The 1972-73 NHL season opened with something truly rare: two brand-new franchises beginning their journey against each other. On October 7, 1972, the New York Islanders and Atlanta Flames met at Nassau County Coliseum, marking the first official NHL game in the history of both clubs. And with two fresh teams on the ice, the night gave fans a flood of “firsts” that would forever be etched into the record books.
Atlanta struck first when Morris Stefaniw made Flames history, and NHL trivia history, with the first goal in franchise history, a shorthanded marker at 12:48 of the first period. Assisted by Lew Morrison, the goal came with Randy Manery in the box for hooking. Amazingly, that one moment was also the only NHL goal Stefaniw ever scored, as his career lasted just 13 games that season.
The Islanders’ turn came late in the second period. Veteran Ed Westfall buried the first goal in Islanders history, and fittingly, it came on the power play. With Larry Romanchych off for hooking, Westfall capitalized on a setup from Germain Gagnon and Dave Hudson, beating Phil Myre at 19:29 to give New York its first ever tally.
The Flames took control in the third when Bob Leiter scored the first game-winning goal in franchise history, making it 3-1 at the 3:17 mark. The Flames would hold on for a 3-2 victory, giving Phil Myre the first win ever recorded by an Atlanta goaltender. The game also saw the first penalties for each franchise, Randy Manery for Atlanta and Ken Murray for New York, adding to the long list of “day one” milestones.
Islanders vs. Flames: Comparing the 1972-73 Inaugural NHL Seasons
When the NHL expanded for the 1972-73 season, two brand-new franchises took the ice for the first time: the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Flames. Both clubs launched their journeys on the same night, October 7, 1972, but their inaugural seasons unfolded in dramatically different ways. While the Islanders endured growing pains, the Flames delivered one of the more competitive expansion debuts of their era. Here’s a detailed look at how both teams fared in their first year.
The Islanders struggled out of the gate, finishing last overall with a 12-60-6 record. Their -177 goal differential remains one of the roughest inaugural campaigns in league history. The Flames, meanwhile, surprised much of the hockey world by playing disciplined, structured hockey that earned them 65 points and a mid-pack finish in the West Division. Though neither team qualified for the postseason, Atlanta quickly showed it could compete with established clubs.
Offensively, both teams lacked star power, but the Flames generated more balanced production. The Islanders leaned heavily on Ralph Stewart and Billy Harris for scoring, while Atlanta spread its offense across players like Rey Comeau, Bob Leiter, and Bobby Stewart. Defensively, the contrast was even sharper: the Flames allowed 102 fewer goals than the Islanders, thanks in part to steadier goaltending.
Between the pipes, the Islanders split duties between future Hall of Famer Billy Smith and Gerry Desjardins. Smith showed flashes of what he would become, but the team in front of him struggled badly. In Atlanta, Phil Myre and Dan Bouchard formed a reliable tandem that kept the Flames competitive most nights.
Coaching and management also played major roles. The Islanders changed coaches early in the season and relied heavily on long-term planning from GM Bill Torrey, a strategy that eventually paid off with multiple Stanley Cups. The Flames, guided by coach Boom Boom Geoffrion and GM Cliff Fletcher, took a more immediate competitive approach, emphasizing structure over raw skill.
Ultimately, the debut seasons of these two expansion teams helped shape their long-term identities. The Islanders’ early struggles positioned them for franchise-defining draft picks and a dynasty that dominated the early 1980s. The Flames set a foundation for competitive hockey that would later flourish after the franchise moved to Calgary.
