History of the Flyers in the Final11

2010-5-22 1 1

1976: Now two-time defending champions and the only NHL team to defeat CSKA Moscow (Red Army) during the legendary Russian team’s North American tour during the 1975-76 season, the Broad Street Bullies still got little respect from the Canadian or New York-dominated hockey media. At most, they entered the 1976 Finals considered an even match for an extraordinarily deep and talented Montreal Canadiens team. Montreal went on to sweep the series – something the Flyers’ critics still crow about to this day. It should be noted, however, that Parent was injured and unable to play in the finals. The Flyers were also set back by an injury to second-line sniper Rick MacLeish, rendering the vaunted LCB line (Conn Smythe Trophy winner Reggie Leach, Hart Trophy winner Bobby Clarke and future Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Bill Barber) the club’s only dangerous line in the last series. Three of the four games were decided by one goal. The deciding game was tied, 3-3, heading into the third period but two latter-period goals by Montreal won the game and series for the Habs.

1980: On the heels of an incredible regular season that saw the club post a record 35-game unbeaten streak, the Flyers were favored to beat their Patrick Division rival New York Islanders. In a war of a series, the Islanders prevailed in six games. Although the series’ most infamous moment was a blown first-period offside call by linesman Leon Stickle that led to a goal and contributed to the Islanders’ Cup-clinching overtime victory, the Islanders’ red-hot power play was the biggest single factor in the series outcome. New York, like the Habs, went on to win four straight Stanley Cups.

1985: The Flyers always seemed to fare well against the Edmonton Oilers dynasty during the regular season, but fell short when they met again in the Stanley Cup Final. The youngest team in the NHL, the Flyers shocked the league by posting the league’s best record during the regular season and advancing to the Finals behind Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Pelle Lindbergh and the fiery coaching of rookie NHL bench boss, Mike Keenan. The Flyers were nevertheless the underdogs heading into the Final against an Edmonton team widely considered the best in NHL history. Lindbergh and company stymied the Oilers in Game 1 at the Spectrum, but eventually a knee injury to Lindbergh (suffered originally in the Semifinals and aggravated in Game 4 of the Final) forced him out of the series. The club was also set back by key injuries to Tim Kerr, Brad McCrimmon and the lingering effects of broken ribs suffered by captain Dave Poulin earlier in the playoffs. The Flyers lost a winnable second game of the series, and Edmonton went on to win the next three, including a blowout win in Game 5.