1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers 30th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers reached the Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the Detroit Red Wings in a four-game sweep.

1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference champions
Division2nd Atlantic
Conference3rd Eastern
1996–97 record45–24–13
Home record23–12–6
Road record22–12–7
Goals for274
Goals against217
Team information
PresidentBob Clarke
General managerBob Clarke
CoachTerry Murray
CaptainEric Lindros
Alternate captainsRod Brind'Amour
Eric Desjardins
ArenaCoreStates Center
Average attendance19,311[1]
Minor league affiliate(s)Philadelphia Phantoms
Mobile Mysticks
Team leaders
GoalsJohn LeClair (50)
AssistsJohn LeClair (47)
Eric Lindros (47)
PointsJohn LeClair (97)
Penalty minutesScott Daniels (237)
Plus/minusJohn LeClair (+44)
WinsRon Hextall (31)
Goals against averageGarth Snow (2.52)

Regular season

While Eric Lindros rehabbed from a bothersome groin injury, the Flyers trod water through the early part of the schedule. They dropped the first-ever home game at the new CoreStates Center to the Florida Panthers, 3–1, on October 5, and lost again to their new rivals three weeks later. However, they rebounded to end the Panthers' season-opening 8–0–4 run with a 3–2 victory in Miami on November 2.

With John LeClair, Mikael Renberg, Dale Hawerchuk and Rod Brind'Amour expected to pick up the slack on offense, the club was inconsistent and went 12–10–1 prior to Lindros' return in a 2–0 loss in Boston on November 26. Another loss the next night to the Islanders dropped the team into fourth place, but the team soon caught fire, ripping off a 14–0–3 stretch from November 30 to January 7.

The run included an incredible stretch of four consecutive shutout wins in mid-December (Hartford, Boston, Islanders, St. Louis), a trade which netted high-scoring defenseman Paul Coffey and a thrilling come-from-behind 4–4 tie against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on January 4.

In a 9–5 win over Montreal on February 6, the Legion of Doom line set a franchise-record with 16 points and spoiled the NHL debut of Tomas Vokoun, and in a 5–5 tie on March 1 in Boston, third-line winger Trent Klatt recorded his first (and only) 20-goal season with a hat trick.

A 2–3–2 finish which saw Lindros sit out a one-game suspension and the Devils vault over the team for first place in the Atlantic was mitigated when LeClair scored his 50th goal of the season in a 5–4 win over New Jersey in the final regular-season game.

Season standings
Atlantic Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
11New Jersey Devils82452314231182104
23Philadelphia Flyers82452413274217103
34Florida Panthers8235281922120189
45New York Rangers8238341025823186
59Washington Capitals823340921423175
611Tampa Bay Lightning8232401021724774
712New York Islanders8229411224025070
Eastern Conference[2]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1New Jersey DevilsATL82452314231182104
2Buffalo SabresNE8240301223720892
3Philadelphia FlyersATL82452413274217103
4Florida PanthersATL8235281922120189
5New York RangersATL8238341025823186
6Pittsburgh PenguinsNE823836828528084
7Ottawa SenatorsNE8231361522623477
8Montreal CanadiensNE8231361524927677
9Washington CapitalsATL823340921423175
10Hartford WhalersNE8232391122625675
11Tampa Bay LightningATL8232401021724774
12New York IslandersATL8229411224025070
13Boston BruinsNE822647923430061

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Playoffs

Backstopped by the goaltending tandem of Ron Hextall and Garth Snow, the Flyers dominated the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers all in five games apiece to win the Eastern Conference championship, and clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1987. However, their opponent, the Detroit Red Wings, swept the Flyers in four straight games. After Game 3, Terry Murray said that the team was in a "choking situation." It is said this remark cost Murray his job, as he was fired less than a week after the conclusion of the finals.[3]

Schedule and results

Regular season
1996–97 regular season
October: 6–7–0, 12 Points (Home: 3–3–0; Road: 3–4–0)
November: 7–5–1, 15 Points (Home: 2–3–1; Road: 5–2–0)
December: 11–0–2, 24 Points (Home: 6–0–0; Road: 5–0–2)
January: 5–2–4, 14 Points (Home: 3–2–2; Road: 2–0–2)
February: 7–3–2, 16 Points (Home: 4–1–2; Road: 3–2–0)
March: 7–5–2, 16 Points (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 4–3–2)
April: 2–2–2, 6 Points (Home: 2–1–1; Road: 0–1–1)

