Al Hill’s Unforgettable NHL Debut With the Philadelphia Flyers

When it comes to unforgettable NHL debuts, none shine brighter than Al Hill’s first game with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Undrafted, Hill came from the Victoria Cougars of the WCHL and spent most of 1976-77 with the Springfield Indians in the AHL. Called up for a February 14, 1977 home game against the St. Louis Blues, he made sure his first NHL appearance would be one for the record books.

Just 36 seconds into the first period, Hill scored on Ed Johnston with assists from Bob Kelly and Terry Murray. Eleven minutes later, he struck again, his second career goal assisted by Rick MacLeish and Gary Dornhoefer. Before the period ended, he added an assist on Reggie Leach’s 23rd of the season.

Three points in one period would be memorable enough, but Hill wasn’t done. In the second period, he assisted on a Mel Bridgman goal, and in the third, he set up Bobby Clarke’s 21st of the campaign. That gave him five points on debut, an NHL record that still stands.

And there was toughness to go with the skill. In the second period, Hill dropped the gloves with Bob MacMillan, earning five for fighting. That gave him a rare distinction: likely the only Gordie Howe Hat Trick in a player’s first NHL game.

The Flyers capped the night with a 6-4 victory, but the night truly belonged to Al Hill, a debut the NHL has never seen before or since.

About Al Hill

Al Hill played 221 regular season and 51 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1976-77 and 1987-88, all with the Philadelphia Flyers. He was undrafted, joining the Flyers after playing major junior hockey with the Victoria Cougars. Twice, he helped the Maine Mariners to Calder Trophy championships in the AHL. In 1977-78, he was third in the league in scoring with 91 points, seven behind co-leaders Rick Adduono and Gord Brooks. 

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Al Hill

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Al Hill is best remembered for setting an NHL record in his first game with the Flyers in 1977. How many points did he score that night?

3 points
4 points
5 points
6 points

2. Al Hill spent his entire NHL career with which team?

Philadelphia Flyers
Vancouver Canucks
New York Rangers
Calgary Flames

3. Approximately how many NHL games did Al Hill play over his career?

Just under 100
About 220
Around 400
Over 600

4. Aside from his scoring record, what rare feat did Hill also achieve in his very first NHL game?

A penalty shot goal
A Gordie Howe Hat Trick
A short-handed goal
A game-winning overtime goal

5. After retiring as a player, Al Hill stayed involved in hockey. Which role did he take on with the Flyers organization?

Head coach of the Flyers
Goaltending coach
Pro scout
TV broadcaster

Bill Hicke and Charlie Hodge Star for Oakland Seals in an October 11, 1967 “Game of Firsts”

It was the beginning of a new era in the NHL. On October 11, 1967, the expansion Philadelphia Flyers traveled west to face the Oakland Seals in the first NHL game for both teams.

The Seals gave the home fans plenty to cheer about with a 5-1 victory. Goaltender Charlie Hodge was sharp, stopping 24 of 25 shots, while forward Bill Hicke led the way offensively with two goals and an assist. Kent Douglas and Gerry Ehman also had three-point nights in what turned out to be a confident debut for the Bay Area franchise.

Douglas made history early, scoring the first goal in Oakland Seals history just 3:23 into the game. The goal came against Bernie Parent and was assisted by Charlie Burns and George Swarbrick.

The Flyers also notched a first of their own. Bill Sutherland scored the franchise’s inaugural goal at 10:07 of the second period, converting on a powerplay with assists from Leon Rochefort and John Miszuk. It stood as Philadelphia’s first powerplay marker in NHL history.

Ron Harris scored the Seals’ first game-winning goal less than two minutes after Sutherland’s tally, and Bill Hicke added Oakland’s first powerplay goal early in the third.

There were also early signs of animosity. Just 22 seconds after the opening faceoff, each team took its first penalty. Lou Angotti of the Flyers was called for interference, while Larry Cahan of the Seals went off for slashing.

Philadelphia’s tough California debut continued a few days later, dropping a 4-2 decision to the Los Angeles Kings on October 14. That game featured Brian Kilrea scoring the first goal in Kings history and Gord Labossiere notching the winner. Wayne Rutledge made 14 saves in net for the Kings, who limited the Flyers to just 16 shots.

1967 Oakland Seals vs. Philadelphia Flyers – Trivia Quiz

For much more NHL hockey trivia, visit our Hockey Trivia website!

1. Who scored the first goal in Oakland Seals history?
   Bill Hicke
   Kent Douglas
   Gerry Ehman
   Ron Harris
2. Which goaltender made 24 saves for Oakland in the team's first game?
   Wayne Rutledge
   Charlie Hodge
   Bernie Parent
   Doug Favell
3. Who scored the first goal in Philadelphia Flyers history?
   Leon Rochefort
   Bill Sutherland
   Joe Watson
   Gary Dornhoefer
4. What was the final score of the Seals vs. Flyers inaugural game?
   4-2
   3-1
   5-1
   6-2
5. How many penalties were called just 22 seconds into the game?
   One
   Two
   Three
   None

Rick MacLeish’s Lone Penalty Shot Goal Comes Against Billy Smith in 1978

On March 20, 1978, the Philadelphia Flyers hosted the New York Islanders at the Spectrum in a battle for Patrick Division supremacy. The Isles came in with a seven-point edge in the standings, but on this night, Rick MacLeish made a little history.

Just 6:20 into the first period, MacLeish was awarded a penalty shot, something that would turn out to be the only one of his 846-game NHL career. The Cannington Kid made it count, slipping it past the always-fiery Billy Smith to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead. Despite firing 11 shots in the game, nearly 30% of the team’s total, this would be MacLeish’s only goal of the night and his 31st of the season. It also ended up being his final regular season goal of 1977-78.

