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1987–88 Philadelphia Flyers season

NHL hockey team season


NHL hockey team season

FieldValue
LeagueNHL
Season1987–88
year1987
TeamPhiladelphia Flyers
ConferenceWales
ConferenceRank4th
DivisionPatrick
DivisionRank3rd
Record38–33–9
HomeRecord20–14–6
RoadRecord18–19–3
GoalsFor292 (12th)
GoalsAgainst292 (9th)
GeneralManagerBob Clarke
CoachMike Keenan
CaptainDave Poulin
AltCaptainMark Howe
Brad Marsh
ArenaSpectrum
Attendance17,405
MinorLeagueHershey Bears
Flint Spirits
GoalsLeaderRick Tocchet (31)
AssistsLeaderBrian Propp (49)
PointsLeaderMurray Craven
Brian Propp (70)
PIMLeaderRick Tocchet (299)
PlusMinusLeaderKjell Samuelsson (+28)
WinsLeaderRon Hextall (30)
GAALeaderRon Hextall (3.51)

Brad Marsh Flint Spirits Brian Propp (70) 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.

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. Additionally, Dave Brown served a 15-game suspension for cross-checking New York Ranger Tomas Sandstrom in the face on October 26.

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

Record vs. opponents

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 Bobby Clarke fired head coach Mike Keenan citing a lack of enthusiasm from the club to continue playing for him.

Schedule and results

Regular season

|- | 1 || October 8 || 2–2 OT || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Laforest || 0–0–1 || 1 || |- | 2 || October 10 || 5–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars || Laforest || 1–0–1 || 3 || |- | 3 || October 11 || 3–5 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks || Laforest || 1–1–1 || 3 || |- | 4 || October 15 || 0–6 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Laforest || 1–2–1 || 3 || |- | 5 || October 17 || 4–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Young || 2–2–1 || 5 || |- | 6 || October 18 || 3–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Young || 3–2–1 || 7 || |- | 7 || October 22 || 1–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Young || 3–3–1 || 7 || |- | 8 || October 24 || 3–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Laforest || 3–4–1 || 7 || |- | 9 || October 26 || 2–2 OT || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Hextall || 3–4–2 || 8 || |- | 10 || October 27 || 0–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 3–5–2 || 8 || |- | 11 || October 31 || 4–7 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers || Hextall || 3–6–2 || 8 ||

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| Legend:

Playoffs

|- | 1 || April 6 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || Flyers lead 1–0 || |- | 2 || April 7 || 4–5 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || Series tied 1–1 || |- | 3 || April 9 || 4–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || Flyers lead 2–1 || |- | 4 || April 10 || 5–4 OT || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Laforest || Flyers lead 3–1 || |- | 5 || April 12 || 2–5 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || Flyers lead 3–2 || |- | 6 || April 14 || 2–7 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || Series tied 3–3 || |- | 7 || April 16 || 4–5 OT || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || Capitals win 4–3 ||

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| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

  • 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.*
No.PlayerPosRegular seasonPlayoffsGPGAPts+/-PIMGPGAPts+/-PIM
32LW723046762558725714
26LW74274976876742628
22RW6531336432995145−155
2D751943622362736974
25C69223557742732507
19RW75252651−71857011−616
20C681932511732726854
23RW68251742230742640
9C71103242−612703340
3D7692938−1437112−98
14C6982533−91467011−726
28D7462430281847257823
24LW7616824−201047000−76
5D5261723−1134200000
21RW4712517101147101−427
44D104913−2165000−32
8D703912−13577101−88
18C36279−437
7RW21358−16
27G62167104702230
6D48167−21925000138
10LW33246−632
17LW273251108
12RW83250126134−24
18LW805500
15D28224−812
42C200442612000−12
36D11123715
34D24123316200002
36LW12101010101114
11LW6011−12
40D3000−14
39D5000−10
29LW23000−940
45C1000−20
33G210008200010
37C3000−10
39C100000
41D3000−10
44D3000−113
30G60000

Goaltending

No.PlayerRegular seasonPlayoffsGPGSWLTSAGAGAASV%SOTOIGPGSWLSAGAGAASV%SOTOI
27Ron Hextall62613022718162083.51.88603,5577724196304.75.8470379
33Mark Laforest2114592476603.72.874196920101211.25.917048
30Wendell Young65320148203.76.8660319

Awards and records

Awards

TypeAward/honorRecipientRefLeague
(annual)League
(in-season)Team
Lester Patrick TrophyKeith Allen
[NHL All-Star Game](39th-national-hockey-league-all-star-game) selectionRon Hextall
Mark Howe
Mike Keenan (Coach)
Dave Poulin
Kjell Samuelsson
NHL Player of the WeekRon Hextall (December 14)
Mark Howe (December 28)
Ron Hextall (January 18)
Rick Tocchet (February 28)
Rick Tocchet (March 10)
Barry Ashbee TrophyMark Howeurl=http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/taward.cgititle=Flyers History – Team Awardswork=P.Ansonaccessdate=August 7, 2015}}
Bobby Clarke TrophyRon Hextall
Class Guy AwardRick Tocchet

