The

1972–73 Year 197 ( CXCVII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Magius and Rufinus (or, less frequently, year 950 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 197 for this y ...

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 ...

season was the Philadelphia Flyers' sixth

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

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 Flyers earned the nickname "Broad Street Bullies" en route to their first winning season and first playoff series victory, beating the

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 ...

, before losing in the semifinals to the

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 ...

Regular season

It was during the 1972–73 season that the Flyers shed the mediocre expansion team label by recording their first winning season and becoming known as the intimidating "Broad Street Bullies", a nickname coined by Jack Chevalier and Pete Cafone of the

Philadelphia Bulletin The ''Philadelphia Bulletin'' (or ''The Bulletin'' as it was commonly known) was a daily evening newspaper published from 1847 to 1982 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the largest circulation newspaper in Philadelphia for 76 years and was ...

on January 3, 1973 after a 3–1 brawling victory over the

Atlanta Flames The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta from 1972 until 1980. They played home games in the Omni Coliseum and were members of the West and later Patrick divisions of the National Hockey League (NHL). Along with t ...

that led Chevalier to write in his game account, "The image of the fightin' Flyers spreading gradually around the NHL, and people are dreaming up wild nicknames. They're the Mean Machine, the Bullies of Broad Street and Freddy's Philistines." Cafone wrote the accompanying headline, "Broad Street Bullies Muscle Atlanta". That same month

Bobby Clarke Robert Earle Clarke (born August 13, 1949) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played his entire 15-year National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an executive with the team. Popular ...

was the youngest player (at that time) in NHL history to be named team captain, replacing

Ed Van Impe Edward Charles Van Impe (May 27, 1940 – April 29, 2025) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Black Hawks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Playing career ...

who had stepped aside in favor of Clarke.

Rick MacLeish Richard George MacLeish (January 3, 1950 – May 30, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Philadelphia Flyers, Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit ...

became the first Flyer to score 50 goals in a season. After the season, Clarke was awarded the

Hart Memorial Trophy The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, is an annual award for the most valuable player to his team in the National Hockey League (NHL), voted by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. The original tr ...

as the NHL's most valuable player.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Playoffs

An overtime goal by

Gary Dornhoefer Gerhardt Otto Dornhoefer (born February 2, 1943), better known as Gary Dornhoefer, is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey Winger (ice hockey), right winger who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston ...

in Game 5 turned the tide of their first round series with the

in the Flyers' favor, as the Flyers got their first playoff series win in six games. The goal was later immortalized as a bronze statue on the south side of the Spectrum. They were outmatched in the semi-finals by the

, however, losing in five games.

Schedule and results

Regular season

, - , 1 , , October 7 , , 4–4 , , align="left", @

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 ...

, , Favell , , 0–0–1 , , 1 , , , - , 2 , , October 12 , , 7–3 , , 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 ...

, , Favell , , 1–0–1 , , 3 , , , - , 3 , , October 14 , , 0–5 , , 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 ...

, , Taylor , , 1–1–1 , , 3 , , , - , 4 , , October 15 , , 1–4 , , 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 ...

, , Favell , , 1–2–1 , , 3 , , , - , 5 , , October 18 , , 4–3 , , 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. ...

, , Favell , , 2–2–1 , , 5 , , , - , 6 , , October 20 , , 3–3 , , align="left", @

, , Taylor , , 2–2–2 , , 6 , , , - , 7 , , October 25 , , 1–6 , , 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 ...

, , Taylor , , 2–3–2 , , 6 , , , - , 8 , , October 26 , , 2–1 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 3–3–2 , , 8 , , , - , 9 , , October 28 , , 1–2 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , 3–4–2 , , 8 , , , - , 10 , , October 29 , , 5–2 , , 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 ...

, , Taylor , , 4–4–2 , , 10 , , , - , - , 11 , , November 2 , , 4–2 , , 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 ...

, , Favell , , 5–4–2 , , 12 , , , - , 12 , , November 4 , , 5–3 , , 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 ...

, , Taylor , , 6–4–2 , , 14 , , , - , 13 , , November 5 , , 2–3 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 6–5–2 , , 14 , , , - , 14 , , November 8 , , 2–5 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , 6–6–2 , , 14 , , , - , 15 , , November 9 , , 5–3 , , 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 ...

, , Favell , , 7–6–2 , , 16 , , , - , 16 , , November 11 , , 3–1 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 8–6–2 , , 18 , , , - , 17 , , November 12 , , 8–3 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 9–6–2 , , 20 , , , - , 18 , , November 15 , , 3–7 , , align="left", @

, , Belhumeur , , 9–7–2 , , 20 , , , - , 19 , , November 16 , , 5–6 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , 9–8–2 , , 20 , , , - , 20 , , November 19 , , 2–3 , , align="left", @

, , Belhumeur , , 9–9–2 , , 20 , , , - , 21 , , November 22 , , 5–3 , , align="left",

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

, , Favell , , 10–9–2 , , 22 , , , - , 22 , , November 25 , , 4–6 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , 10–10–2 , , 22 , , , - , 23 , , November 26 , , 4–6 , , 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 ...

