1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' fifth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers missed the playoffs for the second time in three years.

1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers
Division5th West
1971–72 record26–38–14
Home record19–13–7
Road record7–25–7
Goals for200 (14th)
Goals against236 (7th)
Team information
PresidentJoe Scott
General managerKeith Allen
CoachFred Shero
CaptainEd Van Impe
Alternate captainsLarry Brown (Oct-Jan)
Jean-Guy Gendron
ArenaSpectrum
Average attendance14,379[1]
Minor league affiliate(s)Richmond Robins
San Diego Gulls
Jersey Devils
Salem Rebels
Team leaders
GoalsBobby Clarke (35)
AssistsBobby Clarke (46)
PointsBobby Clarke (81)
Penalty minutesGary Dornhoefer (183)
Plus/minusBobby Clarke (+22)
WinsDoug Favell (18)
Goals against averageDoug Favell (2.81)

Off-season

The Flyers fired head coach Vic Stasiuk on May 27, 1971,[2] after heavy criticism by Flyers players.[3] On June 2, the Flyers hired Fred Shero to replace him.[3] In the previous two seasons Shero had guided two teams to league championships, the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League and the Omaha Knights of the Central Hockey League.[3]

Regular season

Bobby Clarke continued to progress as he led the team in goals (35), assists (46), and points (81) in 1971–72 and he became the first Flyer to win an NHL award, the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. However, in the season's final game, the Flyers needed a win or a tie against the second-year Buffalo Sabres to beat out the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final playoff spot. The score was tied late in the game, but with just four seconds on the clock, former Flyer Gerry Meehan took a shot from just inside the blue line that eluded Flyers goalie Doug Favell.[4] With identical records, the playoff berth went to the Penguins because Philly lost the season series 2–3–1.

Season standings
West Division[5]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1Chicago Black Hawks78461715256166+90107
2Minnesota North Stars78372912212191+2186
3St. Louis Blues78283911208247−3967
4Pittsburgh Penguins78263814220258−3866
5Philadelphia Flyers78263814200236−3666
6California Golden Seals78213918216288−7260
7Los Angeles Kings7820499206305−9949

