The 1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers season was the

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 (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

30th season in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

(NHL). The Flyers reached the

Stanley Cup Finals The Stanley Cup Finals in ice hockey (also known as the Stanley Cup Final among various media, ) is the annual championship series of the National Hockey League (NHL). The winner is awarded the Stanley Cup, North America's oldest professional spo ...

but lost to the

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 ...

in a four-game sweep.

Regular season

While

Eric Lindros Eric Bryan Lindros (; born February 28, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the Oshawa Generals prior to being chosen first overall in the 1991 NHL entry d ...

rehabbed from a bothersome groin injury, the Flyers treaded water through the early part of the schedule. They dropped the first-ever home game at the new

CoreStates Center Wells Fargo Center (to be renamed to Xfinity Mobile Arena effective September 1, 2025) is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Philadelphia. It serves as the home of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Philadel ...

to the

Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...

, 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 John Clark LeClair (born July 5, 1969) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins from 1991 to 2006. W ...

, Mikael Renberg,

Dale Hawerchuk Dale Martin Hawerchuk (April 4, 1963 – August 18, 2020) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. Drafted first overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, Hawerchuk played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for ...

and

Rod Brind'Amour Roderic Jean Brind'Amour (; born August 9, 1970) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who is the head coach for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, ninth overa ...

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 Paul Patrick Coffey (born June 1, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played for nine teams over 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Known for his speed and scoring prowess, Coffey ranks second all-time ...

and a thrilling come-from-behind 4–4 tie against the

Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...

in Denver on January 4. In a 9–5 win over Montreal on February 6, the

Legion of Doom The Legion of Doom is a group of supervillains who originated in '' Challenge of the Superfriends'', an animated series from Hanna-Barbera based on DC Comics' Justice League. The Legion of Doom has since been incorporated into the main DC Univers ...

line set a franchise-record with 16 points and spoiled the NHL debut of

Tomas Vokoun Tomas may refer to: People * Tomás (given name), a Spanish, Portuguese, and Gaelic given name * Tomas (given name), a Swedish, Dutch, and Lithuanian given name * Tomáš, a Czech and Slovak given name * Tomàs, a Catalan given name and surname * ...

, 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

Playoffs

Backstopped by the goaltending tandem of

Ron Hextall Ronald Jeffrey Hextall (born May 3, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and executive. He was most recently the general manager#Sports teams, general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL ...

and

Garth Snow Garth E. Snow (born July 28, 1969) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender and former general manager, president, and alternate governor of the New York Islanders of the NHL. Drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the sixth round ...

, the Flyers dominated the

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

, the

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 (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

, and the

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

all in five games apiece to win the Eastern Conference championship, and clinch a berth in the

for the first time since

1987 Events January * January 1 – Bolivia reintroduces the Boliviano currency. * January 2 – Chadian–Libyan conflict – Battle of Fada: The Military of Chad, Chadian army destroys a Libyan armoured brigade. * January 3 – Afghan leader ...

. However, their opponent, the

, swept the Flyers in four straight games. After Game 3,

Terry Murray Terry Rodney Murray (born July 20, 1950) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and the former head coach of the Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, Florida Panthers and Los Angeles Kings. Playing career Murray was born in Shaw ...

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.

Schedule and results

Regular season

, - , 1 , , October 5 , , 1–3 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 0–1–0 , , 0 , , , - , 2 , , October 7 , , 3–1 , , align="left",

New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...

, , Hextall , , 1–1–0 , , 2 , , , - , 3 , , October 10 , , 5–4 OT , , align="left",

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

, , Snow , , 2–1–0 , , 4 , , , - , 4 , , October 12 , , 1–5 , , align="left", @

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

, , Snow , , 2–2–0 , , 4 , , , - , 5 , , October 13 , , 0–1 , , align="left",

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

, , Hextall , , 2–3–0 , , 4 , , , - , 6 , , October 15 , , 2–3 , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , 2–4–0 , , 4 , , , - , 7 , , October 16 , , 4–3 , , align="left", @

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Mighty may refer to: Businesses *Mighty Audio, an American company known for its product ''Mighty'', a portable audio player *Mighty Animation, an animation studio based in Guadalajara, Mexico Films *''The Mighty'', a 1998 comedy–drama * ''The ...

, , Hextall , , 3–4–0 , , 6 , , , - , 8 , , October 18 , , 3–1 , , align="left", @

Phoenix Coyotes The Arizona Coyotes are an inactive professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. They competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division (1996–1998, 2021–2024) and ...

