1970–71 Philadelphia Flyers season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1970–71
Year:	1970
Team:	Philadelphia Flyers
Divisionrank:	3rd
Record:	28–33–17
Homerecord:	20–10–9
Roadrecord:	8–23–8
Goalsfor:	207 (12th)
Goalsagainst:	225 (8th)
Attendance:	14,131^[1]
Goalsleader:	Bobby Clarke (27)
Assistsleader:	Bobby Clarke (36)
Pointsleader:	Bobby Clarke (63)
Pimleader:	Gary Dornhoefer (93)
Plusminusleader:	Wayne Hillman (+12)
Winsleader:	Doug Favell (16)
Gaaleader:	Doug Favell (2.67)

The 1970–71 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' fourth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the quarterfinals to the Chicago Black Hawks in a four-game sweep.

Regular season

Bobby Clarke led the team in goals (27), assists (36), and points (63) in his second season.

Record vs. opponents

Playoffs

The Flyers were swept in four games by the Chicago Black Hawks in the first round. Even though the team had improved their record in his second season behind the bench, head coach Vic Stasiuk was replaced by Fred Shero in the off-season.

Schedule and results

Regular season

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1 || October 10 || Minnesota North Stars || 2–1 || 1–0–0 || 2 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 2 || October 11 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–2 || 1–1–0 || 2 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 3 || October 15 || Vancouver Canucks || 5–4 || 2–1–0 || 4 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 4 || October 17 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–0 || 2–1–1 || 5 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 5 || October 18 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–2 || 3–1–1 || 7 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 6 || October 22 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–2 || 4–1–1 || 9 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 7 || October 24 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 1–3 || 4–2–1 || 9 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 8 || October 25 || @ Boston Bruins || 3–4 || 4–3–1 || 9 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 9 || October 29 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–1 || 5–3–1 || 11 || |-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 10 || November 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || 6–3–1 || 13 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 11 || November 5 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 1–3 || 6–4–1 || 13 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 12 || November 7 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–1 || 6–4–2 || 14 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 13 || November 8 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 3–1 || 7–4–2 || 16 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 14 || November 11 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 1–7 || 7–5–2 || 16 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 15 || November 15 || St. Louis Blues || 1–2 || 7–6–2 || 16 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 16 || November 19 || California Golden Seals || 6–2 || 8–6–2 || 18 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 17 || November 21 || Boston Bruins || 2–5 || 8–7–2 || 18 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 18 || November 22 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–4 || 8–8–2 || 18 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 19 || November 25 || New York Rangers || 3–1 || 9–8–2 || 20 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 20 || November 28 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 1–3 || 9–9–2 || 20 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 21 || November 29 || Vancouver Canucks || 4–2 || 10–9–2 || 22 || |-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 22 || December 1 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 4–5 || 10–10–2 || 22 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 23 || December 4 || @ California Golden Seals || 4–0 || 11–10–2 || 24 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 24 || December 5 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 4–4 || 11–10–3 || 25 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 25 || December 9 || @ St. Louis Blues || 5–2 || 12–10–3 || 27 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 26 || December 10 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 1–3 || 12–11–3 || 27 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 27 || December 12 || Boston Bruins || 0–1 || 12–12–3 || 27 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 28 || December 13 || St. Louis Blues || 2–2 || 12–12–4 || 28 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 29 || December 15 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 2–3 || 12–13–4 || 28 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 30 || December 18 || @ California Golden Seals || 0–1 || 12–14–4 || 28 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 31 || December 19 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 2–2 || 12–14–5 || 29 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 32 || December 26 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–9 || 12–15–5 || 29 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 33 || December 27 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–4 || 12–16–5 || 29 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 34 || December 30 || @ St. Louis Blues || 2–5 || 12–17–5 || 29 || |-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 35 || January 