NHL standings at the end of December 9, 1972
| Eastern Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Montreal Canadiens |
28 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 41 | 117 | 66 | -0.14 | 1.68 | 10-2-3 | 7-2-4 | 4-3-3 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Boston Bruins |
27 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 37 | 122 | 87 | -0.37 | 0.92 | 10-4-0 | 7-3-3 | 9-0-1 | Won 4 | ||||||
 New York Rangers |
28 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 37 | 107 | 73 | -0.14 | 1.08 | 11-2-1 | 6-6-2 | 4-4-2 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Buffalo Sabres |
28 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 33 | 102 | 84 | -0.18 | 0.46 | 11-0-3 | 2-8-4 | 6-4-0 | Won 3 | ||||||
 Detroit Red Wings |
26 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 24 | 82 | 93 | 0.10 | -0.32 | 7-4-1 | 4-9-1 | 3-7-0 | Lost 4 | ||||||
 Toronto Maple Leafs |
27 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 23 | 89 | 87 | 0.14 | 0.21 | 6-3-4 | 3-10-1 | 3-5-2 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 Vancouver Canucks |
28 | 8 | 17 | 3 | 19 | 83 | 117 | 0.22 | -0.99 | 6-7-1 | 2-10-2 | 2-7-1 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 New York Islanders |
25 | 3 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 51 | 125 | 0.30 | -2.66 | 2-11-1 | 1-9-1 | 1-8-1 | Lost 6 | ||||||
| Western Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Minnesota North Stars |
28 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 33 | 95 | 78 | -0.09 | 0.52 | 10-2-2 | 5-8-1 | 7-3-0 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Chicago Black Hawks |
26 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 32 | 96 | 73 | -0.12 | 0.77 | 9-3-1 | 6-6-1 | 8-2-0 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Los Angeles Kings |
29 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 30 | 96 | 94 | -0.06 | 0.01 | 10-2-3 | 3-10-1 | 4-3-3 | Won 1 | ||||||
 Pittsburgh Penguins |
28 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 29 | 104 | 90 | -0.18 | 0.32 | 9-3-1 | 4-9-2 | 5-3-2 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Philadelphia Flyers |
28 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 28 | 101 | 99 | 0.06 | 0.13 | 11-3-1 | 1-9-3 | 3-5-2 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Atlanta Flames |
30 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 27 | 71 | 92 | 0.11 | -0.59 | 6-4-3 | 5-10-2 | 3-5-2 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 St. Louis Blues |
26 | 9 | 12 | 5 | 23 | 63 | 80 | 0.28 | -0.37 | 6-6-3 | 3-6-2 | 6-4-0 | Won 1 | ||||||
 California Golden Seals |
26 | 4 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 66 | 107 | 0.11 | -1.47 | 2-5-4 | 2-11-2 | 2-6-2 | Lost 1 | ||||||