1995–96 Philadelphia Flyers season

Regular season

Building on the success of the lockout season, the Flyers began the year with a 7–1 rout in Montreal over the Canadiens. An early 5–0–1 stretch was derailed in a 5–4 loss to Chicago on October 22, in which Dominic Roussel turned in a poor performance in net. It would be one of several in the early going which forced head coach Terry Murray to favor Garth Snow as the backup to Ron Hextall.

Lindros was hurt in early November, and the club limped to a 2–4–1 record in his absence. However, after his return they ripped off eight straight wins as part of a 12–2–2 stretch which put them in contention in the Atlantic Division with the Florida Panthers. However, the momentum switched and the club struggled to a 3–6–7 record thereafter.

A 3–2 home overtime win over Montreal on February 1, in which defenseman Petr Svoboda was elbowed in the head by Marc Bureau, finally lit a fire under the team. In addition, the trade-deadline acquisition of Dale Hawerchuk, who was needed in Mikael Renberg's absence, spurred a 13–3–0 charge at the end of the season. Thanks to a 6–5 Bruins win over the Penguins on the final day, the Flyers gained the top spot in the Eastern Conference following a 3–1 win over Tampa.

Lindros hit the 100-point mark in a 3–0 win over Hartford on March 25, while LeClair netted his 50th goal of the season in a 5–1 win in New Jersey on April 10. In an ironic twist, Avalanche forward Claude Lemieux notched the game-winning goal on a fluke shot in a Colorado 5–3 win in Philly on February 11. With the Devils the previous June, Lemieux hit the net from 50 feet out to give his club a 3–2 win in Game 5 of the conference finals.

On April 2, the Flyers scored three short-handed goals in a 6–2 win over the New York Islanders.

On April 11, the Flyers organization celebrated the final regular-season game in the Spectrum. The home team took care of their end, topping the Canadiens 3–2. After the game, an emotional torch-passing ceremony saw past and present team members skating alongside each other, with a symbolic transference of leadership from Bobby Clarke to Lindros.

Season standings

Playoffs

With the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the Flyers drew their division rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning, coached by former Flyer Terry Crisp. After a 7–3 Philly home rout in Game 1, Lightning goalie Daren Puppa was spectacular and Brian Bradley notched the OT winner in a 2–1 Game 2 triumph. Former draft pick Alexander Selivanov ended Game 3 in Tampa with an overtime goal. Hawerchuk and LeClair provided leadership and goals in a 4–1 road win in Game 4, then the Flyers won 4–1 in Game 5 at the Spectrum. The Flyers closed out the series with a 6–1 score in Game 6 at the Thunderdome.

Next up in the conference semifinals were the Florida Panthers, a team which relied on goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck and the neutral zone trap for success. Vanbiesbrouck posted a 2–0 shutout in Game 1, and it took until midway through Game 2 for the Flyers to get rolling offensively in a narrow 3–2 win. Game 3 saw Flyers veterans Dan Quinn, Hawerchuk, Desjardins and Hextall set the tone in a 3–1 victory.

The Flyers were defeated in overtime in Game 4 and double-overtime in Game 5. The Panthers ended the Flyers' season in Game 6.

Schedule and results

Regular season

|- | 1 || October 7 || 7–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Hextall || 1–0–0 || 2 || |- | 2 || October 11 || 2–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || 2–0–0 || 4 || |- | 3 || October 14 || 3–0 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Roussel || 3–0–0 || 6 || |- | 4 || October 15 || 7–1 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers || Hextall || 4–0–0 || 8 || |- | 5 || October 18 || 1–1 OT || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Roussel || 4–0–1 || 9 || |- | 6 || October 20 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || Hextall || 5–0–1 || 11 || |- | 7 || October 22 || 4–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks || Roussel || 5–1–1 || 11 || |- | 8 || October 25 || 3–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Roussel || 6–1–1 || 13 || |- | 9 || October 28 || 5–5 OT || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Roussel || 6–1–2 || 14 || |- | 10 || October 29 || 5–2 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Snow || 7–1–2 || 16 || |- | 11 || October 31 || 2–2 OT || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning || Snow || 7–1–3 || 17 ||

| Legend:

Playoffs

|- | 1 || April 16 || 7–3 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning || Hextall || 17,380 || Flyers lead 1–0 || |- | 2 || April 18 || 1–2 OT || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning || Hextall || 17,380 || Series tied 1–1 || |- | 3 || April 21 || 4–5 OT || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning || Hextall || 25,945 || Lightning lead 2–1 || |- | 4 || April 23 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning || Hextall || 28,183 || Series tied 2–2 || |- | 5 || April 25 || 4–1 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning || Hextall || 17,380 || Flyers lead 3–2 || |- | 6 || April 27 || 6–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning || Hextall || 27,189 || Flyers win 4–2 ||

| 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.*

Goaltending

• • = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.*

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Among the team records set during the 1995–96 season was Eric Lindros setting the franchise single game record with 14 shots on goal on March 19. The Flyers tied the team record for most shorthanded goals in a single game (3) on April 2. Lindros’ 1.58 points per game average during the regular season is a franchise high. The team's four overtime losses during the 1996 Stanley Cup playoffs is tied for the NHL record.

Milestones

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from June 25, 1995, the day after the deciding game of the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 11, 1996, the day of the deciding game of the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft, which was held at Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta, on July 8, 1995. The Flyers traded their third-round pick, 74th overall, and Mark Recchi to the Montreal Canadiens for Eric Desjardins, Gilbert Dionne and John LeClair on February 9, 1995. They also traded their fifth-round pick, 126th overall, to the Detroit Red Wings for Stewart Malgunas on September 9, 1993.