, , Hextall , , 4–4–0 , , 8 , , , - , 9 , , October 22 , , 3–0 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 5–4–0 , , 10 , , , - , 10 , , October 26 , , 5–6 , , align="left", @

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

, , Hextall , , 5–5–0 , , 10 , , , - , 11 , , October 27 , , 2–3 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 5–6–0 , , 10 , , , - , 12 , , October 30 , , 2–4 , , align="left", @

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

, , Snow , , 5–7–0 , , 10 , , , - , 13 , , October 31 , , 4–3 , , align="left", @

Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the ...

, , Hextall , , 6–7–0 , , 12 , , , - , - , 14 , , November 2 , , 3–2 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 7–7–0 , , 14 , , , - , 15 , , November 4 , , 3–4 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 7–8–0 , , 14 , , , - , 16 , , November 7 , , 5–2 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 8–8–0 , , 16 , , , - , 17 , , November 9 , , 1–4 , , align="left",

Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...

, , Snow , , 8–9–0 , , 16 , , , - , 18 , , November 10 , , 3–1 , , align="left",

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. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

, , Hextall , , 9–9–0 , , 18 , , , - , 19 , , November 13 , , 2–1 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 10–9–0 , , 20 , , , - , 20 , , November 14 , , 2–5 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 10–10–0 , , 20 , , , - , 21 , , November 16 , , 2–2 OT , , align="left",

San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...

, , Snow , , 10–10–1 , , 21 , , , - , 22 , , November 21 , , 7–3 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 11–10–1 , , 23 , , , - , 23 , , November 23 , , 2–1 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 12–10–1 , , 25 , , , - , 24 , , November 26 , , 0–2 , , align="left", @

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 (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

, , Snow , , 12–11–1 , , 25 , , , - , 25 , , November 27 , , 1–4 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 12–12–1 , , 25 , , , - , 26 , , November 30 , , 4–3 , , align="left", @

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...

, , Snow , , 13–12–1 , , 27 , , , - , - , 27 , , December 1 , , 4–3 , , align="left",

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

, , Hextall , , 14–12–1 , , 29 , , , - , 28 , , December 4 , , 1–1 OT , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 14–12–2 , , 30 , , , - , 29 , , December 6 , , 6–3 , , align="left", @

Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. The Stars compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The Stars ...

, , Hextall , , 15–12–2 , , 32 , , , - , 30 , , December 10 , , 5–4 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 16–12–2 , , 34 , , , - , 31 , , December 12 , , 3–2 , , align="left",

Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its 25-year existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1 ...

, , Hextall , , 17–12–2 , , 36 , , , - , 32 , , December 14 , , 4–0 , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , 18–12–2 , , 38 , , , - , 33 , , December 15 , , 6–0 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 19–12–2 , , 40 , , , - , 34 , , December 19 , , 5–0 , , align="left",

, , Snow , , 20–12–2 , , 42 , , , - , 35 , , December 21 , , 4–0 , , align="left",

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 (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

, , Hextall , , 21–12–2 , , 44 , , , - , 36 , , December 22 , , 2–2 OT , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , 21–12–3 , , 45 , , , - , 37 , , December 27 , , 6–4 , , align="left", @

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

, , Snow , , 22–12–3 , , 47 , , , - , 38 , , December 29 , , 4–2 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 23–12–3 , , 49 , , , - , 39 , , December 31 , , 5–3 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 24–12–3 , , 51 , , , - , - , 40 , , January 2 , , 4–1 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 25–12–3 , , 53 , , , - , 41 , , January 4 , , 4–4 OT , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , 25–12–4 , , 54 , , , - , 42 , , January 7 , , 7–3 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 26–12–4 , , 56 , , , - , 43 , , January 9 , , 1–3 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 26–13–4 , , 56 , , , - , 44 , , January 11 , , 3–3 OT , , align="left",

, , Snow , , 26–13–5 , , 57 , , , - , 45 , , January 14 , , 3–2 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 27–13–5 , , 59 , , , - , 46 , , January 21 , , 3–3 OT , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 27–13–6 , , 60 , , , - , 47 , , January 22 , , 2–2 OT , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 27–13–7 , , 61 , , , - , 48 , , January 25 , , 1–4 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 27–14–7 , , 61 , , , - , 49 , , January 28 , , 4–1 , , align="left",

, , Snow , , 28–14–7 , , 63 , , , - , 50 , , January 29 , , 2–1 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 29–14–7 , , 65 , , , - , - , 51 , , February 1 , , 2–4 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 29–15–7 , , 65 , , , - , 52 , , February 4 , , 1–1 OT , , align="left",

