1972-73 Cleveland Crusaders Game-by-Game Results
World Hockey Association (WHA)
Team Record: 43-32-3 - 89 points
Finishing 2nd in the WHA's WHA East Division
Postseason: 5-4
Lost AVCO Cup semi-finals
Division Semi-Finals - Defeated Philadelphia Blazers 4-0
Division Finals - Lost to New England Whalers 4-1
Coach: Bill Needham (43-32-3)
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
1972-73 Cleveland Crusaders StatisticsTeam Record: 43-32-3 - 89 points
Finishing 2nd in the WHA's WHA East Division
Postseason: 5-4
Lost AVCO Cup semi-finals
Division Semi-Finals - Defeated Philadelphia Blazers 4-0
Division Finals - Lost to New England Whalers 4-1
Coach: Bill Needham (43-32-3)
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
1972-73 Cleveland Crusaders Roster
The Cleveland Crusaders of the World Hockey Association ended the 1972-73 season with a record of 43 wins and 32 losses and 3 ties for 89 points, finishing second in the WHA's WHA East Division. The team compiled a postseason mark of 5-4.
The Crusaders gave up 239 goals, the lowest total in the circuit. Cleveland netted 287 goals. Gary Jarrett scored 40 goals for the team, while Ron Buchanan and Gerry Pinder tallied 30 or more as well. Ron Buchanan contributed 44 assists. Gerry Cheevers earned 32 wins in front of the net for the squad and a team-best 2.84 goals against average, pacing goaltenders with enough qualifying appearances.
Bill Needham coached the team. The 1972-73 Cleveland Crusaders lost in the AVCO Cup semi-finals.
Click on column headings to sort.
Regular Season Goals For: 287
Regular Season Goals Against: 239
| Date | Game | Res | Home | Road | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 11, 1972 | Quebec Nordiques 0 at Cleveland Crusaders 2 | W | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 | ||
| October 14, 1972 | Alberta Oilers 2 at Cleveland Crusaders 3 | W | 2-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 2-0-0 | ||
| October 15, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 7 at Ottawa Nationals 5 | W | 2-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 3-0-0 | ||
| October 17, 1972 | New York Raiders 3 at Cleveland Crusaders 4 | W | 3-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 4-0-0 | OT | |
| October 19, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 3 at New York Raiders 1 | W | 3-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 5-0-0 | ||
| October 21, 1972 | Ottawa Nationals 5 at Cleveland Crusaders 3 | L | 3-1-0 | 2-0-0 | 5-1-0 | ||
| October 24, 1972 | New England Whalers 3 at Cleveland Crusaders 2 | L | 3-2-0 | 2-0-0 | 5-2-0 | OT | |
| October 25, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 8 at Philadelphia Blazers 2 | W | 3-2-0 | 3-0-0 | 6-2-0 | ||
| October 27, 1972 | Alberta Oilers 0 at Cleveland Crusaders 6 | W | 4-2-0 | 3-0-0 | 7-2-0 | ||
| October 29, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 2 at Quebec Nordiques 2 | T | 4-2-0 | 3-0-1 | 7-2-1 | OT | |
| November 1, 1972 | Philadelphia Blazers 7 at Cleveland Crusaders 5 | L | 4-3-0 | 3-0-1 | 7-3-1 | ||
| November 4, 1972 | Quebec Nordiques 3 at Cleveland Crusaders 5 | W | 5-3-0 | 3-0-1 | 8-3-1 | ||
| November 11, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 4 at Chicago Cougars 1 | W | 5-3-0 | 4-0-1 | 9-3-1 | ||
| November 12, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 3 at Alberta Oilers 1 | W | 5-3-0 | 5-0-1 | 10-3-1 | ||
| November 14, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 3 at Minnesota Fighting Saints 5 | L | 5-3-0 | 5-1-1 | 10-4-1 | ||
| November 16, 1972 | Ottawa Nationals 3 at Cleveland Crusaders 6 | W | 6-3-0 | 5-1-1 | 11-4-1 | ||
| November 17, 1972 | New England Whalers 0 at Cleveland Crusaders 3 | W | 7-3-0 | 5-1-1 | 12-4-1 | ||
| November 19, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 2 at Houston Aeros 4 | L | 7-3-0 | 5-2-1 | 12-5-1 | ||
| November 21, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 5 at Los Angeles Sharks 2 | W | 7-3-0 | 6-2-1 | 13-5-1 | ||
