1975–76 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 1975–76 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' ninth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the third consecutive year, but they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in a four-game sweep.

1975–76 Philadelphia Flyers
Campbell Conference champions
Patrick Division champions
Division1st Patrick
Conference1st Campbell
1975–76 record51–13–16
Home record36–2–2
Road record15–11–14
Goals for348 (1st)
Goals against209 (3rd)
Team information
PresidentJoe Scott
General managerKeith Allen
CoachFred Shero
CaptainBobby Clarke
Alternate captainsNone[lower-alpha 1]
ArenaSpectrum
Average attendance17,077[1]
Minor league affiliate(s)Richmond Robins
Philadelphia Firebirds
Team leaders
GoalsReggie Leach (61)
AssistsBobby Clarke (89)
PointsBobby Clarke (119)
Penalty minutesDave Schultz (307)
Plus/minusBobby Clarke (+83)
WinsWayne Stephenson (40)
Goals against averageGary Inness (1.51)

Regular season

The Flyers recorded the best record in team history (points wise) with a record of 51–13–16 in 1975–76. They also tied the record set by the 1929–30 Boston Bruins for most consecutive home ice wins, with 20. The LCB line, featuring Reggie Leach at right-wing, Bobby Clarke at center, and Bill Barber at left-wing, set an NHL record for goals by a single line with 141 (Leach 61, Clarke 30, Barber 50). Clarke, on his way to a third Hart Trophy, set a club record for points in one season with 119.

The highlight of the season had no bearing on the season standings. On January 11 at the Spectrum, the Flyers, as part of the Super Series '76, played a memorable exhibition game against the Soviet Union's dominant Central Red Army team. As the Bullies had put intimidation to good use the past three years, the Flyers' rugged style of play led the Soviets to leave the ice midway through the first period, protesting a hit by Ed Van Impe on Valeri Kharlamov (whom Clarke had slashed on the ankle in the famous Summit Series '72). After some delay, the Soviets returned after they were warned that they would lose their salary for the entire series. The Flyers went on to win the game rather easily, 4–1, and were the only team to defeat the Red Army outright in the series. Head coach Fred Shero would proclaim, "Yes we are world champions. If they had won, they would have been world champions. We beat the hell out of a machine."[2]

Season standings
Patrick Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Philadelphia Flyers80511316348209118
New York Islanders80422117297190101
Atlanta Flames8035331226223782
New York Rangers802942926233367

[3]

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

Heading into the playoffs, the Flyers squeaked past Toronto in seven games and defeated Boston in five games, Game 5 featuring a five-goal outburst by Leach, the Riverton Rifle, to head to a third straight appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. However, the Flyers didn't come close to a third straight championship, as they ran into an up-and-coming dynasty in Montreal, and were swept in four straight games. Despite the loss, Leach was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for scoring 19 goals in 16 playoff games.

Schedule and results

Regular season
1975–76 regular season
October: 7–1–2, 16 Points (Home: 5–0–0; Road: 2–1–2)
November: 9–2–4, 22 Points (Home: 8–1–2; Road: 1–1–2)
December: 6–3–2, 14 Points (Home: 3–1–0; Road: 3–2–2)
January: 8–4–2, 18 Points (Home: 4–0–0; Road: 4–4–2)
February: 10–0–4, 24 Points (Home: 7–0–1; Road: 3–0–3)
March: 9–2–2, 20 Points (Home: 7–0–0; Road: 2–2–2)
April: 2–1–0, 4 Points (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 0–0–0)

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs
1976 Stanley Cup playoffs
Quarterfinals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs – Flyers win 4–3
Semifinals vs. Boston Bruins – Flyers win 4–1
Stanley Cup Finals vs. Montreal Canadiens – Canadiens win 4–0