, , Snow , , 29–15–8 , , 66 , , , - , 53 , , February 6 , , 9–5 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 30–15–8 , , 68 , , , - , 54 , , February 8 , , 2–4 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 30–16–8 , , 68 , , , - , 55 , , February 13 , , 4–2 , , align="left",

, , Snow , , 31–16–8 , , 70 , , , - , 56 , , February 15 , , 5–1 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 32–16–8 , , 72 , , , - , 57 , , February 16 , , 6–2 , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , 33–16–8 , , 74 , , , - , 58 , , February 19 , , 2–2 OT , , align="left",

, , Snow , , 33–16–9 , , 75 , , , - , 59 , , February 20 , , 2–5 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 33–17–9 , , 75 , , , - , 60 , , February 22 , , 4–3 OT , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , 34–17–9 , , 77 , , , - , 61 , , February 23 , , 2–1 , , align="left",

, , Snow , , 35–17–9 , , 79 , , , - , 62 , , February 26 , , 8–5 , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , 36–17–9 , , 81 , , , - , - , 63 , , March 1 , , 5–5 OT , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 36–17–10 , , 82 , , , - , 64 , , March 2 , , 5–2 , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , 37–17–10 , , 84 , , , - , 65 , , March 5 , , 1–3 , , align="left",

, , Snow , , 37–18–10 , , 84 , , , - , 66 , , March 8 , , 2–3 OT , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , 37–19–10 , , 84 , , , - , 67 , , March 9 , , 5–0 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 38–19–10 , , 86 , , , - , 68 , , March 11 , , 2–3 OT , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 38–20–10 , , 86 , , , - , 69 , , March 13 , , 5–4 OT , , align="left",

, , Snow , , 39–20–10 , , 88 , , , - , 70 , , March 15 , , 5–7 , , align="left",

, , Snow , , 39–21–10 , , 88 , , , - , 71 , , March 19 , , 6–3 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 40–21–10 , , 90 , , , - , 72 , , March 22 , , 3–3 OT , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , 40–21–11 , , 91 , , , - , 73 , , March 23 , , 2–0 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 41–21–11 , , 93 , , , - , 74 , , March 25 , , 4–3 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 42–21–11 , , 95 , , , - , 75 , , March 29 , , 5–3 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 43–21–11 , , 97 , , , - , 76 , , March 30 , , 2–3 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 43–22–11 , , 97 , , , - , - , 77 , , April 1 , , 1–1 OT , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 43–22–12 , , 98 , , , - , 78 , , April 6 , , 2–1 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 44–22–12 , , 100 , , , - , 79 , , April 7 , , 2–3 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , 44–23–12 , , 100 , , , - , 80 , , April 10 , , 3–6 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , 44–24–12 , , 100 , , , - , 81 , , April 12 , , 3–3 OT , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , 44–24–13 , , 101 , , , - , 82 , , April 13 , , 5–4 , , align="left",

, , Snow , , 45–24–13 , , 103 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

, - , 1 , , April 17 , , 5–1 , , align="left",

, , Snow , , Flyers lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , April 19 , , 3–2 , , align="left",

, , Snow , , Flyers lead 2–0 , , , - , 3 , , April 21 , , 5–3 , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , Flyers lead 3–0 , , , - , 4 , , April 23 , , 1–4 , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , Flyers lead 3–1 , , , - , 5 , , April 26 , , 6–3 , , align="left",

, , Snow , , Flyers win 4–1 , , , - , - , 1 , , May 3 , , 5–3 , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , Flyers lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , May 5 , , 2–1 , , align="left", @

, , Snow , , Flyers lead 2–0 , , , - , 3 , , May 7 , , 4–1 , , align="left",

, , Snow , , Flyers lead 3–0 , , , - , 4 , , May 9 , , 4–5 OT , , align="left",

, , Snow , , Flyers lead 3–1 , , , - , 5 , , May 11 , , 6–3 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , Flyers win 4–1 , , , - , - , 1 , , May 16 , , 3–1 , , align="left",

, , Snow , , Flyers lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , May 18 , , 4–5 , , align="left",

, , Snow , , Series tied 1–1 , , , - , 3 , , May 20 , , 6–3 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , Flyers lead 2–1 , , , - , 4 , , May 23 , , 3–2 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , Flyers lead 3–1 , , , - , 5 , , May 25 , , 4–2 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , Flyers win 4–1 , , , - , - , 1 , , May 31 , , 2–4 , , align="left",

, , Hextall , , Red Wings lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , June 3 , , 2–4 , , align="left",

, , Snow , , Red Wings lead 2–0 , , , - , 3 , , June 5 , , 1–6 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , Red Wings lead 3–0 , , , - , 4 , , June 7 , , 1–2 , , align="left", @

, , Hextall , , Red Wings win 4–0 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Scoring

* ''Position abbreviations: C = Center; D =

Defense Defense or defence may refer to: Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups * Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare * Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks * Defense industr ...