, , Favell , , 10–11–2 , , 22 , , , - , 24 , , November 30 , , 5–5 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 10–11–3 , , 23 , , , - , - , 25 , , December 2 , , 2–2 , , align="left", @

, , Belhumeur , , 10–11–4 , , 24 , , , - , 26 , , December 3 , , 5–2 , , align="left",

, , Belhumeur , , 11–11–4 , , 26 , , , - , 27 , , December 7 , , 6–2 , , align="left",

, , Belhumeur , , 12–11–4 , , 28 , , , - , 28 , , December 9 , , 3–4 , , align="left",

, , Belhumeur , , 12–12–4 , , 28 , , , - , 29 , , December 10 , , 5–2 , , align="left",

, , Belhumeur , , 13–12–4 , , 30 , , , - , 30 , , December 13 , , 2–7 , , align="left", @

, , Belhumeur , , 13–13–4 , , 30 , , , - , 31 , , December 14 , , 5–3 , , align="left",

, , Belhumeur , , 14–13–4 , , 32 , , , - , 32 , , December 16 , , 2–1 , , align="left", @

, , Belhumeur , , 15–13–4 , , 34 , , , - , 33 , , December 17 , , 3–5 , , align="left",

, , Belhumeur , , 15–14–4 , , 34 , , , - , 34 , , December 20 , , 1–4 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , 15–15–4 , , 34 , , , - , 35 , , December 21 , , 6–3 , , align="left",

, , Belhumeur , , 16–15–4 , , 36 , , , - , 36 , , December 23 , , 1–6 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , 16–16–4 , , 36 , , , - , 37 , , December 27 , , 2–2 , , align="left", @

, , Belhumeur , , 16–16–5 , , 37 , , , - , 38 , , December 29 , , 4–4 , , align="left", @

, , Belhumeur , , 16–16–6 , , 38 , , , - , 39 , , December 30 , , 3–5 , , align="left", @

, , Taylor , , 16–17–6 , , 38 , , , - , - , 40 , , January 3 , , 3–1 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , 17–17–6 , , 40 , , , - , 41 , , January 7 , , 0–2 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , 17–18–6 , , 40 , , , - , 42 , , January 11 , , 2–3 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 17–19–6 , , 40 , , , - , 43 , , January 13 , , 3–2 , , align="left", @

, , Belhumeur , , 18–19–6 , , 42 , , , - , 44 , , January 14 , , 2–5 , , align="left",

, , Belhumeur , , 18–20–6 , , 42 , , , - , 45 , , January 18 , , 6–1 , , align="left",

, , Taylor , , 19–20–6 , , 44 , , , - , 46 , , January 20 , , 3–6 , , align="left", @

, , Taylor , , 19–21–6 , , 44 , , , - , 47 , , January 21 , , 4–3 , , align="left", @

, , Taylor , , 20–21–6 , , 46 , , , - , 48 , , January 23 , , 4–4 , , align="left",

, , Taylor , , 20–21–7 , , 47 , , , - , 49 , , January 25 , , 6–3 , , align="left",

, , Belhumeur , , 21–21–7 , , 49 , , , - , 50 , , January 27 , , 5–3 , , align="left", @

, , Belhumeur , , 22–21–7 , , 51 , , , - , 51 , , January 28 , , 4–3 , , align="left",

, , Taylor , , 23–21–7 , , 53 , , , - , - , 52 , , February 1 , , 5–4 , , align="left",

, , Taylor , , 24–21–7 , , 55 , , , - , 53 , , February 3 , , 2–2 , , align="left",

, , Taylor , , 24–21–8 , , 56 , , , - , 54 , , February 4 , , 2–2 , , align="left", @

, , Taylor , , 24–21–9 , , 57 , , , - , 55 , , February 7 , , 1–2 , , align="left", @

, , Taylor , , 24–22–9 , , 57 , , , - , 56 , , February 9 , , 10–5 , , align="left", @

, , Taylor , , 25–22–9 , , 59 , , , - , 57 , , February 11 , , 2–7 , , align="left", @

, , Taylor , , 25–23–9 , , 59 , , , - , 58 , , February 13 , , 8–2 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 26–23–9 , , 61 , , , - , 59 , , February 15 , , 1–3 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 26–24–9 , , 61 , , , - , 60 , , February 17 , , 7–6 , , align="left", @

, , Taylor , , 27–24–9 , , 63 , , , - , 61 , , February 18 , , 5–1 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 28–24–9 , , 65 , , , - , 62 , , February 20 , , 5–3 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , 29–24–9 , , 67 , , , - , 63 , , February 25 , , 7–0 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , 30–24–9 , , 69 , , , - , 64 , , February 28 , , 5–6 , , align="left", @

