The 1981–82 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Flyers' 15th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the Patrick Division Semifinals to the New York Rangers in four games.
Regular season
The Flyers were unable to reach a long-term contract with team captain Mel Bridgman for the second consecutive off-season.[ 2] Prior to opening night head coach Pat Quinn replaced Bridgman as captain with Bill Barber .[ 3] On November 11, Bridgman was traded to the Calgary Flames for defenseman Brad Marsh .[ 2]
Darryl Sittler was acquired in January from Toronto.
After winning only six games in a span of 29 games, head coach Pat Quinn and assistant coach Bob Boucher were fired on March 19.[ 4] Bobby Clarke was also relieved of his duties as an assistant coach.[ 4] Replacing Quinn was Bob McCammon , who had been coaching the Maine Mariners ever since being replaced as Flyers coach by Quinn in 1979.[ 4]
Season standings
[ 5] 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.
Record vs. opponents
Patrick Division record vs. opponents
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
Vs. Adams Division
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
Vs. Smythe Division
Playoffs
After a third-place finish the Flyers lost in four games to the Rangers in the first round of the playoffs. For the first time in since 1971, they failed to make it past the first round.
Schedule and results
Regular season
1981–82 regular season[ 7]
October: 8–2–1, 17 points (home: 5–1–1; road: 3–1–0)
November: 4–8–0, 8 points (home: 3–2–0; road: 1–6–0)
December: 10–3–0, 20 points (home: 5–1–0; road: 5–2–0)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Record
Points
Recap
24
December 1
Winnipeg Jets
2–1
13–10–1
27
Recap
25
December 3
Calgary Flames
6–1
14–10–1
29
Recap
26
December 5
@ Detroit Red Wings
5–2
15–10–1
31
Recap
27
December 6
St. Louis Blues
8–2
16–10–1
33
Recap
28
December 9
@ Pittsburgh Penguins
4–1
17–10–1
35
Recap
29
December 12
New York Rangers
3–5
17–11–1
35
Recap
30
December 16
@ New York Rangers
7–3
18–11–1
37
Recap
31
December 17
Buffalo Sabres
2–1
19–11–1
39
Recap
32
December 20
Pittsburgh Penguins
3–1
20–11–1
41
Recap
33
December 23
@ Chicago Black Hawks
7–6
21–11–1
43
Recap
34
December 26
@ New York Islanders
2–4
21–12–1
43
Recap
35
December 28
@ Calgary Flames
7–4
22–12–1
45
Recap
36
December 30
@ Edmonton Oilers
5–7
22–13–1
45
Recap
January: 6–6–3, 15 points (home: 4–2–0; road: 2–4–3)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Record
Points
Recap
37
January 2
@ St. Louis Blues
5–3
23–13–1
47
Recap
38
January 5
Los Angeles Kings
5–3
24–13–1
49
Recap
39
January 7
New York Islanders
4–5
24–14–1
49
Recap
40
January 9
@ New York Islanders
1–3
24–15–1
49
Recap
41
January 10
Colorado Rockies
5–4
25–15–1
51
Recap
42
January 14
Edmonton Oilers
8–2
26–15–1
53
Recap
43
January 16
@ Montreal Canadiens
4–2
27–15–1
55
Recap
44
January 17
Boston Bruins
7–3
28–15–1
57
Recap
45
January 19
@ Quebec Nordiques
2–2
28–15–2
58
Recap
46
January 21
Montreal Canadiens
2–4
28–16–2
58
Recap
47
January 23
@ Pittsburgh Penguins
5–5
28–16–3
59
Recap
48
January 26
@ Colorado Rockies
4–7
28–17–3
59
Recap
49
January 27
@ Los Angeles Kings
4–4
28–17–4
60
Recap
50
January 30
@ Vancouver Canucks
2–4
28–18–4
60
Recap
51
January 31
@ Edmonton Oilers
4–7
28–19–4
60
Recap
February: 4–6–2, 10 points (home: 3–2–1; road: 1–4–1)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Record
Points
Recap
52
February 4
Minnesota North Stars
3–3
28–19–5
61
Recap
53
February 6
@ Quebec Nordiques
3–4
28–20–5
61
Recap
54
February 7
Pittsburgh Penguins
5–4
29–20–5
63
Recap
55
February 11
Buffalo Sabres
6–4
30–20–5
65
Recap
56
February 13
@ New York Islanders
2–8
30–21–5
65
Recap
57
February 14
Los Angeles Kings
6–4
31–21–5
67
Recap
58
February 18
New York Islanders
4–7
31–22–5
67
Recap
59
February 20
@ Pittsburgh Penguins
5–6
31–23–5
67
Recap
60
February 21
Boston Bruins
0–1
31–24–5
67
Recap
61
February 24
