The Philadelphia Flyers, one of five teams in the Atlantic Division of the National Hockey League's Eastern Conference, have produced consistent hockey since their inception, with the league's second-best all-time winning percentage after the Montreal Canadiens. The team plays home games in the Wells Fargo Center.
Origins
One of six teams added in the NHL's 1967 expansion, the Flyers brought the league's team total to 12. The name of the team was chosen for its alliterative quality in a contest that yielded 25,000 entries. The Flyers played their first game on Oct. 11, 1967 and lost to the California Seals 5-1. The Flyers' first win was a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues.
Early Years
The Flyers reached the playoffs in their first season, with the best record in a division consisting entirely of expansion teams. However, the Flyers lost to the St. Louis Blues in the first round, an experience the team would repeat the next season as well. The Flyers missed the playoffs in the 1969-1970 and 1971-72 seasons, but the latter season was the last time in 18 years the team would do so.
Broad Street Bullies
To encourage success, in the 1970s the Flyers' management began to acquire tougher, more physical players. As a result, the teams of this era, led by Bobby Clarke, were referred to as the "Broad Street Bullies," as the Flyers' arena was located on Broad Street. The strategy paid off, as the physical play and the skill of goalie Bernie Parent led the Flyers to become league champions in 1974 and 1975.
Continued Strength
To encourage success, in the 1970s the Flyers' management began to acquire tougher, more physical players. As a result, the teams of this era, led by Bobby Clarke, were referred to as the "Broad Street Bullies," as the Flyers' arena was located on Broad Street. The strategy paid off, as the physical play and the skill of goalie Bernie Parent led the Flyers to become league champions in 1974 and 1975.
Legion of Doom
The 1990s began with weak performances from the Flyers. The team acquired top prospect Eric Lindros, who would form the "Legion of Doom" line with John LeClair and Mikael Renberg. The Flyers continued to advance in the playoffs, and reached the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in a decade during the 1996-97 season but lost to the Detroit Red Wings.
2000s
The Flyers lost Lindros after a series of concussions, as he sat out the 2000-01 season and was traded at the campaign's end. The team acquired star Jeremy Roenick the following season, and in 2002-03, the team hired Ken Hitchcock as head coach. Despite the acquisition of Peter Forsberg several years later, the Hitchcock team failed to meet expectations, and Hitchcock was replaced by John Stevens in 2006-07. In 2010, the Flyers were defeated by the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final.
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