1975–76 Philadelphia Flyers | |
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Campbell Conference champions
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Patrick Division champions
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Division | 1st Patrick |
Conference | 1st Campbell |
1975–76 record | 51–13–16 |
Home record | 36–2–2 |
Road record | 15–11–14 |
Goals for | 348 (1st) |
Goals against | 209 (3rd) |
Team information | |
President | Joe Scott |
General Manager | Keith Allen |
Coach | Fred Shero |
Assistant Coach |
Barry Ashbee Mike Nykoluk |
Captain | Bobby Clarke |
Alternate captains | None |
Arena | Spectrum |
Average attendance | 17,077 |
Minor league affiliate(s) |
Richmond Robins Philadelphia Firebirds |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Reggie Leach (61) |
Assists | Bobby Clarke (89) |
Points | Bobby Clarke (119) |
Penalties in minutes | Dave Schultz (307) |
Plus/minus | Bobby Clarke (+83) |
Wins | Wayne Stephenson (40) |
Goals against average | Gary Inness (1.50) |
The 1975–76 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' ninth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the third consecutive year, but they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in a four-game sweep.
The Flyers recorded the best record in team history (points wise) with a record of 51–13–16 in 1975–76. They also tied the record set by the 1929–30 Boston Bruins for most consecutive home ice wins, with 20. The LCB line, featuring Reggie Leach at right-wing, Bobby Clarke at center, and Bill Barber at left-wing, set an NHL record for goals by a single line with 141 (Leach 61, Clarke 30, Barber 50). Clarke, on his way to a third Hart Trophy, set a club record for points in one season with 119.
The highlight of the season had no bearing on the season standings. On January 11 at the Spectrum, the Flyers, as part of the Super Series '76, played a memorable exhibition game against the Soviet Union's dominant Central Red Army team. As the Bullies had put intimidation to good use the past three years, the Flyers' rugged style of play led the Soviets to leave the ice midway through the first period, protesting a hit by Ed Van Impe on Valeri Kharlamov (whom Clarke had slashed on the ankle in the famous Summit Series '72). After some delay, the Soviets returned after they were warned that they would lose their salary for the entire series. The Flyers went on to win the game rather easily, 4–1, and were the only team to defeat the Red Army outright in the series. Head coach Fred Shero would proclaim, "Yes we are world champions. If they had won, they would have been world champions. We beat the hell out of a machine."