Legend:   Win   Loss

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.
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player Age Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
16Bobby Clarke26C7630891198313616214161128
7Bill Barber23LW80506211274104166713918
27Reggie Leach25RW8061309173411619524148
26Orest Kindrachuk25C762649753210116471134
12Gary Dornhoefer32RW742835631412816347043
10Mel Bridgman20C802327502286166814131
11Don Saleski26RW782126473368166511847
18Ross Lonsberry28LW80192847298716437−32
19Rick MacLeish26C51222345616——————
5Larry Goodenough23D77834424583163111486
3Tom Bladon23D80142337456816268214
6Andre Dupont26D759273640214152241446
20Jimmy Watson23D7923436656616189116
8Dave Schultz26LW711319322430716224790
14Joe Watson32D7822224562816112−110
9Bob Kelly25LW7912820312516022144
15Terry Crisp32C3869156281005542
2Ed Van Impe35D400881660——————
29Jack McIlhargey23D571231120515033541
21Larry Wright24C210110——————
35Wayne Stephenson31G66000N/A118000N/A0
1Bernie Parent30G11000N/A28000N/A0
30Bobby Taylor31G4000N/A2——————
25Terry Murray25D300002601120
30Gary Inness26G2000N/A0——————
33Jerome Mrazek24G1000N/A0——————
21Bob Sirois21RW100000——————
17Paul Holmgren20RW100002——————

Goaltending
  • = 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.
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player Age GP GS W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP GS W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
35Wayne Stephenson31666440101417741642.58.90813,810:328844228222.69.9040490:52
1Bernie Parent301110622259242.35.9070613:388844250273.40.8920476:33
30Bobby Taylor3144310125153.75.8800240:00——————————
30Gary Inness26222006031.51.9500119:32——————————
33Jerome Mrazek2410000219.55.50006:17——————————

Awards and records

Awards
Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League (annual) Conn Smythe Trophy Reggie Leach [4]
Hart Memorial Trophy Bobby Clarke [5]
NHL First All-Star Team Bill Barber (Left Wing) [6]
Bobby Clarke (Center)
NHL Second All-Star Team Reggie Leach (Right Wing) [6]
League (in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Bill Barber [7][8]
Bobby Clarke[lower-alpha 2]
Andre Dupont
Reggie Leach
Rick MacLeish[lower-alpha 2]
Fred Shero (Coach)
Wayne Stephenson
Jim Watson
Team Barry Ashbee Trophy Jim Watson [9]
Miscellaneous Lionel Conacher Award Bobby Clarke [10]
Lou Marsh Trophy Bobby Clarke [11]

Records
  •    NHL record
  •    Tied for NHL record

Individual
Franchise player records set during the 1975–76 season
Record Type Total Player Date(s) Opponent Ref
Games with an assist Streak 12[lower-alpha 3] Bobby Clarke 3/11/1976 – 4/3/1976 — [12]
Goals scored Season 61 Reggie Leach — — [13]
Assists Season 89[lower-alpha 4] Bobby Clarke — — [13]
Shots on goal Season 380 Bill Barber — — [13]
Assists per game Season 1.17 Bobby Clarke — — [14]
Penalties in minutes, playoffs Game 42 Dave Schultz 4/22/1976 Toronto Maple Leafs [15]
Penalties in minutes, playoffs Series 116 Dave Schultz — Toronto Maple Leafs [16]
Goals scored, playoffs Game 5 Reggie Leach 5/6/1976 Boston Bruins [15]
Assists, playoffs Game 4[lower-alpha 5] Bobby Clarke 5/6/1976 Boston Bruins [15]
Games with a goal, playoffs Streak 10 Reggie Leach 4/17/1976 – 5/9/1976 — [15]
Goals scored, playoffs Season 19 Reggie Leach — — [17]

