1989–90 Philadelphia Flyers season
NHL hockey team season
The 1989–90 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers 23rd season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers missed the playoffs for the first time since 1972, and only the third time in franchise history.
Regular season
The 1989–90 season was one of the most turbulent in franchise history.
Goaltender Ron Hextall had to sit out the first 12-games of the schedule, sentenced after cementing his folk-hero status in the city by crowning Chris Chelios in the waning minutes of Game 6 of the Wales Conference Finals in May. Unfortunately, the layoff plus contract disputes cost him practice time in training camp, and he was felled by groin injuries three separate times during the season.
An ugly 1–6–1 start was reversed despite injuries to Hextall, Brian Propp , Tim Kerr , Mark Howe and others with the team atop the weakened Patrick Division after a win in Montreal just before Christmas.
Little used Tony Horacek posted a hat trick in a 6–3 win in Los Angeles over the Kings on December 30, but the team suffered through a dismal 10-game winless stretch thereafter (0–7–3) from December 31 through January 23. Previous inconsistent play plus the slide cost Dave Poulin his captaincy on December 15,[ 2] then forced his trade to Boston for former Flyer Ken Linseman .[ 3] The move did not work, and despite breaking the skid with an 8–6 win against the Jets, Holmgren accused his club of quitting during a 7–2 loss at Washington on January 28 - a defeat which put them three points behind the Capitals in last place.
Newly acquired back-up Pete Peeters had his only season highlight with a 3–0 shutout over Toronto on February 15, but he finished the season 1–13–5. On February 28 in Vancouver, the team was lucky to pull out a 7–7 tie after blowing a 5–2 first-period lead. In the interim, Wells was dealt to the Sabres for unknown winger and future NHL referee Kevin Maguire .
Following an inspired win in Calgary on March 1, Propp was traded to the Bruins, and a four-goal game by Mark Messier in a 5–3 loss to Edmonton two days later triggered a four-game losing streak. The nadir of the late-season collapse came on March 17 in Quebec, as the Flyers allowed three third-period goals to drop a 6–3 decision to the Nordiques (who went on to win all of 12 games that year). Inexplicably, with the Islanders and Penguins also taking late-season dives, the Flyers were still alive for the final playoff spot in the division.
A 5–3 home win over Pittsburgh on March 22 got the team within one point of fourth, but they limped to the end of the schedule with an 0–3–2 record. A 6–2 road loss to the Islanders on March 31 eliminated them from the postseason.
It marked the first time in franchise history that the team finished in last place in any division since its 1967 inception.
Among the bright spots, Tocchet led the team with 37 goals and 96 points. Seven players scored 20-or-more goals. Kerr was limited to 40 games but managed 24 goals and 48 points.
General manager Bob Clarke , having been with the Flyers organization since he was drafted in 1969, was fired on April 16.[ 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.
Divisions: PTK – Patrick, ADM – Adams
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy
Record vs. opponents
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
Vs. Adams Division
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
Vs. Smythe Division
Schedule and results
Regular season
1989–90 regular season[ 8]
October: 3–7–1, 7 points (home: 2–3–0; road: 1–4–1)
November: 9–3–2, 20 points (home: 5–2–1; road: 4–1–1)
December: 6–7–2, 14 points (home: 2–5–0; road: 4–2–2)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Record
Points
Recap
26
December 1
@ Washington Capitals
3–2
13–10–3
29
Recap
27
December 3
Boston Bruins
1–2
13–11–3
29
Recap
28
December 5
Washington Capitals
3–4
13–12–3
29
Recap
29
December 7
Buffalo Sabres
4–3 OT
14–12–3
31
Recap
30
December 9
@ Quebec Nordiques
6–6 OT
14–12–4
32
Recap
31
December 10
@ New York Rangers
4–2
15–12–4
34
Recap
32
December 14
Hartford Whalers
2–3
15–13–4
34
Recap
33
December 16
Los Angeles Kings
5–2
16–13–4
36
Recap
34
December 17
@ Buffalo Sabres
3–4
16–14–4
36
Recap
35
December 19
Washington Capitals
1–2
16–15–4
36
Recap
36
December 22
New Jersey Devils
4–5 OT
16–16–4
36
Recap
37
December 23
@ Montreal Canadiens
5–3
17–16–4
38
Recap
38
December 27
@ Edmonton Oilers
1–2
17–17–4
38
Recap
39
December 30
@ Los Angeles Kings
6–3
18–17–4
40
Recap
40
December 31
@ Vancouver Canucks
2–2 OT
18–17–5
41
Recap