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

Playoffs
1997 Stanley Cup playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins – Flyers win 4–1
Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Buffalo Sabres – Flyers win 4–1
Eastern Conference Finals vs. New York Rangers – Flyers win 4–1
Stanley Cup Finals vs. Detroit Red Wings – Red Wings 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
10John LeClair27LW8250479744581991221510
88Eric Lindros23C523247793113619121426740
17Rod Brind'Amour26C822732592411913821910
19Mikael Renberg24RW77223759366518561114
37Eric Desjardins27D821234462550192810912
20Trent Klatt26RW7624214592019437112
44Janne Niinimaa21D774404412581911213316
18Dale Hawerchuk33C5112223493217257−20
25Shjon Podein28LW8214183274119437416
29Joel Otto35C7813193212991815638
77Paul Coffey35D3762026112017189−36
6Chris Therien25D7122224276419167146
15Pat Falloon24RW52111223−81014314−12
9Dainius Zubrus18LW688132132219549312
24Karl Dykhuis24D62415196351803312
26John Druce30RW437815−5121310122
45Vaclav Prospal21C185101534513404
23Petr Svoboda30D6721214109416123416
32Daniel Lacroix27C74718−116312011022
22Scott Daniels27RW565382237——————
28Kjell Samuelsson38D3443717475000−32
21Dan Kordic25LW75145−121012101122
11Craig Darby24C914522——————
5Kevin Haller26D27055−137——————
8Michel Petit32D200332513000−16
48Colin Forbes20LW310100300000
30Garth Snow27G35011N/A3012022N/A11
34Jason Bowen23D401118——————
3Aris Brimanis24D301100——————
27Ron Hextall32G55000N/A438000N/A0
5Darren Rumble28D10000−20——————
2Frantisek Kucera28D2000−22——————
38Paul Healey21RW200002——————

Goaltending
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
27Ron Hextall3255543116512851322.56.89753,094:198743203222.97.8920443:55
30Garth Snow2735281488816792.52.90321,884:26121284305332.83.8920698:31

Awards and records

Awards
Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League (annual) Bud Ice Plus-Minus Award John LeClair [4]
NHL All-Rookie Team Janne Niinimaa (Defense) [5]
NHL Second All-Star Team John LeClair (Left Wing) [6]
League (in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Paul Coffey [7][8]
Dale Hawerchuk[lower-alpha 1]
John LeClair
Eric Lindros
NHL Player of the Week John LeClair (November 11) [9]
Eric Lindros (December 16) [10]
Team Barry Ashbee Trophy Eric Desjardins [11]
Bobby Clarke Trophy John LeClair [11]
Class Guy Award Shjon Podein [11]
Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy Trent Klatt [11]

Records
  •    Tied for NHL record

Individual

Rod Brind'Amour tied Rick MacLeish's team record for consecutive games played at 287 on January 29, 1997.[12] Brind'Amour's streak ended at 484 games when a fractured left foot caused him to miss the first 34 games of the 1999–2000 season.[13]

Franchise player records set during the 1996–97 season
Record Type Total Player Date(s) Opponent Ref
Goals scored Game 4[lower-alpha 2] John LeClair 2/6/1997 Montreal Canadiens [14]
Assists Game 6 Eric Lindros 2/26/1997 Ottawa Senators [14]
Goals scored Period 3[lower-alpha 3] Eric Lindros 3/19/1997 Toronto Maple Leafs [15]
Goals scored Game 4[lower-alpha 2] Eric Lindros 3/19/1997 Toronto Maple Leafs [14]
Assists by a rookie defenseman Season 44 Janne Niinimaa — — [14]
Shorthanded goals, playoffs Period 2 Rod Brind'Amour 4/26/1997 Pittsburgh Penguins [16]
Shorthanded goals, playoffs Game 2 Rod Brind'Amour 4/26/1997 Pittsburgh Penguins [16]
Assists, playoffs Period 3[lower-alpha 4] Paul Coffey 5/7/1997 Buffalo Sabres [17]
Rod Brind'Amour 5/11/1997 Buffalo Sabres
Fastest two goals by one player, playoffs Game 0:41 Eric Lindros 5/11/1997 Buffalo Sabres [17]

Team
Franchise team records set during the 1996–97 season
Record Type Total Date(s) Opponent Player(s) Refs
Minutes without allowing a goal Streak 265:08 12/12/1996 – 12/22/1996 — — [18]
Games with a shutout Streak 4 12/14/1996 – 12/21/1996 — — [19]
Points by a line Game 16 2/6/1997 Montreal Canadiens John LeClair (6) [15]
Eric Lindros (5)
Mikael Renberg (5)
2/26/1997 Ottawa Senators Eric Lindros (7)
Mikael Renberg (5)
John LeClair (4)
Games won on road, playoffs Streak 5[lower-alpha 5] 5/3/1997 – 5/23/1997 — — [20]

