NHL standings at the end of December 30, 1972
| Eastern Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Boston Bruins |
36 | 25 | 8 | 3 | 53 | 161 | 108 | -0.27 | 1.20 | 14-4-0 | 11-4-3 | 9-1-0 | Won 7 | ||||||
 Montreal Canadiens |
37 | 22 | 6 | 9 | 53 | 145 | 85 | -0.18 | 1.44 | 12-2-4 | 10-4-5 | 6-2-2 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 Buffalo Sabres |
37 | 20 | 10 | 7 | 47 | 141 | 104 | -0.08 | 0.92 | 16-0-3 | 4-10-4 | 8-2-0 | Won 2 | ||||||
 New York Rangers |
37 | 22 | 12 | 3 | 47 | 140 | 100 | -0.11 | 0.97 | 14-4-1 | 8-8-2 | 6-4-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Detroit Red Wings |
36 | 15 | 16 | 5 | 35 | 108 | 121 | 0.09 | -0.27 | 10-5-3 | 5-11-2 | 4-3-3 | Tied 2 | ||||||
 Toronto Maple Leafs |
37 | 12 | 19 | 6 | 30 | 116 | 124 | 0.20 | -0.02 | 8-5-5 | 4-14-1 | 3-6-1 | Won 2 | ||||||
 Vancouver Canucks |
38 | 11 | 21 | 6 | 28 | 114 | 156 | 0.05 | -1.06 | 9-9-2 | 2-12-4 | 3-4-3 | Won 1 | ||||||
 New York Islanders |
36 | 4 | 28 | 4 | 12 | 73 | 172 | 0.22 | -2.53 | 3-12-3 | 1-16-1 | 1-7-2 | Lost 3 | ||||||
| Western Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chicago Black Hawks |
36 | 21 | 13 | 2 | 44 | 135 | 102 | -0.13 | 0.78 | 13-4-1 | 8-9-1 | 6-4-0 | Lost 2 | ||||||
 Minnesota North Stars |
36 | 19 | 14 | 3 | 41 | 122 | 102 | -0.04 | 0.52 | 13-3-2 | 6-11-1 | 5-5-0 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Los Angeles Kings |
38 | 18 | 16 | 4 | 40 | 120 | 117 | -0.04 | 0.04 | 14-3-3 | 4-13-1 | 6-4-0 | Won 4 | ||||||
 Philadelphia Flyers |
39 | 16 | 17 | 6 | 38 | 135 | 141 | -0.01 | -0.16 | 14-4-1 | 2-13-5 | 3-5-2 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 Pittsburgh Penguins |
37 | 15 | 16 | 6 | 36 | 130 | 122 | -0.11 | 0.11 | 11-5-2 | 4-11-4 | 2-5-3 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 Atlanta Flames |
39 | 15 | 18 | 6 | 36 | 97 | 114 | 0.12 | -0.32 | 8-6-3 | 7-12-3 | 4-5-1 | Tied 1 | ||||||
 St. Louis Blues |
35 | 12 | 17 | 6 | 30 | 98 | 115 | 0.23 | -0.25 | 7-9-3 | 5-8-3 | 4-5-1 | Lost 1 | ||||||
 California Golden Seals |
36 | 6 | 22 | 8 | 20 | 98 | 150 | 0.08 | -1.36 | 4-8-6 | 2-14-2 | 2-6-2 | Won 1 | ||||||