2000/01
With
Eric Lindros sitting out the entire season due to lingering effects of
his many concussions, while seeking to be traded as it became clear his
Flyers career was over. However, the Flyers continue to play solid
hockey as Bill Barber took over the coaching reigns in the middle of the
season leading the Flyers to a solid 43-25-11-3 record, as Roman
Cechmanek established himself as the new goalie being named as a 2nd
team All-Star while getting 10 shutouts. However, in the playoffs the
Flyers would experience a let down as they are beaten by the Buffalo
Sabres in 6 games. Following the season Eric Lindros would finally be
traded to the New York Rangers for Jan Hlavac, Kim Johnsson, Pavel
Brendl and a draft pick.
2001/02
During the preseason the First Union
Center is the scene of one of the most poignant moments following the
September 11th terrorist attacks when a September 20trh exhibition game
against the New York Rangers is stopped tied at 2 so fans attending the
game can watch a speech by President George W. Bush in front of
Congress. With Eric Lindros gone the Flyers signed free agent Jeremy
Roenick, who would have an immediate impact on the team leading the
Flyers in scoring as they won the Atlantic Division with a solid record
of 42-27-10-3, as Roman Cechmanek had another solid season with a 2.05
GAA. Checkmanek would come up big as the playoffs started getting a
shutout in Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators as the Flyers won in
overtime on a goal by Ruslan Fedotenko. However, the Flyers would find
themselves in a goal scoring-drought as they were held off the
scoreboard in the next 3 games as the Senators grabbed a 3-1 series
lead. Dan McGillis would break the scoring drought in Game 5 but the
Senators would end up eliminating the Flyers 2-1 with a goal by Martin
Havlat in overtime. Following the playoffs the Flyers would fire Coach
Bill Barber, replacing him with Ken Hitchcock.
2002/03
Under new Coach Ken
Hitchcock, the Flyers continued to play strong hockey battling the New
Jersey Devils all season for first place in the Atlantic Division. With
goalie Roman Chechmanek having another solid season with an impressive
1.83 GAA, the Flyers would make several big trades, including the
acquisition of Tony Amonte to avoid another playoff scoring drought. The
Flyers would end up falling 1-point short of first place as they entered
the playoffs with a record of 45-20-13-4. In the playoffs the Flyers
would find themselves in a tough first round battle against the Toronto
Maple Leafs as both teams battle back and forth without giving an inch.
The series would end up going 7 games as all 3 games played in Toronto
went into multiple overtimes. However, Game 7 would not be close as the
Flyers erupted for a 6-1 win to set up a rematch with the Ottawa
Senators. Through the first 4 games the Flyers battled the Senator
evenly as Roman Chechmanek earned 2 shutouts. However, Chechmanek would
unravel allowing 10 goals in the last 2 games as the Flyers fell in 6.
General Manager Bobby Clarke would criticize his Chechmanek openly
trading him to the Los Angeles Kings for a draft pick less then a month
after being eliminated.
2003/04
The Flyers came out of the gate
flying as they held a 14-2-5-1 record after the first two months which
included an unbeaten November. However over the next few months the
Flyers would come back to the pack and would find themselves in a
season-long battle with the New Jersey Devils for first place in the
Atlantic Division. Despite losing Jeremy Roenick for a month in February
to a broken jaw the Flyers would end up getting the edge by 1 point with
a 40-21-15-6 record. In the playoffs the Flyers would meet the same
Devils and would take advantage of the home edge earned by winning the
division by taking each of the first two games with 3-2 scores. After
losing Game 3 in the Meadowlands 4-2 the Flyers took a commanding 3-1
series lead as Robert Esche stopped 35 shots in a 3-0 shutout win. The
Flyers would return home in Game 5 to close the series with a 3-1 win.
In the second round the Flyers found another familiar foe in the Toronto
Maple Leafs. Once again the Flyers got the early edge by winning the
first two games at home. However they would struggle in Toronto losing
both games setting up a key 5th game in Philadelphia. The Flyers would
jump out fast scoring 3 goals in the first 7 minutes on the way to
cruising to a 7-2 win. Looking to close out the series in Toronto the
Flyer took an early 2-0 lead only to see the Leafs rally to force
overtime. In OT Jeremy Roenick still recovering from a broken jaw would
score the winning goal to send the Flyers on to the Conference Finals.
In the Eastern Finals the Flyers were matched up against the Tampa Bay
Lightning. After dropping Game 1 the Flyers recovered with a 6-goal
outburst to even the series. However they were unable to take advantage
as they dropped Game 3 at home 4-1. After recovering to win Game 4 the
Flyers were beaten again in Game 5 as the series continue to yo-yo back
and forth. Needing a win in Game 6 they rallied to tie the game at 4
with less then 2 minutes left on a goal by Keith Primeau to force
overtime where Simon Gagne forced Game 7 with a goal in the final 2
minutes of the 1st OT. However, in Game 7 the Flyers were unable to
comeback as they fell behind 2-0 only to battle back with a goal midway
through the 2nd period. However they would be unable to tie the game as
the Lightning went on to the Stanley Cup Finals.
2004/05:
Season Cancelled Due to Lock Out
Source: www.sportsecyclopedia.com