2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–3 || 12–18–5 || 29 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 36 || January 3 || Boston Bruins || 1–5 || 12–19–5 || 29 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 37 || January 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || 13–19–5 || 31 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 38 || January 7 || Los Angeles Kings || 5–5 || 13–19–6 || 32 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 39 || January 9 || California Golden Seals || 5–3 || 14–19–6 || 34 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 40 || January 10 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 || 15–19–6 || 36 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 41 || January 14 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–0 || 16–19–6 || 38 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 42 || January 16 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 4–2 || 17–19–6 || 40 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 43 || January 17 || Los Angeles Kings || 1–4 || 17–20–6 || 40 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 44 || January 20 || @ New York Rangers || 3–3 || 17–20–7 || 41 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 45 || January 21 || Montreal Canadiens || 5–5 || 17–20–8 || 42 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 46 || January 23 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 2–2 || 17–20–9 || 43 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 47 || January 24 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 4–6 || 17–21–9 || 43 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 48 || January 28 || @ Boston Bruins || 2–6 || 17–22–9 || 43 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 49 || January 30 || New York Rangers || 5–2 || 18–22–9 || 45 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 50 || January 31 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–1 || 19–22–9 || 47 || |-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 51 || February 4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 6–2 || 20–22–9 || 49 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 52 || February 6 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–4 || 20–23–9 || 49 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 53 || February 7 || St. Louis Blues || 2–6 || 20–24–9 || 49 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 54 || February 10 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || 20–25–9 || 49 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 55 || February 13 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 2–2 || 20–25–10 || 50 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 56 || February 14 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 2–3 || 20–26–10 || 50 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 57 || February 17 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 4–0 || 21–26–10 || 52 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 58 || February 19 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 3–2 || 22–26–10 || 54 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 59 || February 20 || @ California Golden Seals || 3–5 || 22–27–10 || 54 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 60 || February 24 || @ New York Rangers || 2–4 || 22–28–10 || 54 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 61 || February 25 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–2 || 23–28–10 || 56 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 62 || February 27 || Vancouver Canucks || 8–1 || 24–28–10 || 58 || |-|- style="background:#ffc;"| 63 || March 4 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–2 || 24–28–11 || 59 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 64 || March 6 || California Golden Seals || 4–4 || 24–28–12 || 60 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 65 || March 7 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 1–3 || 24–29–12 || 60 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 66 || March 10 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || 24–29–13 || 61 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 67 || March 12 || @ New York Rangers || 2–7 || 24–30–13 || 61 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 68 || March 13 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–2 || 25–30–13 || 63 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 69 || March 18 || New York Rangers || 2–1 || 26–30–13 || 65 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 70 || March 20 || @ Boston Bruins || 3–5 || 26–31–13 || 65 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 71 || March 21 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–1 || 26–31–14 || 66 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 72 || March 24 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 3–5 || 26–32–14 || 66 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 73 || March 25 || Minnesota North Stars || 2–2 || 26–32–15 || 67 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 74 || March 27 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 1–3 || 26–33–15 || 67 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 75 || March 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || 27–33–15 || 69 || |-|- style="background:#ffc;"| 76 || April 1 || @ St. Louis Blues || 1–1 || 27–33–16 || 70 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 77 || April 3 || Minnesota North Stars || 3–2 || 28–33–16 || 72 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 78 || April 4 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–3 || 28–33–17 || 73 || |-|-| Legend:

