1972–73 Los Angeles Kings season

1972–73 Los Angeles Kings
1972–73 Los Angeles Kings
Division	6th West
1972–73 record	31–36–11
Home record	21–11–7
Road record	10–25–4
Goals for	232
Goals against	245
Team information
General manager	Larry Regan
Coach	Bob Pulford
Captain	Vacant
Alternate captains	Ralph Backstrom; Harry Howell; Juha Widing
Arena	Los Angeles Forum
Team leaders
Goals	Mike Corrigan (37)
Assists	Juha Widing (54)
Points	Joha Widing (70)
Penalty minutes	Mike Corrigan (146)
Wins	Rogie Vachon (22)
Goals against average	Rogie Vachon (2.85)
	← 1971–72 1973–74 →

The 1972–73 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' sixth season in the National Hockey League. The team did not qualify for the playoffs and finished in sixth place out of eight teams in the West Division, only three points behind fourth place, the final playoff position. Kings' captain Bob Pulford retired from play before the season and took over as the Kings' head coach.

Offseason

Regular season

Bob Pulford became full-time head coach and instituted a disciplined defense oriented system. Consequently, the Kings allowed 60 fewer goals than in 1971–72. Their penalty killing, once the worst in the NHL, was led by Jimmy Peters and Real Lemieux and was the best in the league. Offensively, the Kings were led by "The Hot Line", which consisted of Juha Widing, Bob Berry, and Mike Corrigan; they combined for 89 goals and 112 assists.

After starting 1–6, the Kings went on a club record 8-game winning streak. But from early January through February, they endured a 4–13–5 stretch that saw them fall from 4th to 7th place. They got hot again in March, going 6–4–2 to get within 2 points of the 4th place St. Louis Blues, who held the final playoff spot with 3 games to play. But L.A. suffered two straight disastrous losses to the last place California Golden Seals, and fell to 6th, missing the playoffs by 3 points.

Final standings

West Division^[1]
v
t
e
		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	DIFF	Pts
1	Chicago Black Hawks	78	42	27	9	284	225	+59	93
2	Philadelphia Flyers	78	37	30	11	296	256	+40	85
3	Minnesota North Stars	78	37	30	11	254	230	+24	85
4	St. Louis Blues	78	32	34	12	233	251	−18	76
5	Pittsburgh Penguins	78	32	37	9	257	265	−8	73
6	Los Angeles Kings	78	31	36	11	232	245	−13	73
7	Atlanta Flames	78	25	38	15	191	239	−48	65
8	California Golden Seals	78	16	46	16	213	323	−110	48

Record vs. opponents

Vs. West Division

1972–73 NHL records^[2]
Team	ATL	CAL	CHI	LAK	MIN	PHI	PIT	STL	Total
Atlanta	—	3–1–1	2–4	1–1–3	3–3	1–3–1	1–4	0–3–3	11–19–8
California	1–3–1	—	0–3–2	2–4	1–4	1–3–2	2–2–2	1–3–1	8–22–8
Chicago	4–2	3–0–2	—	2–3	3–2–1	2–2–1	2–3	3–3	19–15–4
Los Angeles	1–1–3	4–2	3–2	—	0–3–2	4–2	2–4	3–2	17–16–5
Minnesota	3–3	4–1	2–3–1	3–0–2	—	2–3	3–2	2–2–2	19–14–5
Philadelphia	3–1–1	3–1–2	2–2–1	2–4	3–2	—	4–2	3–1–1	20–13–5
Pittsburgh	4–1	2–2–2	3–2	4–2	2–3	2–4	—	3–2	20–16–2
St. Louis	3–0–3	3–1–1	3–3	2–3	2–2–2	1–3–1	2–3	—	16–15–7