January: 2–9–2, 6 points (home: 1–3–0; road: 1–6–2)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Record
Points
Recap
41
January 2
@ Calgary Flames
4–4 OT
18–17–6
42
Recap
42
January 4
@ St. Louis Blues
4–5 OT
18–18–6
42
Recap
43
January 6
@ Chicago Blackhawks
5–8
18–19–6
42
Recap
44
January 11
Chicago Blackhawks
4–5
18–20–6
42
Recap
45
January 13
@ Montreal Canadiens
2–2 OT
18–20–7
43
Recap
46
January 14
@ New York Rangers
3–4 OT
18–21–7
43
Recap
47
January 16
@ Pittsburgh Penguins
3–4
18–22–7
43
Recap
48
January 18
Vancouver Canucks
2–3 OT
18–23–7
43
Recap
49
January 23
Buffalo Sabres
2–3
18–24–7
43
Recap
50
January 25
Winnipeg Jets
8–6
19–24–7
45
Recap
51
January 27
@ Boston Bruins
1–2
19–25–7
45
Recap
52
January 28
@ Washington Capitals
2–7
19–26–7
45
Recap
53
January 30
@ Pittsburgh Penguins
6–3
20–26–7
47
Recap
February: 5–5–2, 12 points (home: 4–2–1; road: 1–3–1)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Record
Points
Recap
54
February 1
Hartford Whalers
2–1
21–26–7
49
Recap
55
February 3
Minnesota North Stars
7–6 OT
22–26–7
51
Recap
56
February 8
New York Islanders
5–5 OT
22–26–8
52
Recap
57
February 11
Pittsburgh Penguins
1–4
22–27–8
52
Recap
58
February 13
New York Rangers
3–4
22–28–8
52
Recap
59
February 15
Toronto Maple Leafs
3–0
23–28–8
54
Recap
60
February 16
@ Detroit Red Wings
6–9
23–29–8
54
Recap
61
February 18
New York Islanders
3–2
24–29–8
56
Recap
62
February 20
@ Pittsburgh Penguins
4–6
24–30–8
56
Recap
63
February 22
@ St. Louis Blues
7–4
25–30–8
58
Recap
64
February 25
@ Chicago Blackhawks
1–4
25–31–8
58
Recap
65
February 28
@ Vancouver Canucks
7–7 OT
25–31–9
59
Recap
March: 5–8–1, 11 points (home: 3–4–1; road: 2–4–0)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Record
Points
Recap
66
March 1
@ Calgary Flames
4–2
26–31–9
61
Recap
67
March 3
@ Edmonton Oilers
3–5
26–32–9
61
Recap
68
March 6
Boston Bruins
1–2
26–33–9
61
Recap
69
March 8
New York Rangers
5–7
26–34–9
61
Recap
70
March 10
Washington Capitals
3–4
26–35–9
61
Recap
71
March 15
New York Islanders
5–4
27–35–9
63
Recap
72
March 17
@ Quebec Nordiques
3–6
27–36–9
63
Recap
73
March 18
Los Angeles Kings
7–4
28–36–9
65
Recap
74
March 20
@ New Jersey Devils
3–2
29–36–9
67
Recap
75
March 22
Pittsburgh Penguins
5–3
30–36–9
69
Recap
76
March 24
New Jersey Devils
2–5
30–37–9
69
Recap
77
March 25
@ New York Rangers
3–7
30–38–9
69
Recap
78
March 29
Washington Capitals
2–2 OT
30–38–10
70
Recap
79
March 31
@ New York Islanders
2–6
30–39–10
70
Recap
April: 0–0–1, 1 points (home: 0–0–1; road: 0–0–0)
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Record
Points
Recap
80
April 1
Detroit Red Wings
3–3 OT
30–39–11
71
Recap
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.
Goaltending
Awards and records
Awards
Records
Among the team records set during the 1989–90 season was Rick Tocchet tying the team record for most goals in a regular season game (4) on January 25.[ 12] The Flyers team record 17 consecutive playoff appearances streak ended with their failure to qualify for the 1990 Stanley Cup playoffs .[ 13]
Milestones
Transactions
The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 26, 1989, the day after the deciding game of the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals , through May 24, 1990, the day of the deciding game of the 1990 Stanley Cup Finals .[ 15]
Trades
Players acquired
Players lost
Signings
Draft picks
NHL entry draft
Philadelphia's picks at the 1989 NHL entry draft , which was held at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota , on June 17, 1989.[ 41] The Flyers' first-round pick, 12th overall, was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs along with the Calgary Flames ' first-round pick, 21st overall, for Ken Wregget on March 6, 1989.[ 42] They also traded their third-round pick, 54th overall, and Greg Smyth to the Quebec Nordiques for Terry Carkner on July 25, 1988, their fourth-round pick, 75th overall, to the Minnesota North Stars for Gordie Roberts on February 9, 1988, and their fifth-round pick, 96th overall, to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Al Secord on February 7, 1989.[ 42]
NHL supplemental draft
Philadelphia's picks at the 1989 NHL supplemental draft .[ 43] [ 44]
Farm teams
The Flyers were affiliated with the Hershey Bears of the AHL .[ 45] [ 46]
Notes
^ Latal wore number 62 in his first four games.
^ Horacek wore number 43 through November 16.
^ Lacombe wore number 68 in his first game.
^ Fenyves wore number 39 in his first eleven games.
^ Propp was voted to the starting lineup.[ 9]
^ The Oilers had the choice of year.[ 23] The Oilers chose the 1990 draft pick.
