The 1971–72 Minnesota North Stars season was the Stars' fifth season of operation in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

(NHL). The Stars finished in second place in the West Division and qualified for the playoffs, where they lost in the first round to the

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Playoffs

For the fourth time in their first five seasons, the North Stars were in the playoffs. Once again, they had a matchup with the Blues in the postseason. The two teams would not meet again in the postseason until 1984.

Schedule and results

Regular season

, - , 1, , W, , October 9, 1971, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

( 1971–72) , , 1–0–0 , - , 2, , T, , October 14, 1971, , 1–1 , , align="left",

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

( 1971–72) , , 1–0–1 , - , 3, , L, , October 16, 1971, , 2–3 , , align="left",

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

( 1971–72) , , 1–1–1 , - , 4, , W, , October 17, 1971, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

( 1971–72) , , 2–1–1 , - , 5, , W, , October 20, 1971, , 7–0 , , align="left",

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

( 1971–72) , , 3–1–1 , - , 6, , W, , October 23, 1971, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 4–1–1 , - , 7, , W, , October 24, 1971, , 6–3 , , align="left", @

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

( 1971–72) , , 5–1–1 , - , 8, , W, , October 27, 1971, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 6–1–1 , - , 9, , W, , October 28, 1971, , 2–0 , , align="left",

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

( 1971–72) , , 7–1–1 , - , 10, , T, , October 30, 1971, , 1–1 , , align="left", @

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

( 1971–72) , , 7–1–2 , - , 11, , L, , October 31, 1971, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

( 1971–72) , , 7–2–2 , - , - , 12, , W, , November 3, 1971, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 8–2–2 , - , 13, , W, , November 6, 1971, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 9–2–2 , - , 14, , W, , November 7, 1971, , 3–0 , , align="left", @

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 1971–72) , , 10–2–2 , - , 15, , L, , November 10, 1971, , 1–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 10–3–2 , - , 16, , L, , November 13, 1971, , 1–5 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 10–4–2 , - , 17, , W, , November 16, 1971, , 5–1 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 11–4–2 , - , 18, , W, , November 18, 1971, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 12–4–2 , - , 19, , W, , November 20, 1971, , 4–1 , , align="left",

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 1971–72) , , 13–4–2 , - , 20, , T, , November 21, 1971, , 1–1 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 13–4–3 , - , 21, , W, , November 23, 1971, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 14–4–3 , - , 22, , W, , November 26, 1971, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

California Golden Seals The California Golden Seals were a professional ice hockey club that competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1967–68 NHL season, 1967 to 1975–76 NHL season, 1976. Based in Oakland, California, they played their home games at the Oa ...

