The 1971–72

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Well ...

season was the Philadelphia Flyers' fifth

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and pol ...

in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

(NHL). The Flyers missed the playoffs for the second time in three years.

Off-season

The Flyers fired head coach

Vic Stasiuk Victor John Stasiuk (born May 23, 1929) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger and a former NHL head coach. Biography Stasiuk played junior hockey in his native Lethbridge, Alberta before signing with the Chicago Black Hawks. He ...

on May 27, 1971, after heavy criticism by Flyers players. On June 2, the Flyers hired

Fred Shero Frederick Alexander Shero, nicknamed The Fog (October 23, 1925November 24, 1990) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach, and general manager. He played for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). However, he spen ...

to replace him. In the previous two seasons Shero had guided two teams to league championships, the

Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen ...

of the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary Minor league#Ice hockey, developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 AHL se ...

and the

Omaha Knights The Omaha Knights was the name of three minor league professional ice hockey teams from 1959 to 1965 and from 1966 to 1975, based in Omaha, Nebraska, at the Ak-Sar-Ben Arena. The Knights were founded in 1959 as members of the International Hoc ...

of the

Central Hockey League The Central Hockey League (CHL) was a North American mid-level minor professional ice hockey league which operated from 1992 until 2014. It was founded by Ray Miron and Bill Levins and later sold to Global Entertainment Corporation, which opera ...

Regular season

Bobby Clarke Robert Earle Clarke (born August 13, 1949) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played his entire 15-year National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an executive with the team. Popular ...

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 The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. It is named after Bill Masterton, the only player in NHL ...

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 The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, along w ...

to beat out the

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...

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 Douglas Robert Favell (born April 5, 1945) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and former box lacrosse player. Favell played in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Rockies. ...

. With identical records, the playoff berth went to the Penguins because Philly lost the season series 2–3–1.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

West Division

East Division

Schedule and results

Regular season

, - style="background:#fcf;" , 1 , , October 9 , , @

, , 2–3 , , 0–1–0 , , 0 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 2 , , October 12 , , @

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...

, , 2–3 , , 0–2–0 , , 0 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 3 , , October 13 , , @

California Golden Seals The California Golden Seals were a professional ice hockey club that competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1967 to 1976. Based in Oakland, California, they played their home games at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena. The ...

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Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent ...

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Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...

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Chicago Black Hawks (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, , 2–1 , , 3–4–0 , , 6 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 8 , , October 28 , , Vancouver Canucks , , 3–2 , , 4–4–0 , , 8 , , , - style="background:#ffc;" , 9 , , October 30 , , @

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the ...

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Montreal Canadiens The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...

, , 5–3 , , 5–4–1 , , 11 , , , - , - style="background:#fcf;" , 11 , , November 3 , , @ Chicago Black Hawks , , 0–3 , , 5–5–1 , , 11 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 12 , , November 5 , , @

, , 2–5 , , 5–6–1 , , 11 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 13 , , November 7 , ,

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

, , 0–3 , , 5–7–1 , , 11 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 14 , , November 11 , , Vancouver Canucks , , 4–3 , , 6–7–1 , , 13 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 15 , , November 13 , ,

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

, , 3–6 , , 6–8–1 , , 13 , , , - style="background:#ffc;" , 16 , , November 14 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 3–3 , , 6–8–2 , , 14 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 17 , , November 18 , , Los Angeles Kings , , 2–0 , , 7–8–2 , , 16 , , , - style="background:#ffc;" , 18 , , November 20 , , @ Montreal Canadiens , , 2–2 , , 7–8–3 , , 17 , , , - style="background:#ffc;" , 19 , , November 21 , , Minnesota North Stars , , 1–1 , , 7–8–4 , , 18 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 20 , , November 24 , ,

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has been in existence since 1924, making t ...

, , 1–2 , , 7–9–4 , , 18 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 21 , , November 25 , , @ Boston Bruins , , 2–4 , , 7–10–4 , , 18 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 22 , , November 28 , ,

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home ...

