1972–73 Atlanta Flames season

The 1972–73 Atlanta Flames season was the 1st season for the Flames' franchise.

Offseason

NHL amateur draft

Round Pick Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team12.Jacques RichardQuebec Remparts (QMJHL)218.Dwight BialowasRegina Pats (WCJHL)334.Jean LemieuxSherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)450.Don MartineauNew Westminster Royals (WCJHL)578.Jean-Paul MartinShawinigan Bruins (QMJHL)682.Frank BlumSarnia Sting (SOJHL)798.Scott SmithRegina Pats (WCJHL)8114.Dave MurphyHamilton Red Wings (OHA)9130.Pierre RoyQuebec Remparts (QMJHL)9132.Jean LamarreQuebec Remparts (QMJHL)

NHL Expansion Draft Pick Player Position Drafted From 1. Phil Myre G Montreal Canadiens 3. Dan Bouchard G Boston Bruins 6. Kerry Ketter D Montreal Canadiens 8. Norm Gratton LW New York Rangers10. Ron Harris D Detroit Red Wings12. Larry Romanchych RW Chicago Black Hawks14. Bill MacMillan LW Toronto Maple Leafs16. Randy Manery D Detroit Red Wings18. Keith McCreary RW Pittsburgh Penguins20. Ernie Hicke C California Golden Seals22. Lew Morrison RW Philadelphia Flyers24. Lucien Grenier LW Los Angeles Kings26. Bill Plager D St. Louis Blues28. Morris Stefaniw C New York Rangers30. John Stewart LW Pittsburgh Penguins32. Bob Leiter C Pittsburgh Penguins34. Pat Quinn D Vancouver Canucks36. Larry Hale D Philadelphia Flyers38. Bill Heindl Jr. LW Minnesota North Stars40. Frank Hughes LW California Golden Seals42. Rod Zaine C Buffalo Sabres

Regular season When it was first announced that Atlanta would have an NHL franchise many hockey observers thought that a team based in the southern United States was a ludicrous and foolish move, especially since the talent pool had been diluted by repeated expansion and the upstart WHA. Nevertheless, the team quickly began front office operations, naming young St. Louis Blues assistant general manager Cliff Fletcher as general manager. Soon after, Fletcher had found the team its first coach: former Canadiens star forward Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion.

The team was a surprise in its first season on the ice, its success built on new star goaltenders Dan Bouchard and Phil Myre, solid defensemen such as Randy Manery and Pat Quinn, and forwards Rey Comeau, (captain) Keith McCreary, Larry Romanchych and Bob Leiter. Despite its inexperience as a team, the Flames were quite successful in the beginning of their rookie season, posting a 20–19–8 record by January 19, 1973, off the success of their young goaltending tandem. However, they lost 19 of their last 31 games, finishing out of the playoffs. Part of the problem was that in defiance of all geographic reality, the Flames were placed in the West Division—saddling them with some of the longest road trips in the league—and ultimately, the team's defense and goaltending were sabotaged by its lack of goalscoring, finishing second worst in the NHL in that category. However, their 65 points were 35 better than the Islanders, who toiled at the bottom of the East Division.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|1||W||October 7, 1972||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1972–73) ||1–0–0 || 12,221

|2||L||October 8, 1972||3–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) ||1–1–0 || 15,508

|3||L||October 11, 1972||1–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||1–2–0 || N/A

|4||L||October 12, 1972||0–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) ||1–3–0 || 16,002

|5||T||October 14, 1972||1–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) ||1–3–1 || 14,568

|6||L||October 18, 1972||0–6 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||1–4–1 || 8,852

|7||W||October 21, 1972||3–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||2–4–1 || 15,229

|8||L||October 22, 1972||2–7 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) ||2–5–1 || 15,516

|9||W||October 25, 1972||4–3 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||3–5–1 || 1,998

|10||L||October 26, 1972||1–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||3–6–1 || 6,155

|11||W||October 28, 1972||2–1 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||4–6–1 || 15,570

|12||W||November 1, 1972||4–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||5–6–1 || 11,344

|13||L||November 2, 1972||1–6 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) ||5–7–1 || 12,280

|14||T||November 5, 1972||2–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||5–7–2 || 10,732

|15||T||November 8, 1972||3–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||5–7–3 || 9,073

|16||W||November 10, 1972||5–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||6–7–3 || 12,066

|17||W||November 12, 1972||3–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||7–7–3 || 10,486

|18||L||November 15, 1972||1–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||7–8–3 || 16,381

|19||W||November 16, 1972||4–0 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1972–73) ||8–8–3 || 9,820

|20||L||November 18, 1972||1–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||8–9–3 || 10,959

|21||W||November 19, 1972||3–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||9–9–3 || 9,972

|22||L||November 21, 1972||1–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1972–73) ||9–10–3 || 11,505

|23||L||November 24, 1972||0–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||9–11–3 || 15,078

|24||W||November 26, 1972||6–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||10–11–3 || 9,041

|25||L||November 29, 1972||0–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||10–12–3 || 15,125

|26||T||November 30, 1972||5–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||10–12–4 || 14,221

|27||T||December 2, 1972||4–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) ||10–12–5 || 16,455

|28||L||December 3, 1972||2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1972–73) ||10–13–5 || 17,500

|29||W||December 7, 1972||5–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||11–13–5 || 11,018

