When Bill “Cowboy” Flett stepped onto the ice at the Forum on March 9, 1972, it wasn’t just another regular-season game. Less than six weeks earlier, Flett had been part of a blockbuster January 28 trade that sent him from the Los Angeles Kings to the Philadelphia Flyers alongside Eddie Joyal, Ross Lonsberry, and Jean Potvin. Heading west in return were Serge Bernier, Larry Brown, Bill Lesuk, and Jim Johnson.
Now back in Los Angeles wearing orange and black, Flett made sure Kings fans knew exactly what they had given up.
Through two periods and halfway into the third, the Kings held a 2-1 lead and Flett was still off the scoresheet. That changed quickly, and dramatically, beginning at 10:58 of the third period. On the power play, Flett buried his 13th goal of the season past Gary Edwards, assisted by Jean Potvin and Bobby Clarke.
Thirty seconds later, he turned playmaker, setting up Clarke for the Flyers’ go-ahead goal. Just ten seconds after that, Flett struck again, scoring his second of the night and 14th of the season off another Clarke assist. In under a minute, the Cowboy had completely flipped the game, putting Philadelphia ahead 4-2 with what would stand as the game-winning goal in a 5-3 Flyers victory.
He wasn’t finished.
After Backstrom pulled the Kings within one, Flett completed the story at 14:29 of the third period, netting his hat trick goal with helpers from Rick Foley and Clarke. The goal capped a four-point night in his return to Los Angeles and marked the fourth hat trick of Flett’s NHL career. Interestingly, his first three hat tricks had all come against the Detroit Red Wings.
Flett and Clarke each finished the night with seven shots on goal, while Gary Edwards faced 32 shots in the Kings’ net. Flett closed out the 1971-72 season with 11 goals in 31 games for the Flyers, added to the seven he scored in 45 games with Los Angeles, good for 18 total on the year.
The following season, the Cowboy truly broke out, erupting for a career-high 43 goals and proving just how costly that January trade turned out to be for the Kings.
Stories From The Epic History Of NHL Hockey (Volume IV)
Dive into unforgettable tales from NHL history — the biggest moments, legendary players, and classic rivalries.
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