^ Option for third year
^ The Flyers traded Bob Froese to the New York Rangers for Kjell Samuelsson and Rangers' second-round pick, 34th overall, on December 18, 1986.[ 42]
^ The Flyers traded Gordie Roberts to the St. Louis Blues for the Blues' fifth-round pick, later upgraded to the Blues' fourth-round pick, 72nd overall, on March 8, 1988[ 42]
References
^ "All Time Team Attendance" . P. Anson . Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013 .
^ Morganti, Al (December 16, 1989). "Sutter Takes The Ice As Captain Of Flyers" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on December 22, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014 .
^ Meltzer, Bill (November 22, 2006). "Flyers Heroes of the Past: Dave Poulin" . Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved August 6, 2014 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: HOCKEY; Flyers Dismiss Clarke" . The New York Times . April 17, 1990. Retrieved May 15, 2011 .
^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 . Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225 .
^ "1989–1990 Conference Standings" . National Hockey League. Retrieved July 6, 2014 .
^ "All-Time NHL Results" . NHL.com . Retrieved August 25, 2023 .
^ "1989-90 Philadelphia Flyers Schedule and Results" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved August 24, 2022 .
^ "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)" . NHL.com . Retrieved August 7, 2015 .
^ "41st NHL All-Star Game" . NHL.com . Retrieved August 7, 2015 .
^ a b c "Flyers History – Team Awards" . P.Anson . Retrieved August 7, 2015 .
^ "Skater Records: Most Goals, Game" . records.nhl.com . Retrieved September 6, 2022 .
^ "Playoff Team: Records Most Consecutive Playoff Appearances" . records.nhl.com . Retrieved September 14, 2022 .
^ "1989-90 NHL Debuts" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved October 3, 2024 .
^ "Hockey Transactions Search Results" . Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved April 10, 2014 .
^ "Shawn Cronin - Notes" . NHL.com . Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ Greenberg, Jay; Bowen, Les (August 28, 1989). "Czech Defenseman Heads For Flyers" . Philadelphia Daily News . Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ a b "Flyers acquire rights to Czech defenseman" . UPI . August 29, 1989. Retrieved August 10, 2015 .
^ Bowen, Les (September 9, 1989). "Hextall, Flyers Face Off" . Philadelphia Daily News . Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ Morganti, Al (September 29, 1989). "Flyers Send Peeters And Acton To Jets" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ Morganti, Al (October 4, 1989). "Peeters, Acton Rejoin Flyers" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on December 12, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ Morganti, Al (December 2, 1989). "Nhl Fines Flyers, Jets $10,000 Each" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ a b Bowen, Les (January 6, 1990). "Rule Loophole Clears Way For Tocchet To Play" . Philadelphia Daily News . Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ Miles, Gary (January 17, 1990). "Flyers Trade Poulin to the Bruins" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ Bowen, Les (March 3, 1990). "Flyers Let 1 Get Away, Too: Propp" . Philadelphia Daily News . Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ a b Miles, Gary (March 6, 1990). "Flyers Trade Jay Wells For Maguire Of Sabres" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ "A Phils Farm Team in Del. Discussed" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . June 13, 1989. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ Greenberg, Jay (June 17, 1989). "Flyers Re-sign Peeters" . Philadelphia Daily News . Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ "Flyers Sign Hoffort, A Top Goalie in College" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . July 1, 1989. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ a b "Mccarthy To Coach at Hershey" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . July 13, 1989. Archived from the original on December 12, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ Miles, Gary (February 28, 1990). "Opportunity Knocks, But Will Anyone Answer?" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ "Flyers A-Z: Seabrooke, Glen" . Philadelphia Flyers . Retrieved June 9, 2022 .
^ "Big East May Extend Limit On Personal Fouls To Six" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . August 8, 1989. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ a b Parsons, Mark (November 30, 2013). "1989 NHL Waiver Draft" . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia. Retrieved July 30, 2015 .
^ a b Morganti, Al (October 3, 1989). "Flyers Lose Wing And Defenseman in Waiver Draft" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ Parrillo, Ray (June 18, 1989). "Speedy Little Center Is Flyers' Top Choice" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ Bowen, Les (September 12, 1989). "Wregget A Valid Alternative To Hextall For Now, Backup Off Trading Block" . Philadelphia Daily News . Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ Bowen, Les (November 30, 1990). "Arbitrator Rules Against Wregget" . Philadelphia Daily News . Archived from the original on December 30, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2015 .
^ a b Fleischman, Bill (December 1, 1989). "Howe Likes His New Numbers" . Philadelphia Daily News . Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ Juliano, Joe (December 28, 1989). "Flyers Face First Test On Road Trip" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014 .
^ "1989 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com" . hockeyDB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013 .
^ a b c d "1989 NHL Entry Draft Pick Transactions" . Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "1989 NHL Supplemental Draft Picks at hockeydb.com" . hockeyDB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013 .
^ "1989 NHL Supplemental Draft -- Round 2 Selections" . HockeyDraftCentral.com. Retrieved March 24, 2015 .
^ "AHL Franchise Statistics" . P. Anson . Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013 .
^ "AHL Season Overview: 1989–90" . P. Anson . Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013 .
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