Vs. East Division

1972–73 NHL records
Team	BOS	BUF	DET	MTL	NYI	NYR	TOR	VAN	Total
Atlanta	0–5	1–2–2	2–3	0–3–2	4–0–1	1–4	2–1–2	4–1	14–19–7
California	0–4–1	2–1–2	2–2–1	0–3–2	1–4	1–3–1	1–3–1	1–4	8–24–8
Chicago	3–2	3–2	3–2	3–2	4–0–1	2–2–1	2–1–2	3–1–1	23–12–5
Los Angeles	2–3	1–2–2	2–2–1	0–4–1	4–1	0–3–2	2–3	3–2	14–20–6
Minnesota	1–3–1	2–3	3–1–1	1–3–1	4–1	2–3	2–2–1	3–0–2	18–16–6
Philadelphia	0–4–1	3–2	1–3–1	2–2–1	4–1	0–4–1	3–1–1	4–0–1	17–17–6
Pittsburgh	1–4	0–3–2	0–2–3	0–5	4–0–1	2–3	2–2–1	3–2	12–21–7
St. Louis	3–2	1–2–2	3–2	0–3–2	3–1–1	0–5	2–3	4–1	16–19–5

Schedule and results

1972–73 regular season^[3]

October

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 7, 1972	2–4	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)	0–1–0
2	W	October 8, 1972	4–2	@ Boston Bruins (1972–73)	1–1–0
3	L	October 11, 1972	3–7	@ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73)	1–2–0
4	L	October 12, 1972	2–3	@ New York Islanders (1972–73)	1–3–0
5	L	October 14, 1972	4–6	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)	1–4–0
6	L	October 15, 1972	2–8	@ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)	1–5–0
7	L	October 18, 1972	3–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)	1–6–0
8	W	October 21, 1972	3–1	Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)	2–6–0
9	W	October 24, 1972	5–0	California Golden Seals (1972–73)	3–6–0
10	W	October 26, 1972	3–1	Atlanta Flames (1972–73)	4–6–0
11	W	October 28, 1972	5–2	Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)	5–6–0
12	W	October 31, 1972	4–1	Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)	6–6–0

November

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
13	W	November 2, 1972	5–2	Boston Bruins (1972–73)	7–6–0
14	W	November 4, 1972	9–2	New York Islanders (1972–73)	8–6–0
15	W	November 7, 1972	3–2	@ St. Louis Blues (1972–73)	9–6–0
16	T	November 8, 1972	3–3	@ Atlanta Flames (1972–73)	9–6–1
17	L	November 11, 1972	2–5	@ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)	9–7–1
18	L	November 12, 1972	1–5	@ New York Rangers (1972–73)	9–8–1
19	L	November 14, 1972	1–4	@ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)	9–9–1
20	T	November 15, 1972	3–3	Buffalo Sabres (1972–73)	9–9–2
21	L	November 17, 1972	4–8	@ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)	9–10–2
22	W	November 18, 1972	8–3	Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)	10–10–2
23	T	November 22, 1972	3–3	Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)	10–10–3
24	L	November 25, 1972	0–3	Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)	10–11–3
25	T	November 29, 1972	2–2	New York Rangers (1972–73)	10–11–4

December

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
26	W	December 2, 1972	3–2	St. Louis Blues (1972–73)	11–11–4
27	W	December 5, 1972	6–1	@ New York Islanders (1972–73)	12–11–4
28	L	December 6, 1972	0–6	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)	12–12–4
29	W	December 9, 1972	3–1	Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)	13–12–4
30	W	December 13, 1972	3–1	Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)	14–12–4
31	L	December 16, 1972	1–3	Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)	14–13–4
32	L	December 17, 1972	0–2	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)	14–14–4
33	L	December 20, 1972	1–4	@ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)	14–15–4
34	L	December 21, 1972	3–6	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)	14–16–4
35	W	December 23, 1972	2–0	Buffalo Sabres (1972–73)	15–16–4
36	W	December 24, 1972	5–3	@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)	16–16–4
37	W	December 27, 1972	4–1	New York Islanders (1972–73)	17–16–4
38	W	December 30, 1972	5–3	Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)	18–16–4

