[1][2] The Oilers victory over the Ottawa Nationals on October 11, 1972, was the first game in league history, with Ron Anderson scoring the first goal.
On January 30, 1973, in an 11–3 defeat of the New York Raiders, Harrison set a major professional hockey record with 10 points (3G, 7A) in a single game.
The Minnesota Fighting Saints finished with an identical record, so a single game playoff was contested to decide fourth place in the Western Division.
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties In Minutes †Denotes player traded to the Oilers mid-season.
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average Four Oilers were selected to play in the mid-season All-Star Game on January 6: The WHA General Player Draft was held on February 12–13, 1972 to stock each new WHA team with their initial rosters.