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Hershey Bears of the AHL and the Mobile Mysticks of the ECHL.

Notes

References

References

1. "All Time Team Attendance". Flyers History.
2. "Philadelphia Flyers at New York Islanders Box Score — April 2, 1996".
3. "1995-96 Philadelphia Flyers Schedule and Results".
4. 2014–15 NHL Official Guide & Record Book, p. 230–32
5. "1996 NHL All-Star Game Rosters".
6. (January 12, 1996). "RANFORD SENT TO BRUINS".
7. Bowen, Les. (November 9, 1995). "At Least, Lindros Out Another Week". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
8. "Flyers History – Team Awards". P.Anson.
9. (June 24, 2010). "All-Time ESPY Winners". ESPN MediaZone.
10. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 264
11. "Team Records: Most Shorthanded Goals, One Team, Game".
12. "List of all the Philadelphia Flyers Season Leaders".
13. "Playoff Team Records: Most Overtime Losses, One Team, Playoff Year".
14. "Flyers History – All-Time Milestone Award Winners". P.Anson.
15. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions.
16. "Russell Romaniuk – Notes". [[National Hockey League.
17. Miles, Gary. (July 9, 1995). "For The First Time, Flyers Make Goalie Their Top Pick". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
18. Bowen, Les. (July 13, 1995). "Flyers Pack Snow". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
19. Bowen, Les. (August 31, 1995). "Flyers Dispatch Yushkevich To Leafs For Picks". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
20. Miles, Gary. (September 21, 1995). "Legion Of Doom Will Have To Wait For Another Day". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
21. (November 16, 1995). "SHARKS ACQUIRE DEFENSEMAN BODGER FROM BUFFALO IN THREE TEAM DEAL".
22. Miles, Gary. (December 14, 1995). "Fedyk Sent To Stars, Flyers Get Klatt in Return". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
23. "1982 NHL Entry Draft -- Kevin Dineen". Hockey Draft Central.
24. Miles, Gary. (December 29, 1995). "Flyers Send Dineen Back To Hartford". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
25. Miles, Gary. (January 24, 1996). "Renberg Is Sidelined By Abdominal Strain; Flyers Deal For Forward". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
26. Bowen, Les. (February 7, 1996). "Flyers Give Up Little For Vet Corkum". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
27. Bowen, Les. (February 28, 1996). "Roussel Dealt To Winnipeg". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
28. Miles, Gary. (March 16, 1996). "Hawerchuk To Flyers For MacTavish". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
29. Miles, Gary. (March 20, 1996). "Flyers' Day Of Dealing Lands Huffman, Druce". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
30. Bowen, Les. (July 8, 1995). "Samuelsson Is Back with the Flyers". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
31. Bowen, Les. (July 11, 1995). "Flyers Keep Dineen in the Fold". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
32. Mahon, Tom. (July 21, 1995). "Flyers get veteran Otto off free-agent lot". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
33. (August 3, 1995). "McCosh signing hailed". The Patriot-News.
34. (June 5, 1996). "Flyers Acquire Darby Off Waivers". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
35. (July 5, 1995). "National Hockey League Free Agent List".
36. (August 9, 1995). "TRANSACTIONS". [[The New York Times]].
37. (August 10, 1995). "Sharks Sign Veteran Wing Dave Brown".
38. (August 24, 1995). "Transactions".
39. "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Shawn Anderson".
40. {{hockey-reference. f/fosteno01. Norm Foster, retrieved January 24, 2022
41. (November 18, 1995). "Transactions".
42. (November 15, 1995). "Clarke patiently waits for just the right deal". Philadelphia Daily News.
43. (June 30, 1995). "Flyers and Fedyk agree to a two-year contract". Courier-Post.
44. (July 1, 1995). "Devils May Stay in Jersey". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
45. Miles, Gary. (July 8, 1995). "Kjell Samuelsson Returning To Flyers". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
46. (August 2, 1995). "Paterno: Big Ten Belongs In Alliance". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
47. (August 4, 1995). "Hobbled By Hamstring Injury, Sanchez Is Upset By Witmeyer". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
48. (August 8, 1995). "Flyers Sign Antoski". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
49. (August 11, 1995). "Becker Is Beaten in Ohio Tourney". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
50. Bowen, Les. (November 1, 1995). "Flyers Living With Therien's Growing Pains". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
51. (August 15, 1995). "Brind'Amour Signs New Pact With Flyers". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
52. Bowen, Les. (September 12, 1995). "Good Sign For Flyers: LeClair Gets His Deal". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
53. Miles, Gary. (October 6, 1995). "Desjardins, Flyers Come To Terms On Four-year, $6 Million Contract". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
54. Miles, Gary. (October 7, 1995). "Eager Flyers' Long Wait To End With Season Opener Tonight". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
55. Bowen, Les. (October 16, 1995). "Renberg Latest Key Flyers To Get New Deal". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
56. (May 29, 1996). "Hornets Set To Name Cowens Coach Today". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
57. Bowen, Les. (June 6, 1996). "Clarke Deflects Credit For Building Panthers". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
58. "1995 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com.
59. "1995 NHL Entry Draft Pick Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions.
60. "AHL Franchise Statistics". Flyers History.
61. "AHL Season Overview: 1995–96". Flyers History.
62. "Non-AHL Affiliates". Flyers History.