The Flyers would go on to win the game 4-2, with Mel Bridgman, Reg Leach, and Bill Barber adding goals of their own. Barber’s 36th of the campaign proved to be the game-winner. Between the pipes, BernieParent was solid, turning away 26 shots to seal the victory.

MacLeish’s career spanned from 1970-71 to 1983-84, playing for the Flyers, Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings. He racked up 349 regular season goals and another 54 in the playoffs. Notably, in 1972-73, he became the first player in Flyers history to notch 50 goals in a single season.

Rick MacLeish vs. Billy Smith – Trivia Quiz

For much more hockey trivia, check out our Hockey Trivia Website.

1. What date did Rick MacLeish score his only career penalty shot goal?
   March 10, 1978
   March 20, 1978
   March 25, 1978
   


2. Who was the goaltender Rick MacLeish scored on during the penalty shot?
   Bernie Parent
   Billy Smith
   Rogie Vachon
   


3. How many shots on goal did MacLeish register in the game?
   7
   11
   5
   


4. Who scored the game-winning goal for the Flyers in the 4–2 win?
   Rick MacLeish
   Mel Bridgman
   Bill Barber
   


5. How many career regular-season goals did Rick MacLeish score?
   349
   402
   296
   

Darryl Sittler’s First Game Against the Maple Leafs: A Bittersweet End to a Blue & White Legacy

On April 4, 1982, at the Philadelphia Spectrum, NHL fans witnessed a bittersweet and historic moment: Darryl Sittler, once the heart and soul of the Toronto Maple Leafs, suited up for the Philadelphia Flyers to face his former team for the very first time.

Just months earlier, the Leafs had traded Sittler, one of their greatest players and longtime captain, to the Flyers for Rich Costello and a second-round pick in the 1982 NHL Draft, which became Peter Ihnacak. The trade felt like a slap in the face to fans and to Sittler himself, a player who had poured a decade of heart, hustle, and historic moments into the blue and white.

That night, the Flyers steamrolled the Leafs 7-1 in a game that underscored just how far Toronto had fallen. Sittler contributed modestly with a single assist on the opening goal by Ken Linseman, and fired five shots on goal. While Sittler played a steady game, it was Tim Kerr who stole the show for Philadelphia with a hat trick, his 19th, 20th, and 21st goals of the season. Flyers legend Bobby Clarke also notched three assists.

The Leafs mustered only 18 shots on Flyers goaltender Pete Peeters. Michel Larocque, on the other hand, faced a barrage of 59 shots in the Toronto net. The lone bright spot for the Maple Leafs was Rick Vaive, who scored his 54th goal of the season, a franchise record that stood for four decades until Auston Matthews finally broke it.

About Darryl Sittler

Darryl Sittler played 1,096 regular season and 76 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1970-71 and 1984-85 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings. He was an eighth overall pick by Toronto at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft out of the London Knights.

In 12 seasons, Sittler scored at least 27 goals. He topped the 40 goal plateau five times, putting up a career best 45 in 1977-78. That year he had 117 points, placing him third in the NHL behind Guy Lafleur and Bryan Trottier. Darryl was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989.

NHL Hockey Card Legends: Darryl Sittler

Tim Kerr’s Historic 4-Goal Period Still Stands As NHL Playoff Record

On April 13, 1985, Tim Kerr of the Philadelphia Flyers etched his name into NHL playoff history with a jaw-dropping performance that still hasn’t been topped. Facing the New York Rangers in Game 3 of their opening-round playoff series, Kerr exploded for four goals in just 8 minutes and 16 seconds, all within the second period at Madison Square Garden.

Before the scoring spree, the Flyers trailed 3-2, and Kerr hadn’t registered a single point. That changed at 10:06 of the second frame, when he lit the lamp for his first goal. What followed was one of the most dominant stretches by an individual player in Stanley Cup Playoff history.

• Three of the four goals came on the powerplay

• Peter Zezel assisted on three of them

• All four beat Rangers goalie Glen Hanlon, who was pulled after the fourth

The outburst gave Philadelphia a 6-3 lead. Despite a late push from the Rangers, including third-period goals by Don Maloney and Anders Hedberg, the Flyers hung on for a 6-5 win and a sweep of the best-of-five series. The Flyers advanced past the Islanders and Nordiques before ultimately falling to the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final.

The record has since been matched but never surpassed. On April 25, 1989, Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins netted four goals in the first period of a 10-7 win, coincidentally against the Flyers. Lemieux added a fifth goal and three assists for an unforgettable eight-point night. Even more remarkably, Tim Kerr was on the ice for that game too, contributing two goals and two assists for Philadelphia.

About Tim Kerr

Tim Kerr played 655 regular season and 81 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1980-81 and 1992-93 with the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers and Hartford Whalers. He came to the Flyers undrafted after four years of junior, mostly with the Kingston Canadiens.

Over his first three year with the Flyers, Kerr scored a total of 54 regular season goals. In the following two, 1983-84 and 1984-85, he scored exactly 54 in each campaign. He followed that up with a pair of 58 goal seasons. Unfortunately, knee and shoulder injuries cut short his NHL career.

Bobby Clarke and the Flyers Unleash Offensive Fury Against Detroit

On February 2, 1974, the Philadelphia Flyers reminded the NHL they weren’t just fists and fury, they had firepower, too. In a dominant 12-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at the Spectrum, the Broad Street Bullies showcased the killer offense that would help propel them to a Stanley Cup championship just months later.

Captain Clarke Leads the Charge

Flyers captain Bobby Clarke wasted no time, opening the scoring just 2:38 into the first period. By the end of the night, Clarke had recorded a hat trick and three assists for a six-point performance, scoring a goal in every period and tallying both the first and last goals of the game.