Team
Franchise team records set during the 1975–76 season
Record Type Total Date(s) Opponent Player(s) Refs
Games won at home Streak 20 1/4/1976 – 4/3/1976 — — [18][19]
Most wins at home Season 36 — — — [20]
Fewest losses at home Season 2 — — — [20]
Most points Season 118 — — — [21]
Best points percentage Season .738 — — — [21]
Goals scored by a line Season 141 — — Reggie Leach (61) [12]
Bill Barber (50)
Bobby Clarke (30)
Points by a line Season 322 — — Bobby Clarke (119) [12]
Bill Barber (112)
Reggie Leach (91)
Penalties in minutes, playoffs Game 107 4/15/1976 Toronto Maple Leafs — [22]
Fastest two goals, playoffs Game 0:13 4/20/1976 Toronto Maple Leafs Gary Dornhoefer [22]
Don Saleski
Goals scored, playoffs Period 5[lower-alpha 6] 4/25/1976 Toronto Maple Leafs — [16]

Milestones
Franchise firsts
Milestone Player Details Date Ref
60-goal season Reggie Leach Even-strength goal at 10:06 of the second period against Ron Low April 1, 1976 [23]
5-goal game, playoffs Reggie Leach 1: Even-strength goal at 5:45 of the first period against Gilles Gilbert May 6, 1976 [24]
2: Even-strength goal at 2:02 of the second period against Gilbert
3: Even-strength goal at 8:51 of the second period against Gilbert
4: Even-strength goal at 17:09 of the second period against Gilbert
5: Even-strength goal at 8:07 of the third period against Gilbert

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 28, 1975, the day after the deciding game of the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 16, 1976, the day of the deciding game of the 1976 Stanley Cup Finals.[25]

Trades
Date Details Ref
June 3, 1975 To Philadelphia Flyers
1st-round pick in 1975		 To Washington Capitals
Bill Clement
Don McLean
1st-round pick in 1975		 [26]
December 15, 1975 To Philadelphia Flyers
future considerations[lower-alpha 7]		 To Washington Capitals
Bob Sirois		 [27]
March 9, 1976 To Philadelphia Flyers
Gary Inness
future considerations[lower-alpha 8]		 To Pittsburgh Penguins
Bobby Taylor
Ed Van Impe		 [28]

Free agency

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

Date Player Previous team (league) Term Ref
August 6, 1975Dave KellyProvidence College (HE)[29]
September 10, 1975Larry WrightCalifornia Golden Seals[30]
September 10, 1975Wayne SchaabOmaha Knights (CHL)[30]
September 23, 1975Terry MurrayCalifornia Golden Seals[31]

Internal

The following players were either re-signed by the Flyers or, in the case of the team's selections in the NHL Entry Draft, signed to contracts.

Date Player Term Ref
June 6, 1975Mel Bridgman (DP)5-year[32]
August 6, 1975Bob Ritchie (DP)[29]
September 5, 1975Dave Schultz5-year[33]
September 16, 1975Orest Kindrachukmulti-year
March 7, 1976Paul Holmgren (DP)multi-year[34]

NHL Intra-League Draft

The 1975 NHL Intra-League Draft was held on June 17, 1975.[35] Each NHL team placed 18 skaters and 2 goaltenders on a protected list from which the other teams could not select.[35] It cost $40,000 to make a claim.[35] The Flyers were not involved in any selections during the draft.[35]

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 (*).

Date Player New team (league) Via Ref
June 2, 1975Ted Harris—Retirement[36]

Draft picks
See also: List of Philadelphia Flyers draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft, which was held at the NHL's office in Montreal, Quebec, on June 3, 1975.[37] The Flyers traded their second-round pick, 36th overall, along with the rights to Randy Andreachuk to the St. Louis Blues for Wayne Stephenson on September 16, 1974.[38]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality Team (league) Notes
1 1 Mel Bridgman Center  Canada Victoria Cougars (WCHL) [lower-alpha 9]
3 54 Bob Ritchie Left Wing  Canada Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
4 72 Rick St. Croix Goaltender  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHL)
5 90 Gary Morrison Forward  United States University of Michigan (CCHA)
6 108 Paul Holmgren Forward  United States University of Minnesota (WCHA)
7 126 Dana Decker Left Wing  United States Michigan Tech University (WCHA)
9 160 Viktor Khatulev Defense  Latvia Dynamo Riga (USSR)
10 175 Duffy Smith Defense  Canada Bowling Green State University (CCHA)