Playoffs

|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1 || April 7 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 2–5 || Black Hawks lead 1–0 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 2 || April 8 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 2–6 || Black Hawks lead 2–0 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 3 || April 10 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–3 || Black Hawks lead 3–0 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 4 || April 11 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–6 || Black Hawks win 4–0|| |-|-| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.

	Regular season						Playoffs
	Player
16		C	77	27	36	63	9	78	4	0	0	0	−3	2
21		RW	77	23	28	51	−7	77	4	1	1	2	−4	0
20		C	66	16	29	45	−10	16	4	0	2	2	−2	0
7		C	78	20	22	42	−9	12	4	0	2	2	−1	0
12		RW	57	20	20	40	3	93	2	0	0	0	−1	4
11		LW	76	20	16	36	−9	46	4	0	1	1	−3	0
18		LW	78	17	19	36	−5	81	4	1	0	1	−3	8
9		LW	76	14	18	32	7	70	4	1	0	1	0	2
17		RW	74	9	19	28	−1	42	4	2	1	3	−4	0
4		D	64	4	23	27	3	44
10		RW	30	8	12	20	3	23
3		D	73	3	13	16	9	39	4	0	2	2	−2	2
15		C	73	6	7	13	−14	69	4	1	1	2	−1	15
6		D	69	5	7	12	12	47
8		RW	78	5	7	12	−12	25	4	0	0	0	−2	2
23		D	70	1	11	12	−18	34	4	0	0	0	−4	2
5		D	30	1	10	11	−6	21	4	0	0	0	−3	6
2		D	77	0	11	11	−13	80	4	0	1	1	−4	8
14		D	57	3	7	10	9	50	1	0	0	0	0	0
19		LW	26	2	4	6	−4	19	4	1	0	1	−2	0
19		LW	41	2	1	3	−9	72
22		LW	14	1	2	3	1	0
30		G	30	0	2	2		5
1		G	44	0	1	1		9	2	0	0	0		0
25		D	1	0	0	0	−2	0
30		G	11	0	0	0		0	2	0	0	0		0
25		D	2	0	0	0	−1	0	3	1	2	3	−2	4
10		LW	1	0	0	0	0	0
22		RW	2	0	0	0	−2	0
4		D							4	0	0	0	−2	2

Goaltending

= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.

	Regular season											Playoffs
	Player
1		44	41	16	15	9	1275	108	2.67	.915	2	2,428	2	2	0	2	60	8	4.02	.867	0	119
30		30	26	9	12	6	825	73	2.77	.912	2	1,581	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
30		11	11	3	6	2	373	37	3.37	.901	0	658	2	2	0	2	67	12	6.01	.821	0	120

Awards and records

Records

The Flyers were swept in their first round series with the Chicago Black Hawks, going winless in the playoffs for the second time, which matched the 1968–69 season and was later matched during the 1982–83 and 1983–84 seasons.^[3]

Milestones

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 11, 1970, the day after the deciding game of the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 18, 1971, the day of the deciding game of the 1971 Stanley Cup Finals.^[6]

Trades

Date	Details		Ref
May 20, 1970	To Philadelphia Flyers Brent Hughes	To Los Angeles Kings Mike Byers	^[7]
May 29, 1970	To Philadelphia Flyers Barry Ashbee	To Hershey Bears (AHL) Larry McKillop Player to be named later	^[8]
June 12, 1970	To Philadelphia Flyers George Swarbrick	To Pittsburgh Penguins Terry Ball	^[9]
July 2, 1970	To Philadelphia Flyers Cash	To San Diego Gulls (WHL) Bob Courcy	^[10]
August 1970	To Philadelphia Flyers Cash	To Denver Spurs (WHL) Claude LaForge	^[11]
August 10, 1970	To Philadelphia Flyers	To Phoenix Roadrunners (WHL) Loan of Guy Dufour
January 31, 1971	To Philadelphia Flyers Bruce Gamble Mike Walton 1st-round pick in 1971	To Toronto Maple Leafs Bernie Parent 2nd-round pick in 1971	^[12]
January 31, 1971	To Philadelphia Flyers Rick MacLeish Danny Schock	To Boston Bruins Mike Walton

Players acquired

Date	Player	Former team	Via	Ref
		Kingston Aces (OHA)	Free agency	^[13]
				^[14] ^[15] ^[16]
			Reverse draft	^[17] ^[18]
			Waivers	^[19]

Players lost

Date	Player	New team	Via	Ref

				^[20] ^[21] ^[22]
		Buffalo Sabres	Expansion draft
			Expansion draft
		Vancouver Canucks	Expansion draft
		Hershey Bears (AHL)	Reverse draft
		Buffalo Sabres	Waivers	^[23]

Signings

Date	Player	Ref
		^[24]
		^[25]


		^[26]

		^[27]

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal on June 11, 1970.^[28] The Flyers were without a first-round draft pick due to having traded it three years previously to the Boston Bruins for Rosaire Paiement.^[29] The Bruins used the pick, fourth overall, to select Rick MacLeish, who the Flyers would acquire seven months later in a trade with the Bruins.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Team (league)
2	18	Bill Clement	Center	Ottawa 67's (OHA)
3	32	Bob Kelly	Left wing	Oshawa Generals (OHA)
4	46	Jacques Lapierre	Defense	Shawinigan Bruins (QMJHL)
5	60	Doug Kerslake	Right wing	Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
6	74	Dennis Giannini	Left wing	London Knights (OHA)
7	87	Hank Nowak	Left wing	Oshawa Generals (OHA)
8	99	Gary Cunningham	Defense	St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
9	109	Jean Daigle	Left wing	Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Quebec Aces of the AHL,^[30] ^[31] the Flint Generals of the IHL,^[32] and the Jersey Devils of the EHL.^[32]