, , 2–4 , , 7–11–4 , , 18 , , , - , - style="background:#ffc;" , 23 , , December 2 , , Detroit Red Wings , , 1–1 , , 7–11–5 , , 19 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 24 , , December 4 , , @ Minnesota North Stars , , 1–3 , , 7–12–5 , , 19 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 25 , , December 5 , , California Golden Seals , , 3–0 , , 8–12–5 , , 21 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 26 , , December 9 , , New York Rangers , , 0–5 , , 8–13–5 , , 21 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 27 , , December 11 , , @ Detroit Red Wings , , 3–6 , , 8–14–5 , , 21 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 28 , , December 12 , , Montreal Canadiens , , 4–1 , , 9–14–5 , , 23 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 29 , , December 15 , , @ New York Rangers , , 2–6 , , 9–15–5 , , 23 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 30 , , December 16 , , Buffalo Sabres , , 5–0 , , 10–15–5 , , 25 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 31 , , December 19 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 0–4 , , 10–16–5 , , 25 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 32 , , December 25 , , @ Boston Bruins , , 1–5 , , 10–17–5 , , 25 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 33 , , December 26 , , Pittsburgh Penguins , , 6–1 , , 11–17–5 , , 27 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 34 , , December 29 , , @ New York Rangers , , 1–5 , , 11–18–5 , , 27 , , , - , - style="background:#ffc;" , 35 , , January 1 , , @ St. Louis Blues , , 4–4 , , 11–18–6 , , 28 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 36 , , January 2 , , @ Chicago Black Hawks , , 2–6 , , 11–19–6 , , 28 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 37 , , January 6 , , St. Louis Blues , , 2–3 , , 11–20–6 , , 28 , , , - style="background:#ffc;" , 38 , , January 8 , , @ Toronto Maple Leafs , , 2–2 , , 11–20–7 , , 29 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 39 , , January 9 , , California Golden Seals , , 10–3 , , 12–20–7 , , 31 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 40 , , January 11 , , @ Detroit Red Wings , , 0–5 , , 12–21–7 , , 31 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 41 , , January 15 , , @ Pittsburgh Penguins , , 2–4 , , 12–22–7 , , 31 , , , - style="background:#ffc;" , 42 , , January 16 , , Los Angeles Kings , , 3–3 , , 12–22–8 , , 32 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 43 , , January 20 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 3–2 , , 13–22–8 , , 34 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 44 , , January 22 , , @ Los Angeles Kings , , 2–4 , , 13–23–8 , , 34 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 45 , , January 23 , , @ California Golden Seals , , 1–3 , , 13–24–8 , , 34 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 46 , , January 27 , , @ Boston Bruins , , 2–4 , , 13–25–8 , , 34 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 47 , , January 29 , , Boston Bruins , , 2–4 , , 13–26–8 , , 34 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 48 , , January 30 , , Pittsburgh Penguins , , 4–0 , , 14–26–8 , , 36 , , , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 49 , , February 3 , , Detroit Red Wings , , 5–4 , , 15–26–8 , , 38 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 50 , , February 5 , , @ Toronto Maple Leafs , , 3–1 , , 16–26–8 , , 40 , , , - style="background:#ffc;" , 51 , , February 6 , , St. Louis Blues , , 2–2 , , 16–26–9 , , 41 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 52 , , February 8 , , @ Vancouver Canucks , , 3–1 , , 17–26–9 , , 43 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 53 , , February 9 , , @ California Golden Seals , , 2–3 , , 17–27–9 , , 43 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 54 , , February 12 , , @ Minnesota North Stars , , 1–5 , , 17–28–9 , , 43 , , , - style="background:#ffc;" , 55 , , February 13 , , @ Buffalo Sabres , , 4–4 , , 17–28–10 , , 44 , , , - style="background:#ffc;" , 56 , , February 16 , , @ Chicago Black Hawks , , 3–3 , , 17–28–11 , , 45 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 57 , , February 17 , , Boston Bruins , , 1–4 , , 17–29–11 , , 45 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 58 , , February 19 , , @ Montreal Canadiens , , 1–3 , , 17–30–11 , , 45 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 59 , , February 20 , , Toronto Maple Leafs , , 3–1 , , 18–30–11 , , 47 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 60 , , February 23 , , @ New York Rangers , , 3–4 , , 18–31–11 , , 47 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 61 , , February 26 , , @ Pittsburgh Penguins , , 2–5 , , 18–32–11 , , 47 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 62 , , February 27 , , @ Detroit Red Wings , , 3–1 , , 19–32–11 , , 49 , , , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 63 , , March 2 , , Minnesota North Stars , , 3–0 , , 20–32–11 , , 51 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 64 , , March 4 , , St. Louis Blues , , 6–2 , , 21–32–11 , , 53 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 65 , , March 5 , , Montreal Canadiens , , 0–4 , , 21–33–11 , , 53 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 66 , , March 8 , , @ Vancouver Canucks , , 6–5 , , 22–33–11 , , 55 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 67 , , March 9 , , @ Los Angeles Kings , , 5–3 , , 23–33–11 , , 57 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 68 , , March 11 , , @ St. Louis Blues , , 2–4 , , 23–34–11 , , 57 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 69 , , March 13 , , @ Montreal Canadiens , , 1–2 , , 23–35–11 , , 57 , , , - style="background:#ffc;" , 70 , , March 16 , , Buffalo Sabres , , 3–3 , , 23–35–12 , , 58 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 71 , , March 18 , , New York Rangers , , 3–5 , , 23–36–12 , , 58 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 72 , , March 23 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 2–4 , , 23–37–12 , , 58 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 73 , , March 25 , , California Golden Seals , , 3–0 , , 24–37–12 , , 60 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 74 , , March 26 , , Vancouver Canucks , , 4–1 , , 25–37–12 , , 62 , , , - style="background:#ffc;" , 75 , , March 28 , , @ Minnesota North Stars , , 2–2 , , 25–37–13 , , 63 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 76 , , March 30 , , Buffalo Sabres , , 3–1 , , 26–37–13 , , 65 , , , - , - style="background:#ffc;" , 77 , , April 1 , , Pittsburgh Penguins , , 4–4 , , 26–37–14 , , 66 , , , - style="background:#fcf;" , 78 , , April 2 , , @ Buffalo Sabres , , 2–3 , , 26–38–14 , , 66 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Scoring