Records

Among the team records set during the 1987–88 season was the nine consecutive wins by goaltender Ron Hextall from December 8 to December 26, tying a team record. On February 23, the Flyers scored the fastest five goals in team history, taking five minutes and twenty-nine seconds to do so. On February 27, Rick Tocchet scored four goals to tie the team record. The eight-game road losing streak from March 3 to March 29 is tied for the longest in team history. On March 19, Don Nachbaur took a team record eight penalties. Mark Howe set a single season high for powerplay goals scored by a defenseman (8, later tied). The 208 goals allowed by Hextall is a single season high for a Flyers goaltender. The team’s three road ties is tied for the fewest in franchise history. The 31 goals allowed during their division semifinal series against the Washington Capitals is the most allowed during any playoff series the Flyers have played.

Milestones

MilestonePlayerDateRefFirst game
Magnus RoupeOctober 8, 1987
Mike MurrayMarch 15, 1988

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

DateDetailsRef
To Philadelphia FlyersTo [Detroit Red Wings](1987-88-detroit-red-wings-season)url = http://articles.philly.com/1987-06-14/sports/26185642_1_mark-laforest-greg-stefan-darren-jensenarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141220183950/http://articles.philly.com/1987-06-14/sports/26185642_1_mark-laforest-greg-stefan-darren-jensenurl-status = deadarchive-date = December 20, 2014title = Flyers Acquire Goalie Laforest From The Red Wingsnewspaper = The Philadelphia Inquirerfirst = Allast = Morgantidate = June 14, 1987accessdate = December 12, 2014}}
To Philadelphia FlyersTo [Vancouver Canucks](1987-88-vancouver-canucks-season)
To Philadelphia FlyersTo [New York Rangers](1987-88-new-york-rangers-season)url = http://articles.philly.com/1987-07-22/sports/26199619_1_fbi-agents-supplemental-draft-nhl-entry-draftarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141220183836/http://articles.philly.com/1987-07-22/sports/26199619_1_fbi-agents-supplemental-draft-nhl-entry-drafturl-status = deadarchive-date = December 20, 2014title = Flyers Sign Center Biggs, Deal Brubaker To Rangersnewspaper = The Philadelphia Inquirerdate = July 22, 1987accessdate = December 12, 2014}}
To Philadelphia FlyersTo [Calgary Flames](1987-88-calgary-flames-season)
To Philadelphia FlyersTo Vancouver Canucks
To Philadelphia FlyersTo [Toronto Maple Leafs](1987-88-toronto-maple-leafs-season)
To Philadelphia FlyersTo [Hartford Whalers](1987-88-hartford-whalers-season)
To Philadelphia FlyersTo [Minnesota North Stars](1987-88-minnesota-north-stars-season)url = http://articles.philly.com/1988-02-10/sports/26240388_1_kerry-huffman-stanley-cup-north-starsarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141220183914/http://articles.philly.com/1988-02-10/sports/26240388_1_kerry-huffman-stanley-cup-north-starsurl-status = deadarchive-date = December 20, 2014title = Flyers Acquire Roberts From Starsnewspaper = The Philadelphia Inquirerfirst = Raylast = Parrillodate = February 10, 1988accessdate = December 12, 2014}}
To Philadelphia FlyersTo Vancouver Canucks
To Philadelphia FlyersTo [St. Louis Blues](1987-88-st-louis-blues-season)url = http://articles.philly.com/1988-03-09/sports/26279999_1_willie-huber-bobby-clarke-robertsarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141220183827/http://articles.philly.com/1988-03-09/sports/26279999_1_willie-huber-bobby-clarke-robertsurl-status = deadarchive-date = December 20, 2014title = Roberts Shipped To St. Louisnewspaper = Philadelphia Daily Newsfirst = Jaylast = Greenbergdate = March 9, 1988accessdate = December 12, 2014}}

Players acquired

DatePlayerFormer teamTermViaRef
Don Biggs
Mark Lofthouse
David Fenyves
Nick Fotiu
Bill Root
Michael Boyce

Players lost

DatePlayerNew teamViaRefN/A
Glenn Resch
Steve MartinsonDetroit Red Wings
Ed HospodarBuffalo Sabres
Tim TookeyLos Angeles Kings
Jere GillisBrunico SG (Serie A)

Signings

DatePlayerTermRef
Shaun Sabol
Ron Hextallmulti-year

Draft picks

NHL entry draft

Philadelphia's picks at the 1987 NHL entry draft, which was held at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, on June 13, 1987. The Flyers traded their second-round pick, 41st overall, to the Detroit Red Wings for Mark Laforest on June 13, 1987.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityTeam (league)Notes
120Darren RumbleDefenseCanadaKitchener Rangers (OHL)
230Jeff HardingRight wingCanadaSt. Michael's Buzzers (Toronto)
362Martin HostakRight wingCzechoslovakiaSparta Praha (Czech)
483Tomaz ErikssonLeft wingSwedenDjurgardens IF (Elitserien)
5104Bill GallDefenseUnited StatesNew Hampton School (N.H.)
6125Tony LinkDefenseUnited StatesDimond High School (Alaska)
7146Marc StraponDefenseUnited StatesHayward High School (Wisconsin)
8167Darryl InghamRight wingCanadaUniversity of Manitoba (CIAU)
9188Bruce MacDonaldRight wingUnited StatesLoomis Chaffee School (Conn.)
10209Steve MorrowDefenseUnited StatesWestminster School (Conn.)
11230Darius RusnakCenterCzechoslovakiaSlovan Bratislava (Slovakia)
12251Dale RoehlGoaltenderUnited StatesMinnetonka High School (Minn.)