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Regular season
1971–72 regular season[7]
October: 5–4–1, 11 Points (home: 3–1–0; road: 2–3–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
1October 9@ Pittsburgh Penguins2–30–1–00Recap
2October 12@ Vancouver Canucks2–30–2–00Recap
3October 13@ California Golden Seals5–41–2–02Recap
4October 16@ Los Angeles Kings1–02–2–04Recap
5October 21Los Angeles Kings0–72–3–04Recap
6October 23@ Toronto Maple Leafs3–52–4–04Recap
7October 24Chicago Black Hawks2–13–4–06Recap
8October 28Vancouver Canucks3–24–4–08Recap
9October 30@ St. Louis Blues4–44–4–19Recap
10October 31Montreal Canadiens5–35–4–111Recap
November: 2–7–3, 7 Points (home: 2–4–2; road: 0–3–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
11November 3@ Chicago Black Hawks0–35–5–111Recap
12November 5@ Buffalo Sabres2–55–6–111Recap
13November 7Minnesota North Stars0–35–7–111Recap
14November 11Vancouver Canucks4–36–7–113Recap
15November 13Detroit Red Wings3–66–8–113Recap
16November 14Toronto Maple Leafs3–36–8–214Recap
17November 18Los Angeles Kings2–07–8–216Recap
18November 20@ Montreal Canadiens2–27–8–317Recap
19November 21Minnesota North Stars1–17–8–418Recap
20November 24Boston Bruins1–27–9–418Recap
21November 25@ Boston Bruins2–47–10–418Recap
22November 28New York Rangers2–47–11–418Recap
December: 4–7–1, 9 Points (home: 4–2–1; road: 0–5–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
23December 2Detroit Red Wings1–17–11–519Recap
24December 4@ Minnesota North Stars1–37–12–519Recap
25December 5California Golden Seals3–08–12–521Recap
26December 9New York Rangers0–58–13–521Recap
27December 11@ Detroit Red Wings3–68–14–521Recap
28December 12Montreal Canadiens4–19–14–523Recap
29December 15@ New York Rangers2–69–15–523Recap
30December 16Buffalo Sabres5–010–15–525Recap
31December 19Toronto Maple Leafs0–410–16–525Recap
32December 25@ Boston Bruins1–510–17–525Recap
33December 26Pittsburgh Penguins6–111–17–527Recap
34December 29@ New York Rangers1–511–18–527Recap
January: 3–8–3, 9 Points (home: 3–2–1; road: 0–6–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
35January 1@ St. Louis Blues4–411–18–628Recap
36January 2@ Chicago Black Hawks2–611–19–628Recap
37January 6St. Louis Blues2–311–20–628Recap
38January 8@ Toronto Maple Leafs2–211–20–729Recap
39January 9California Golden Seals10–312–20–731Recap
40January 11@ Detroit Red Wings0–512–21–731Recap
41January 15@ Pittsburgh Penguins2–412–22–731Recap
42January 16Los Angeles Kings3–312–22–832Recap
43January 20Chicago Black Hawks3–213–22–834Recap
44January 22@ Los Angeles Kings2–413–23–834Recap
45January 23@ California Golden Seals1–313–24–834Recap
46January 27@ Boston Bruins2–413–25–834Recap
47January 29Boston Bruins2–413–26–834Recap
48January 30Pittsburgh Penguins4–014–26–836Recap
February: 5–6–3, 13 Points (home: 2–1–1; road: 3–5–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
49February 3Detroit Red Wings5–415–26–838Recap
50February 5@ Toronto Maple Leafs3–116–26–840Recap
51February 6St. Louis Blues2–216–26–941Recap
52February 8@ Vancouver Canucks3–117–26–943Recap
53February 9@ California Golden Seals2–317–27–943Recap
54February 12@ Minnesota North Stars1–517–28–943Recap
55February 13@ Buffalo Sabres4–417–28–1044Recap
56February 16@ Chicago Black Hawks3–317–28–1145Recap
57February 17Boston Bruins1–417–29–1145Recap
58February 19@ Montreal Canadiens1–317–30–1145Recap
59February 20Toronto Maple Leafs3–118–30–1147Recap
60February 23@ New York Rangers3–418–31–1147Recap
61February 26@ Pittsburgh Penguins2–518–32–1147Recap
62February 27@ Detroit Red Wings3–119–32–1149Recap
March: 7–5–2, 16 Points (home: 5–3–1; road: 2–2–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
63March 2Minnesota North Stars3–020–32–1151Recap
64March 4St. Louis Blues6–221–32–1153Recap
65March 5Montreal Canadiens0–421–33–1153Recap
66March 8@ Vancouver Canucks6–522–33–1155Recap
67March 9@ Los Angeles Kings5–323–33–1157Recap
68March 11@ St. Louis Blues2–423–34–1157Recap
69March 13@ Montreal Canadiens1–223–35–1157Recap
70March 16Buffalo Sabres3–323–35–1258Recap
71March 18New York Rangers3–523–36–1258Recap
72March 23Chicago Black Hawks2–423–37–1258Recap
73March 25California Golden Seals3–024–37–1260Recap
74March 26Vancouver Canucks4–125–37–1262Recap
75March 28@ Minnesota North Stars2–225–37–1363Recap
76March 30Buffalo Sabres3–126–37–1365Recap
April: 0–1–1, 1 Points (home: 0–0–1; road: 0–1–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
77April 1Pittsburgh Penguins4–426–37–1466Recap
78April 2@ Buffalo Sabres2–326–38–1466Recap
Legend:

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

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
No. Player Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM
16Bobby ClarkeC783546812287
12Gary DornhoeferRW75173249−15183
17Simon NoletRW67232043622
22Rick Foley†D58112536−16168
9Bob KellyLW7814152916157
20Jim Johnson‡C46131528−2112
21Serge Bernier‡C44121123−2051
10[lower-alpha 1]Bill ClementC4991423−1439
5Brent HughesD6322022635
21Bill Flett†RW31111021526
4Barry AshbeeD7361420275
11Jean-Guy GendronLW5661319−236
25Jean Potvin†D2931215−66
18Ross Lonsberry†LW327714−922
7Michel Parizeau†LW3721214−610
18Bill Lesuk‡LW457613−1431
2Ed Van ImpeD734913−878
8Lew MorrisonLW585510−1826
14Joe WatsonD653710−1738
24Dick SarrazinRW2834704
20Eddie Joyal†C26347−138
3Willie BrossartD42044−712
19Rick MacLeishC17123−99
15Larry Mickey‡RW14123−58
6Wayne HillmanD47033−1621
23Larry Keenan†LW14112−42
25Pierre PlanteRW24101−1115
1Doug FavellG5401132
10Larry WrightC27011−62
19[lower-alpha 2]Larry HaleD6011−50
19Ralph MacSweynD201100
30Bruce Gamble‡G240002
3Larry Brown‡D12000−32
30Bobby TaylorG60000
24[lower-alpha 3]Don McLeodG40000
3Jim MairD2000−20
25Dave SchultzLW100000
23Rene DroletRW100000
25Don SaleskiRW1000−10