| November 24, 1972 | Los Angeles Sharks 2 at Cleveland Crusaders 3 | W | 8-3-0 | 6-2-1 | 14-5-1 | OT | |
| November 25, 1972 | Houston Aeros 3 at Cleveland Crusaders 1 | L | 8-4-0 | 6-2-1 | 14-6-1 | ||
| November 27, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 0 at New England Whalers 3 | L | 8-4-0 | 6-3-1 | 14-7-1 | ||
| November 28, 1972 | Houston Aeros 3 at Cleveland Crusaders 1 | L | 8-5-0 | 6-3-1 | 14-8-1 | ||
| November 30, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 2 at Ottawa Nationals 3 | L | 8-5-0 | 6-4-1 | 14-9-1 | ||
| December 2, 1972 | Philadelphia Blazers 2 at Cleveland Crusaders 8 | W | 9-5-0 | 6-4-1 | 15-9-1 | ||
| December 3, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 2 at New York Raiders 5 | L | 9-5-0 | 6-5-1 | 15-10-1 | ||
| December 5, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 4 at Philadelphia Blazers 3 | W | 9-5-0 | 7-5-1 | 16-10-1 | OT | |
| December 7, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 3 at Quebec Nordiques 1 | W | 9-5-0 | 8-5-1 | 17-10-1 | ||
| December 9, 1972 | Winnipeg Jets 3 at Cleveland Crusaders 2 | L | 9-6-0 | 8-5-1 | 17-11-1 | OT | |
| December 10, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 3 at Minnesota Fighting Saints 4 | L | 9-6-0 | 8-6-1 | 17-12-1 | OT | |
| December 15, 1972 | Quebec Nordiques 3 at Cleveland Crusaders 6 | W | 10-6-0 | 8-6-1 | 18-12-1 | ||
| December 17, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 2 at Quebec Nordiques 3 | L | 10-6-0 | 8-7-1 | 18-13-1 | ||
| December 19, 1972 | Cleveland Crusaders 1 at Chicago Cougars 6 | L | 10-6-0 | 8-8-1 | 18-14-1 | ||
| December 21, 1972 | New York Raiders 2 at Cleveland Crusaders 6 | W | 11-6-0 | 8-8-1 | 19-14-1 | ||
| December 23, 1972 | Minnesota Fighting Saints 1 at Cleveland Crusaders 3 | W | 12-6-0 | 8-8-1 | 20-14-1 | ||
| December 25, 1972 | Philadelphia Blazers 0 at Cleveland Crusaders 8 | W | 13-6-0 | 8-8-1 | 21-14-1 | ||
| December 29, 1972 | Quebec Nordiques 3 at Cleveland Crusaders 5 | W | 14-6-0 | 8-8-1 | 22-14-1 | ||
| December 30, 1972 | Houston Aeros 3 at Cleveland Crusaders 4 | W | 15-6-0 | 8-8-1 | 23-14-1 | OT | |
| January 11, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 4 at Minnesota Fighting Saints 3 | W | 15-6-0 | 9-8-1 | 24-14-1 | ||
| January 12, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 3 at Winnipeg Jets 5 | L | 15-6-0 | 9-9-1 | 24-15-1 | ||
| January 14, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 1 at Winnipeg Jets 3 | L | 15-6-0 | 9-10-1 | 24-16-1 | ||
| January 16, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 4 at Philadelphia Blazers 3 | W | 15-6-0 | 10-10-1 | 25-16-1 | ||
| January 17, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 5 at Houston Aeros 0 | W | 15-6-0 | 11-10-1 | 26-16-1 | ||
| January 19, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 4 at Los Angeles Sharks 1 | W | 15-6-0 | 12-10-1 | 27-16-1 | ||
| January 21, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 2 at Los Angeles Sharks 3 | L | 15-6-0 | 12-11-1 | 27-17-1 | ||
| January 23, 1973 | Winnipeg Jets 4 at Cleveland Crusaders 5 | W | 16-6-0 | 12-11-1 | 28-17-1 | OT | |
| January 25, 1973 | Philadelphia Blazers 7 at Cleveland Crusaders 4 | L | 16-7-0 | 12-11-1 | 28-18-1 | ||
| January 27, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 2 at Chicago Cougars 1 | W | 16-7-0 | 13-11-1 | 29-18-1 | ||
| January 29, 1973 | New England Whalers 2 at Cleveland Crusaders 3 | W | 17-7-0 | 13-11-1 | 30-18-1 | ||
| January 31, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 1 at New England Whalers 4 | L | 17-7-0 | 13-12-1 | 30-19-1 | ||
| February 1, 1973 | Ottawa Nationals 2 at Cleveland Crusaders 2 | T | 17-7-1 | 13-12-1 | 30-19-2 | OT | |
| February 2, 1973 | Philadelphia Blazers 3 at Cleveland Crusaders 5 | W | 18-7-1 | 13-12-1 | 31-19-2 | ||
| February 4, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 3 at Ottawa Nationals 2 | W | 18-7-1 | 14-12-1 | 32-19-2 | ||
