The 1972–73 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's sixth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Penguins failed to make the 1973 playoffs for the first time since the 1970–71 season.
Regular season
Final standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 7 || Los Angeles || 2–4 || Pittsburgh || || 11,105 || 1–0–0 || 2
| 2 || October 11 || Pittsburgh || 5–2 || St. Louis || || 17,853 || 2–0–0 || 4
| 3 || October 14 || California || 2–5 || Pittsburgh || || 12,201 || 3–0–0 || 6
| 4 || October 15 || Pittsburgh || 4–8 || Boston || || 15,003 || 3–1–0 || 6
| 5 || October 17 || Pittsburgh || 5–0 || NY Islanders || || 8,175 || 4–1–0 || 8
| 6 || October 18 || Pittsburgh || 3–4 || Toronto || || 16,248 || 4–2–0 || 8
| 7 || October 21 || Boston || 4–2 || Pittsburgh || || 12,761 || 4–3–0 || 8
| 8 || October 24 || Pittsburgh || 4–0 || Vancouver || || 15,570 || 5–3–0 || 10
| 9 || October 27 || Pittsburgh || 3–6 || California || || 3,298 || 5–4–0 || 10
| 10 || October 28 || Pittsburgh || 2–5 || Los Angeles || || 9,181 || 5–5–0 || 10
| 11 || November 1 || Montreal || 7–1 || Pittsburgh || || 10,472 || 5–6–0 || 10
| 12 || November 2 || Pittsburgh || 2–4 || Philadelphia || || 13,511 || 5–7–0 || 10
| 13 || November 4 || NY Rangers || 4–6 || Pittsburgh || || 12,255 || 6–7–0 || 12
| 14 || November 5 || Pittsburgh || 1–1 || Detroit || || 14,041 || 6–7–1 || 13
| 15 || November 8 || Philadelphia || 2–5 || Pittsburgh || || 7,449 || 7–7–1 || 15
| 16 || November 11 || Vancouver || 4–3 || Pittsburgh || || 11,896 || 7–8–1 || 15
| 17 || November 12 || Pittsburgh || 0–1 || Buffalo || || 15,668 || 7–9–1 || 15
| 18 || November 15 || Minnesota || 1–7 || Pittsburgh || || 8,649 || 8–9–1 || 17
| 19 || November 18 || Atlanta || 1–6 || Pittsburgh || || 10,959 || 9–9–1 || 19
| 20 || November 19 || Pittsburgh || 5–3 || NY Rangers || || 17,500 || 10–9–1 || 21
| 21 || November 22 || St. Louis || 4–10 || Pittsburgh || || 12,405 || 11–9–1 || 23
| 22 || November 25 || NY Islanders || 2–2 || Pittsburgh || || 12,319 || 11–9–2 || 24
| 23 || November 26 || Pittsburgh || 2–6 || Atlanta || || 9,041 || 11–10–2 || 24
| 24 || November 29 || Toronto || 4–7 || Pittsburgh || || 9,971 || 12–10–2 || 26
| 25 || December 2 || Chicago || 2–3 || Pittsburgh || || 12,459 || 13–10–2 || 28
| 26 || December 3 || Pittsburgh || 2–4 || Chicago || || || 13–11–2 || 28
| 27 || December 6 || Pittsburgh || 4–4 || California || || 2,062 || 13–11–3 || 29
| 28 || December 9 || Pittsburgh || 1–3 || Los Angeles || || 9,687 || 13–12–3 || 29
| 29 || December 13 || NY Islanders || 1–9 || Pittsburgh || || 7,866 || 14–12–3 || 31
| 30 || December 16 || Atlanta || 3–5 || Pittsburgh || || 11,095 || 15–12–3 || 33
| 31 || December 17 || Pittsburgh || 1–9 || NY Rangers || || 17,500 || 15–13–3 || 33
| 32 || December 19 || Boston || 3–2 || Pittsburgh || || 10,419 || 15–14–3 || 33
| 33 || December 23 || Pittsburgh || 3–6 || Montreal || || 16,132 || 15–15–3 || 33
| 34 || December 26 || Pittsburgh || 1–1 || Detroit || || 14,427 || 15–15–4 || 34
| 35 || December 27 || Pittsburgh || 3–3 || Toronto || || 16,488 || 15–15–5 || 35
| 36 || December 29 || Toronto || 4–0 || Pittsburgh || || 11,336 || 15–16–5 || 35
| 37 || December 30 || Detroit || 2–2 || Pittsburgh || || 11,621 || 15–16–6 || 36
| 38 || January 2 || Pittsburgh || 4–5 || St. Louis || || 18,161 || 15–17–6 || 36
| 39 || January 3 || Pittsburgh || 5–3 || Chicago || || || 16–17–6 || 38
| 40 || January 6 || Vancouver || 2–4 || Pittsburgh || || 13,100 || 17–17–6 || 40
| 41 || January 7 || Pittsburgh || 0–3 || NY Rangers || || 17,500 || 17–18–6 || 40
| 42 || January 10 || Detroit || 2–1 || Pittsburgh || || 9,906 || 17–19–6 || 40