@ Winnipeg Jets
2–6
31–25–5
67
Recap
62
February 27
@ Calgary Flames
9–8
32–25–5
69
Recap
63
February 28
@ Vancouver Canucks
3–3
32–25–6
70
Recap
March: 5–5–4, 14 points (home: 4–2–2; road: 1–3–2)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Record
Points
Recap
64
March 2
Winnipeg Jets
6–7
32–26–6
70
Recap
65
March 4
New York Rangers
4–4
32–26–7
71
Recap
66
March 6
@ Chicago Black Hawks
1–4
32–27–7
71
Recap
67
March 7
Washington Capitals
7–1
33–27–7
73
Recap
68
March 10
@ New York Rangers
5–5
33–27–8
74
Recap
69
March 11
Colorado Rockies
5–1
34–27–8
76
Recap
70
March 13
@ Washington Capitals
3–6
34–28–8
76
Recap
71
March 17
@ New York Rangers
2–5
34–29–8
76
Recap
72
March 18
Chicago Black Hawks
4–4
34–29–9
77
Recap
73
March 20
@ Hartford Whalers
5–2
35–29–9
79
Recap
74
March 21
Hartford Whalers
5–3
36–29–9
81
Recap
75
March 25
Washington Capitals
3–4
36–30–9
81
Recap
76
March 27
@ Washington Capitals
4–4
36–30–10
82
Recap
77
March 28
New York Rangers
3–1
37–30–10
84
Recap
April: 1–1–1, 3 points (home: 1–0–1; road: 0–1–0)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Record
Points
Recap
78
April 1
New York Islanders
3–3
37–30–11
85
Recap
79
April 3
@ New York Islanders
3–6
37–31–11
85
Recap
80
April 4
Toronto Maple Leafs
7–1
38–31–11
87
Recap
Legend :
Win (2 points)
Loss (0 points)
Tie (1 point)
Playoffs
1982 Stanley Cup playoffs[ 7]
Patrick Division Semifinals vs. New York Rangers – Rangers win 3–1
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Series
Recap
1
April 7
@ New York Rangers
4–1
Flyers lead 1–0
Recap
2
April 8
@ New York Rangers
3–7
Series tied 1–1
Recap
3
April 10
New York Rangers
3–4
Rangers lead 2–1
Recap
4
April 11
New York Rangers
5–7
Rangers win 3–1
Recap
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.
Goaltending
Awards and records
Awards
Records
Among the team records set during the 1981–82 season was the one minute and twenty-two seconds it took to score the fastest four goals in team history on October 11.[ 11] Ron Flockhart set two records during the season. On December 6, Flockhart scored two goals eight seconds apart, the fastest two goals by one player in team history.[ 12] From February 4 to February 20, Flockhart went eight consecutive games with a goal, the longest such streak for a rookie in team history.[ 13] The Flyers set the franchise season marks for most powerplay goals allowed (102) and tied the mark for fewest shutouts (0).[ 14] [ 15]
Milestones
Transactions
The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 22, 1981, the day after the deciding game of the 1981 Stanley Cup Finals , through May 16, 1982, the day of the deciding game of the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals .[ 18]
Trades
Players acquired
Players lost
Signings
Draft picks
Philadelphia's picks at the 1981 NHL entry draft , which was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal , on June 10, 1981.[ 35]
Farm teams
The Flyers were affiliated with the Maine Mariners of the AHL [ 37] [ 38] and the Toledo Goaldiggers of the IHL .[ 39]
Notes
↑ The alternate captain position was abolished from the 1975–76 season through the 1984–85 season.
↑ Hoffmeyer wore number 35 in his first eleven games after being re-acquired.
↑ Bailey wore number 9 during the regular season.
↑ The Flyers received Hartford's 1984 3rd-round pick as compensation after Arthur retired in October 1982.
↑ Ken Strong was sent to Toronto on May 1, 1982, to complete the trade.
↑ The Flyers traded Wayne Stephenson to the Washington Capitals for the Capitals' third-round pick on August 16, 1979.[ 36]
↑ The Flyers traded Dennis Sobchuk to the Detroit Red Wings for the Red Wings' third or fourth-round pick on September 4, 1979.[ 36]
↑ The Flyers traded Andre Dupont to the Quebec Nordiques for cash and the Nordiques' seventh-round pick on September 15, 1980.[ 36]
References
↑ "All Time Team Attendance" . P. Anson . Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013 .
