7th-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 Canadiens Cash |
To Buffalo Sabres Ron Busniuk |
February 14, 1973 | To
Atlanta Flames Butch Deadmarsh |
To Buffalo Sabres Norm Gratton |
Player |
Dick Duff |
Claimed via Waivers
|
Lost via Waivers
|
June 6, 1972 | To
New York Islanders Tom Miller |
June 6, 1972 | To
New York Islanders Ken Murray |
June 6, 1972 | To
Atlanta Flames Rod Zaine |
June 5, 1972 | From
Pittsburgh Penguins Tim Horton |
Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 | Jim Schoenfeld | ![]() |
Niagara Falls Flyers ( OHA) |
2 | 25 | Larry Carriere | ![]() |
Loyola University ( CIAU) |
3 | 37 | Jim McMasters | ![]() |
Calgary Centennials ( WCHL) |
4 | 53 | Rychard Campeau | ![]() |
Sorel Black Hawks ( QMJHL) |
5 | 69 | Gilles Gratton | ![]() |
Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
6 | 85 | Peter McNab | ![]() |
U. of Denver ( WCHA) |
The 1972β73 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 54β17β5 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.
1972β73 Buffalo Sabres | |
---|---|
Division | 4th East |
1972β73 record | 37β27β14 |
Home record | 30β6β3 |
Road record | 7β21β11 |
Goals for | 257 |
Goals against | 219 |
Team information | |
General manager | Punch Imlach |
Coach | Joe Crozier |
Captain | Gerry Meehan |
Arena | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium |
Average attendance | 15,632 |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Rene Robert (40) |
Assists | Gilbert Perreault (60) |
Points | Gilbert Perreault (88) |
Penalty minutes | Jim Schoenfeld (178) |
Wins | Roger Crozier (23) |
Goals against average | Dave Dryden (2.65) |
The 1972β73 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' third season of operation in the National Hockey League. The team made it to the playoffs for the first time, but lost in the first round to Montreal, four games to two.
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.
GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Montreal Canadiens | 78 | 52 | 10 | 16 | 329 | 184 | +145 | 120 |
2 | Boston Bruins | 78 | 51 | 22 | 5 | 330 | 235 | +95 | 107 |
3 | New York Rangers | 78 | 47 | 23 | 8 | 297 | 208 | +89 | 102 |
4 | Buffalo Sabres | 78 | 37 | 27 | 14 | 257 | 219 | +38 | 88 |
5 | Detroit Red Wings | 78 | 37 | 29 | 12 | 265 | 243 | +22 | 86 |
6 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 78 | 27 | 41 | 10 | 247 | 279 | β32 | 64 |
7 | Vancouver Canucks | 78 | 22 | 47 | 9 | 233 | 339 | β106 | 53 |
8 | New York Islanders | 78 | 12 | 60 | 6 | 170 | 347 | β177 | 30 |
Vs. East Division
|
Vs. West Division
|
Regular season results | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
1 | W | October 8, 1972 | 5β3 | Atlanta Flames ( 1972β73) | 1β0β0 |
2 | W | October 11, 1972 | 7β3 | Los Angeles Kings ( 1972β73) | 2β0β0 |
3 | T | October 14, 1972 | 1β1 | @ Atlanta Flames ( 1972β73) | 2β0β1 |
4 | W | October 15, 1972 | 3β2 | Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1972β73) | 3β0β1 |
5 | W | October 19, 1972 | 6β0 | Vancouver Canucks ( 1972β73) | 4β0β1 |
6 | T | October 21, 1972 | 1β1 | @ St. Louis Blues ( 1972β73) | 4β0β2 |
7 | W | October 22, 1972 | 7β2 | Atlanta Flames ( 1972β73) | 5β0β2 |
8 | T | October 25, 1972 | 2β2 | Boston Bruins ( 1972β73) | 5β0β3 |
9 | T | October 28, 1972 | 3β3 | @ Montreal Canadiens ( 1972β73) | 5β0β4 |
10 | W | October 29, 1972 | 2β1 | Minnesota North Stars ( 1972β73) | 6β0β4 |
11 | L | November 1, 1972 | 1β7 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1972β73) | 6β1β4 |
12 | L | November 4, 1972 | 3β5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers ( 1972β73) | 6β2β4 |
13 | T | November 5, 1972 | 1β1 | St. Louis Blues ( 1972β73) | 6β2β5 |
