2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers | |
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Eastern Conference champions
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Division | 3rd Atlantic |
Conference | 7th Eastern |
2009–10 record | 41–35–6 |
Home record | 24–14–3 |
Road record | 17–21–3 |
Goals for | 236 |
Goals against | 225 |
Team information | |
General Manager | Paul Holmgren |
Coach |
John Stevens (fired) Peter Laviolette |
Captain | Mike Richards |
Alternate captains |
Jeff Carter Simon Gagne Chris Pronger Kimmo Timonen |
Arena | Wachovia Center |
Average attendance | 19,535 (100.2%) |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Jeff Carter (33) |
Assists | Chris Pronger (45) |
Points | Mike Richards (62) |
Penalties in minutes | Daniel Carcillo (207) |
Plus/minus | Chris Pronger (+22) |
Wins |
Ray Emery (16) Michael Leighton (16) |
Goals against average | Michael Leighton (2.48) |
The 2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Flyers' 43rd season in the National Hockey League (NHL).
The Flyers began the 2009–10 season with some major changes, allowing goaltenders Martin Biron and Antero Niittymaki to depart via free agency, replacing them with former Ottawa Senators netminder Ray Emery and former Flyer Brian Boucher, and significantly upgrading the defense with the addition of Chris Pronger from the Anaheim Ducks. Pronger came at a price, costing the Flyers Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa and the Flyers' first round draft picks in 2009 and 2010. The season began in earnest but soon began to unravel with mediocre play that cost John Stevens his job in December. Peter Laviolette was hired as head coach in order to re-institute accountability and restore success to the Flyers but the results were not immediate, as the Flyers suffered a 2–7–1 stretch after his arrival. Injuries took a major toll on the Flyers, with Blair Betts, Danny Briere, Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne and Kimmo Timonen missing significant amounts of games, but no position was nearly affected as much with injuries as goaltending. Mediocre play down the stretch forced the Flyers into a do-or-die shootout with the New York Rangers in the last game of the regular season for a playoff berth. Boucher stopped final shooter Olli Jokinen to clinch the seventh seed in the East and a first round match-up with the New Jersey Devils.