Flyers History 1990 -1999

1990/91
Ron Hextall would continue to struggle with injuries as he plays just 36 games as the Flyers miss the playoffs for the second straight season by finishing in 5th place with a record of 33-37-10, falling just 3 points shy of the final playoff spot held by the New Jersey Devils.

1991/92
Rod Brind'Amour provides the only bright spot with 77 points in an otherwise dreadful season as the Flyers miss the playoff for the 3rd straight season by finishing in last place with a dreadful record of 32-37-11. Desperate to turn their fortunes around the Flyers would acquire mega prospect Eric Lindros who refused to play for the Quebec Nordiques who drafted him a year earlier for Mike Ricci, Peter Forsberg, Steve Duchesne, Kerry Huffman, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, 2 draft picks and $15 million. There would be some controversy with the draft day deal as the Nordiques also agreed on a trade with the New York Rangers. However, an arbitrator would rule that the deal with the Flyers had happened earlier and voided the Rangers deal.

1992/93
Eric Lindros would have a solid rookie season scoring 41 goals in 61 games as the Flyers who struggled early made a late run for the playoffs as they fell 4 points shy of the last spot in the Patrick Division with a 36-37-11 record.

1993/94
Eric Lindros continues to establish himself as one of the up and coming stars in the NHL scoring 44 goals and 53 assists. However, Lindros would miss 19 games due to injuries as the Flyers fell 4 points shy of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference while posting a record of 35-39-10.

1994/95
A 4-month lockout would delay the start of the season until late January. However, when the season started the Flyers were ready to challenge for the cup as the reacquisition of Ron Hextall gave the young team a solid veteran goaltender. Shortly after the season started the Flyers would make another key deal landing Eric Desjardins, Gilbert Dionne and John LeClair from the Montreal Canadiens for Mark Recchi and a 3rd round draft pick. LeClair would immediately fit in joining Mikael Renberg and Eric Lindros to form the Flyers top scoring line known as the "Legion of Doom." Led by Lindros would post 70 points in 48 games on the way to winning the Hart Trophy.

The Flyers would win the Atlantic Division with a solid record of 28-16-4. In the playoffs for the first time in 5 years the Flyers would dominate eliminating the Buffalo Sabres in 5 games before sweeping the defending Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers on the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. However, in the Conference Finals the Flyers would hit a bump in the road as they dropped the first 2 games at The Spectrum to the New Jersey Devils. The Flyers would rebound to win the next 2 in New Jersey, sending the series back to The Spectrum, with momentum tied at 2 games apiece. However, the Devils would frustrate the Flyers in Philly again scoring late to take the Game 3-2. This time the Flyers would be unable to win in the Meadowlands as the Flyers lost Game 6 to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions 4-2.

1995/96
Led by Eric Lindros and John LeClair the Flyers continue to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, winning the Atlantic Division with a solid record of 45-24-13. However, in the playoffs the Flyers appeared shaky early as they dropped 2 games in overtime and trailed the 8th seeded Tampa Bay Lightning. However, the Flyers would rally and win the final 3 games to take the series in 6 games. In the 2nd round the Flyers would battle the Sunshine State's other team the Florida Panthers. The Flyers appeared to be in control taking 2 of the first 3 games. However, the Panthers would even the series with an overtime win in Game 4 then steal another in overtime at the Spectrum to take control of the series. The overtime loss would end up being the final Flyers game at the Spectrum as the Panthers won the series in 6 games.

1996/97
Despite losing Eric Lindros for 30 games due to injuries the Flyers would continue to play solid hockey as John LeClair took up the slack scoring 50 goals as the Flyers fell 1 point short of their 3rd straight Division Title with a record of 45-24-13, as Garth Snow and Ron Hextall both played solid hockey being alternated in goal. In the playoffs the Flyers would get off to a strong taking the first 3 games against the Pittsburgh Penguins before winning the series in 5 games.

The Flyers repeated the pattern in the 2nd round against the Buffalo Sabres to set up a match up in the Eastern Conference Finals with the New York Rangers led by Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky. After splitting the first 2 games at the Corestates Center the Flyers would take control of the series in New York behind Eric Lindros who got a hat trick in a 6-3 win in Game 3, and scored the game winner with 8 seconds left in Game 4 to give the Flyers a 3-1 series lead. The Flyers would go on to close the series in 5 games to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 10 years. However, in the Finals the Flyers would run out of gas as they are dominated by the Detroit Red Wings in 4 straight games.

1997/98
Eric Lindros would miss 19 games as head injuries began to become a major concern for the Flyers marquee superstar. However, the Flyers would not miss a beat again as they finished in second place with a solid 42-29-11 record. Down the stretch the Flyers would make a change in the nets as Garth Snow is traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Sean Burke. Burke would be the starter in the playoffs as the Flyers are stunned by the Buffalo Sabres in 5 games.

1998/99
The Flyers would continue to play solid hockey as Eric Lindros stay relatively as the Flyers finished in 2nd place with a record of 37-26-19. However, Lindros would suffer a collapsed lung late in the season missing the playoffs as the Flyers are buried by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 6 games.

1999/00
It would be a turbulent year for the Flyers as Eric Lindros continued to be injury prone suffering another concussion as GM Bobby Clarke questions Lindros' toughness and desire while taking away his captaincy. In addition Flyers Coach Roger Neilson would have to take an extended medical leave for chemotherapy treatments after being diagnosed with cancer. However, the Flyers would finish the season strong under interim Coach Craig Ramsay winning the Atlantic Division with a record of 45-25-12-3.

Playing without Eric Lindros and with an unproven goalie Bill Boucher the Flyers got ready for the playoffs, as Coach Neilson was ready to return. However, GM Bobby Clarke liking the team's play under Ramsay decided to fire Neilson, buying out the remainder of his contract. Despite the turbulence, the Flyers would easily knock off the Buffalo Sabres in 5 games to advance to the 2nd round. However, after dropping the first 2 games of the 2nd round against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the First Union Center, fans began to call for the return of Eric Lindros who appeared to be ready to play but was kept on the sidelines by GM Clarke. Facing a 3-0 deficit in Pittsburgh the Flyers won Game 3 in overtime on a goal by Andy Delmore. Game 4 would also go to overtime, in fact it would not be decided until a 5th overtime, when Keith Primeau scored 12 minutes into the 8th period ending the 3rd longest game in NHL history and evening the series at 2 games apiece.

In the Eastern Conference Finals the Flyers would jump out to a 3-1 series lead against the New Jersey Devils. However, after losing Game 5 at home the Flyers may have started to panic by activating Eric Lindros. Lindros would score late in Game 6 as the Flyers tried to rally from a 2-0 deficit, by pulling the goalie. However, the Flyers would not tie the game as the series went to a 7th game. In Game 7 at the FU Center, the Flyers would lose 2-1, and lose Lindros again as he was knocked unconscious by a devastating hit by Devils defenseman Scott Stevens.