Milestones
Individual career milestones[21]
Milestone Player Date
500th game played Ron Hextall November 21, 1996

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from June 12, 1996, the day after the deciding game of the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 7, 1997, the day of the deciding game of the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals.[22]

Trades
Date Details Ref
July 18, 1996 To Philadelphia Flyers
Frank Bialowas		 To Washington Capitals
future considerations		 [23]
December 15, 1996 To Philadelphia Flyers
Paul Coffey
3rd-round pick in 1997		 To Hartford Whalers
Kevin Haller
1st-round pick in 1997
Hartford's 7th-round pick in 1997		 [24]
March 18, 1997 To Philadelphia Flyers
Frantisek Kucera		 To Vancouver Canucks
conditional 7th-round pick in 1997[lower-alpha 6]		 [25][26]

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk (*).

Date Player Previous team (league) Term Ref
June 18, 1996 Scott Daniels Hartford Whalers 3-year [27][28]
July 9, 1996 Dominic Roussel Winnipeg Jets 2-year* [28]
July 10, 1996 John Stevens Springfield Falcons (AHL) * [28]
July 15, 1996 Daniel Lacroix New York Rangers 2-year [29]
July 17, 1996 Peter White Toronto Maple Leafs * [30]
July 23, 1996 Steven King Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 1-year* [31]
October 1, 1996 Brett Bruininks (ELC) Notre Dame Fighting Irish (CCHA) 1-year* [32]
October 3, 1996 Martin Boisvenue (ELC) Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) multi-year* [33]
May 28, 1997 Andy Delmore (ELC) Fredericton Canadiens (AHL) * [34]

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 entry level contracts. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk (*).

Date Player Term Ref
June 18, 1996 Janne Niinimaa (ELC) 2-year* [27][28]
July 18, 1996 Trent Klatt 2-year [35]
July 31, 1996 Brian Wesenberg (ELC) 1-year* [36]
August 6, 1996 Karl Dykhuis 3-year [37][38]
August 15, 1996 Ron Hextall 3-year [39]
September 10, 1996 Petr Svoboda 4-year [40]
October 3, 1996 Dainius Zubrus (ELC) 3-year* [41]
October 10, 1996 Brian Boucher (ELC) 3-year* [42]

Waivers

The Flyers were involved in the following waivers transactions. They were involved in two selections during the 1996 NHL Waiver Draft, which was held on September 30, 1996.[43] The Flyers made the following players available: goaltenders Les Kuntar and Dominic Roussel, defensemen Frank Bialowas, Jason Bowen, Aris Brimanis, Darren Rumble, and John Stevens, and forwards Bruce Coles, Bob Corkum, Craig Darby, Rob DiMaio, Yanick Dupre, Tony Horacek, Patrik Juhlin, Steven King, Trent Klatt, Shawn McCosh, Clayton Norris, and Peter White.[43]

Date Player Team Ref
September 30, 1996 Rob DiMaio to San Jose Sharks [44]
September 30, 1996 Bob Corkum to Phoenix Coyotes [44]
January 17, 1997 Michel Petit from Edmonton Oilers [45]

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
July 9, 1996Shawn AntoskiPittsburgh Penguins[lower-alpha 7]Release[28]
July 9, 1996Dan QuinnPittsburgh Penguins[lower-alpha 7]Release[28]
July 24, 1996Todd NelsonGrand Rapids Griffins (IHL)Free agency[46]
July 29, 1996Phil CroweOttawa SenatorsFree agency[47]
August 27, 1996Tim CheveldaeBoston BruinsFree agency[48]
N/AJim MontgomeryKolner Haie (DEL)Free agency[49]
N/ARuss RomaniukManitoba Moose (IHL)Free agency[50]
October 12, 1996Kerry HuffmanLas Vegas Thunder (IHL)Free agency[51]

Draft picks
See also: List of Philadelphia Flyers draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 22, 1996.[52] The Flyers traded their first-round pick, 24th overall, their fourth-round pick, 106th overall, and Martin Spanhel to the San Jose Sharks for Pat Falloon on September 20, 1995.[53] They also traded their third-round pick, 78th overall, and their sixth-round pick, 157th overall, to the Colorado Avalanche for Garth Snow on July 12, 1995, and their ninth-round pick, 239th overall, to the Ottawa Senators for Kerry Huffman on March 19, 1996.[53]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality Team (league) Notes
1 15 Dainius Zubrus Right Wing  Lithuania Caledon Canadians (MJAHL) [lower-alpha 8]
3 64 Chester Gallant Right Wing  Canada Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL) [lower-alpha 9]
5 124 Per-Ragnar Bergkvist Goaltender  Sweden Leksands IF (Elitserien) [lower-alpha 10]
5 133 Jesse Boulerice Right Wing  United States Detroit Whalers (OHL)
7 187 Roman Malov Center  Russia Avangard Omsk (RSL)
8 213 Jeff Milleker Center  Canada Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL[54][55] and the Mobile Mysticks of the ECHL.[56]