| 43 || January 13 || Los Angeles || 1–3 || Pittsburgh || || 11,506 || 18–19–6 || 42
| 44 || January 14 || Pittsburgh || 2–3 || Detroit || || 12,755 || 18–20–6 || 42
| 45 || January 17 || Pittsburgh || 4–6 || Montreal || || 16,016 || 18–21–6 || 42
| 46 || January 18 || Montreal || 5–2 || Pittsburgh || || 10,388 || 18–22–6 || 42
| 47 || January 20 || Boston || 0–3 || Pittsburgh || || 13,100 || 19–22–6 || 44
| 48 || January 21 || Pittsburgh || 3–9 || Chicago || || || 19–23–6 || 44
| 49 || January 24 || Toronto || 2–5 || Pittsburgh || || 10,809 || 20–23–6 || 46
| 50 || January 25 || Pittsburgh || 3–6 || Philadelphia || || 16,600 || 20–24–6 || 46
| 51 || January 27 || Philadelphia || 5–3 || Pittsburgh || || 13,100 || 20–25–6 || 46
| 52 || January 31 || Los Angeles || 1–4 || Pittsburgh || || 9,048 || 21–25–6 || 48
| 53 || February 3 || Minnesota || 1–2 || Pittsburgh || || 11,878 || 22–25–6 || 50
| 54 || February 4 || Pittsburgh || 3–4 || Minnesota || || 15,070 || 22–26–6 || 50
| 55 || February 7 || Pittsburgh || 2–5 || Montreal || || 16,028 || 22–27–6 || 50
| 56 || February 10 || Pittsburgh || 3–6 || Boston || || 15,003 || 22–28–6 || 50
| 57 || February 14 || Vancouver || 2–6 || Pittsburgh || || 8,758 || 23–28–6 || 52
| 58 || February 17 || Buffalo || 3–3 || Pittsburgh || || 13,100 || 23–28–7 || 53
| 59 || February 18 || Pittsburgh || 1–4 || Buffalo || || 15,660 || 23–29–7 || 53
| 60 || February 20 || Pittsburgh || 4–0 || NY Islanders || || 13,327 || 24–29–7 || 55
| 61 || February 22 || NY Islanders || 1–2 || Pittsburgh || || 9,200 || 25–29–7 || 57
| 62 || February 24 || Chicago || 0–2 || Pittsburgh || || 13,100 || 26–29–7 || 59
| 63 || February 25 || Pittsburgh || 1–2 || Buffalo || || 15,668 || 26–30–7 || 59
| 64 || February 28 || St. Louis || 2–4 || Pittsburgh || || 13,100 || 27–30–7 || 61
| 65 || March 3 || California || 2–1 || Pittsburgh || || 11,688 || 27–31–7 || 61
| 66 || March 4 || Minnesota || 5–2 || Pittsburgh || || 12,624 || 27–32–7 || 61
| 67 || March 7 || Pittsburgh || 4–10 || Minnesota || || 15,273 || 27–33–7 || 61
| 68 || March 10 || NY Rangers || 5–4 || Pittsburgh || || 13,100 || 27–34–7 || 61
| 69 || March 11 || Pittsburgh || 2–3 || Philadelphia || || 16,600 || 27–35–7 || 61
| 70 || March 14 || Pittsburgh || 3–2 || Los Angeles || || 8,007 || 28–35–7 || 63
| 71 || March 16 || Pittsburgh || 5–5 || California || || 5,180 || 28–35–8 || 64
| 72 || March 17 || Pittsburgh || 1–6 || Vancouver || || 15,570 || 28–36–8 || 64
| 73 || March 21 || California || 2–5 || Pittsburgh || || 8,169 || 29–36–8 || 66
| 74 || March 24 || Buffalo || 4–4 || Pittsburgh || || 12,945 || 29–36–9 || 67
| 75 || March 25 || Pittsburgh || 4–2 || Atlanta || || 13,200 || 30–36–9 || 69
| 76 || March 28 || Atlanta || 3–6 || Pittsburgh || || 10,081 || 31–36–9 || 71
| 77 || March 31 || Pittsburgh || 2–7 || St. Louis || || 20,009 || 31–37–9 || 71
| 78 || April 1 || Philadelphia || 4–5 || Pittsburgh || || 11,253 || 32–37–9 || 73
Legend:
Player statistics Skaters
+ Regular season Player 77 29 56 85 25 18 78 35 41 76 20 26 78 34 41 75 37 8 78 21 33 54 113 78 13 36 49 23 78 26 23 49 36 74 25 20 45 84 66 21 22 43 16 78 15 24 39 3 88 78 3 24 27 42 78 10 15 25 47 42 11 10 21 16 78 7 13 20 62 47 1 18 19 40 69 1 17 18 18 179 67 1 13 14 0 31 1 5 6 32 20 2 2 4 2 18 1 2 3 2 26 0 2 2 20 4 0 1 1 1 0 ‡ 3 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 2 Total 257 418 675 — 856
Goaltenders + Regular Season Player 49 20 22 5 129 3 18 6 7 2 55 2 † 9 3 4 2 41 0 11 3 4 0 35 0 Total 32 37 9 260 5 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