, , Taylor , , 30–25–9 , , 69 , , , - , - , 65 , , March 1 , , 0–2 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 30–26–9 , , 69 , , , - , 66 , , March 4 , , 10–0 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 31–26–9 , , 71 , , , - , 67 , , March 7 , , 2–2 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , 31–26–10 , , 72 , , , - , 68 , , March 10 , , 2–1 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 32–26–10 , , 74 , , , - , 69 , , March 11 , , 3–2 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 33–26–10 , , 76 , , , - , 70 , , March 14 , , 1–5 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , 33–27–10 , , 76 , , , - , 71 , , March 18 , , 4–4 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 33–27–11 , , 77 , , , - , 72 , , March 22 , , 9–0 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 34–27–11 , , 79 , , , - , 73 , , March 24 , , 2–3 , , align="left", @

, , Belhumeur , , 34–28–11 , , 79 , , , - , 74 , , March 25 , , 5–2 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 35–28–11 , , 81 , , , - , 75 , , March 28 , , 3–6 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , 35–29–11 , , 81 , , , - , 76 , , March 29 , , 4–2 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 36–29–11 , , 83 , , , - , 77 , , March 31 , , 10–2 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , 37–29–11 , , 85 , , , - , - , 78 , , April 1 , , 4–5 , , align="left", @

, , Taylor , , 37–30–11 , , 85 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

, - , 1 , , April 4 , , 0–3 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , North Stars lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , April 5 , , 4–1 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , Series tied 1–1 , , , - , 3 , , April 7 , , 0–5 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , North Stars lead 2–1 , , , - , 4 , , April 8 , , 3–0 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , Series tied 2–2 , , , - , 5 , , April 10 , , 3–2 OT , , align="left",

, , Favell , , Flyers lead 3–2 , , , - , 6 , , April 12 , , 4–1 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , Flyers win 4–2 , , , - , - , 1 , , April 14 , , 5–4 OT , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , Flyers lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , April 16 , , 3–4 OT , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , Series tied 1–1 , , , - , 3 , , April 19 , , 1–2 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , Canadiens lead 2–1 , , , - , 4 , , April 22 , , 1–4 , , align="left",

, , Favell , , Canadiens lead 3–1 , , , - , 5 , , April 24 , , 3–5 , , align="left", @

, , Favell , , Canadiens win 4–1 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Scoring

* ''Position abbreviations: C =

Center Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...

; D =

Defense Defense or defence may refer to: Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups * Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare * Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks * Defense industr ...

; G =

Goaltender In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as goalie or netminder) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their own team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays ...

; LW =

Left wing Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy either as a whole or of certain social hierarchies. Left-wing politic ...

; RW =

Right wing Right-wing politics is the range of Ideology#Political ideologies, political ideologies that view certain social orders and Social stratification, hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position b ...

'' * '' = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.'' * '' = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.''

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Among the team records set during the 1972–73 season was a road losing streak of eight games from October 25 to November 26, which was later matched during the 1987–88 season. On February 13,

became the first Flyer to score four goals in a game, a team record that has been tied but not surpassed in regular season play several times since. MacLeish's three goals in the second period of that game also tied the team record and the 19 minutes and 47 seconds it took him to score all four goals is the fastest four-goal game in team history. A few weeks later on March 4, MacLeish scored four goals in a game again, this time also tying the team record for points in a single period (4). On March 31, the Flyers scored a team record eight goals during the second period of a game against the

. During a 4–1 win over the

on April 5,

Barry Ashbee William Barry Ashbee (July 28, 1939 – May 12, 1977) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played five seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers between 1965 and 1974. His career en ...

became the first Flyer to record three assists in a period during a playoff game. The victory was the Flyers first playoff win since game six of their 1968 series against the

, snapping a franchise record ten game playoff losing streak.

Milestones

Franchise firsts

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 12, 1972, the day after the deciding game of the

1972 Stanley Cup Finals The 1972 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1971–72 season, and the culmination of the 1972 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers. It was t ...

, through May 10, 1973, the day of the deciding game of the

1973 Stanley Cup Finals The 1973 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1972–73 season, and the culmination of the 1973 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Chicago Black Hawks and the Montreal Canadiens, ...

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1972 NHL amateur draft, which was 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 ...

, on June 8, 1972. The Flyers traded their tenth round pick, 148th overall, to the

for cash during the draft.

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the

Richmond Robins The Richmond Robins were a professional ice hockey team based in Richmond, Virginia. They were a member of the American Hockey League for five seasons from 1971–72 to 1975–76. Their cross-state rivals in the AHL were the Virginia Wings. The ...

of the AHL, the

San Diego Gulls The San Diego Gulls are a professional ice hockey team based in San Diego. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Anaheim Ducks. The team plays its home games at Pechanga Arena. History On Jan ...

of the WHL, and the

Jersey Devils The Jersey Devils were a minor professional ice hockey team based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The Devils were formed when the Philadelphia Ramblers (EHL), Philadelphia Ramblers, a member of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), relocated from Philade ...

of the EHL.

Notes

References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:1972-73 Philadelphia Flyers season

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

Philadelphia Flyers seasons Philad Philad