| February 5, 1973 | Chicago Cougars 5 at Cleveland Crusaders 7 | W | 19-7-1 | 14-12-1 | 33-19-2 | ||
| February 10, 1973 | New York Raiders 4 at Cleveland Crusaders 8 | W | 20-7-1 | 14-12-1 | 34-19-2 | ||
| February 11, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 1 at Philadelphia Blazers 6 | L | 20-7-1 | 14-13-1 | 34-20-2 | ||
| February 12, 1973 | New York Raiders 2 at Cleveland Crusaders 8 | W | 21-7-1 | 14-13-1 | 35-20-2 | ||
| February 14, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 5 at Philadelphia Blazers 6 | L | 21-7-1 | 14-14-1 | 35-21-2 | ||
| February 17, 1973 | Minnesota Fighting Saints 7 at Cleveland Crusaders 3 | L | 21-8-1 | 14-14-1 | 35-22-2 | ||
| February 20, 1973 | Alberta Oilers 4 at Cleveland Crusaders 5 | W | 22-8-1 | 14-14-1 | 36-22-2 | ||
| February 24, 1973 | Chicago Cougars 5 at Cleveland Crusaders 2 | L | 22-9-1 | 14-14-1 | 36-23-2 | ||
| February 25, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 5 at New York Raiders 9 | L | 22-9-1 | 14-15-1 | 36-24-2 | ||
| February 27, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 1 at Ottawa Nationals 2 | L | 22-9-1 | 14-16-1 | 36-25-2 | ||
| March 3, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 4 at New York Raiders 3 | W | 22-9-1 | 15-16-1 | 37-25-2 | ||
| March 7, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 0 at New England Whalers 1 | L | 22-9-1 | 15-17-1 | 37-26-2 | OT | |
| March 9, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 4 at New England Whalers 5 | L | 22-9-1 | 15-18-1 | 37-27-2 | ||
| March 11, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 11 at Winnipeg Jets 2 | W | 22-9-1 | 16-18-1 | 38-27-2 | ||
| March 13, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 2 at Alberta Oilers 4 | L | 22-9-1 | 16-19-1 | 38-28-2 | ||
| March 14, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 2 at Alberta Oilers 4 | L | 22-9-1 | 16-20-1 | 38-29-2 | ||
| March 17, 1973 | Los Angeles Sharks 2 at Cleveland Crusaders 0 | L | 22-10-1 | 16-20-1 | 38-30-2 | ||
| March 19, 1973 | Los Angeles Sharks 5 at Cleveland Crusaders 5 | T | 22-10-2 | 16-20-1 | 38-30-3 | OT | |
| March 20, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 1 at Quebec Nordiques 4 | L | 22-10-2 | 16-21-1 | 38-31-3 | ||
| March 24, 1973 | Minnesota Fighting Saints 2 at Cleveland Crusaders 1 | L | 22-11-2 | 16-21-1 | 38-32-3 | OT | |
| March 25, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 4 at Houston Aeros 2 | W | 22-11-2 | 17-21-1 | 39-32-3 | ||
| March 26, 1973 | New England Whalers 5 at Cleveland Crusaders 7 | W | 23-11-2 | 17-21-1 | 40-32-3 | ||
| March 30, 1973 | Winnipeg Jets 2 at Cleveland Crusaders 4 | W | 24-11-2 | 17-21-1 | 41-32-3 | ||
| March 31, 1973 | Ottawa Nationals 2 at Cleveland Crusaders 4 | W | 25-11-2 | 17-21-1 | 42-32-3 | ||
| April 1, 1973 | Chicago Cougars 1 at Cleveland Crusaders 5 | W | 26-11-2 | 17-21-1 | 43-32-3 | ||
| April 4, 1973 | Philadelphia Blazers 2 at Cleveland Crusaders 3 | W | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 | OT | |
| April 7, 1973 | Philadelphia Blazers 1 at Cleveland Crusaders 7 | W | 2-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 2-0-0 | ||
| April 8, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 3 at Philadelphia Blazers 1 | W | 2-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 3-0-0 | ||
| April 11, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 6 at Philadelphia Blazers 2 | W | 2-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 4-0-0 | ||
| April 18, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 2 at New England Whalers 3 | L | 2-0-0 | 2-1-0 | 4-1-0 | ||
| April 19, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 2 at New England Whalers 3 | L | 2-0-0 | 2-2-0 | 4-2-0 | ||
| April 21, 1973 | New England Whalers 5 at Cleveland Crusaders 4 | L | 2-1-0 | 2-2-0 | 4-3-0 | ||
| April 22, 1973 | New England Whalers 2 at Cleveland Crusaders 5 | W | 3-1-0 | 2-2-0 | 5-3-0 | ||
| April 26, 1973 | Cleveland Crusaders 1 at New England Whalers 3 | L | 3-1-0 | 2-3-0 | 5-4-0 |