Awards and records Jean Pronovost became the first player to score 100 goals for the Penguins. He did so in a 3–3 tie against Buffalo on February 17. Syl Apps Jr. became the first player to record 50 assists in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–2 win over California on March 21. Syl Apps Jr. established a new franchise record for points in a season with 85, besting the previous high of 59 held by both himself and Andy Bathgate. Ken Schinkel established a career franchise record for games (371), assists (143) and points (236). He had led in two categories since 1969 and bested the previous high in games set by Val Fonteyne in 1972 (349). Darryl Edestrand established a new franchise record for goals (15) and points (39) in a season by a defenseman. He topped the previous high of 10 goals (held by himself) and 33 points (held by Noel Price, Bob Woytowich, Duane Rupp and himself). Lowell MacDonald established a new franchise record for highest plus-minus in a season (+36). He broke the previous high of +18 set by Syl Apps Jr. in 1972. Duane Rupp became the first Penguins defenseman to score 100 points. His final total of 104 bested the previous total of 93 held by Bob Woytowich
Transactions The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1972–73 season:
Trades
October 6, 1972 To Detroit Red Wings
Roy Edwards To Pittsburgh Penguins
cash1973 3rd round pick (Nelson Pyatt)1974 2nd round pick (Bob Hess) October 30, 1972 To Atlanta Flames
Brian McKenzie To Pittsburgh Penguins
cash January 8, 1973 To St. Louis Blues
Joe Noris To Pittsburgh Penguins
Jim Shires February 25, 1973 To Detroit Red Wings
1973 3rd round pickcash (Nelson Pyatt) To Pittsburgh Penguins
Andy Brown March 2, 1973 To New York Rangers
Sheldon Kannegiesser To Pittsburgh Penguins
player to be named (Steve Andrascik)
Additions and subtractions Additions Player Former team Via Jim Wiley Lake Superior State Lakers free agency (1972–06–25) Subtractions Player New team Via Les Binkley Ottawa Nationals (WHA) free agency (1972) Wally Boyer Winnipeg Jets (WHA) free agency (1972) Val Fonteyne Alberta Oilers (WHA) free agency (1972) Dunc McCallum Houston Aeros (WHA) free agency (1972) Tim Horton Buffalo Sabres Intra-league draft (1972–06–05) Bob Leiter Atlanta Flames Expansion draft (1972–06–06) Keith McCreary Atlanta Flames Expansion draft (1972–06–06) John Stewart Atlanta Flames Expansion draft (1972–06–06)
Draft picks
Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1972 NHL entry draft. Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League) 2 24 Jack Lynch Defense Oshawa Generals (OHA) 2 30 Bernie Lukowich Right wing New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) 3 40 Denis Herron Goaltender Trois-Rivières Ducs (QMJHL) 4 56 Ron Lalonde Center Peterborough Petes (OHA) 5 72 Brian Walker Center Calgary Centennials (WCHL) 6 88 Jeff Ablett Left wing Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) 7 104 D'Arcy Keating Defense Notre Dame (NCAA) 8 120 Yves Bergeron Right wing Shawinigan Bruins (QMJHL) 9 136 Jay Babcock Left wing London Knights (OHA) 10 149 Don Atchison Goaltender Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)
Draft notes The Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a June 10, 1968, trade that sent Bob Woytowich to the Penguins in exchange for this pick. The St. Louis Blues' second-round pick (originally from the Montreal Canadiens) went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a June 6, 1969, trade that sent Lou Angotti and a 1971 first-round pick to the Blues in exchange for Ron Schock, Craig Cameron and this pick.
References
Player stats at Hockey Database Game log on NHL Database