|30||L||December 9, 1972||1–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||11–14–5 || 18,425

|31||L||December 10, 1972||4–5 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||11–15–5 || 11,140

|32||W||December 13, 1972||2–0 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||12–15–5 || 11,044

|33||L||December 16, 1972||3–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||12–16–5 || 11,095

|34||W||December 17, 1972||4–0 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1972–73) ||13–16–5 || 10,117

|35||W||December 20, 1972||5–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||14–16–5 || 12,590

|36||W||December 21, 1972||5–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1972–73) ||15–16–5 || 17,500

|37||L||December 23, 1972||1–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||15–17–5 || 15,003

|38||L||December 27, 1972||1–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||15–18–5 || 15,078

|39||T||December 30, 1972||1–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) ||15–18–6 || 17,024

|40||W||January 2, 1973||6–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1972–73) ||16–18–6 || 10,042

|41||L||January 3, 1973||1–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||16–19–6 || 11,144

|42||T||January 6, 1973||2–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||16–19–7 || 19,065

|43||W||January 7, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||17–19–7 || 9,206

|44||W||January 10, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||18–19–7 || 11,829

|45||W||January 12, 1973||1–0 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||19–19–7 || 15,078

|46||W||January 14, 1973||4–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||20–19–7 || 11,194

|47||T||January 17, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||20–19–8 || 18,181

|48||L||January 19, 1973||1–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||20–20–8 || 15,078

|49||L||January 21, 1973||2–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) ||20–21–8 || 15,078

|50||L||January 24, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||20–22–8 || 11,222

|51||T||January 26, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||20–22–9 || 15,078

|52||W||January 28, 1973||8–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) ||21–22–9 || 15,668

|53||W||February 1, 1973||3–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||22–22–9 || 14,169

|54||L||February 3, 1973||0–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||22–23–9 || 12,862

|55||L||February 4, 1973||0–6 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1972–73) ||22–24–9 || 17,500

|56||L||February 7, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||22–25–9 || 13,186

|57||L||February 9, 1973||3–4 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||22–26–9 || 15,078

|58||W||February 11, 1973||3–1 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||23–26–9 || 13,422

|59||T||February 14, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||23–26–10 || 3,829

|60||L||February 16, 1973||0–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) ||23–27–10 || 15,570

|61||T||February 17, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) ||23–27–11 || 11,108

|62||T||February 21, 1973||2–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) ||23–27–12 || 16,352

|63||L||February 25, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||23–28–12 || N/A

|64||T||March 1, 1973||4–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) ||23–28–13 || 12,730

|65||L||March 3, 1973||0–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) ||23–29–13 || 15,512

|66||W||March 4, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1972–73) ||24–29–13 || 11,565

|67||L||March 7, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) ||24–30–13 || 12,632

|68||L||March 9, 1973||2–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||24–31–13 || 15,078

|69||L||March 10, 1973||1–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||24–32–13 || 16,600

|70||T||March 14, 1973||1–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1972–73) ||24–32–14 || 15,078

|71||W||March 17, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||25–32–14 || 15,078

|72||L||March 18, 1973||1–7 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) ||25–33–14 || 15,003

|73||L||March 22, 1973||1–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1972–73) ||25–34–14 || 15,078

|74||L||March 24, 1973||0–7 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) ||25–35–14 || N/A

|75||L||March 25, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||25–36–14 || 13,200

|76||L||March 28, 1973||3–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) ||25–37–14 || 10,081

|77||L||March 29, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) ||25–38–14 || 16,600

|78||T||April 1, 1973||4–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1972–73) ||25–38–15 || 13,592

Legend:

Player statistics

Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

    Regular season   Playoffs Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM Bob Leiter 167826346019 – – – –- Larry Romanchych 217018304839 – – – –- Rey Comeau 18 77 21 21 42 19 – – – –- Keith McCreary 9 77 20 21 41 21 – – – –- Ernie Hicke‡ 12 58 14 23 37 37 – – – –- Curt Bennett† 5 52 18 17 35 9 – – – –- Randy Manery 7 78 5 30 35 44 – – – –- John Stewart 17 68 17 17 34 30 – – – –- Jacques Richard 15 74 13 18 31 32 – – – –- Leon Rochefort† 11 54 9 18 27 10 – – – –- Bill MacMillan 20 78 10 15 25 52 – – – –- Pat Quinn 3 78 2 18 20 113 – – – –- Lew Morrison 8 77 6 9 15 19 – – – –- Noel Price 4 54 1 13 14 38 – – – –- Bill Plager 2 76 2 11 13 92 – – – –- Noel Picard† 22 41 0 10 10 43 – – – –- Norm Gratton‡ 10 29 3 6 9 12 – – – –- Bob Paradise 6 71 1 7 8 103 – – – –- Ron Harris‡ 5 24 2 4 6 8 – – – –- Morris Stefaniw 19 13 1 1 2 2 – – – –- Kerry Ketter 24 41 0 2 2 58 – – – –- Arnie Brown† 19 15 1 0 1 17 – – – –- Butch Deadmarsh† 10 19 1 0 1 8 – – – –- Dan Bouchard 30 34 0 1 1 12 – – – –- Phil Myre 1 46 0 1 1 5 – – – –- Bill Hogaboam‡ 11 2 0 0 0 0 – – – –-

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Atlanta. Stats reflect time with the Flames only. ‡Traded mid-season

Goaltending