1979–80 Philadelphia Flyers season

1979–80 Philadelphia Flyers
Campbell Conference Champions
Patrick Division Champions
Division 1st Patrick
Conference 1st Campbell
1979–80 record 48–12–20
Home record 27–5–8
Road record 21–7–12
Goals for 327 (2nd)
Goals against 254 (7th)
Team information
General Manager Keith Allen
Coach Pat Quinn
Captain Mel Bridgman
Alternate captains None
Arena Spectrum
Average attendance 17,077[1]
Minor league affiliations Maine Mariners (AHL)[2]
Toledo Goaldiggers (IHL)[3]
Hampton Aces (EHL)[3]
Team leaders
Goals Reggie Leach (50)
Assists Bobby Clarke (57)
Ken Linseman (57)
Points Ken Linseman (79)
Penalties in minutes Paul Holmgren (267)
Plus/minus Jimmy Watson (+53)
Wins Pete Peeters (29)
Goals against average Rick St. Croix (2.00)
<1978–79 1980–81>

The 1979–80 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' 13th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). This team owns the longest unbeaten streak in North American sports history in 35 consecutive games without a loss, from October 14 to January 6.[4][5][6] The Flyers reached the Stanley Cup Finals but lost in six games to the New York Islanders.

Off-season

On August 10, 1979, Bobby Clarke was named a player-assistant coach.[7] In order to become an assistant coach Clarke had to give up the captaincy due to NHL rules.[8] Mel Bridgman was named Clarke's replacement as team captain on October 11.[9]

Regular season

The Flyers would go undefeated for a North American professional sports record 35 straight games (25–0–10), a record that still stands to this day.[4] In doing so, the Flyers wrapped up the Patrick Division title with 14 games to spare and the No.1 overall seed in the playoffs.

Season standings

Patrick Division
  GP W L T GF GA Pts
Philadelphia Flyers 80 48 12 20 327 254 116
New York Islanders 80 39 28 13 281 247 91
New York Rangers 80 38 32 10 308 284 86
Atlanta Flames 80 35 32 13 282 269 83
Washington Capitals 80 27 40 13 261 293 67

[10]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.

Playoffs

The Flyers' regular-season success continued into the playoffs, as the Flyers swept a young Wayne Gretzky and his Edmonton Oilers in the first round, then went on to get revenge against Fred Shero and his Rangers by beating them in five before disposing of Minnesota in five to lock up a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals. Facing the Islanders for the Cup, the Flyers would ultimately lose in six games on Bob Nystrom's overtime Cup-winning goal. The end result of the series was marred by controversy, as the Islanders were offside on the play that resulted in their second goal in Game 6, but the call was not made. Linesman Leon Stickle admitted after the game that he had blown the call.[11]