Goaltending
Regular season
No. Player GP GS W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
1Doug Favell54521825916551402.81.91552,984:44
30Bruce Gamble‡2418782659582.94.91221,184:18
30Bobby Taylor65122193163.00.9170319:45
24[lower-alpha 3]Don McLeod43031109144.65.8720180:45

Awards and records

Awards
Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(annual)		 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Bobby Clarke [8]
League
(in-season)		 NHL All-Star Game selection Bobby Clarke [9]
Simon Nolet

Records
See also: List of Philadelphia Flyers records

Among the team records set during the 1971–72 season was a 19 game winless streak on the road (15 losses and 4 ties) from October 23 to January 27.[10] On October 31, Simon Nolet became the first Flyer to score three goals in a single period and four points in a single period, both franchise regular season records that have been matched but not exceeded several times, the earliest instance occurring on March 9, 1972 by Bill Flett for the goals record and Flett and Bobby Clarke for the points record.[11][12] On January 9, the Flyers scored six power play goals during a game against the California Golden Seals, a mark which was later matched during the 1988–89 season.[13]

Milestones
Franchise firsts[14]
Milestone Player Date Ref
30-goal season Bobby Clarke March 13, 1972[lower-alpha 4] [15]

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 19, 1971, the day after the deciding game of the 1971 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 11, 1972, the day of the deciding game of the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals.[16]

Trades
Date Details Ref
June 13, 1971 To Philadelphia Flyers
Larry Mickey		 To Los Angeles Kings
Larry Hillman		 [17]
September 8, 1971 To Philadelphia Flyers
Cash		 To Portland Buckaroos (WHL)
Cliff Schmautz		 [18]
October 15, 1971 To Philadelphia Flyers
Rick Foley		 To Chicago Black Hawks
Andre Lacroix		 [19]
November 16, 1971 To Philadelphia Flyers
Larry Keenan		 To Buffalo Sabres
Larry Mickey		 [20]
January 28, 1972 To Philadelphia Flyers
Bill Flett
Eddie Joyal
Ross Lonsberry
Jean Potvin		 To Los Angeles Kings
Serge Bernier
Larry Brown
Jim Johnson
Bill Lesuk		 [21]

Players acquired
DatePlayerFormer teamViaRef
June 8, 1971 (1971-06-08)Larry BrownNew York RangersIntra-League draft[22][23][24]
Frank SpringBoston BruinsIntra-League draft[22][24][23][25]
June 9, 1971 (1971-06-09)Don McLeodDetroit Red WingsReverse draft[lower-alpha 5][26][27]
July 1971 (1971-07)Orest KindrachukSaskatoon Blades (WCHL)Free agency[28]
September 11, 1971 (1971-09-11)Bob HurlburtQuebec Aces (AHL)Free agency
December 8, 1971 (1971-12-08)Michel ParizeauSt. Louis BluesWaivers[29]

Players lost
DatePlayerNew teamViaRef
June 8, 1971 (1971-06-08)Garry PetersBoston BruinsIntra-League draft[22][23][30]
September 20, 1971 (1971-09-20)Keith WrightRelease
February 9, 1972 (1972-02-09)Bruce GambleRetirement[lower-alpha 6][31]

Signings
DatePlayerTermRef
August 7, 1971 (1971-08-07)Pierre Plante2-year[32]
August 16, 1971 (1971-08-16)Bruce Gamble[33]
September 2, 1971 (1971-09-02)Larry Brown[34]
Bob Kelly[34]
Rick MacLeish[34]
September 5, 1971 (1971-09-05)Jim Johnson[35]
Lew Morrison[35]
Joe Watson[35]
September 7, 1971 (1971-09-07)Gary Dornhoefer[36]
Wayne Hillman[36]
Danny Schock[36]
Frank Spring[36]
Ed Van Impe[36]
September 8, 1971 (1971-09-08)Serge Bernier[18]
Jean-Guy Gendron[18]
Bill Lesuk[18]
Larry Mickey[18]
September 10, 1971 (1971-09-10)Andre Lacroix
October 7, 1971 (1971-10-07)Doug Favell
March 20, 1972 (1972-03-20)Bobby Clarke5-year extension[32]
N/AGlen Irwin2-year[32]
Don McCulloch2-year[32]
Larry Wright2-year[32]

