NHL standings at the end of October 17, 1972
| Eastern Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Detroit Red Wings |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 22 | 8 | -0.32 | 3.18 | 4-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 4-0-0 | Won 4 | ||||||
 Buffalo Sabres |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 9 | -0.60 | 1.15 | 3-0-0 | 0-0-1 | 3-0-1 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Montreal Canadiens |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 3 | -0.41 | 2.34 | 3-0-0 | 0-0-1 | 3-0-1 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Vancouver Canucks |
5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 20 | -0.64 | -1.04 | 2-0-0 | 0-2-1 | 2-2-1 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Boston Bruins |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 16 | 0.22 | 1.22 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 2-2-0 | Won 2 | ||||||
 New York Rangers |
5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 21 | 0.80 | -0.20 | 2-0-0 | 0-3-0 | 2-3-0 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Toronto Maple Leafs |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 0.70 | 0.45 | 1-1-1 | 0-1-0 | 1-2-1 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 New York Islanders |
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 0.03 | -1.97 | 1-3-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-3-0 | Lost 2 | ||||||
| Western Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Pittsburgh Penguins |
5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 23 | 14 | -0.81 | 0.99 | 2-0-0 | 2-1-0 | 4-1-0 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Chicago Black Hawks |
6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 20 | 14 | -0.41 | 0.59 | 2-1-0 | 2-1-0 | 4-2-0 | Lost 2 | ||||||
 Minnesota North Stars |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 14 | -0.10 | -1.10 | 1-0-1 | 0-2-0 | 1-2-1 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Philadelphia Flyers |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 0.04 | -0.96 | 1-1-0 | 0-1-1 | 1-2-1 | Lost 2 | ||||||
 St. Louis Blues |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 0.31 | -0.44 | 0-2-1 | 1-0-0 | 1-2-1 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Atlanta Flames |
5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 0.67 | -0.73 | 0-0-1 | 1-3-0 | 1-3-1 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 California Golden Seals |
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 14 | -0.53 | -1.53 | 0-0-0 | 1-3-0 | 1-3-0 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Los Angeles Kings |
6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 30 | 0.84 | -1.33 | 0-0-0 | 1-5-0 | 1-5-0 | Lost 4 | ||||||