The Philadelphia Flyers are not strangers to the playoffs. Making the post season 39 times in their 53 year history, there have been many players that have made an impact through the years. Coming up big under high pressure, or putting up massive point totals spanning over multiple years, some players have left their legacy as strong playoff performers.
Number 5- Tim Kerr
While the Flyers weren’t exactly at their peak during Kerr’s tenure in Philly, it never stopped him from chipping in points whenever possible. Kerr’s dominance during the regular season (where he sits third all-time in goals and seventh all-time in points) continued into the post-season. Kerr currently sits sixth in playoff goals and seventh in playoff points in Flyers history and holds 12 team postseason records including, most hat tricks, most points in one period, fastest four goals in a single game, and most points in one series.
Number 4- Rick MacLeish
MacLeish holds the record for most postseason goals with 53, a record he shares with Bill Barber. He helped guide the Flyers to two Stanley Cups in the mid-70’s, where he lead players in goals with 13 and narrowly lost out on the Conn Smythe to teammate Bernie Parent in 1974. He has 105 points in 108 playoff games, and was over a point-per-game player in four of those seasons.
Number 3- Brian Propp
Sitting second all-time in Flyers playoff points, Propp also holds four NHL playoff records. With 112 playoff points, 52 of which being goals, that makes him good enough for second in Flyers history. Three of Propp’s four NHL playoff records happened with the Flyers, being most assists and points in the playoffs by a left winger, as well as most powerplay goals by a left winger. Propp and the Flyers made the playoffs 10 of his 11 seasons during his tenure in Philly, with his best performance coming during the 1986-87 postseason where he recorded 12 goals and 28 points.
Number 2- Bernie Parent
Bernie Parent had some of the the best seasons by a goaltender in 1974 and 1975, and was a major reason the Flyers won two Cups. Parent had back-to-back Vezina Trophies, Conn Smythe Trophies, and Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975, and also finished second in Hart trophy voting in 1974. Parent posted six total shutouts in those two Cup runs, including game six, series clenching, shutouts in both 1974 over the Bruins and again in 1975 over the Sabres. “Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent” became a popular saying during the Flyers championship runs, and it was well deserved.
Number 1- Bobby Clarke
Not only the Flyers all-time playoff points leader, he has also captained the Flyers to both of their Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975. Clarke holds Flyers post-season records for games played (136), assists (77), and points (119). Plain and simple there will probably never be another player like Clarke in Flyers playoff history. The only modern day Flyer even close to Clarke is Claude Giroux and he’s still miles away, with only 23 goals, 39 assists, 62 points, and 63 games played.
Honorable mentions-
Danny Briere
You aren’t given the name Mr. Playoffs for nothing. Sitting sixth all-time in Flyers playoff points with 72, the Flyers could always count on Briere to deliver when they needed him most. Briere’s talents were on display during the 2010 playoffs, racking up 12 goals and 30 points in 23 games. Making the payoffs five times as a Flyer, he was over a point-per-game player twice and led the Flyers in points on two occasions as well.
Rod Brind’Amour
Even though the Flyers missed the playoffs during the first two seasons Brind’Amour was in Philadelphia, he ended up being a key contributor during their success in the mid-90s. He put up 15 points in 15 games during the Flyers run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1995, and 21 points in 19 games during their Cup run in 1997. Overall Brind’Amour scored 51 points in 57 Flyers playoff games.
Bill Barber
Part of the feared LBC line, Barber helped the Flyers win their Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975. Making the playoffs 11 of his 12 seasons in Philadelphia, Barber sits third all-time in Flyers playoff points with 119, and tied for first in playoff goals with Rick MacLeish at 53. Barber’s best postseason came in 1979-80 where he recorded 21 points in 19 games, helping the Flyers return to the Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Islanders in six games.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: nytimes.com
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