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Richmond Robins of the AHL[39][40] and the Philadelphia Firebirds of the NAHL.[41]

Notes
  1. The alternate captain position was abolished from the 1975–76 season through the 1984–85 season.
  2. Clarke did not play and was replaced by MacLeish.
  3. Clarke tied this record during the 1977–78 season.
  4. Clarke tied his assist total from the 1974–75 season.
  5. Tied five times by five different players. See List of Philadelphia Flyers records.
  6. Tied four times. See List of Philadelphia Flyers records.
  7. The Capitals sent John Paddock to the Flyers on September 1, 1976, to complete trade.[27]
  8. The Flyers later received the Penguins' 1977 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th-round picks to complete the trade.
  9. The Flyers acquired the 1st overall pick from the Washington Capitals for Bill Clement, Don McLean and the Flyers' first-round pick, 18th overall, on June 3, 1975.[38]

References
General
Specific
  1. "All Time Team Attendance". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  2. "Flyers History – Historic Moments". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  3. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
  4. "Conn Smythe Trophy". National Hockey League. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  5. "Hart Memorial Trophy". National Hockey League. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  6. 2014–15 NHL Official Guide & Record Book, p. 230–32
  7. "29th NHL All-Star Game". NHL.com. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  8. "Flyers History – All-Star Game Representatives". P.Anson. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  9. "Flyers History – Team Awards". P.Anson. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  10. Sufrin, Mel (1975-12-18). "Clarke named outstanding male athlete". Regina Leader-Post. p. 25. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
  11. "Lou Marsh winners". Toronto Star. December 9, 2008. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  12. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 263
  13. "NHL.com – Stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  14. "Philadelphia Flyers Season Leaders – Hockey-Reference.com". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  15. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 350
  16. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 349
  17. "NHL.com – Stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  18. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 259
  19. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 260
  20. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 244
  21. "NHL.com – Stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  22. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 348
  23. "Flyers History – Philadelphia Flyer Goal Season List". P.Anson. Retrieved August 12, 2015. Goal List for Reggie Leach 1975–76 Season
  24. "Flyers History – Philadelphia Flyer Game Summary". P.Anson. Retrieved August 14, 2015. 6-May-76 Boston Bruins 3 @ Philadelphia Flyers 6
  25. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  26. "Flyers Trade Clement For First Draft Choice" (PDF). UPI. Watertown Daily Times. June 4, 1975. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  27. "Robert Sirois – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  28. "Van Impe won't go to Pittsburgh after trade". AP. Chicago Tribune. March 10, 1976. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  29. "Philly Flyers Ink Ritchie and Kelly". AP. The Gettysburg Times. August 7, 1975. Retrieved December 17, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. "no title". Bucks County Courier Times. September 11, 1975. Retrieved December 17, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Cite uses generic title (help)
  31. "Terry Murray – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  32. "NHL champion Flyers sign top draft choice". UPI. Pocono Record. June 7, 1975. Retrieved December 17, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. "Schultz a rich fighter". AP. Brandon Sun. September 6, 1975. Retrieved December 17, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. "Flyers Sign Holmgren". AP. Silver City Daily Press. March 8, 1976. Retrieved December 17, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. Parsons, Mark (November 24, 2012). "1975 NHL Intra-League Draft". Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  36. "Harris named coach of North Stars". AP. Fergus Falls Daily Journal. June 2, 1975. Retrieved December 17, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. "1975 NHL Amateur Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  38. "1975 NHL Amateur Draft Pick Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  39. "AHL Franchise Statistics". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  40. "AHL Season Overview: 1975–76". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  41. "Non-AHL Affiliates". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
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