References

Web site: Philadelphia Flyers 1970–71 roster and statistics . The Internet Hockey Database . February 10, 2022.
Web site: 1970–71 Philadelphia Flyers Roster and Statistics . Sports Reference LLC . Hockey-Reference.com . February 10, 2022.
Web site: Flyers History - Season Overview : 1970–71 . FlyersAlumni.net . Flyers History . February 10, 2022.

Notes and References

Web site: All Time Team Attendance. October 26, 2013. Flyers History. P. Anson.
Web site: 24th NHL All-Star Game . . August 6, 2015.
2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, pp. 335–340
Web site: Flyers History – All-Time Firsts . P.Anson . August 14, 2015.
Web site: Flyers History – Philadelphia Flyer Game Summary . P.Anson . August 14, 2015 . 6-Mar-71 California Golden Seals 4 @ Philadelphia Flyers 4.
Web site: Hockey Transactions Search Results. Pro Sports Transactions. April 12, 2014.
Web site: Sports in Brief . . May 21, 1970 . December 19, 2014.
Web site: The Evening Sun from Hanover, Pennsylvania . The Evening Sun . . May 30, 1970 . December 19, 2014.
Web site: Former Clipper Swarbrick Traded . . . June 13, 1970 . December 19, 2014.
Web site: Gulls buy Courcy, Seattle All-Star . Times-Advocate . November 9, 2023 . July 2, 1970 . Newspapers.com.
, retrieved September 5, 2022
Web site: Flyers deal Parent, hoping to help attack . . John . Plaisant . . February 1, 1971 . December 19, 2014.
Web site: Hugh Harvey – Notes . https://web.archive.org/web/20141219103555/http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8446730&view=notes . NHL.com . December 19, 2014 . April 6, 2019.
Web site: 1970 NHL Intra-League Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . Mark . Parsons . August 5, 2012 . July 28, 2015 .
News: 1970 NHL Intraleague Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . hockeyDB.com . December 23, 2013.
Web site: Flyers Pick Bill Lesuk . . Associated Press. . June 10, 1970 . December 19, 2014.
Web site: Alain Caron – Notes. https://web.archive.org/web/20141224230209/http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8445329&view=notes . NHL.com . December 24, 2014 . April 6, 2019.
Web site: Reverse draft . . . June 12, 1970 . December 19, 2014.
Web site: Schmautz joins Flyers . . . . December 29, 1970 . December 19, 2014.
Web site: 1970 NHL Expansion Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . Mark . Parsons . August 3, 2012 . July 28, 2015 .
Web site: Sabres, Canucks Rich, Poor After NHL's Draft . . Associated Press. . June 11, 1970 . December 19, 2014.
News: 1970 NHL Expansion Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . hockeyDB.com . December 23, 2013.
Web site: Flyers A-Z: Sutherland, Bill . Philadelphia Flyers . September 5, 2022.
Web site: FLYERS SIGN LESUK PHILADELPHIA . . Associated Press. . August 13, 1970 . December 19, 2014.
Web site: Flyers sign 3 . . . September 8, 1970 . December 19, 2014.
Web site: Flyers Sign Veterans . . . . September 9, 1970 . December 19, 2014.
Web site: FLYERS SIGN BROTHERS . . . . October 6, 1970 . December 19, 2014.
News: 1970 NHL Amateur Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . hockeyDB.com . November 12, 2013.
Web site: 1970 NHL Amateur Draft Pick Transactions. Pro Sports Transactions. November 7, 2013.
Web site: AHL Franchise Statistics. October 26, 2013. Flyers History. P. Anson.
Web site: AHL Season Overview: 1970–71. October 26, 2013. Flyers History. P. Anson.
Web site: Non-AHL Affiliates. October 26, 2013. Flyers History. P. Anson.