1985–86 Philadelphia Flyers season

NHLTeamSeason
Season=1985–86
Team=Philadelphia Flyers
Conference=Wales
ConferenceRank=1st
Division=Patrick
DivisionRank=1st
Record=53–23–4
HomeRecord=33–6–1
RoadRecord=20–17–3
GoalsFor=335
GoalsAgainst=241
GeneralManager=Bob Clarke
Coach=Mike Keenan
Captain=Dave Poulin
AltCaptain=Brad Marsh
Arena=The Spectrum
Attendance=17,184 [FlyersHistory.net, [http://www.flyershistory.net/cgi-bin/attend.cgi All Time Team Attendance] ]
GoalsLeader=Tim Kerr (58)
AssistsLeader=Mark Howe (58)
PointsLeader=Brian Propp (97)
PIMLeader=Rick Tocchet (284)
PlusMinusLeader=Mark Howe (+85)
WinsLeader=Bob Froese (31)
GAALeader=Bob Froese (2.55)
DivisionWin=YesThe 1985–86 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers 19th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

A month into the 1985–86 season, Pelle Lindbergh was fatally injured in a car accident. The team rallied and showed perseverance by garnering the best record in the Wales Conference and matching their win total (53) from the previous year. Tim Kerr scored 58 goals and the defense pairing of Mark Howe and Brad McCrimmon led the league in plus/minus with a +85 and a +83 respectively. Bob Froese filled in admirably in net for Lindbergh, being named a 2nd Team All-Star and sharing the William M. Jennings Trophy with teammate Darren Jensen. Despite their regular season success, an emotionally exhausted Flyers team lost in the first round of the playoffs to a "Cinderella" Rangers team in five games.

Regular season

The club began the year a sizzling 12–2–0 (with both losses coming at home to New Jersey and Quebec), which included 10 consecutive wins until Lindbergh's accident in the early hours of November 10.

Due to the tragedy, back-up Froese became the de facto starter, and the club called up Darren Jensen for relief work. Froese suffered a groin injury in practice prior to the team's next game against the Edmonton Oilers, so Jensen got the start against the defending Stanley Cup champions at the Spectrum on November 14.

Following an emotional memorial service, the Flyers posted a spirited 5–3 win, featuring four goals in the third period to earn their 11th victory in a row. They went on to beat Hartford two days later to set a new franchise record for consecutive wins, then rallied from three-goals down to top the New York Islanders 5–4 in overtime the next day. The Islanders ended the streak two nights later in Uniondale, almost wasting a four-goal lead in an 8–6 decision.

They became the first club in the NHL to reach 30 wins, after a 4–0 waxing of Washington on January 9, but began to falter in February and early March, losing four straight games and seeing the Capitals climb within striking distance. The Caps and Flyers each spent time in first place for the remainder of the schedule, but Philly took the division crown on the last day of the season with a come-from-behind 5–3 win.

Lindbergh, Froese, Jensen and Chico Resch combined for eight shutouts, yet Froese who had five by himself, was mysteriously edged out for the Vezina Trophy in favor of the Rangers' John Vanbiesbrouck whose best performances came in the playoffs that year.

eason standings

Game log

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Playoffs

Game log

Player stats

katers

"Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes"

Records

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Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. [hockeydb.com, [http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1985e.html 1985 NHL Entry Draft] ]

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Hershey Bears of the AHL and the Kalamazoo Wings of the IHL. [FlyersHistory.net, [http://www.flyershistory.net/cgi-bin/otheraffiliates.cgi Non-AHL Affiliates] ] [FlyersHistory.net, [http://www.flyershistory.net/cgi-bin/ml-season.cgi?1985-86 AHL Season Overview: 1985–86] ]

ee also

*1985–86 NHL season

References

*General: [http://www.flyershistory.net/cgi-bin/season.cgi?1985-86 1985–86 Flyers season] on FlyersHistory.net
*Regular season game log: [http://www.flyershistory.net/cgi-bin/games.cgi?1985-86 Philadelphia Flyers regular season game log] on FlyersHistory.net
*Playoffs game log: [http://www.flyershistory.net/cgi-bin/poffs.cgi Philadelphia Flyers playoffs game log] on FlyersHistory.net