Franchise History Made

The 12-goal outburst set a new franchise record at the time. Although the record would later be broken twice in 1984, this win stood out not just for the sheer number of goals, but for the balanced attack. Ross Lonsberry also netted a hat trick, completely separate from Clarke’s scoring line, while Simon Nolet recorded a goal and four assists for a five-point night, with three of his helpers coming on Lonsberry’s goals.

Wings Goalies Left Reeling

Detroit goaltender Jim Rutherford faced a barrage in the first two periods, stopping 29 of 36 shots before being replaced by Bill McKenzie, who fared no better, allowing five more goals on 19 shots in the third. The Flyers fired 55 total shots, with Clarke leading the way with nine and Bill Barber adding two goals on eight shots.

Redmond’s Lone Bright Spot for Detroit

In a game that offered little joy for Red Wings fans, Mickey Redmond managed to break through twice, notching his 29th and 30th goals of the season. He’d go on to score 51 that year, his second consecutive 50-goal campaign.

A Glimpse of Greatness to Come

While the Flyers were known for their grit and physical dominance during the Broad Street Bullies era, this game showed they had more than just muscle, they had elite offensive talent. Clarke’s performance was a statement, and it echoed loudly all the way to the 1974 Stanley Cup.

About Bobby Clarke

A lowly second round pick by the Philadelphia Flyers at the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft, Bobby Clarke went on to play 1,144 regular season and 136 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1969-70 and 1983-84, all with the Flyers. Clarke topped the 100 point plateau three times, putting up a personal best 119 in 1975-76. He would take home his third and final Hart Trophy that same year.

Along with leading the Flyers to consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 1973-74 and 1974-75, Bobby was the NHL's assists leader in 1974-75 and 1975-76, contributing 89 helpers in each campaign. Clarke was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.

NHL Hockey Card Greats: Bobby Clarke [Video]

It Was No April Fool's Joke: Reg Leach Hits 60 Goals in Historic Flyers Blowout

April 1, 1976, was no laughing matter for the Washington Capitals. Visiting the Philadelphia Flyers at the Spectrum, the Caps were pummeled 11-2 in a game that secured the Flyers’ 50th win of the 1975-76 season. But more memorably, it was the night Reg Leach cemented his place in franchise history.

Leach not only scored twice and assisted on three others for a five-point evening, but his second goal, coming at 10:06 of the second period, was his 60th of the season. Assisted by Bill Barber and Jimmy Watson, the milestone marker made Leach the first and still the only player in Flyers history to reach the 60-goal plateau. He added one more two nights later in Buffalo to finish with 61.

Philadelphia was relentless that night, peppering Capitals goalie Ron Low with 62 shots. Bill Barber led the barrage with 11 shots and recorded a hat trick (goals 47, 48, and 49). He’d hit the 50-goal milestone himself just two nights later. Leach fired 8 shots, while Bobby Clarke dished out five assists. Gary Inness made 21 saves on 23 shots for the Flyers.

Though Tim Kerr would come close, scoring 54 goals twice and 58 twice between 1983-84 and 1986-87, no other Flyer has matched Leach’s 60-goal feat. Leach would crack the 50-goal mark one more time in 1979-80, finishing with exactly 50.

About Reg Leach

Reggie Leach played 934 regular season and 94 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1970-71 and 1982-83 with the Boston Bruins, California Golden Seals, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings. He was the third overall pick by the Bruins at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, behind Gilbert Perreault and Dale Tallon.

He helped the Flyers to a Stanley Cup championship in 1974-75 and was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner the following year, despite the Flyers losing to the Montreal Canadiens in the final. That year, he scored 19 goals in 16 playoff games, four more than he scored over his first 96 regular season games in the NHL.

NHL Hockey Card Greats: Reggie Leach [Video]

Bernie Parent: Backbone of the Flyers Historic 1973-74 Season Starts It Off With A Pair Of Shutouts

When hockey fans discuss the legendary 1973-74 Philadelphia Flyers, the conversation often centers around their hard-hitting identity and the infamous "Broad Street Bullies" style that defined the era. But while their physicality set the tone, the foundation of the Flyers' Stanley Cup championship was built in net, thanks to elite goaltending by Bernie Parent.

A Dominant Start to a Legendary Season

Parent kicked off his record-setting campaign with back-to-back shutouts to open the season. On October 11, 1973, the Flyers hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Spectrum. In a game that saw early fireworks, including a first-period fight between Dave Schultz and Borje Salming, Philadelphia came out on top with a 2-0 victory. Goals from Terry Crisp and Bill Barber sealed the win, while Parent stopped all 28 shots he faced. Across the ice, former Flyers goalie Doug Favell made 22 saves on 24 shots for Toronto.

Just two nights later, the Flyers visited Long Island to face the New York Islanders. Parent was once again perfect, turning aside all 23 shots in a 6-0 rout. Bill Flett scored the game-winning goal just 1:49 into the first period. Philadelphia showcased their penalty-killing strength with two shorthanded goals, one from Flett and another by Barber, assisted by Bobby Clarke. Don Saleski led the offensive charge with two goals and an assist.

Vezina-Worthy Performance

By Christmas, Bernie Parent had already recorded seven of his league-leading 12 shutouts. He appeared in 73 of the Flyers' 78 regular-season games, finishing with a remarkable 1.89 goals-against average. His performance earned him the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender and a second-place finish in Hart Trophy voting, just behind Boston’s Phil Esposito.

Postseason Heroics and the Conn Smythe Trophy

Parent continued his dominance into the 1974 NHL playoffs, adding two more shutouts and posting a 2.02 GAA. His stellar play backstopped the Flyers to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship. For his efforts, Bernie Parent was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the postseason.