( 1971–72) , , 15–4–3 , - , 23, , W, , November 27, 1971, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 16–4–3 , - , - , 24, , W, , December 1, 1971, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 17–4–3 , - , 25, , W, , December 4, 1971, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 18–4–3 , - , 26, , L, , December 5, 1971, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 18–5–3 , - , 27, , L, , December 8, 1971, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 18–6–3 , - , 28, , L, , December 11, 1971, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 18–7–3 , - , 29, , L, , December 12, 1971, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 18–8–3 , - , 30, , W, , December 15, 1971, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 19–8–3 , - , 31, , L, , December 18, 1971, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 19–9–3 , - , 32, , T, , December 19, 1971, , 1–1 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 19–9–4 , - , 33, , W, , December 21, 1971, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 20–9–4 , - , 34, , L, , December 25, 1971, , 1–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 20–10–4 , - , 35, , L, , December 26, 1971, , 1–5 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 20–11–4 , - , 36, , T, , December 30, 1971, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 20–11–5 , - , - , 37, , W, , January 1, 1972, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 21–11–5 , - , 38, , W, , January 5, 1972, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 22–11–5 , - , 39, , L, , January 8, 1972, , 1–5 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 22–12–5 , - , 40, , T, , January 11, 1972, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 22–12–6 , - , 41, , L, , January 12, 1972, , 0–2 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 22–13–6 , - , 42, , L, , January 15, 1972, , 2–7 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 22–14–6 , - , 43, , L, , January 16, 1972, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 22–15–6 , - , 44, , T, , January 18, 1972, , 1–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 22–15–7 , - , 45, , W, , January 19, 1972, , 4–1 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 23–15–7 , - , 46, , W, , January 22, 1972, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 24–15–7 , - , 47, , W, , January 23, 1972, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 25–15–7 , - , 48, , W, , January 27, 1972, , 6–5 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 26–15–7 , - , 49, , W, , January 29, 1972, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 27–15–7 , - , 50, , T, , January 30, 1972, , 1–1 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 27–15–8 , - , - , 51, , L, , February 2, 1972, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 27–16–8 , - , 52, , L, , February 3, 1972, , 1–6 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 27–17–8 , - , 53, , T, , February 5, 1972, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 27–17–9 , - , 54, , L, , February 6, 1972, , 0–5 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 27–18–9 , - , 55, , W, , February 9, 1972, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 28–18–9 , - , 56, , W, , February 10, 1972, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 29–18–9 , - , 57, , W, , February 12, 1972, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 30–18–9 , - , 58, , W, , February 16, 1972, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 31–18–9 , - , 59, , L, , February 19, 1972, , 4–6 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 31–19–9 , - , 60, , W, , February 20, 1972, , 2–0 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 32–19–9 , - , 61, , L, , February 24, 1972, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 32–20–9 , - , 62, , L, , February 26, 1972, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 32–21–9 , - , - , 63, , L, , March 2, 1972, , 0–3 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 32–22–9 , - , 64, , L, , March 4, 1972, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 32–23–9 , - , 65, , W, , March 5, 1972, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 33–23–9 , - , 66, , L, , March 8, 1972, , 4–5 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 33–24–9 , - , 67, , T, , March 12, 1972, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 33–24–10 , - , 68, , L, , March 14, 1972, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 33–25–10 , - , 69, , W, , March 16, 1972, , 6–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 34–25–10 , - , 70, , L, , March 18, 1972, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 34–26–10 , - , 71, , L, , March 19, 1972, , 3–7 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 34–27–10 , - , 72, , W, , March 21, 1972, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 35–27–10 , - , 73, , T, , March 23, 1972, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 35–27–11 , - , 74, , L, , March 25, 1972, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 35–28–11 , - , 75, , W, , March 26, 1972, , 5–0 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 36–28–11 , - , 76, , T, , March 28, 1972, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1971–72) , , 36–28–12 , - , 77, , W, , March 31, 1972, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 37–28–12 , - , - , 78, , L, , April 2, 1972, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1971–72) , , 37–29–12 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

, - , 1, , W, , April 5, 1972, , 3–0 , , align="left",

, , North Stars lead 1–0 , - , 2, , W, , April 6, 1972, , 6–5 (OT) , , align="left", St. Louis Blues , , North Stars lead 2–0 , - , 3, , L, , April 8, 1972, , 1–2 , , align="left", @ St. Louis Blues , , North Stars lead 2–1 , - , 4, , L, , April 9, 1972, , 2–3 , , align="left", @ St. Louis Blues , , Series tied 2–2 , - , 5, , W, , April 13, 1972, , 4–3 , , align="left", St. Louis Blues , , North Stars lead 3–2 , - , 6, , L, , April 15, 1972, , 2–4 , , align="left", @ St. Louis Blues , , Series tied 3–3 , - , 7, , L, , April 18, 1972, , 1–2 (OT) , , align="left", St. Louis Blues , , Blues win 4–3 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

Minnesota's draft picks at the

1971 NHL amateur draft The 1971 NHL amateur draft was the ninth NHL entry draft. It was held on June 10, 1971, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Larry Robinson, who retired after the 1991� ...

held at the

Queen Elizabeth Hotel Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth () is a historic grand hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. With 950 rooms and 21 floors it is the largest hotel in Quebec, and the second largest Fairmont hotel in Canada after the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Lo ...

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1971-72 Minnesota North Stars season

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

Minnesota North Stars seasons

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Playoffs

Schedule and results

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

See also

References