1972-73 Chicago Black Hawks Season

1972-73 Chicago Black Hawks Season

Left winger Robert Marvin “Bobby” Hull was an integral piece of the puzzle for the Chicago Black Hawks for over a decade, helping lead the team to a Stanley Cup championship in 1961. In the 1970s, however, the Black Hawks were forced to move forward without Bobby Hull, who opted to change leagues and join the World Hockey Association ahead of the 1972-73 season. Hull signed a 10-year contract worth $1.75 million with the Winnipeg Jets to be a player/coach.

The 1972-73 Chicago Black Hawks Claim the Division

In the 1972-73 NHL season, the Chicago Black Hawks went 42-27-9 with 93 points, finishing seven points ahead of both the Philadelphia Flyers and the Minnesota North Stars to win the NHL Western Division. The Black Hawks thrived on their home ice at Chicago Stadium, going 26-9-4, while managing just a 16-18-5 record on the road.

Chicago also thrived in head-to-head play, going 4-0-1 against the New York Islanders, 4-2 against the Atlanta Flames, 3-0-2 against the California Golden Seals, 3-1-1 against the Vancouver Canucks, 3-2-1 against the Minnesota North Stars, 3-2 against the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens, 3-3 against the St. Louis Blues, 2-1-2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and 2-2-1 against the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers.

Statistical Leaders Carry the Offense

The 1972-73 Chicago Black Hawks relied on secondary scoring throughout the lineup to help offset the loss of Bobby Hull’s goal-scoring.

Forwards Power the Attack

Right winger Jim Pappin led the way with 41 goals and 51 assists for 92 points, adding 7 power play goals, 7 power play assists and 4 game-winning goals on 182 shots. Left winger Dennis Hull posted 39 goals and 51 assists for 90 points, with 8 power play goals, 11 power play assists and 7 game-winning goals on 263 shots. Center Pit Martin contributed 29 goals and 61 assists for 90 points, including 13 power play assists, on 185 shots. Center Stan Mikita, one of Chicago’s alternate captains on a team that played without an official captain, had 27 goals and 55 assists for 83 points, with 7 power play goals, 16 power play assists and 5 game-winning goals on 177 shots. Right winger Cliff Koroll chipped in 33 goals and 24 assists for 57 points, with 6 game-winning goals on 151 shots.

Depth Scoring and the Blue Line

Defenseman Bill White, the team’s other alternate captain, recorded 9 goals and 38 assists for 47 points, with 12 power play assists on 176 shots. Center Lou Angotti added 15 goals and 22 assists with 4 game-winning goals on 91 shots. Right winger Chico Maki had 13 goals and 19 assists on 118 shots, while defenseman Pat Stapleton posted 10 goals and 21 assists on 128 shots. Right winger J.P. Bordeleau contributed 15 goals and 15 assists on 113 shots, and left winger Dan Maloney chipped in 13 goals and 17 assists with 5 power play goals and 4 game-winning goals on 104 shots.

Esposito and Smith Anchor the Net

A key part of Chicago’s continued success was the ability of both Black Hawks goaltenders to clamp down on opposing offenses whenever scoring threats emerged. Tony Esposito served as the primary option in net, going 32-17-7 while allowing 140 goals in 3,340 minutes for a 2.51 goals-against average and 4 shutouts. Backup goaltender Gary Smith was just as serviceable, going 10-10-2 and allowing 79 goals in 1,340 minutes for a 3.54 goals-against average.

A Hot Stretch Heads Into 1973

As 1973 began, so did a stretch of dominance for the Black Hawks, who reeled off an impressive 10-1-3 run. The stretch opened with a 6-6 tie against the California Golden Seals on January 14. The Black Hawks earned their first win of the run on January 17, a 6-4 decision over the Detroit Red Wings, and closed it out with a 4-2 win over the New York Islanders on February 14.

Stanley Cup Playoffs

Even without Bobby Hull, the 1972-73 Chicago Black Hawks proved they were still a dangerous team, and the early rounds of the playoffs showed just how dangerous they could be.

Quarterfinals: Sweeping Aside the Blues

In the NHL Quarterfinals, the Black Hawks faced the St. Louis Blues and eliminated them 4 games to 1. Chicago crushed the Blues 7-1 in Game 1 on April 4 at Chicago Stadium, then shut them out 1-0 in Game 2 on April 5. In Game 3 on April 7 at the St. Louis Arena, the Black Hawks won again, 5-2. The Blues picked up their only win of the series in Game 4 on April 8, beating Chicago 5-3, but the Black Hawks closed out the series with a 6-1 rout in Game 5 on April 10 at Chicago Stadium.

Semifinals: Eliminating the Rangers

In the NHL Semifinals, the Black Hawks eliminated the New York Rangers 4 games to 1. New York struck first, winning Game 1 4-1 on April 12 at Chicago Stadium, before the Black Hawks answered with a 5-4 win in Game 2 on April 15. Chicago won Game 3 2-1 on April 17 at Madison Square Garden and took Game 4 3-1 on April 19. Back home at Chicago Stadium on April 24, the Black Hawks beat the Rangers 4-1 to advance to hockey’s biggest stage.

Stanley Cup Final: A Battle With Montreal

In the 1973 Stanley Cup Final, the Black Hawks fell to the Montreal Canadiens, a team that often proved mighty on hockey’s biggest stage, losing the series 4 games to 2. Chicago’s offense flashed in Game 3, a 7-4 win at Chicago Stadium on May 3, and again in Game 5, an 8-7 win at the Montreal Forum on May 8, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Canadiens.

Even without Bobby Hull, the Chicago Black Hawks continued to make deep playoff runs, though they would not return to the Stanley Cup Final for the rest of the 1970s. Still, the Black Hawks remained a viable threat every time the playoffs began in the years that followed.