About Bernie Parent

Brought up in the Boston Bruins system, Bernie Parent played 608 regular season and 71 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1965-66 and 1978-79 with the Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs. He also appeared in 63 regular season games and one more in the post season with the Philadelphia Blazers of the WHA in 1972-73.

A Hockey Hall of Fame member since 1984, Parent had his jersey number 1 retired by the Flyers in 1979. Berie won the Conn Smythe Trophy and Vezina Trophy in both 1973-74 and 1974-75 while leading Philadelphia to consecutive Stanley Cup championships. In both those years, he recorded 12 shutouts and was named an NHL First Team All-Star. He finished his career with 55 regular season and six playoff shutouts.

Darryl Sittler: The Trades

Darryl Sittler was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, eighth overall. The junior star with the London Knights was picked behind seven players: Gilbert Perreault, Dale Tallon, Reg Leach, Rick MacLeish, Ray Martyniuk, Chuck Lefley and Greg Polis. Of the 115 players taken in the 1970 draft, just Sittler and Perreault reached the 1,000 game plateau. 

Leaving Toronto

On January 20, 1982, the Maple Leafs traded their captain and centerpiece to the Philadelphia Flyers. Rick Costello and a 1982 draft pick that turned out to be Peter Ihnacak went to Toronto. Sittler played the rest of the 1981-82 NHL season with the Flyers, following by two more full campaigns. In 1982-83, he scored an impressive 43 goals, the fifth and final time he surpassed the 40 goal plateau.

Rich Costello played a total of 12 games for Toronto, ten in 1983-84 and two in 1985-86. Peter Ihnacak provided a little more value, appearing in 417 regular season and 28 playoff games in the NHL between 1982-83 and 1989-90, all with the Maple Leafs. 

Off To Detroit

Just prior to the start of the 1984-85 NHL season, on October 10, 1984, Darryl was on the move again. This time, he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for Murray Craven and Joe Paterson. Sittler finished out the year with the Wings, playing 61 games and collecting 27 points, before retiring as a player.

The trade was definitely won by the Flyers. Craven, a first round pick in 1982 out of the Medicine Hat Tigers, stayed with the Flyers until 12 games into the 1991-92 season before moving on to the Hartford Whalers. Murray played 1,071 regular season and 118 playoff games in the NHL between 1982-83 and 1999-00 with the Red Wings, Flyers, Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks.

Joe Paterson played just eleven regular season and 17 playoff games with the Flyers before moving on to the Los Angeles Kings. Another London Knights grad, Paterson played 291 regular season and 22 playoff games in the NHL between 1980-81 and 1988-89 with the Red Wings, Flyers, Kings and New York Rangers.

NHL Hockey Trivia: The Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup is the holy grail of hockey. Lord Stanley’s Mug is handed to the National Hockey League’s playoff champion each season. Test your knowledge and broaden your hockey horizons with the following four bits of trivia.

Q. What was the first non-‘Original Six’ NHL team to win the Stanley in the post expansion era?

A. The Philadelphia Flyers, known as the ‘Broad Street Bullies’ won the Stanley Cup with a victory over the Boston Bruins in the 1974 Stanley Cup. The Flyers would repeat the accomplishment the following season with a victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Those were the only two times the Flyers have ever won the Cup, although Philadelphia reached the finals in 1975-76 against the Montreal Canadiens, 1979-80 against the New York Islanders, 1984-85 and 1986-87 against the Edmonton Oilers, 1996-97 against the Detroit Red Wings and 2009-10 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Flyers entered the NHL for the 1967-68 season. Previous to their first Stanley Cup championship in 1973-74, Philadelphia had won just one playoff series. In 1972-73, the Flyers knocked off the Minnesota North Stars in the quarter-finals before falling to the Montreal Canadiens in the semi-finals.

Q. Unfortunately, there are defunct franchises throughout the history of the NHL. What was the last now-defunct team to win the Stanley Cup?

A. The Montreal Maroons were the darlings of the English population in Montreal. The Maroons won the Stanley Cup in 1935. In that 1934-35 NHL season, Montreal was just fourth in the nine team league during the regular season. In the finals, they swept the Toronto Maple Leafs in three games. Toronto had finished first overall.

The Maroons entered the National Hockey League for the 1924-25 season. The following year, they captured their first of two Stanley Cup championships. Montreal would also lose in the finals in 1927-28 to the New York Rangers. It was New York's first ever championship in only their second year in the league. The Maroons played their final NHL season in 1937-38.

Q. How many Stanley Cups did the Montreal Canadiens win during the 1970’s?

A. The Habs won a total of six Stanley Cups in the 1970’s. They dominated the Cup from four years from 1976 to 1979. They also won in 1971 and 1973. Montreal has won 24 championships, to date. Since the 1970's, however, the Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup just twice, in 1985-86 over the Calgary Flames and in 1992-93 over the Los Angeles Kings.

Q. What team has gone the longest without winning the Stanley Cup?

A. Until the 2009-10 season ended, the answer to this question was the Chicago Blackhawks, not having won the Stanley Cup since 1961. Chicago's win left the Toronto Maple Leafs as the team that has gone the longest without a Stanley Cup victory. The Leafs last won in 1967, a year before the league expanded to twelve teams. The St. Louis Blues remain the only 1967 expansion team to have never won a Stanley Cup but entered the league a year after Toronto won their last Cup.

4 Philadelphia Flyers Jack Adams Award Winners

The Jack Adams Award has existed in the National Hockey League since the 1973-74 season. The award is handed out each season to the best head coach in the league. Two teams, to date, have had their coaches win the Jack Adams Award on four occasions. One of those teams is the Detroit Red Wings and the other is the Philadelphia Flyers.