Draft picks
See also: List of Philadelphia Flyers draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft, which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, on June 10, 1971.[37]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality Team (league) Notes
1 8 Larry Wright Center  Canada Regina Pats (WCHL)
1 9 Pierre Plante Right wing  Canada Drummondville Rangers (QMJHL) [lower-alpha 7]
3 36 Glen Irwin Defense  Canada Estevan Bruins (WCHL)
4 50 Ted Scharf Right wing  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHA)
5 64 Don McCulloch Defense  Canada Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA)
6 78 Yvon Bilodeau Defense  Canada Estevan Bruins (WCHL)
7 92 Bobby Gerrard Right wing  Canada Regina Pats (WCHL)
8 106 Jerome Mrazek Goaltender  Canada University of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA)

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Richmond Robins of the AHL,[39][40] the San Diego Gulls of the WHL,[41] and the Jersey Devils and Salem Rebels of the EHL.[41]

Notes
  1. Clement wore number 15 through January 16.
  2. Hale wore number 23 in his first four games.
  3. McLeod wore number 30 in his first two games.
  4. Even-strength goal at 1:37 of the first period against Ken Dryden
  5. McLeod was claimed by the Quebec Aces, the Flyers' AHL affiliate.
  6. Gamble suffered a career-ending heart attack during a game played on February 8, 1972.
  7. The Flyers acquired the 9th overall pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs along with Bruce Gamble and Mike Walton for Bernie Parent and the Flyers' second-round pick, 22nd overall, on January 31, 1971.[38]

References
General
  • "Philadelphia Flyers 1971–72 roster and statistics". The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  • "1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  • "Flyers History - Season Overview : 1971–72". Flyers History. FlyersAlumni.net. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
Specific
  1. "All Time Team Attendance". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  2. "Flyers Fire Coach Vic Stasiuk". Chicago Tribune. May 28, 1971. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  3. "NHL Flyers Name Shero New Coach". AP. The Schenectady Gazette. June 3, 1971. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  4. "Flyers History – Philadelphia Flyer Game Summary". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  5. "1971–1972 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  6. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  7. "1971-72 Philadelphia Flyers Schedule and Results". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  8. "Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy". National Hockey League. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  9. "25th NHL All-Star Game". NHL.com. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  10. "Team Records: Longest Road Winless Streaks, Season". records.nhl.com. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  11. "Skater Records: Most Goals, Period". records.nhl.com. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  12. "Skater Records: Most Points, Period". records.nhl.com. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  13. "Team Records: Most Power-Play Goals, One Team, Game". records.nhl.com. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  14. "Flyers History – All-Time Firsts". P.Anson. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  15. "Flyers History – Philadelphia Flyer Goal Season List". P.Anson. Retrieved August 12, 2015. Goal List for Bobby Clarke 1971–72 Season
  16. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  17. "Flyers deal defenseman". UPI. Delaware County Daily Times. June 14, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Flyers Sign Four Skaters". UPI. El Paso Herald-Post. September 9, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "no title". Brandon Sun. October 16, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  20. "Flyers Get Keenan". UPI. The Logansport Press. November 17, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. "'We had to do something:' Allen". UPI. Delaware County Daily Times. January 29, 1972. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. Parsons, Mark (August 6, 2012). "1971 NHL Intra-League Draft". Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  23. "1971 NHL Intraleague Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  24. "no title". Independent. June 9, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. {{cite news}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  25. "Frank Spring – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  26. "Canadians Likely To Get A New Coach...In Addition To Players". Kokomo Tribune. June 10, 1971. p. 33. Retrieved July 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. "Don McLeod – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  28. "Orest Kindrachuk – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  29. "Michel Parizeau – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  30. "Garry Peters – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  31. "Flyers A-Z: Gamble, Bruce". Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  32. "Flyers sign Clarke to 5-year contract". Delaware County Daily Times. March 21, 1972. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. "Flyers Sign Goalie Bruce Gamble". AP. The Gettysburg Times. August 17, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. "Philly Flyers Sign 3 More". AP. The Gettysburg Times. September 3, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. "Flyers Sign 10 Players". AP. The Gettysburg Times. September 6, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. "Flyers sign 5, to open practice". UPI. Delaware County Daily Times. July 1, 1975. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. "1971 NHL Amateur Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  38. "1971 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: 1971–72". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  41. "Non-AHL Affiliates". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
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