; G =

Goaltender In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as goalie or netminder) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their own team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays ...

; LW =

Left wing Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy either as a whole or of certain social hierarchies. Left-wing politic ...

; RW =

Right wing Right-wing politics is 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 position b ...

'' * '' = 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 1996–97 season was goaltender

tying a team record with nine consecutive wins from December 6 to January 7. During Hextall’s streak the team set two shutout streaks, going a team record 265 minutes and eight seconds without allowing a goal from December 12 to December 22, and recording four consecutive shutouts from December 14 to December 21 (tied during the 1998–99 season). On January 29,

tied

Rick MacLeish Richard George MacLeish (January 3, 1950 – May 30, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Philadelphia Flyers, Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit ...

's team record for consecutive games played at 287. Brind'Amour's streak continued another two seasons until a fractured left foot during training camp caused him to miss the first 34 games of the 1999–2000 season, ending the streak at 484 games. The

line of

, and Mikael Renberg had two record setting games in February. On February 6 against the

, the line combined for a team record 16 points (LeClair 6 points, Lindros 5, and Renberg 5) with LeClair tying a team regular season record with four goals in the game.2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 264 Three weeks later on February 26 against the

, the line again recorded a combined 16 points (Lindros 7 points, Renberg 5, and LeClair 4) with Lindros setting the team records for assists in a single game (6) and a single period (4, later tied). Lindros also tied the team record for points in a single period (4). On March 19, Lindros tied the team regular season record for goals scored in a game (4) and tied the team record for goals in a period (3).

Janne Niinimaa Janne Henrik Niinimaa (born May 22, 1975) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, Dallas Stars, and Montreal C ...

’s 40 assists on the season set a team record for rookie defensemen. During game three of their conference quarterfinals series against the

, the Flyers set a franchise single period playoff record for most shots on goal (28). During game three, Rod Brind’Amour tied the NHL records for most shorthanded goals scored in a playoff game and playoff period (2 for both). Likewise, the two total shorthanded goals scored by the Flyers is also tied for the franchise single playoff game and playoff period records. John LeClair’s three game-winning goals during the series is a franchise single series high. During game three of their conference semifinals series against the

, defenseman

recorded three assists during the first period, tying the franchise single playoff period mark. Brind’Amour repeated Coffey’s feat during the second period of game five. The Flyers five consecutive playoff wins on the road from May 3 to May 23 tied a team record.

Milestones

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 The 1996 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1995–96 season, and the culmination of the 1996 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Western Conference champion Colorado Avalanche and t ...

, through June 7, 1997, the day of the deciding game of the

1997 Stanley Cup Finals The 1997 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1996–97 season, and the culmination of the 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Detroit Red Wings and the Philadelphia Flyers. The R ...

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft, which was held at the

Kiel Center The Enterprise Center is an 18,096-seat arena located in Downtown St. Louis, downtown St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Its primary tenant is the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League, but it is also used for other functions, such as ...

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...

, on June 22, 1996. The Flyers traded their first-round pick, 24th overall, their fourth-round pick, 106th overall, and Martin Spanhel to the

for

Pat Falloon Pat Falloon (born September 22, 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played nine seasons in the National Hockey League between 1991 and 2000. He played with the San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators ...

on September 20, 1995. They also traded their third-round pick, 78th overall, and their sixth-round pick, 157th overall, to the

for

on July 12, 1995, and their ninth-round pick, 239th overall, to the

for Kerry Huffman on March 19, 1996.

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the

Philadelphia Phantoms The Philadelphia Phantoms were a professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League (AHL) from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and played most of its home games at the Spectrum (arena), Spectrum ...

of the AHL and the

Mobile Mysticks The Mobile Mysticks were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Mobile, Alabama that played in the ECHL. They played their home games at the Mobile Civic Center. The team was founded in 1995 as an expansion franchise, joining the E ...

of the

ECHL The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a minor professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams across the United States and Canada. Competitively, it is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL). The ...

Notes

References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Philadelphia 1996–97 NHL season by team

1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...

1996-1997 2 1996 in sports in Pennsylvania 1997 in sports in Pennsylvania 1996 in Philadelphia 1997 in Philadelphia