1972-1973 New England Whalers
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1972-1973 Coach: Jack Kelley NEW ENGLAND Record: 46-30-2, 94 points. WHALERS Finish: 1st, Eastern Division Playoffs: Won the World Trophy Championship. The Whalers took a more conservative approach to building their club, foregoing the big splashy names and opting for a squad of seasoned pros that gave the Whalers major-league talent and three-line depth. The approach paid significant dividends as the Whalers were the first champions of the World Hockey Association, winning the World Trophy in a five-game battle with Winnipeg. Tom Webster bolted from the California Golden Seals to the Whalers and provided 53 goals and 103 points, while Terry Caffery earned the Rookie-of-the-Year award with 39 goals and 100 points. Larry Pleau and Tim Sheehy also provided 30-goal seasons, leading a balanced attack that produced 318 goals for the season. The defense was anchored by ex-Leafs Rick Ley, Brad Selwood and Jim Dorey, and ex-Bruins Ted Green and Paul Hurley. Al Smith handled the bulk of the goaltending, winning 31 games, and the team was ably coached by former Boston University coach Jack Kelley. Summary of Games (@ Away, * Overtime) date opponent score record pts gf-ga date opponent score record pts gf-ga 1. Oct 12 Philadelphia 4-3 W 1-0-0 2 4-3 40. Dec 31 @ New York 3-0 W 24-15-1 49 174-136 2. Oct 16 Chicago 4-1 W 2-0-0 4 8-4 41. Jan 9 @ Houston 5-7 L 24-16-1 49 179-143 3. Oct 18 @ Houston 4-1 W 3-0-0 6 12-5 42. Jan 13 New York • 4-3 W 25-16-1 51 183-146 4. Oct 19 Québec 3-4 L 3-1-0 6 15-9 43. Jan 17 @ Chicago 4-2 W 26-16-1 53 187-148 5. Oct 21 @ Québec 4-6 L 3-2-0 6 19-15 44. Jan 19 @ Winnipeg 2-6 L 26-17-1 53 189-154 6. Oct 23 Minnesota 5-1 W 4-2-0 8 24-16 45. Jan 21 @ Winnipeg 7-2 W 27-17-1 55 196-156 7. Oct 24 @ Cleveland *3-2 W 5-2-0 10 27-18 46. Jan 24 Winnipeg 6-1 W 28-17-1 57 202-157 8. Oct 26 @ New York 6-7 L 5-3-0 10 33-25 47. Jan 25 @ Ottawa 4-2 W 29-17-1 59 206-159 9. Oct 28 Alberta • 1-4 L 5-4-0 10 34-29 48. Jan 27 Québec • 1-3 L 29-18-1 59 207-162 10. Nov 1 Chicago • 4-2 W 6-4-0 12 38-31 49. Jan 29 @ Cleveland 2-3 L 29-19-1 59 209-165 11. Nov 4 Philadelphia 8-4 W 7-4-0 14 46-35 50. Jan 30 Cleveland 4-1 W 30-19-1 61 213-166 12. Nov 6 Winnipeg 6-2 W 8-4-0 16 52-37 51. Feb 1 @ Houston *5-4 W 31-19-1 63 218-170 13. Nov 11 New York 6-5 W 9-4-0 18 58-42 52. Feb 2 @ Los Angeles 1-3 L 31-20-1 63 219-173 14. Nov 13 Houston 4-4 T 9-4-1 19 62-46 53. Feb 4 @ Los Angeles 3-4 L 31-21-1 63 222-177 15. Nov 17 @ Cleveland 0-3 L 9-5-1 19 62-49 54. Feb 6 @ Alberta 4-2 W 32-21-1 65 226-179 16. Nov 18 Ottawa • 3-2 W 10-5-1 21 65-51 55. Feb 7 @ Alberta 1-3 L 32-22-1 65 227-182 17. Nov 20 Ottawa 7-5 W 11-5-1 23 72-56 56. Feb 9 Ottawa • 4-7 L 32-23-1 65 231-189 18. Nov 22 @ New York 1-3 L 11-6-1 23 73-59 57. Feb 11 @ Québec 2-2 T 32-23-2 66 233-191 19. Nov 24 Alberta • 7-2 W 12-6-1 25 80-61 58. Feb 13 @ Philadelphia 4-5 L 32-24-2 66 237-196 20. Nov 26 @ Minnesota 1-3 L 12-7-1 25 81-64 59. Feb 15 Los Angeles • 6-5 W 33-24-2 68 243-201 21. Nov 27 Cleveland 3-0 W 13-7-1 27 84-64 60. Feb 17 @ Québec 6-4 W 34-24-2 70 249-205 22. Nov 29 @ New York 6-7 L 13-8-1 27 90-71 61. Feb 20 @ Philadelphia 2-4 L 34-25-2 70 251-209 23. Dec 1 @ Philadelphia 3-5 L 13-9-1 27 93-76 62. Feb 23 Alberta • 4-2 W 35-25-2 72 255-211 24. Dec 2 Québec 7-2 W 14-9-1 29 100-78 63. Mar 4 @ Minnesota 2-4 L 35-26-2 72 257-215 25. Dec 4 Ottawa 7-2 W 15-9-1 31 107-80 64. Mar 7 Cleveland *1-0 W 36-26-2 74 258-215 26. Dec 6 New York 4-3 W 16-9-1 33 111-83 65. Mar 9 Cleveland • 5-4 W 37-26-2 76 263-219 27. Dec 7 @ Ottawa 4-2 W 17-9-1 35 115-85 66. Mar 10 Minnesota • 3-1 W 38-26-2 78 266-220 28. Dec 9 New York 4-2 W 18-9-1 37 119-87 67. Mar 13 @ Chicago *4-3 W 39-26-2 80 270-223 29. Dec 11 Winnipeg 4-3 W 19-9-1 39 123-90 68. Mar 14 @ Winnipeg 7-5 W 40-26-2 82 277-228 30. Dec 13 @ Chicago 3-6 L 19-10-1 39 126-96 69. Mar 16 Minnesota • 7-4 W 41-26-2 84 284-232 31. Dec 14 @ Los Angeles 5-2 W 20-10-1 41 131-98 70. Mar 17 Philadelphia • 4-0 W 42-26-2 86 288-232 32. Dec 16 @ Philadelphia 10-6 W 21-10-1 43 141-104 71. Mar 20 Los Angeles • 4-1 W 43-26-2 88 292-233 33. Dec 17 Philadelphia 3-6 L 21-11-1 43 144-110 72. Mar 22 @ Ottawa 2-4 L 43-27-2 88 294-237 34. Dec 19 @ Minnesota 5-7 L 21-12-1 43 149-117 73. Mar 23 Chicago • 3-1 W 44-27-2 90 297-238 35. Dec 21 @ Alberta 4-5 L 21-13-1 43 153-122 74. Mar 26 @ Cleveland 5-7 L 44-28-2 90 302-245 36. Dec 24 Los Angeles 3-5 L 21-14-1 43 156-127 75. Mar 27 Houston • 1-6 L 44-29-2 90 303-251 37. Dec 25 @ New York 8-2 W 22-14-1 45 164-129 76. Mar 29 @ Ottawa 2-5 L 44-30-2 90 305-256 38. Dec 28 @ Québec 5-3 W 23-14-1 47 169-132 77. Mar 30 New York • *5-4 W 45-30-2 92 310-260 39. Dec 29 Houston • 2-4 L 23-15-1 47 171-136 78. Apr 1 Québec • 8-3 W 46-30-2 94 318-263 • Home games played at the Boston Arena 88 .