Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

1987–88 Philadelphia Flyers season

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Division
  
3rd Patrick

1987–88 record
  
38–33–9

Road record
  
18–19–3

Conference
  
4th Wales

Home record
  
20–14–6

Goals for
  
292 (12th)

The 1987–88 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' 21st season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Washington Capitals in seven games.

Contents

Regular season

The season was one of many ups and downs. With Ron Hextall lost to an eight-game suspension to start the year after slashing Kent Nilsson in the Stanley Cup Finals, Tim Kerr lost indefinitely with a shoulder problem, and Brad McCrimmon traded to Calgary over a salary dispute, the club limped to a 3–6–2 record in October.

The free-fall continued until late November. After blowing a 4–1 lead into a 6–4 loss to the Islanders at home on November 21, the Flyers were at 6–13–3 and last in the division. However, just as quickly, the club rebounded with a 14-game unbeaten streak (12–0–2) from November 25 to December 26 – despite losing out to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Paul Coffey sweepstakes. The run was highlighted by Hextall becoming the first goaltender to shoot the puck into the opposing team's net on December 8, a game-winning two-man short tally by Murray Craven in Winnipeg on December 13, and a post-Christmas comeback win against the Capitals.

A 6–0–1 run through late February and early March saw Rick Tocchet post three hat tricks in a span of four games (Detroit, at Los Angeles, at Vancouver). On February 23, the club set a still-standing franchise road record with 11 goals in an amazing 11–6 win in Detroit, including a team-record 7 third-period tallies.

After a 7–3 win over the Canucks March 1, the Flyers finished the year in free-fall due to almost daily injuries, going 4–11–2, ending up the lower seed in a second-place tie with Washington. Kerr returned to the lineup finally on March 10, but was unable to find his range before the playoffs began.

Season standings

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Playoffs

In their first round playoff series with the Washington Capitals, the Flyers blew a 3–1 series lead as Washington forced a Game 7. They then blew a 3–0 lead in Game 7 as Washington won 5-4, in overtime.

Afterwards, general manager Bob Clarke fired head coach Mike Keenan citing a lack of enthusiasm from the club to continue playing for him.

Skaters

  • Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left Wing; RW = Right Wing
  • = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
  • = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.

    • Transactions

    The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from June 1, 1987, the day after the deciding game of the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 26, 1988, the day of the deciding game of the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals.

    Trades

    Trade notes
  • a The Flyers had the choice of which year to send to Minnesota. The Flyers chose the 1989 draft pick.
  • b The Flyers would receive St. Louis' 4th-round pick if the Blues advanced past the first round of the playoffs, which they did.

    • Free agency

    The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency.

    Re-signed

    The following players were re-signed by the Flyers.

    NHL Waiver Draft

    The 1987 NHL Waiver Draft was held on October 5, 1987. Each NHL team placed 17 skaters and 2 goaltenders on a protected list from which the other teams could not select. First-year professional players were exempt.

    The Flyers left the following players unprotected: Ray Allison, Thomas Eriksson, Ross Fitzpatrick, Al Hill, Ed Hospodar, Mitch Lamoureux, Mark Lofthouse, Kevin Maxwell, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Smith, and Tim Tookey.

    Waivers

    The Flyers were involved in the following waivers transactions.

    Departures

    The following players left the team via free agency, release, or retirement. Players who were under contract and left the team during the season are marked with an asterisk (*).

    NHL Entry Draft

    Philadelphia's picks at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, on June 13, 1987.

    Draft notes
  • a The Flyers acquired a second-round pick, 30th overall, from the Quebec Nordiques for a 1986 second-round pick on June 21, 1986.
  • The Flyers traded their second-round pick, 41st overall, to the Detroit Red Wings for Mark Laforest on June 13, 1987.
  • The Flyers traded the fifth-round pick, 87th overall, back to the Vancouver Canucks for the Canucks' 1989 fifth-round pick on June 13, 1987.

    • NHL Supplemental Draft

    Philadelphia's picks at the 1987 NHL Supplemental Draft.

    Farm teams

    The Flyers were affiliated with the Hershey Bears of the AHL and the Flint Spirits of the IHL. Led by the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award winner as coach of the year (John Paddock), the Eddie Shore Award winner as top defenseman (Dave Fenyves), and the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as top goaltender (Wendell Young), Hershey finished first in their division and swept their way through the playoffs with a 12–0 record to a Calder Cup championship. Young was given the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP. In their only season as a Flyers affiliate, Flint finished fourth in the playoffs and lost in the finals to the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in six games.

    References

    1987–88 Philadelphia Flyers season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA