NHL standings at the end of December 8, 1972
| Eastern Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Montreal Canadiens |
27 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 39 | 115 | 65 | -0.09 | 1.76 | 9-2-3 | 7-2-4 | 4-3-3 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Boston Bruins |
26 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 35 | 118 | 84 | -0.38 | 0.93 | 10-4-0 | 6-3-3 | 9-0-1 | Won 3 | ||||||
 New York Rangers |
27 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 35 | 103 | 72 | -0.05 | 1.10 | 11-2-1 | 5-6-2 | 4-4-2 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Buffalo Sabres |
28 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 33 | 102 | 84 | -0.20 | 0.44 | 11-0-3 | 2-8-4 | 6-4-0 | Won 3 | ||||||
 Detroit Red Wings |
25 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 24 | 82 | 86 | 0.09 | -0.07 | 7-4-1 | 4-8-1 | 4-6-0 | Lost 3 | ||||||
 Toronto Maple Leafs |
26 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 22 | 84 | 82 | 0.18 | 0.26 | 6-3-3 | 3-10-1 | 3-5-2 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Vancouver Canucks |
27 | 8 | 17 | 2 | 18 | 78 | 112 | 0.22 | -1.04 | 6-7-1 | 2-10-1 | 3-7-0 | Lost 3 | ||||||
 New York Islanders |
24 | 3 | 19 | 2 | 8 | 50 | 121 | 0.26 | -2.69 | 2-10-1 | 1-9-1 | 1-8-1 | Lost 5 | ||||||
| Western Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chicago Black Hawks |
26 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 32 | 96 | 73 | -0.12 | 0.76 | 9-3-1 | 6-6-1 | 8-2-0 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Minnesota North Stars |
27 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 31 | 88 | 78 | -0.08 | 0.29 | 9-2-2 | 5-8-1 | 6-3-1 | Lost 3 | ||||||
 Pittsburgh Penguins |
27 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 29 | 103 | 87 | -0.20 | 0.39 | 9-3-1 | 4-8-2 | 6-2-2 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 Philadelphia Flyers |
27 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 28 | 98 | 95 | 0.04 | 0.15 | 11-2-1 | 1-9-3 | 3-5-2 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Los Angeles Kings |
28 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 28 | 93 | 93 | -0.07 | -0.07 | 9-2-3 | 3-10-1 | 3-4-3 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Atlanta Flames |
29 | 11 | 13 | 5 | 27 | 70 | 90 | 0.10 | -0.59 | 6-4-3 | 5-9-2 | 3-5-2 | Won 1 | ||||||
 St. Louis Blues |
25 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 21 | 61 | 79 | 0.32 | -0.40 | 5-6-3 | 3-6-2 | 5-5-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 California Golden Seals |
25 | 4 | 15 | 6 | 14 | 65 | 105 | 0.05 | -1.55 | 2-5-4 | 2-10-2 | 2-6-2 | Tied 2 | ||||||