Fred Shero

Fred Shero was the first ever recipient of the Jack Adams Award in 1973-74. His Flyers finished the regular season with 50 wins and 112 points in 78 games and were placed first in the West Division. The point total was a 27 point improvement over the previous season. After sweeping the Atlanta Flames in the first round and ousting the New York Rangers in seven games in the semi-finals, Philadelphia won the Stanley Cup in six games over the Boston Bruins.

The 1973-74 Flyers were led by Bobby Clarke, Rick MacLeish, Bill Barber and Bernie Parent. They would win the Stanley Cup the following year as well, their last Cup victory to this date. Shero coached the team from 1971-72 to 1977-78. He followed that up with three years as bench boss of the New York Rangers. His teams were runners-up twice, Philadelphia once and New York once.

Pat Quinn

Pat Quinn, in just his second year as head coach, won the Jack Adams Award in 1979-80. The Flyers totaled 116 points during the regular season, good for first overall in the NHL. After ploughing through the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers and Minnesota North Stars in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Flyers lost to the New York Islanders in the finals.

Reg Leach led the 1979-80 Flyers with 50 goals while Ken Linseman led the team in points. Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber were still key factors on the team.

Pat Quinn coached in the NHL from 1978-79 to 2009-10 with the Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers. Quinn never won a Stanley Cup but did find his way to the finals again in 1993-94 with the Vancouver Canucks. Pat won the Jack Adams again in 1991-92, with Vancouver.

Mike Keenan

Mike Keenan won the Jack Adams Award in his first year as head coach, 1984-85. ‘Iron Mike’ coached the Flyers to first overall in the NHL with 113 points. Once again, Philadelphia made it to the finals after beating the New York Rangers, New York Islanders and Quebec Nordiques. Unfortunately, Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers proved too strong and beat the Flyers in five to take the Stanley Cup.

Tim Kerr led the Flyers that season with 54 goals. Also leading the team were Brian Propp, Dave Poulin, Mark Howe, Rick Tocchet and Pelle Lindbergh.

Keenan coached in the NHL from 1984-85 to 2008-09 with the Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers and Calgary Flames. Two of Mike’s teams in Philadelphia were runners-up for the Stanley Cup. He also coached the Chicago Blackhawks to an unsuccessful run at the finals. Behind the bench of the 1993-94 New York Rangers, Keenan got his only Stanley Cup.

Bill Barber

Bill Barber was head coach of the Flyers for just a season and a half. He took over from Craig Ramsay part way through the 2000-01 season and Philadelphia had a 31-13 record under the former player, earning him the Jack Adams. The team finished with 100 points and a second place Atlantic Division seeding. The Flyers lost in the first round to the Buffalo Sabres in six games. Mark Recchi, Keith Primeau and Simon Gagne starred.

Barber coached the following season and hasn’t coached since. Bill played for the team from 1972-73 to 1983-84. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.

1st Stanley Cup Playoff Action For The 1967 NHL Expansion Teams

For the 1967-68 hockey season, the National Hockey League added six expansion teams to double the number of teams in the league. Although the six new franchises were dismal, their odds of reaching the post-season were quite good. The NHL, in all their wisdom, created two divisions, the East and West. In the East, they placed all the existing ‘Original 6’ teams. In the West were all the expansion clubs. No matter their record, the top four in each division qualified for the playoffs.

That said, four of the six expansion teams, despite none having a .500 record, saw their first playoff action in their first year of existence. Because of the odd division setup, one of these four teams would get a chance to play in the Stanley Cup finals.

Here’s a little history into each of the six 1967 expansion team’s first experience with the Stanley Cup post-season, in no particular order.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins were slow out of the gate and did not qualify for the playoffs until their third year in the NHL. In 1969-70, Pittsburgh placed second in the West Division with just 64 points in 76 games, 26 points behind the division leader, the St. Louis Blues. During the regular season, the team was led offensively by Dean Prentice with just 51 points in 75 games. The Penguins were coached by Red Kelly.

Pittsburgh came up against the Oakland Seals in the quarter-finals and swept the series in four games. Oakland had finished the regular season fourth with 58 points. The Seals were tied in points with the Philadelphia Flyers but were awarded the final playoff spot on more wins. Two games were decided by just one goal and the fourth game went into overtime. In the semi-finals, the Penguins fell to St. Louis in six games.

In the post-season, Pittsburgh was led by Michel Briere. The rookie had five goals and eight points in ten games and was said by many to be on his way to super-stardom. Unfortunately, in the off-season, Briere was involved in a car accident that placed him in a coma. He died a year later.

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings finished their inaugural NHL season with 72 points, placing second in the West, one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers. Another Red Kelly coached team, Los Angeles was led by Eddie Joyal during the regular season, contributing 57 points in 74 games.

Los Angeles came up against the Minnesota North Stars in the quarter-finals and the series went the full seven games. The Kings held a 3-2 lead in the series but Minnesota won game six in overtime then blew out the Kings in game seven, 9-4. L.A. was led offensively in the series by Lowell MacDonald and Doug Robinson who totalled seven points each.

The Kings would win their first playoff series the following year. In the 1968-69 Stanley Cup quarter-finals, Los Angeles beat their California Rivals, the Oakland Seals, in seven games to advance.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers were the first of the six 1967 expansion teams to capture the Stanley Cup, but that wouldn’t come until 1973-74. In 1967-68, Philadelphia qualified for the post-season, finishing first in the West with just 73 points in 74 games. The team was led by Lou Angotti with just 49 points in 70 games.

Philadelphia met the Blues in the quarter-finals with the series going the full seven games before St. Louis came out victorious. The Flyers were led offensively by Forbes Kennedy and Andre Lacroix with five points each. Philly would not win their first playoff series until 1972-73 when they beat the North Stars 4-2 in the quarter-finals.

