Philadelphia Flyers History
The Flyers, who joined the NHL in 1967 when the league expanded from the Original Six, became a dominant force in the 1970s, earning the nickname "The Broad Street Bullies" for their physical style of play. Starting with the 1972-1973 season, the Flyers amassed 18 consecutive Playoff appearances, propelled by the likes of three-time MVP Bobby Clarke, Reggie Leach, and left winger Bill Barber.
The team won back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships, defeating the Boston Bruins in six games in 1974 and the Buffalo Sabres in six games in 1975. A bid for a third consecutive Cup fell short when the Flyers were swept in the finals by the Montreal Canadiens. In the 13 seasons that followed, the Flyers led the league in points twice and reached the finals three more times. During the 1979-1980 season, they set a record by going 35 consecutive games without a loss.
Sparked by forwards Tim Kerr and Brian Propp, the Flyers returned to the finals in 1985 and 1987, but were denied the title each time by the Edmonton Oilers. Behind the "Legion of Doom" line of center Eric Lindros, left winger John LeClair, and right winger Mikael Renberg, the Flyers made their seventh Stanley Cup Finals appearance in team history.
The Flyers continued to be a force well into the next decade, never missing the Playoffs. They had one more shot at a Stanley Cup Championship in 2009-2010, coming back from down 3-0 in the conference semifinals to beat Boston en route to a finals berth against Chicago. The Blackhawks prevailed in six games. To date, the Flyers have made it to the Playoffs a total of 40 times.
Philadelphia Flyers Team Info
Conference: Eastern
Division: Metropolitan
Year Founded: 1967
Team Colors: Black, Orange
Team Rivals: New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins
Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center
Since opening in 1996, Wells Fargo Center has become one of the busiest arenas in the world. Aside from serving as the home ice for the Philadelphia Flyers, Wells Fargo Center, also known just as "The Center," is also the home court for NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and home of the National Lacrosse League's Philadelphia Wings. The Wells Fargo Center first opened its doors on August 31, 1996, to host the World Cup of Hockey, and has since hosted a variety of events, including the 2001 NBA Finals, and the Stanley Cup Final in 1997 and 2010.