NHL supplemental draft

Philadelphia's picks at the 1987 NHL supplemental draft.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityTeam (league)
221David WhyteLeft wingUnited StatesBoston College (HE)

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.

Notes

References

References

  1. "All Time Team Attendance". Flyers History.
  2. Fleischman, Bill. (May 12, 1988). "'Toughest Decision' Dumps Flyer Coach". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
  3. "1987-88 Philadelphia Flyers Schedule and Results".
  4. "Lester Patrick Trophy". National Hockey League.
  5. "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)". [[National Hockey League.
  6. "39th NHL All-Star Game". [[National Hockey League.
  7. (December 15, 1987). "BRIEFS". [[The Pantagraph]].
  8. (December 29, 1987). "FOR THE RECORD". [[The Washington Post]].
  9. (January 18, 1988). "Sports Digest".
  10. Fachet, Robert. (March 1, 1988). "ARLEDGE SAYS NHL SHOULD SEND PROS". [[The Washington Post]].
  11. Parrillo, Ray. (March 11, 1988). "Flyers Overcome The Caps, 5-2". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
  12. "Flyers History – Team Awards". P.Anson.
  13. "Goaltender Records: Longest Winning Streaks, Season".
  14. "Team Records: Fastest Five Goals, One Team".
  15. "Skater Records: Most Goals, Game".
  16. "Team Records: Longest Road Losing Streaks, Season".
  17. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 264
  18. "NHL Stats".
  19. "List of all the Philadelphia Flyers Season Leaders".
  20. "Philadelphia Flyers: Year-by-Year Record".
  21. "Playoff Team Records: Most Goals, One Team, Playoff Series (Any Length)".
  22. "1987-88 NHL Debuts".
  23. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions.
  24. Morganti, Al. (June 14, 1987). "Flyers Acquire Goalie Laforest From The Red Wings". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
  25. 2014–2015 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 271
  26. (July 22, 1987). "Flyers Sign Center Biggs, Deal Brubaker To Rangers". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
  27. Fleischman, Bill. (August 27, 1987). "Mccrimmon Isn't Caught Off Guard But Ex-flyer Refutes Clarke, Says He Didn't Request Trade". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
  28. Greenberg, Jay. (September 1, 1987). "Trade To Canucks Might Be Good Break For Jensen". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
  29. "Michael Stothers – Notes". [[National Hockey League.
  30. Missanelli, M. G.. (June 22, 1988). "Flyers Trade For Stothers". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
  31. Miles, Gary. (January 23, 1988). "Flyers Trade Carson For Whalers' Lawless". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
  32. Parrillo, Ray. (February 10, 1988). "Flyers Acquire Roberts From Stars". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
  33. Parrillo, Ray. (March 2, 1988). "Flyers Trade For Canucks' Huber". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
  34. "1988 NHL Playoff Summary". Sports Reference LLC.
  35. Greenberg, Jay. (March 9, 1988). "Roberts Shipped To St. Louis". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
  36. (August 20, 1987). "One-game Football Playoff On Ncaa Officials' Minds". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
  37. Parsons, Mark. (November 30, 2013). "1987 NHL Waiver Draft". Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia.
  38. Morganti, Al. (October 6, 1987). "Hospodar Taken By Sabres". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
  39. Greenberg, Jay. (October 31, 1987). "Flyers Acquire Fotiu". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
  40. "William Root – Notes". [[National Hockey League.
  41. (April 21, 1988). "Paper Reports Tulane To Reinstate Basketball". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
  42. Hofmann, Rich. (June 1, 1988). "Final Number: Resch Sings Hextall's Praises". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
  43. "Steve Martinson – Notes". [[National Hockey League.
  44. "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Jere Gillis".
  45. (November 12, 1987). "University of Wisconsin defenseman Shaun Sabol said Wednesday he...".
  46. Greenberg, Jay. (November 18, 1987). "Hextall Agrees To New Deal". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
  47. "1987 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com.
  48. "1987 NHL Entry Draft Pick Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions.
  49. "1987 NHL Supplemental Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com.
  50. "1987 NHL Supplemental Draft -- Round 2 Selections". HockeyDraftCentral.com.
  51. "AHL Franchise Statistics". Flyers History.
  52. "Non-AHL Affiliates". Flyers History.
  53. "AHL Season Overview: 1987–88". Flyers History.
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