St. Louis Blues

The Blues were the top expansion franchise right out of the gate, reaching the Stanley Cup finals in their first three years of existence. As mentioned earlier, the Blues beat the Flyers in their first playoff series, a quarter-final meeting that went the full seven games. St. Louis then took out Minnesota in seven games to earn a berth in the Stanley Cup finals. The Montreal Canadiens swept the Blues in four.

During the 1967-68 regular season, the Blues finished third in the West with 70 points, just three points out of first place. In regular season play, it was Red Berenson leading the way with 51 points in 55 games. In the playoffs, a Hockey Hall of Famer had his last kick at the can. Dickie Moore led the team with 14 points over 18 games.

Oakland Seals

The Oakland Seals played in the Stanley Cup playoffs just twice in an NHL existence that lasted from 1967-68 to just 1975-76. After that, the franchise moved to Ohio, where they became the Cleveland Barons for two years. Somewhere in the Dallas Stars bloodlines lie this ill-fated California team.

Their first series came in 1968-69 when they met the St. Louis Blues in the quarter-finals. The Seals extended the series to seven but couldn’t conquer the Blues. During the regular season, the Seals had their best year in their short history, finishing second in the West with 69 points. The team was led in the regular season by Ted Hampson with 75 points in 76 games. In the post season, it was Earl Ingarfield leading the way with ten points in seven games.

Oakland, later known as the California Golden Seals, would reach the post season on just one other occasion. In 1969-70, the Seals met the Pittsburgh Penguins in the quarter-finals. The Penguins made haste with a four game sweep.

Minnesota North Stars

The direct descendant of the modern day Dallas Stars, Minnesota clung to the fourth and final playoff spot in their first year with 69 points in 74 games. The North Stars were led during the regular season by Wayne Connelly with 56 points in 74 games.

Minnesota faced off against the Los Angeles Kings in the quarter-finals and took the full seven games to eliminate their foes. The North Stars then went another full seven games in the semi-finals before falling to the St. Louis Blues. In the post season, it was Bill Goldsworthy leading the way with 15 points in 14 games.

1974-75 NHL Season By The Numbers

The 1974-75 National Hockey League season featured the Philadelphia Flyers finishing first overall and winning their second Stanley Cup championship in a row. It would be the end of a great run for the Broad Street Bullies as the following season would see the Montreal Canadiens enter their dynasty of four consecutive Stanley Cups.

1 – The Kansas City Scouts and Washington Capitals played their inaugural season in the National Hockey League. The Capitals stayed put and are a threat in the NHL today. The Scouts didn’t last long in Kansas City, moving first to Denver to become the Colorado Rockies then to the east coast to become the present day New Jersey Devils.

12 – Bernie Parent recorded twelve shutouts while leading the Philadelphia Flyers to the lowest goals against total in the NHL. The next best goaltender in the league had six shutouts. Parent earned the Vezina Trophy and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup playoffs MVP.

51 – The Philadelphia Flyers were the only team to achieve the 50 win plateau in 1974-75. Their 113 points tied put them in a three-way tie for first overall with the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens. The Los Angeles Kings were the only other team to cross the 100-point threshold with 105. Philadelphia was the top team in the Clarence Campbell Conference and the Patrick Division.

67 – The upstart Washington Capitals lost 67 of 80 games in 1974-75. The Capitals won just eight, the lowest total ever recorded since the league moved to a 70 game schedule for the 1949-50 season. Expansion cousins, the Kansas City Scouts, fared a little better, winning 15, losing 54 and tying 11.

135 – Bobby Orr won the second Art Ross Trophy of his career with 135 points. Orr finished eight points ahead of teammate Phil Esposito and fourteen ahead of Marcel Dionne of the Detroit Red Wings. Orr won his first Art Ross in 1969-70 and is the only defenseman to win the award.

374 – The Montreal Canadiens led the NHL with 374 goals. Guy Lafleur was tops on the team with 53. Ten Montreal players had 20 or more goals and five scored 30 or more. The league leader in goals was Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins with 61.

1,047 – Eddie Shack, ‘The Entertainer’, played his 1,047^th and final game in the National Hockey League. Shack played 26 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1974-75 before retiring. Eddie started in the NHL way back in 1958-59 with the New York Rangers. Along the way, he also played for the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins.

 

4 Consecutive Stanley Cup Finals Sweeps - The Only Time In NHL History

With the Los Angeles Kings winning the 2013-14 Stanley Cup championship in five games over the New York Rangers, there now hasn't been a four game sweep in the Stanley Cup finals since the 1997-98 NHL season. That National Hockey League season marked the last of four consecutive sweeps to decide the Stanley Cup champion. This four year span happens to be the only time in NHL history when there has been four consecutive years with sweeps. In fact, the only time there has been three consecutive years with sweeps in the finals came with the 1967 expansion when the St. Louis Blues were at the losing end of sweeps between 1967-68 and 1969-70.

New Jersey Devils 1994-95

The New Jersey Devils starting things off in 1994-95 by taking down the Detroit Red Wings in four games to capture the Stanley Cup. New Jersey lost just four games in the first three rounds of the playoffs and finished off the post-season with a 16-4 record. In the finals, the Devils outscored the Red Wings 16-7. This was the first championship in New Jersey Devils history. The franchise that began as the Kansas City Scouts back in 1974-75 has since won the Cup on two more occasions.

 The 1995 final was a faceoff between teacher and student. Jacques Lemaire was head coach of the Devils while Scotty Bowman was behind the bench of the Red Wings. Lemaire played a key part on the ice for the Scotty Bowman coached Montreal Canadiens in the 1970’s. The Conn Smythe Trophy was won by Claude Lemieux of the Devils with the team led defensively by Scott Stevens and rock-solid goaltender Martin Brodeur.