Notes
  1. Selected by the Commissioner
  2. Tied fourteen times by seven different players. See List of Philadelphia Flyers records.
  3. Tied nine times by eight different players. See List of Philadelphia Flyers records.
  4. Tied four times by four different players. See List of Philadelphia Flyers records
  5. Tied mark set during the 1994–95 season and subsequently tied during the 1999–2000 season.
  6. Condition not met.
  7. Antoski and Quinn signed with the Penguins on July 31, 1996.[36]
  8. The Flyers acquired the 15th overall pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs along with the Los Angeles Kings' 1996 fourth-round pick, 84th overall, and the Kings' 1997 second-round pick for Dmitri Yushkevich and the Flyers' second-round pick, 50th overall, on August 30, 1995.[53] The Flyers traded the 1996 fourth-round pick back to the Kings for John Druce and the Kings' 1997 seventh-round pick on March 19, 1996.[53]
  9. The Flyers traded Dominic Roussel to the Winnipeg Jets for Tim Cheveldae and the Jets' third-round pick, 64th overall, on February 17, 1996.[53]
  10. The Flyers traded Rob Zettler to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Maple Leafs' fifth-round pick, 124th overall, on July 8, 1995.[53]

References
General
Specific
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  2. "1996-1997 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  3. Bowen, Les (June 14, 1997). "Where There's Choke There's Fire". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  4. "Bud Light Plus-Minus Award award winners at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  5. 2014–15 NHL Official Guide & Record Book, p. 233
  6. 2014–15 NHL Official Guide & Record Book, p. 230–32
  7. "47th NHL All-Star Game". NHL.com. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  8. Panaccio, Tim (January 9, 1997). "Hawerchuk An All-star For 5th Time". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  9. Panaccio, Tim (November 12, 1996). "A Pick-me-up For Pat Falloon". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  10. Panaccio, Tim (December 17, 1996). "Newest Flyer Gets Warm Welcome". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  11. "Flyers History – Team Awards". P.Anson. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  12. Blockus, Gary R. (January 29, 1997). "Flyers Reach Limit With 55 Shots To Top Coyotes". The Morning Call. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  13. Isaac, Dave (November 23, 2015). "Rod Brind'Amour heads into Flyers Hall of Fame". The New Journal. p. C6. Retrieved June 13, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 263
  15. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 264
  16. "Stanley Cup Playoffs Record Book, 1981–2011 Page 2". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  17. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 350
  18. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 262
  19. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 260
  20. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 346
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  22. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
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  26. Bowen, Les (March 19, 1997). "Holding, Clarke Refusal To Give Up Prospects Dooms Flyers' Trade Efforts". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
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  29. Panaccio, Tim (July 16, 1996). "Hextall Files For Arbitration". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  30. "Three Injured In Garden Brawl File Suit". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 18, 1996. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  31. Panaccio, Tim (July 24, 1996). "King, Right Winger, Signs With Flyers". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  32. "Woods Ready To Play In Las Vegas, Australia". Orlando Sentinel. October 2, 1996. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  33. Bowen, Les (October 4, 1996). "Youth Hopes He Can Serve Flyers". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  34. Bowen, Les (May 29, 1998). "Flyers' Objective: Seize The Moment". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
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  37. "Flyers Sign Dykhuis To A New Deal". The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 7, 1996. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
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  40. Panaccio, Tim (September 11, 1996). "Flyers Sign Svoboda For 4 Years". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  41. Panaccio, Tim (October 4, 1996). "Zubrus, Top Draft Pick, Agrees To 3-year Pact". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  42. Panaccio, Tim (October 11, 1996). "Flyers Blow 3-goal Lead, But Beat Kings In Ot". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
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  44. Panaccio, Tim (October 1, 1996). "Flyers Lose DiMaio And Corkum". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  45. Bowen, Les (January 17, 1997). "Flyers Get Petit Off Waivers". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  46. "Todd Nelson – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  47. "Philip Crowe – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  48. "Tim Cheveldae – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  49. "Flyers A-Z: Montgomery, Jim". Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  50. Russell Romaniuk biography at Legends of Hockey, retrieved April 5, 2015
  51. "Kerry Huffman – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
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