14 | T | November 9, 1972 | 0β0 | California Golden Seals ( 1972β73) | 6β2β6 |
15 | L | November 11, 1972 | 1β3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers ( 1972β73) | 6β3β6 |
16 | W | November 12, 1972 | 1β0 | Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1972β73) | 7β3β6 |
17 | T | November 15, 1972 | 3β3 | @ Los Angeles Kings ( 1972β73) | 7β3β7 |
18 | L | November 17, 1972 | 1β5 | @ California Golden Seals ( 1972β73) | 7β4β7 |
19 | L | November 19, 1972 | 5β9 | @ Vancouver Canucks ( 1972β73) | 7β5β7 |
20 | L | November 22, 1972 | 2β6 | @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1972β73) | 7β6β7 |
21 | W | November 23, 1972 | 5β3 | New York Rangers ( 1972β73) | 8β6β7 |
22 | W | November 26, 1972 | 9β2 | New York Islanders ( 1972β73) | 9β6β7 |
23 | W | November 28, 1972 | 7β2 | @ New York Islanders ( 1972β73) | 10β6β7 |
24 | L | November 30, 1972 | 4β5 | @ Boston Bruins ( 1972β73) | 10β7β7 |
25 | L | December 2, 1972 | 6β8 | @ Minnesota North Stars ( 1972β73) | 10β8β7 |
26 | W | December 3, 1972 | 7β4 | Minnesota North Stars ( 1972β73) | 11β8β7 |
27 | W | December 6, 1972 | 3β2 | @ New York Rangers ( 1972β73) | 12β8β7 |
28 | W | December 7, 1972 | 6β1 | Detroit Red Wings ( 1972β73) | 13β8β7 |
29 | W | December 10, 1972 | 4β2 | Montreal Canadiens ( 1972β73) | 14β8β7 |
30 | W | December 13, 1972 | 7β3 | Boston Bruins ( 1972β73) | 15β8β7 |
31 | W | December 16, 1972 | 4β3 | @ St. Louis Blues ( 1972β73) | 16β8β7 |
32 | W | December 17, 1972 | 4β0 | Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1972β73) | 17β8β7 |
33 | W | December 20, 1972 | 6β3 | Vancouver Canucks ( 1972β73) | 18β8β7 |
34 | L | December 22, 1972 | 2β4 | @ California Golden Seals ( 1972β73) | 18β9β7 |
35 | L | December 23, 1972 | 0β2 | @ Los Angeles Kings ( 1972β73) | 18β10β7 |
36 | W | December 27, 1972 | 4β1 | @ New York Rangers ( 1972β73) | 19β10β7 |
37 | W | December 28, 1972 | 8β2 | Chicago Black Hawks ( 1972β73) | 20β10β7 |
38 | L | December 31, 1972 | 2β4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks ( 1972β73) | 20β11β7 |
39 | W | January 3, 1973 | 4β1 | New York Islanders ( 1972β73) | 21β11β7 |
40 | L | January 4, 1973 | 2β4 | @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1972β73) | 21β12β7 |
41 | W | January 6, 1973 | 4β1 | @ New York Rangers ( 1972β73) | 22β12β7 |
42 | W | January 7, 1973 | 2β0 | Philadelphia Flyers ( 1972β73) | 23β12β7 |
43 | L | January 11, 1973 | 2β4 | New York Rangers ( 1972β73) | 23β13β7 |
44 | L | January 14, 1973 | 0β6 | @ Boston Bruins ( 1972β73) | 23β14β7 |
45 | W | January 18, 1973 | 5β1 | Chicago Black Hawks ( 1972β73) | 24β14β7 |
46 | L | January 20, 1973 | 2β4 | @ Detroit Red Wings ( 1972β73) | 24β15β7 |
47 | L | January 21, 1973 | 3β4 | Philadelphia Flyers ( 1972β73) | 24β16β7 |
48 | W | January 25, 1973 | 5β2 | Minnesota North Stars ( 1972β73) | 25β16β7 |
49 | L | January 28, 1973 | 5β8 | Atlanta Flames ( 1972β73) | 25β17β7 |
50 | W | February 1, 1973 | 5β3 | Los Angeles Kings ( 1972β73) | 26β17β7 |
51 | T | February 3, 1973 | 1β1 | @ New York Islanders ( 1972β73) | 26β17β8 |
52 | W | February 4, 1973 | 5β1 | New York Islanders ( 1972β73) | 27β17β8 |
53 | L | February 7, 1973 | 1β2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks ( 1972β73) | 27β18β8 |
54 | W | February 8, 1973 | 4β0 | California Golden Seals ( 1972β73) | 28β18β8 |
55 | L | February 10, 1973 | 1β2 | @ Montreal Canadiens ( 1972β73) | 28β19β8 |
56 | L | February 11, 1973 | 2β5 | Detroit Red Wings ( 1972β73) | 28β20β8 |
57 | W | February 14, 1973 | 3β2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1972β73) | 29β20β8 |
58 | W | February 15, 1973 | 4β1 | New York Rangers ( 1972β73) | 30β20β8 |
59 | T | February 17, 1973 | 3β3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1972β73) | 30β20β9 |