Colorado Avalanche 1995-96

The Quebec Nordiques built a roster with championship potential. However, it wasn’t until the franchise moved to Denver before they could reap their rewards. The Colorado Avalanche met up with the Florida Panthers in the 1995-96 finals. The Avalanche held the trap-playing Panthers to just four goals in the over the series while scoring 15 of their own. Game two of the series was an 8-1 blowout. However, Florida put up a fight, losing 1-0 in triple overtime in game four.

 Claude Lemieux won his second consecutive Stanley Cup after moving over to the Avalanche from New Jersey. Joe Sakic of Colorado won the Conn Smythe with Patrick Roy and Adam Foote also playing starring roles in the victory. The Avalanche lost a total of six games in the 1995-96 post season.

 Detroit Red Wings 1996-97

Detroit was back in the finals for 1996-97 after a year away, this time on the winning end of the sweep. The Philadelphia Flyers were Detroit’s opponent in the final and outscored them 16-6 over the four games. The Red Wings lost just four games during the entire 1996-97post-season.

The series put two great captains head to head with Steve Yzerman of the Red Wings and Eric Lindros of the Flyers facing off. Mike Vernon, goaltender for Detroit, won the Conn Smythe Trophy. Hockey Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan and Nicklas Lidstrom also led the way for the Red Wings.

 Detroit Red Wings 1997-98

The Red Wings were back for more in 1997-98. This time, their victim was the Washington Capitals. As of the end of the 2013-14 season, this is the only time the Capitals have reached the Stanley Cup finals since joining the National Hockey League in 1974-75, along with the Kansas City Scouts.

Detroit outscored Washington 13-7 in a defensive struggle. Detroit’s record throughout the playoffs was 16-6 with mostly the same cast as the year before. Steve Yzerman was the recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Darryl Sittler

Darryl Sittler is one of the greatest legends in the history of the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs. Sittler is a Hockey Hall of Fame member that has certainly left his mark on the game. His record of ten points in a single game that was set in 1976 against the Boston Bruins still stands today. Test and expand your hockey knowledge with the following four hockey trivia questions and answers.

Q. When Darryl Sittler was traded from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Detroit Red Wings for the start of the 1984-85 season, what player, who would play over 1,000 career NHL games, went in the other direction?

A. Sittler was traded to Detroit for an unproven youngster named Murray Craven. Philadelphia got the best of the deal with Sittler playing just 61 games with Detroit before retiring. Craven played 1,071 regular season NHL games with the Red Wings, Flyers, Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks.

Joe Paterson also went to the Flyers in the deal. Joe played just six games for Philadelphia in 1984-85 and five more with the club in 1985-86 before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings. Paterson, who played his junior hockey for the same OHL team as Sittler, appeared in 291 NHL regular season games between 1980-81 and 1988-89 with the Red Wings, Flyers, Kings and New York Rangers.

Q. In 1977-78, Darryl Sittler finished third in the race for the Art Ross Trophy with 117 points. Who finished first in the NHL that season?

A. Guy Lafleur of the Montreal Canadiens won the Art Ross Trophy with 132 points. Bryan Trottier of the New York Islanders took second spot with 123 points. The three were the only ones to surpass the 100 point plateau that season.

It was the second and last time Darryl would reach the 100 point plateau. He totalled exactly 100 in 1975-76 over 79 games with the Maple Leafs. The 100 points placed him ninth in the race for the Art Ross Trophy.

Q. With what OHA team did Darryl Sittler record 99 points for in 1968-69?

A. Darryl was a member of the London Knights for three years from 1967-68 to 1969-70. 99 points was his highest single season total in the junior league and was accomplished over 53 games on 34 goals and 65 assists. He finished third in the OHA that season behind only Rejean Houle of the Montreal Junior Canadiens and Marcel Dionne of the St. Catherines Black Hawks.

In his third and final year with London, Sittler scored 42 and assisted on 48 for 90 points over 54 regular season games. He was the team’s leader by far with 24 more points than Dan Maloney. He tied Bobby Lalonde of the Montreal Junior Canadiens for sixth in goal scoring. Darryl was also tied for seventh in assists and held the sixth spot for total points.

Q. In what year was Darryl Sittler inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame?

A. Sittler entered the Hall of Fame in 1989. The only other two players to be inducted that season were Herbie Lewis, a member of the Detroit Cougars / Falcons / Red Wings in the late 1920’s and 1930’s and Vladislav Tretiak, the great Russian goaltender.

Quebec Aces: 1967-68 AHL Offensive Powerhouse

The Quebec Aces were nearly their twilight as an American Hockey League franchise in 1967-68. In just a few short years, the team would move south to Richmond, Virginia. The Aces placed second overall in the eight team AHL and reached the Calder Cup finals that year. Leading the way offensively were a trio of players that finished among the top four in the league for scoring. Two were on their way up to the NHL while the third well into his career and had hit a bit of a speed bump.

Simon Nolet

Nolet scored 44 goals and assisted on 52 for 96 points over 70 regular season games for Quebec in 1967-68. He placed second in the league for goals and led in points, earning the John B. Sollenberger Trophy. That year, Simon also got into four regular season games with the Philadelphia Flyers, along with one game in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Before retiring after the 1976-77 season, Simon Nolet played in 562 regular season and 34 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers, Kansas City Scouts, Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Rockies. He won a Stanley Cup with Philadelphia in 1973-74 and was picked up that same summer by the Scouts, fifth overall in the 1974 NHL Expansion Draft. Simon was team captain in Kansas City during the 1974-75 season and part of 1975-76 before being traded to the Penguins. For his short stay with the Rockies in 1976-77, Nolet once again wore the ‘C’.

Andre Lacroix

Lacroix spent more time with the Flyers in the NHL during the 1967-68 season and subsequently appeared in just 54 games for the Aces during the regular season. Even still, his 41 goals tied him for sixth with Howie Glover of the Cleveland Barons and he tied teammate Jean-Guy Gendron for third in points with 87.

It was Andre’s second full year of pro hockey and he finished off the year with Philadelphia, playing in 18 games and contributing a decent 14 points. In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Lacroix played another seven games, adding five points.

Andre was not far removed from being a two-time MVP in the OHA with the Peterborough Petes and still stands one of a handful of players to win the Red Tilson Trophy on more than one occasion. Lacroix would go on to become one of the greatest players in WHA history, winning the Bill Hunter Trophy as scoring champ on two occasions, once with the Philadelphia Blazers in 1972-73 and again with the San Diego Mariners in 1974-75.

Andre Lacroix played 325 regular season games in the National Hockey League with the Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks and Hartford Whalers. His time with the Whalers came in 1979-80 when the remaining four WHA teams merged with the NHL. Andre played 551 regular season games in the rebel league with the Blazers, New York Golden Blades, Mariners, Houston Aeros and New England Whalers.

Jean-Guy Gendron

In his fourth year with the Aces, Gendron scored 29 and assisted on 58 for 87 points over 72 regular season games. He placed second in the AHL for assists and tied Andre Lacroix for third in points. Like the other two, he did spend time in the NHL with the Flyers that season. However, Jean-Guy’s time was limited to one regular season game.

Gendron’s NHL career began in 1955-56 and he played in 863 regular season and 42 playoff games before jumping to the WHA after the 1971-72 season. Along with the Flyers, Jean-Guy also played for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens. He ended his career with two years as team captain of the Quebec Nordiques in the World Hockey Association, 1972-73 and 1973-74.

Quebec Aces 1967-68

The Vic Stasiuk coached Aces finished second in the four team West Division and second overall in the eight team AHL with 77 points over 72 games. They reached the Calder Cup finals before falling to the Rochester Americans in six games. Interestingly, over the three rounds of playoffs, Quebec scored 55 goals and allowed 55 goals. In the opening round against the Buffalo Bisons, each team scored 21 goals. In the 2^nd round against the Providence Reds, the Aces had the edge 13-10. In the finals, the Amerks outscored Quebec 24-21.

The Quebec Aces were members of the American Hockey League from 1959-60 to 1970-71, although the franchise dates back to 1928-29. Upon moving south, they were known as the Richmond Robins from 1971-72 to 1975-76 before folding. The Aces never won a Calder Cup championship but went to the finals three times over their fairly brief history.

Top Single Season Point Producers In Philadelphia Flyers History

The Philadelphia Flyers were one of six teams to enter the National Hockey League as part of the 1967-68 expansion. The Flyers were the first of the six to win a Stanley Cup, accomplishing the feat in 1973-74 and again in 1974-75. The team has seen surprisingly few individual offensive outbreaks. Just five different players have totaled 100 or more points in a single season with the record sitting at a surpassable 123.

Mark Recchi

Mark Recchi holds Philadelphia’s single season record with 123 points. Recchi accomplished this over 84 games in 1992-93, scoring 53 goals and adding 70 assists. The total was good for just tenth place in the NHL that season with Mario Lemieux capturing the Art Ross Trophy with 160 points. As a team, Philadelphia finished fifth in the Patrick Division that year, out of playoff contention.

Recchi was originally a fourth round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1988. 1992-93 was one three times Mark surpassed the 100 point plateau over his 1,652 game NHL career. He played in the league from 1988-89 to 2010-11 with the Penguins, Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Atlanta Thrashers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins. He sits fourth on the NHL’s all-time games played list behind only Gordie Howe, Mark Messier and Ron Francis.

Bobby Clarke

Bobby Clarke is behind the second and third single season point productions in Flyers history. In 1975-76, he accumulated 119 points on 30 goals and 89 assists in 76 games. He finished second to Guy Lafleur of the Montreal Canadiens in the scoring race and won the Hart Trophy as league MVP. The Flyers finished first in the Patrick Division and second overall, behind only Montreal. Philadelphia met the Canadiens in the Stanley Cup final and were swept in four games.

Clarke was a second round pick of the Flyers in 1969. He played a total of 1,144 regular season NHL games between 1969-70 and 1983-84, all with Philadelphia. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy on three occasions and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987. The Bob Clarke Trophy is handed out each season in the WHL to the player with the most points. Clarke led the league twice as a member of the Flin Flon Bombers in 1967-68 and 1968-69.

Bobby totalled 116 points the previous season, 1974-75, on 27 goals and 89 assists over 80 games. Clarke finished sixth in the race for the Art Ross Trophy, behind winner Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins. The Flyers finished the regular season first in the Patrick Division and won the Stanley Cup with a 4-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

Eric Lindros

Eric Lindros contributed 115 points in 1995-96 on 47 goals and 68 assists in 73 games. It was Eric’s only 100 point season and he finished that season sixth in the NHL with Mario Lemieux leading with 161. The Flyers were first in the Atlantic Division and bowed out to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Lindros was the first overall pick at the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, going to the Quebec Nordiques. He was fresh off earning the Eddie Powers Trophy as the Ontario Hockey League’s leading scorer with 149 points in just 57 games with the Oshawa Generals. He played 760 regular season games during his NHL career with the Flyers, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars. He won the Hart Trophy in 1994-95.

Bill Barber

Bill Barber played second fiddle to Bobby Clarke in 1975-76 with 112 points on 50 goals and 62 assists in 80 games. Barber finished fourth in league scoring, two positions behind Clarke. It was Bill’s only 100 point season in the NHL after two with the Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario Hockey Association.

He was the seventh overall pick at the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft. He played 903 regular season games between 1972-73 and 1983-84, all with the Flyers. Barber was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.