1980/81
After their heartbreaking loss in the
Stanley Cup Finals the Flyers responded with another strong season
finishing 2nd in the Patrick Division with a solid record of 41-24-15.
In the playoffs the Flyers would get off to a strong start taking the
first 2 games at home against the Quebec Nordiques. However, they would
need a 5-2 win at the Spectrum in Game 5 to advance to the second round.
In the 2nd round the Flyers would struggle as they fell behind the
Calgary Flames 3 games to 1. However, the Flyers would respond with a
rousing 9-4 in Game 5 to keep their hopes alive. The Flyers would
continue their comeback by winning Game 6 in Calgary 3-2. However, back
in Philly for Game 7 the Flyers ran out of gas and were scorched by the
Flames 4-1.
1981/82
Despite strong
seasons from Ken Linesman, Brian Propp and Bill Barber the Flyers would
struggle as Coach Dan Quinn is fired and replaced by Bob McCammon. Under
McCammon the Flyers would finish in 3rd place with a 38-31-11 record. In
the playoffs the Flyers would be upended by the New York Rangers in 4
games failing to make at least the second round of the playoffs for the
first time in 9 years.
1982/83
Led by aging
veterans Bobby Clarke and Darryl Sittler the Flyers would reclaim the
top spot in the Patrick Division beating out the New York Islanders by
10 points with an impressive record of 49-23-8. However, in the playoffs
the Flyers would experience a major let down as they are swept by the
New York Rangers in 3 straight allowing a total of 18 goals in 3 games.
1983/84
The Flyers continued
to be one of the strongest teams in the NHL as new blood began to take
over with Tim Kerr leading the way with a team high 93 points as the
Flyers finished in 3rd place with a record of 44-26-10. However, once
again the Flyers would experience a playoff let down as they are swept
in 3 straight games by the Washington Capitals. Following the season
both Flyers legends Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber would announce their
retirements.
1984/85
Legendary Flyers
player Bobby Clarke takes over the duties of General Manager as Mike
Keenan takes over the coaching reigns. The new moves would provide new
life to the Flyers who posted the best regular season record in the NHL
at 53-20-7 as Goalie Pelle Lindbergh wins the Vezina Trophy. In the
playoffs the Flyers would get off to a roaring start sweeping the New
York Rangers in 3 straight games before ending the New York Islanders
run of 5 straight Finals appearances in 5 games. The Flyers would
continue to roll in the Wales Conference Finals as they beat the Quebec
Nordiques to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 5 years.
In the finals the Flyers would get off to a fast start beating the
Edmonton Oilers 4-1 at The Spectrum in Game 1. However, the Oilers would
go on to take the next 4 games and claim the Stanley Cup for the second
straight year in 5 games.
1985/86
The Flyers appeared
to be flying high again as they got off to a fast start and had a
10-game winning streak into mid November when out of nowhere tragedy
struck, in he early morning hours of November 10th when Flyers star
goalie Pelle Lindbergh crashed his Porsche into a brick wall in the
Philadelphia suburb of Somerdale, NJ. Lindebergh would be declared brain
dead as his organs were taken for transplants, as the young rising star
from Sweden passed away at the age of 26. Playing with a heavy heart the
Flyers continued their winning streak on November 15th beating the
Edmonton Oilers 5-3 on November 15th. The Flyers would go on to win the
Patrick Division with a record of 50-23-4. However, in the playoff they
would be tripped up by the New York Rangers in a 5-game series.
1986/87
A year after the
tragic death of Pelle Lindbergh, Ron Hextall establishes himself as the
Flyers new star in between the pipes winning the Vezina Trophy as the
Flyers won their 3rd straight Division title with a record of 46-26-8.
In the playoffs Hextall would rise to the occasion getting 2 shutouts in
the first round as the Flyers dispatched the New York Rangers in 6
games. The Flyers would go on to advance to the Wales Conference Finals
for the 2nd time in 3 years by beating the New York Islanders in a hard
fought 7-game series that saw the two teams alternate wins. In the Wales
Finals the Flyers would knock off the defending champion Montreal
Canadiens in 6 games to set up a Stanley Cup Finals rematch with the
Edmonton Oilers. In the Finals the Flyers appeared to be heading for a
quick defeat as they fell behind 3 games to 1. However, the Flyers
behind the steallar play of Ron Hextall would go on to force a 7th game.
However the Oilers would go on to win the Cup with a 3-1 win in Game 7
in Edmonton. Despite the loss Ron Hextall would still win the Conn
Smythe as playoff MVP.
1987/88
Playing in
competitive Patrick Division the Flyers finish in 3rd place with a
mediocre record of 38-33-9, as 7 points separates first from last place.
One highlight came on December 8th as Goalie Ron Hextall scored a goal
against the Boston Bruins. In the playoffs the Flyers would get off to a
quick start as they established a 3-1 series lead against the Washington
Capitals. However, the Capitals would rally to force a 7th game, which
they won in overtime 5-4, as the Flyers blew a 3-0 lead in Game 7. After
the playoff collapse Coach Mike Keenan would be seen as the scapegoat as
he is fired.
1988/89
Despite playing
mediocre hockey all season under new Coach Paul Holmgren the Flyers
would make the playoffs for the 17th straight season by finishing in 4th
place with a record of 36-36-8. In the playoffs the Flyers would get a
measure of revenge stunning the first place Washington Capitals in 6
games, as Ron Hextall became the first goalie to score a goal the
playoffs hitting an empty net late in the crucial 5th game won by the
Flyers 8-5 on the road. In the Patrick Division Finals the Flyers would
survive a 7-game shoot out with Pittsburgh Penguins winning the last 2
games by a combined score of 10-3 after dropping Game after losing Game
5 by a score of 10-7. However, in the Wales Conference Finals the Flyers
would be knocked off by the Montreal Canadiens in 6 games.
1989/90
With Ron Hextall missing all but 8 games due to
injuries the Flyers run of 17-straight playoff appearances would come to
a crashing end as the Flyers finished in last place with a disappointing
record of 30-39-11. However, despite the struggles Rick Tocchet would
have a solid season, with a team high 96 points.
Source: www.sportsecyclopedia.com
