1989–90 Philadelphia Flyers season
| 1989–90 Philadelphia Flyers | |
|---|---|
| Division | 6th Patrick |
| Conference | 10th Wales |
| 1989–90 record | 30–39–11 |
| Home record | 17–19–4 |
| Road record | 13–20–7 |
| Goals for | 290 (10th) |
| Goals against | 297 (15th) |
| Team information | |
| General Manager | Bob Clarke |
| Coach | Paul Holmgren |
| Captain |
Dave Poulin (replaced) Ron Sutter |
| Alternate captains |
Mark Howe |
| Arena | Spectrum |
| Average attendance | 17,407 |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Rick Tocchet (37) |
| Assists | Rick Tocchet (59) |
| Points | Rick Tocchet (96) |
| Penalties in minutes | Craig Berube (291) |
| Plus/minus | Mark Howe (+22) |
| Wins | Ken Wregget (22) |
| Goals against average | Ken Wregget (3.42) |
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 the 1971–72 season and only the third time in franchise history.
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, then forced his trade to Boston for former Flyer Ken Linseman. 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.
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