60 | W | February 18, 1973 | 4β1 | Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1972β73) | 31β20β9 |
61 | W | February 22, 1973 | 3β1 | Vancouver Canucks ( 1972β73) | 32β20β9 |
62 | L | February 24, 1973 | 2β4 | @ Minnesota North Stars ( 1972β73) | 32β21β9 |
63 | W | February 25, 1973 | 2β1 | Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1972β73) | 33β21β9 |
64 | T | March 1, 1973 | 4β4 | @ Atlanta Flames ( 1972β73) | 33β21β10 |
65 | L | March 4, 1973 | 2β4 | Montreal Canadiens ( 1972β73) | 33β22β10 |
66 | T | March 6, 1973 | 2β2 | @ Los Angeles Kings ( 1972β73) | 33β22β11 |
67 | T | March 7, 1973 | 2β2 | @ California Golden Seals ( 1972β73) | 33β22β12 |
68 | L | March 9, 1973 | 2β5 | @ Vancouver Canucks ( 1972β73) | 33β23β12 |
69 | L | March 13, 1973 | 0β2 | @ St. Louis Blues ( 1972β73) | 33β24β12 |
70 | L | March 15, 1973 | 1β4 | Boston Bruins ( 1972β73) | 33β25β12 |
71 | T | March 17, 1973 | 3β3 | @ Montreal Canadiens ( 1972β73) | 33β25β13 |
72 | W | March 18, 1973 | 5β1 | Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1972β73) | 34β25β13 |
73 | L | March 21, 1973 | 2β6 | @ Chicago Black Hawks ( 1972β73) | 34β26β13 |
74 | T | March 24, 1973 | 4β4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins ( 1972β73) | 34β26β14 |
75 | L | March 25, 1973 | 1β6 | @ Boston Bruins ( 1972β73) | 34β27β14 |
76 | W | March 27, 1973 | 3β2 | @ New York Islanders ( 1972β73) | 35β27β14 |
77 | W | March 28, 1973 | 6β3 | Philadelphia Flyers ( 1972β73) | 36β27β14 |
78 | W | April 1, 1973 | 3β1 | St. Louis Blues ( 1972β73) | 37β27β14 |
The 1972β73 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. [3]
1973 Stanley Cup playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Montreal goals | Buffalo goals | Decision | Attendance | Series | Recap | ||||||||||||
1 | April 4 | Buffalo Sabres | 1β2 | Montreal Canadiens | 0β1 | ||||||||||||||||||
2 | April 5 | Buffalo Sabres | 3β7 | Montreal Canadiens | 0β2 | ||||||||||||||||||
3 | April 7 | Montreal Canadiens | 5β2 | Buffalo Sabres | 0β3 | ||||||||||||||||||
4 | April 8 | Montreal Canadiens | 1β5 | Buffalo Sabres | 1β3 | ||||||||||||||||||
5 | April 10 | Buffalo Sabres | 3β2 | Montreal Canadiens | 9:18 | 2β3 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | April 12 | Montreal Canadiens | 4β2 | Buffalo Sabres | 2β4 |
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Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Scoring | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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;
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Gilbert Perreault
Date | Details
| |
---|---|---|
June 6, 1972 | To
New York Islanders 7th-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 Canadiens Cash |
To Buffalo Sabres Ron Busniuk |
February 14, 1973 | To
Atlanta Flames Butch Deadmarsh |
To Buffalo Sabres Norm Gratton |
Player |
Dick Duff |
Claimed via Waivers
|
Lost via Waivers
|
June 6, 1972 | To
New York Islanders Tom Miller |
June 6, 1972 | To
New York Islanders Ken Murray |
June 6, 1972 | To
Atlanta Flames Rod Zaine |
June 5, 1972 | From
Pittsburgh Penguins Tim Horton |
Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 | Jim Schoenfeld | ![]() |
Niagara Falls Flyers ( OHA) |
2 | 25 | Larry Carriere | ![]() |
Loyola University ( CIAU) |
3 | 37 | Jim McMasters | ![]() |
Calgary Centennials ( WCHL) |
4 | 53 | Rychard Campeau | ![]() |
Sorel Black Hawks ( QMJHL) |
5 | 69 | Gilles Gratton | ![]() |
Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
6 | 85 | Peter McNab | ![]() |
U. of Denver ( WCHA) |
The 1972β73 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 54β17β5 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.