Schedule and results

Regular season

1979–80 regular season

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

Playoffs

1980 Stanley Cup playoffs

Legend:       Win       Loss

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season Playoffs
No. Player Age Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts PIM
14, 26 Linseman, KenKen Linseman 21 C 80 22 57 79 26 107 17 4 18 22 40
27 Leach, ReggieReggie Leach 29 RW 76 50 26 76 40 28 19 9 7 16 6
14, 26 Propp, BrianBrian Propp 20 LW 80 34 41 75 45 54 19 5 10 15 29
7 Barber, BillBill Barber 27 LW 79 40 32 72 39 17 19 12 9 21 23
16 Clarke, BobbyBobby Clarke 30 C 76 12 57 69 42 65 19 8 12 20 16
19 MacLeish, RickRick MacLeish 30 LW 78 31 35 66 23 28 19 9 6 15 2
17 Holmgren, PaulPaul Holmgren 24 RW 74 30 35 65 35 267 18 10 10 20 47
10 Bridgman, MelMel Bridgman 24 C 74 16 31 47 13 136 19 2 9 11 70
2 Dailey, BobBob Dailey 26 D 61 13 26 39 30 71 19 4 13 17 22
9 Kelly, BobBob Kelly 29 LW 75 15 20 35 19 122 19 1 1 2 38
3 Wilson, BehnBehn Wilson 21 D 61 9 25 34 21 212 19 4 9 13 66
11 Ververgaert, DennisDennis Ververgaert 26 RW 58 14 17 31 9 24 2 0 0 0 0
15 Hill, AlAl Hill 24 LW 61 16 10 26 14 53 19 3 5 8 19
25 Barnes, NormNorm Barnes 26 D 59 4 21 25 23 59 10 0 0 0 8
20 Watson, JimmyJimmy Watson 27 D 71 5 18 23 53 51 15 0 4 4 20
22 Gorence, TomTom Gorence 22 RW 51 8 13 21 7 15 15 3 3 6 18
21, 28 Busniuk, MikeMike Busniuk 28 D 71 2 18 20 39 93 19 2 4 6 23
12 Paddock, JohnJohn Paddock 25 LW 32 3 7 10 −4 36 3 2 0 2 0
6 Dupont, AndreAndre Dupont 30 D 58 1 7 8 37 107 19 0 4 4 50
5 Bathe, FrankFrank Bathe 25 D 47 0 7 7 7 111 1 0 0 0 0
29 McIlhargey, JackJack McIlhargeydagger 27 D 26 0 4 4 7 95 9 0 0 0 25
23 Gardner, DaveDave Gardnerdagger 27 C 2 1 1 2 1 0
21 Morrison, GaryGary Morrison 24 RW 3 0 2 2 0 0 5 0 1 1 2
21 Gillen, DonDon Gillen 19 RW 1 1 0 1 1 0
34 Patterson, DennisDennis Patterson 30 D 3 0 1 1 −1 0
8 Wesley, BlakeBlake Wesley 20 D 2 0 1 1 −3 2
31 Myre, PhilPhil Myre 31 G 41 0 0 0 N/A 37 6 0 0 0 0
33 Peeters, PetePete Peeters 22 G 40 0 0 0 N/A 28 13 0 0 0 2
30 St. Croix, RickRick St. Croix 25 G 1 0 0 0 N/A 0

Goaltenders

Regular season Playoffs
No. Player Age GP W L T SO GA SV% GAA MIN GP W L SO GA SV% GAA MIN
31 Myre, PhilPhil Myre 31 41 18 7 15 0 141 .875 3.57 2367 6 5 1 1 16 .920 2.50 384
33 Peeters, PetePete Peeters 22 40 29 5 5 1 108 .898 2.73 2373 13 8 5 1 37 .902 2.78 799
30 St. Croix, RickRick St. Croix 25 1 1 0 0 0 2 .920 2.00 60

Awards and records

Awards

League awards and honors
Award or honor Recipient Notes Ref
Jack Adams Award Pat Quinn [12]
Lester Patrick Trophy Bobby Clarke Former Flyers coach Fred Shero also given award [13]
Ed Snider
Selected to NHL All-Star Game Bill Barber [14][15]
Norm Barnes
Reggie Leach Named All-Star Game Most Valuable Player
Rick MacLeish
Pete Peeters
Brian Propp
Jimmy Watson
Team awards[16]
Award Recipient
Barry Ashbee Trophy Norm Barnes
Class Guy Award Andre Dupont

Records

Individual single season records
Record Total Player
Shorthanded goals, playoffs 3** Bill Barber
Game-winning goals, playoffs 4 Bill Barber
(tied by Rick MacLeish in 1973–74 and Danny Briere in 2009–10)
Team single season records
Record Total
Fewest losses 12
Fewest losses on road 7
Individual post season single game records
Record Player Total Date and opponent Final Score
Assists Bob Dailey 4 May 1, 1980 vs. Minnesota North Stars
(tied five times by five different players)
Flyers 7, North Stars 0
Team regular season single game records
Record Total Date and opponent Final Score
Powerplay goals against 6 February 19, 1980 vs. Colorado Rockies Rockies 8, Flyers 6
Team regular season streaks records
Record Games Dates
Longest undefeated streak 35*
(25 wins, 10 ties)
October 14, 1979 through January 6, 1980
Longest home undefeated streak 26
(19 wins, 7 ties)
October 11, 1979 through February 3, 1980
Longest road undefeated streak 16
(11 wins, 5 ties)
October 20, 1979 through January 6, 1980

Milestones

Individual career milestones[17]
Milestone Player Details Date Ref
600th assist Bobby Clarke Primary assist on Reggie Leach's even-strength goal at 11:38 of the first period October 14, 1979 [18]