January

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
39	L	January 3, 1973	0–3	@ New York Rangers (1972–73)	18–17–4
40	L	January 6, 1973	2–4	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)	18–18–4
41	W	January 9, 1973	3–2	@ New York Islanders (1972–73)	19–18–4
42	W	January 11, 1973	3–2	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)	20–18–4
43	L	January 13, 1973	1–3	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)	20–19–4
44	L	January 14, 1973	1–4	@ Atlanta Flames (1972–73)	20–20–4
45	T	January 17, 1973	4–4	New York Rangers (1972–73)	20–20–5
46	W	January 19, 1973	4–0	@ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)	21–20–5
47	L	January 20, 1973	2–6	Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)	21–21–5
48	T	January 23, 1973	5–5	@ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)	21–21–6
49	L	January 24, 1973	5–7	St. Louis Blues (1972–73)	21–22–6
50	T	January 26, 1973	3–3	@ Atlanta Flames (1972–73)	21–22–7
51	L	January 28, 1973	5–6	@ Boston Bruins (1972–73)	21–23–7
52	L	January 31, 1973	1–4	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)	21–24–7

February

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
53	L	February 1, 1973	3–5	@ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73)	21–25–7
54	L	February 3, 1973	1–7	Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)	21–26–7
55	W	February 7, 1973	2–1	Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)	22–26–7
56	W	February 10, 1973	4–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)	23–26–7
57	L	February 11, 1973	0–2	@ Boston Bruins (1972–73)	23–27–7
58	L	February 13, 1973	2–4	@ St. Louis Blues (1972–73)	23–28–7
59	T	February 14, 1973	2–2	Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)	23–28–8
60	T	February 17, 1973	3–3	Atlanta Flames (1972–73)	23–28–9
61	W	February 18, 1973	4–2	@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)	24–28–9
62	L	February 21, 1973	3–4	New York Rangers (1972–73)	24–29–9
63	L	February 24, 1973	5–7	Boston Bruins (1972–73)	24–30–9
64	L	February 28, 1973	2–5	@ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73)	24–31–9

March

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
65	W	March 1, 1973	2–0	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73)	25–31–9
66	W	March 3, 1973	2–0	St. Louis Blues (1972–73)	26–31–9
67	T	March 6, 1973	2–2	Buffalo Sabres (1972–73)	26–31–10
68	W	March 8, 1973	4–1	Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73)	27–31–10
69	W	March 10, 1973	4–2	California Golden Seals (1972–73)	28–31–10
70	T	March 13, 1973	2–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)	28–31–11
71	L	March 14, 1973	2–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73)	28–32–11
72	L	March 16, 1973	2–4	@ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)	28–33–11
73	L	March 17, 1973	3–4	Minnesota North Stars (1972–73)	28–34–11
74	W	March 21, 1973	5–1	Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73)	29–34–11
75	W	March 24, 1973	5–3	Detroit Red Wings (1972–73)	30–34–11
76	L	March 28, 1973	2–3	California Golden Seals (1972–73)	30–35–11
77	L	March 30, 1973	1–3	@ California Golden Seals (1972–73)	30–36–11
78	W	March 31, 1973	6–3	Vancouver Canucks (1972–73)	31–36–11

Legend: Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

Bob Pulford became full-time head coach and instituted a disciplined defense oriented system. Consequently, the Kings allowed 60 fewer goals than in 1971–72. Their penalty killing, once the worst in the NHL, was led by Jimmy Peters and Real Lemieux and was the best in the league. Offensively, the Kings were led by "The Hot Line", which consisted of Juha Widing, Bob Berry, and Mike Corrigan; they combined for 89 goals and 112 assists.

Awards and records

None in 1972–73 season.

Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1972–73 season.^[4]

Trades

June 6, 1972	To Los Angeles Kings Flames promise not to select certain players in expansion draft	To Atlanta Flames 9th round pick in 1972 – Jean Lamarre 10th round pick in 1973 – Guy Ross
June 8, 1972	To Los Angeles Kings Cash	To Minnesota North Stars 8th round pick in 1972 – Scott MacPhail 9th round pick in 1972 – Steve Lyon
August 22, 1972	To Los Angeles Kings Terry Harper	To Montreal Canadiens 2nd round pick in 1974 – Gary MacGregor 1st round pick in 1975 – Pierre Mondou 3rd round pick in 1975 – Paul Woods 1st round pick in 1976 – Rod Schutt
December 15, 1972	To Los Angeles Kings John Van Horlick	To Portland Buckaroos (WHL) Jim Stanfield Mike Keeler Glen Toner
January 22, 1973	To Los Angeles Kings Frank St. Marseille	To St. Louis Blues Paul Curtis
February 26, 1973	To Los Angeles Kings Dan Maloney	To Chicago Black Hawks Ralph Backstrom

Free agent signings

October 2, 1972	From University of British Columbia (WUAA) Doug Buhr

Free agents lost

June 6, 1972	To Alberta Oilers (WHA) Doug Barrie
June 6, 1972	To Alberta Oilers (WHA) Roger Cote
August 15, 1972	To Chicago Cougars (WHA) Larry Cahan

Reverse Draft

June 1, 1972	To San Diego Gulls (WHL) Howie Hughes

Intra-league Draft

June 5, 1972	To Los Angeles Kings Barry Long	To Chicago Black Hawks Bill Orban
June 5, 1972	To Los Angeles Kings Doug Volmar	To Detroit Red Wings $40,000

Expansion Draft

June 6, 1972	To New York Islanders Bill Mikkelson Billy Smith
June 6, 1972	To Atlanta Flames Lucien Grenier

Draft picks

Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
2	20	Don Kozak	Canada	Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
3	36	Dave Hutchison	Canada	London Knights (OMJHL)
4	52	John Dobie	Canada	Regina Pats (WCHL)
5	68	Bernie Germain	Canada	Regina Pats (WCHL)
6	84	Mike Usitalo	United States	Michigan Tech University (WCHA)
7	100	Glen Toner	Canada	Regina Pats (WCHL)

References

^ "1972–1973 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
^ "1972-73 Los Angeles Kings Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
^ "Hockey Transactions Search Results".

[standings-div-1] "1972–1973 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.

[2] "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.

[Gamelog-3] "1972-73 Los Angeles Kings Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 27, 2025.

[4] "Hockey Transactions Search Results".

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t e Los Angeles Kings
Founded in 1967 Based in Los Angeles, California
Franchise	Team General managers Coaches Players Captains Draft picks expansion draft Seasons Current season
History	History 1967 expansion Records Award winners Retired numbers Broadcasters
Personnel	Owner(s) Philip Anschutz Ed Roski Jr. General manager Rob Blake Head coach Jim Hiller Team captain Anze Kopitar Current roster
Arenas	Long Beach Arena Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Kia Forum Crypto.com Arena
Rivalries	Anaheim Ducks Edmonton Oilers San Jose Sharks
Affiliates	AHL Ontario Reign ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Media	TV Bally Sports West Radio KABC (790 AM)
Culture and lore	Bailey Frozen Fury Miracle on Manchester Dieter Ruehle "I Love L.A." 1991 Las Vegas outdoor game Melrose Place Garnet Bailey and Mark Bavis That 70s Line The Love Guru "This is L.A." 2011 NHL Premiere 2014 Stadium Series 2015 Stadium Series Toyota Sports Performance Center 2020 Stadium Series Team monument "Hollywood Nights"
Category

v t e Los Angeles Kings seasons
1960s	1967–68 1968–69 1969–70
1970s	1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1979–79 1979–80
1980s	1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990s	1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00
2000s	2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010s	2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020s	2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Highlighted seasons indicate Stanley Cup championship

v t e 1972–73 NHL season
East	Boston Buffalo Detroit Montreal NY Islanders NY Rangers Toronto Vancouver
West	Atlanta California Chicago Los Angeles Minnesota Philadelphia Pittsburgh St. Louis
See also	Amateur draft Expansion draft Intra-league draft Summit Series All-Star Game Stanley Cup Finals