↑ 2.0 2.1 Bill Meltzer (December 13, 2006). "Flyers Heroes of the Past: Mel Bridgman" . Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved August 6, 2014 .
↑ "FLYERS' BARBER FULFILLING ROLE" . The New York Times . October 11, 1981. Retrieved December 20, 2014 .
↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Flyers unload Quinn, call back McCammon" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . AP . March 20, 1982. Retrieved October 9, 2013 .
↑ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 . Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225 .
↑ "All-Time NHL Results" . NHL.com . Retrieved August 25, 2023 .
↑ 7.0 7.1 "1981-82 Philadelphia Flyers Schedule and Results" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved August 26, 2022 .
↑ "34th NHL All-Star Game" . NHL.com . Retrieved August 7, 2015 .
↑ "Philadelphia goalie Pete Peeters, a key to the Flyers'..." UPI . December 8, 1981. Retrieved August 5, 2015 .
↑ 10.0 10.1 "Flyers History – Team Awards" . P.Anson . Retrieved August 7, 2015 .
↑ "Team Records: Fastest Four Goals, One Team" . records.nhl.com . Retrieved September 14, 2022 .
↑ "Skater Records: Fastest Two Goals, Any Time of Game" . records.nhl.com . Retrieved September 6, 2022 .
↑ "Skater Records: Longest Goal Streaks, Rookie, Season" . records.nhl.com . Retrieved September 9, 2022 .
↑ "NHL Stats" . NHL.com . Retrieved September 12, 2022 .
↑ 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, pp. 273–275
↑ "1981-82 NHL Debuts" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved October 3, 2024 .
↑ "Flyers History – All-Time Milestone Award Winners" . P.Anson. Retrieved August 15, 2015 .
↑ "Hockey Transactions Search Results" . Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved April 11, 2014 .
↑ "FLYERS' MACLEISH TO WHALERS" . The New York Times . UPI . July 4, 1981. Retrieved December 14, 2014 .
↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE; New Capital Coach" . The New York Times . November 12, 1981. Retrieved December 14, 2014 .
↑ "Sittler Traded to Flyers" . The New York Times . UPI . January 21, 1982. Retrieved December 14, 2014 .
↑ "Bob Froese – Notes" . NHL.com . Retrieved December 14, 2014 .
↑ "Daryl Stanley – Notes" . NHL.com . Retrieved December 14, 2014 .
↑ "Robert Hoffmeyer – Notes" . NHL.com . Retrieved December 14, 2014 .
↑ "Sports Briefs" . UPI . June 30, 1981. Retrieved August 5, 2015 .
↑ "David Logan – Notes" . NHL.com . Retrieved December 14, 2014 .
↑ Yves Preston at Hockey-Reference.com , retrieved November 28, 2021
↑ Parsons, Mark (November 8, 2013). "1981 NHL Waiver Draft" . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia. Retrieved July 30, 2015 .
↑ "SABRES DRAFT YVON LAMBERT" . The New York Times . UPI . October 6, 1981. Retrieved December 14, 2014 .
↑ "Jun 12, 1981, page 93 - Philadelphia Daily News at Newspapers.com" . Newspapers.com . June 12, 1981. Retrieved August 15, 2024 . Flyers' GM Keith Allen announced the signing of defenseman Brian Tutt.
↑ "Jun 17, 1981, page 30 - Courier-Post at Newspapers.com" . Newspapers.com . June 17, 1981. Retrieved August 15, 2024 . The Flyers announced the signing of center Dan Held
↑ "Transactions" . The New York Times . August 19, 1981. Retrieved December 14, 2014 .
↑ "Flyers sign Bridgman" . The Gettysburg Times . August 21, 1981. p. 14. Retrieved December 20, 2014 – via Newspapers.com .
↑ "The Philadelphia Flyers announced Tuesday that they have signed..." UPI . September 29, 1981. Retrieved August 5, 2015 .
↑ "1981 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com" . hockeyDB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013 .
↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 "1981 NHL Entry Draft Pick Transactions" . Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
↑ "AHL Franchise Statistics" . P. Anson . Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013 .
↑ "AHL Season Overview: 1981–82" . P. Anson . Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013 .
↑ "Non-AHL Affiliates" . P. Anson . Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013 .
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
Franchise History Personnel Arenas Rivalries Affiliates Media Culture and lore
Patrick Adams Norris Smythe See also