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 22, 1979, the day after the deciding game of the 1979 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 24, 1980, the day of the deciding game of the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals.[19]

Trades

Date Details Ref
June 7, 1979 To Philadelphia Flyers
Phil Myre
To St. Louis Blues
Blake Dunlop
Rick Lapointe
[20]
August 16, 1979 To Philadelphia Flyers
3rd-round pick in 1981
To Washington Capitals
Wayne Stephenson
[21]
September 4, 1979 To Philadelphia Flyers
conditional 3rd or 4th-round pick in 1981[a]
To Detroit Red Wings
Dennis Sobchuk
[22]
January 2, 1980 To Philadelphia Flyers
Jack McIlhargey
To Vancouver Canucks
cash
[23]
Trade notes

Signings

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency.

Date Player Previous team (league) Contract details Ref
August 8, 1979 Dennis Patterson Maine Mariners (AHL) [24]
September 4, 1979 Fred Williams Philadelphia Firebirds (AHL) [25]
September 28, 1979 Greg Adams Victoria Cougars (WHL) [26]
October 10, 1979 Sam St. Laurent Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) [27]
October 25, 1979 Tim Kerr Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) [28]
October 28, 1979 Marc-Andre Marchand Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) 3 years, $210,000 [29]
October 31, 1979 Dan Barber Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL)
January 21, 1980 Dave Gardner Binghamton Dusters (AHL) [30]

Re-signed

The following players were re-signed by the Flyers.

Date Player Contract details Ref
June 12, 1979 Frank Bathe multi-year

Draft picks

The Flyers signed the following of their draft picks.

Date Player Previous team (league) Draft Contract details Ref
September 4, 1979 Brian Propp Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 1979 1st-round pick multi-year [25]
September 4, 1979 Blake Wesley Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) 1979 2nd-round pick [25]
September 4, 1979 Lindsay Carson Billings Bighorns (WHL) 1979 3rd-round pick [25]
September 4, 1979 Don Gillen Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 1979 4th-round pick [25]
September 4, 1979 Gord Williams Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) 1979 6th-round pick [25]

NHL Reclamation

The Flyers held the NHL rights to the following five players who had played the previous season in the World Hockey Association (WHA).[31] They reclaimed one player on June 9, 1979.[31]

Philadelphia Flyers held NHL rights to the following WHA players[31]
Player WHA team Status How Flyers originally acquired NHL rights Ref
Serge Beaudoin Birmingham Bulls Not reclaimed 1972 7th-round pick [32]
Ron Chipperfield Edmonton Oilers Not reclaimed December 11, 1974 trade [33]
John McKenzie Hartford Whalers Not reclaimed August 3, 1972 trade [34]
Michel Parizeau Edmonton Oilers Not reclaimed Claimed off waivers on December 8, 1971 [35]
Dennis Sobchuk Edmonton Oilers Reclaimed 1974 5th-round pick [22]

NHL Expansion Draft

The 1979 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 13, 1979.[31][36] It featured four World Hockey Association (WHA) teams entering the NHL as expansion teams, the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets, selecting players from the 17 existing NHL teams.[31] Each NHL team placed 15 skaters and 2 goaltenders on a protected list from which the four expansion teams could not select.[31]

The Flyers protected the following players:[31] goaltenders Phil Myre and Rick St. Croix, and skaters Bill Barber, Mel Bridgman, Bobby Clarke, Bob Dailey, Andre Dupont, Paul Evans, Tom Gorence, Al Hill, Paul Holmgren, Bob Kelly, Reggie Leach, Rick MacLeish, Terry Murray, Dennis Ververgaert, and Jimmy Watson.

