The 1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' forty-seventh season in the NHL, and the club was coming off their third consecutive first place finish in 1971-72, as they finished on top of the West Division with a 46-17-15 record, tying a club record with 107 points. The Hawks swept the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL quarter-finals before they were swept by the New York Rangers in the semi-finals. In goal, Tony Esposito led the club with 32 victories and a 2.51 GAA, along with four shutouts while appearing in 56 games. Backup goaltender Gary Smith won 10 games while having a 3.54 GAA.