* ''Position abbreviations: C =

Center Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...

; D = Defense; G =

Goaltender In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as the goalie) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays in or near t ...

; LW = Left wing; RW =

Right wing Right-wing politics describes the range of Ideology#Political ideologies, political ideologies that view certain social orders and Social stratification, hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this pos ...

'' * '' = 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.''

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

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. On October 31,

Simon Nolet Simon may refer to: People * Simon (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name Simon * Simon (surname), including a list of people with the surname Simon * Eugène Simon, French naturalist and the genus ...

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 William Mayer Flett (July 21, 1943 – July 12, 1999) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlanta Flames. Flett then moved t ...

for the goals record and Flett and

for the points record. On January 9, the Flyers scored six power play goals during a game against the

, a mark which was later matched during the 1988–89 season.

Milestones

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.

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft, which was held at the

Queen Elizabeth Hotel Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth (french: Fairmont Le Reine Élizabeth) is a historic grand hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. With 950 rooms and 21 floors it is the largest hotel in the province of Quebec, and the second largest Fairmont hotel in ...

Montreal, Quebec Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-pe ...

, on June 10, 1971.

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the

Richmond Robins The Richmond Robins were a professional ice hockey team based in Richmond, Virginia. They were a member of the American Hockey League for five seasons from 1971–72 AHL season, 1971–72 to 1975–76 AHL season, 1975–76. Their cross-state rivals ...

of the AHL, the

San Diego Gulls The San Diego Gulls are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) that began play in the 2015–16 season. Based in San Diego, California, and affiliated with the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks, the Gulls play th ...

of the WHL, and the

Jersey Devils The Jersey Devils were an American professional ice hockey team based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The Devils were formed when the Philadelphia Ramblers, a member of the Eastern Hockey League, relocated to Cherry Hill at the end of the 1963–64 ...

and

Salem Rebels Salem may refer to: Places Canada Ontario * Bruce County ** Salem, Arran–Elderslie, Ontario, in the municipality of Arran–Elderslie ** Salem, South Bruce, Ontario, in the municipality of South Bruce * Salem, Dufferin County, Ontario, part ...

of the EHL.

Notes

References

;General * * * ;Specific {{DEFAULTSORT:1971-72 Philadelphia Flyers season

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

Philadelphia Flyers seasons Philad Philad