Players selected from the Philadelphia Flyers at the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft[31]
Round Pick Player Selected by Notes
5 17 Dave Hoyda Winnipeg Jets Flyers added Barry Dean to protected list
10 38 Bernie Johnston Hartford Whalers Flyers added Dennis Sobchuk to protected list
13 49 Jim Cunningham Winnipeg Jets Flyers added Gord Garbutt to protected list
13 51 M. F. Schurman Hartford Whalers

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
May 31, 1979 Bernie Parent Retirement [37]

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec on August 9, 1979.[38]

Players drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1979 and their NHL career regular season statistics
Round Pick Player Position Nationality Team (league) GP G A Pts PIM W L T GAA Notes
1 14 Propp, BrianBrian Propp Left Wing  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 1016 425 579 1004 830 &
&
&
&
2 22 Wesley, BlakeBlake Wesley Defense  Canada Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) 298 18 46 64 486 &
&
&
&
[a]
2 35 Lindbergh, PellePelle Lindbergh Goaltender  Sweden AIK (Elitserien) 157 0 5 5 10 87 49 15 3.30
3 56 Carson, LindsayLindsay Carson Center  Canada Billings Bighorns (WHL) 373 66 80 146 524 &
&
&
&
4 77 Gillen, DonDon Gillen Right Wing  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 35 2 4 6 22 &
&
&
&
5 98 Eriksson, ThomasThomas Eriksson Defense  Sweden Djurgardens IF (Elitserien) 208 22 76 98 107 &
&
&
&
6 119 Williams, GordGord Williams Forward  Canada Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) 2 0 0 0 2 &
&
&
&
Draft notes[39]

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Maine Mariners of the AHL,[2][40] the Toledo Goaldiggers of the IHL,[3] and the Hampton Aces of the Eastern Hockey League.[3]

References

General
Specific
  1. "All Time Team Attendance". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "AHL Franchise Statistics". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Non-AHL Affiliates". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Flyers History - The Streak". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  5. "Old Flyers know what makes a streak". ESPN. February 27, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
  6. "Blackhawks' streak ends at 24 with loss to Avalanche". NHL.com. March 8, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  7. "Clarke, Watson added to Flyers' coaching staff". Ottawa Journal. August 11, 1979. p. 24. Retrieved December 20, 2014 via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Flyers History - Hall of Fame Profile - Bobby Clarke". P. Anson. FlyersHistory.net. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  9. "Bridgman Named Captain". The Gettysburg Times. October 12, 1979. p. 15. Retrieved December 20, 2014 via Newspapers.com.
  10. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
  11. Blumenstock, Kathy (June 2, 1980). "Putting the Hammer to the Old Bugaboo". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  12. "Jack Adams Award". National Hockey League. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  13. "Lester Patrick Trophy". National Hockey League. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  14. "32nd NHL All-Star Game". NHL.com. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  15. 2014–15 NHL Official Guide & Record Book, p. 234
  16. "Flyers History – Team Awards". P.Anson. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  17. "Flyers History - All-Time Milestone Award Winners". P.Anson. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  18. "Flyers History - Philadelphia Flyer Game Summary". P.Anson. Retrieved August 15, 2015. 14-Oct-79 Toronto Maple Leafs 3 @ Philadelphia Flyers 4
  19. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  20. "Flyers Obtain Goalie". AP. The Gettysburg Times. June 8, 1979. Retrieved December 14, 2014 via Newspapers.com.
  21. "Flyers trade goaltender". AP. Ottawa Journal. August 17, 1979. Retrieved December 14, 2014 via Newspapers.com.
  22. 1 2 "Dennis Sobchuk - Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  23. "John McIlhargey - Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  24. "Dennis Patterson - Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "NHL draft picks having pecuniary problems". AP. Ottawa Journal. September 5, 1979. Retrieved December 14, 2014 via Newspapers.com.
  26. "Gregory Adams - Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  27. "Samuel St. Laurent - Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  28. "Tim Kerr - Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  29. Gallagher, Danny (October 29, 1979). "Hull defenceman signs with Philadelphia Flyers". Ottawa Journal. Retrieved December 19, 2014 via Newspapers.com.
  30. "Dave Gardner - Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Parsons, Mark (October 11, 2013). "The 1979 'NHL' Expansion' Draft". Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  32. "Serge Beaudoin - Stats". NHL.com. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  33. "Ronald Chipperfield - Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  34. "John McKenzie - Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  35. "Michel Parizeau - Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  36. "Flyers Lose Hoyda In Draft". AP. The Gettysburg Times. June 14, 1979. Retrieved December 14, 2014 via Newspapers.com.
  37. "Parent's eye injury forces his retirement". AP. Lakeland Ledger. June 1, 1979. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  38. "1979 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  39. "1979 NHL Entry Draft Pick Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  40. "AHL Season Overview: 1979–80". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.

External links

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