# 1982–83 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 1982–83 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Flyers' 16th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the Patrick Division Semifinals to the New York Rangers in three games.

## Off-season

Mark Howe, son of hockey legend Gordie Howe and a star defenseman in his own right, was acquired via a trade with the Hartford Whalers prior to the season.

## Regular season

Howe immediately became the team's best defenseman garnering 67 points and a +47 in 76 games. Midway through the season, Bob McCammon replaced Barber as captain with Bobby Clarke. Clarke led the team in points and Brian Propp and Sittler scored 40 goals each as the Flyers won a Patrick Division title with 106 points.

### Season standings

Patrick Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 49 | 23 | 8 | 326 | 240 | 106 |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 42 | 26 | 12 | 302 | 226 | 96 |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 39 | 25 | 16 | 306 | 283 | 94 |
| New York Rangers | 80 | 35 | 35 | 10 | 306 | 287 | 80 |
| New Jersey Devils | 80 | 17 | 49 | 14 | 230 | 338 | 48 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 18 | 53 | 9 | 250 | 394 | 45 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1982–83 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
New Jersey
—0−73−3−12−53−1−30−6−18−22−5
N.Y. Islanders
7−0—4−31−4−25−24−2−121−11−3
N.Y. Rangers
3−3−13−4—3−45−1−13−3−117−15−3
Philadelphia
5−24−1−24−3—5−1−13−421−11−3
Pittsburgh
1−3−32−51−5−11–5–1—1−5−16−23−6
Washington
6−0−12−4−13−3−14–35–1–1—20−11−4
Vs. Adams Division
1982–83 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
New Jersey
0−1−20−2−11−21−21−23−9−3
N.Y. Islanders
0−2−11−22−11−0−21−1−15−6−4
N.Y. Rangers
0−30−2−12−11−21−24−10−1
Philadelphia
0−2−11−22−11−23−07−7−1
Pittsburgh
1−21−1−13−01−20−36−8−1
Washington
3−00−32−0−10−1−21−1−16−5−4
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1982–83 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
New Jersey
0−31−1−10−30−2−11−0−22−9−4
N.Y. Islanders
1−1−10−2−10−2−12−12−15−7−3
N.Y. Rangers
0−32−0−12−12−0−13−09−4−2
Philadelphia
1−1−13−01−1−13−02−0−110−2−3
Pittsburgh
0−30−2−10−2−10−31−21−12−2
Washington
2−0−12−11−1−11−1−12−18−4−3
Vs. Smythe Division
1982–83 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
New Jersey
1−20−31−21−0−21−24−9−2
N.Y. Islanders
2−0−13−03−02−11−1−111−2−2
N.Y. Rangers
2−0−10−31−1−11−1−11−1−15−6−4
Philadelphia
3−02−12−11−1−13−011−3−1
Pittsburgh
0−31−22−11−21−25−10−0
Washington
2−10−2−11−1−11−1−11−0−25−5−5 :

## Playoffs

For the second consecutive year, the Flyers were eliminated by the Rangers in the first round, this time in a three-game sweep. They allowed a total of 18 goals in the three games.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1982–83 regular season :
October: 8–5–0, 16 points (home: 5–1–0; road: 3–4–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
1October 7Quebec Nordiques9–51–0–02Recap
2October 9@ Washington Capitals3–22–0–04Recap
3October 10Washington Capitals6–43–0–06Recap
4October 13@ New York Rangers2–53–1–06Recap
5October 14Buffalo Sabres4–24–1–08Recap
6October 16@ Quebec Nordiques4–35–1–010Recap
7October 18@ New Jersey Devils1–35–2–010Recap
8October 21Montreal Canadiens1–25–3–010Recap
9October 23@ Pittsburgh Penguins2–45–4–010Recap
10October 24Detroit Red Wings7–46–4–012Recap
11October 28Pittsburgh Penguins9–27–4–014Recap
12October 30@ Minnesota North Stars2–37–5–014Recap
13October 31@ Winnipeg Jets3–28–5–016Recap :
November: 5–4–3, 13 points (home: 3–2–2; road: 2–2–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
14November 4Vancouver Canucks3–48–6–016Recap
15November 6@ New York Islanders6–39–6–018Recap
16November 7New York Islanders2–29–6–119Recap
17November 10@ Buffalo Sabres2–79–7–119Recap
18November 11New York Rangers7–310–7–121Recap
19November 13Edmonton Oilers3–410–8–121Recap
20November 18Calgary Flames3–211–8–123Recap
21November 20@ Montreal Canadiens4–611–9–123Recap
22November 21St. Louis Blues3–112–9–125Recap
23November 24Boston Bruins4–412–9–226Recap
24November 27@ Los Angeles Kings4–013–9–228Recap
25November 28@ Vancouver Canucks5–513–9–329Recap :
December: 8–3–2, 18 points (home: 3–1–0; road: 5–2–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
26December 1@ Edmonton Oilers4–214–9–331Recap
27December 4@ Pittsburgh Penguins0–014–9–432Recap
28December 5@ Boston Bruins4–614–10–432Recap
29December 9Quebec Nordiques4–115–10–434Recap
30December 11@ Hartford Whalers4–715–11–434Recap
31December 12Pittsburgh Penguins4–316–11–436Recap
32December 16Detroit Red Wings7–217–11–438Recap
33December 18@ New York Islanders4–417–11–539Recap
34December 19Washington Capitals1–317–12–539Recap
35December 22@ New Jersey Devils3–118–12–541Recap
36December 26@ Washington Capitals6–319–12–543Recap
37December 27@ Detroit Red Wings8–420–12–545Recap
38December 30@ Calgary Flames6–321–12–547Recap :
January: 12–1–2, 26 points (home: 7–0–1; road: 5–1–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
39January 1@ St. Louis Blues4–122–12–549Recap
40January 2@ Chicago Black Hawks3–123–12–551Recap
41January 4Vancouver Canucks4–124–12–553Recap
42January 8@ Hartford Whalers7–425–12–555Recap
43January 9Hartford Whalers8–426–12–557Recap
44January 13Pittsburgh Penguins8–127–12–559Recap
45January 15Chicago Black Hawks4–427–12–660Recap
46January 16@ New York Rangers4–028–12–662Recap
47January 18@ Washington Capitals1–428–13–662Recap
48January 20Calgary Flames5–229–13–664Recap
49January 22@ New York Islanders1–030–13–666Recap
50January 23New York Rangers3–131–13–668Recap
51January 25New Jersey Devils5–132–13–670Recap
52January 27Winnipeg Jets5–233–13–672Recap
53January 29@ Minnesota North Stars2–233–13–773Recap :
February: 8–2–0, 16 points (home: 6–1–0; road: 2–1–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
54February 2@ Winnipeg Jets6–334–13–775Recap
55February 5@ Los Angeles Kings2–035–13–777Recap
56February 10St. Louis Blues5–236–13–779Recap
57February 13Los Angeles Kings4–536–14–779Recap
58February 17Edmonton Oilers7–337–14–781Recap
59February 19New York Rangers8–538–14–783Recap
60February 20New Jersey Devils3–039–14–785Recap
61February 23@ Buffalo Sabres2–439–15–785Recap
62February 24Pittsburgh Penguins6–340–15–787Recap
63February 27New York Islanders2–041–15–789Recap :
March: 6–8–1, 13 points (home: 4–3–0; road: 2–5–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
64March 2@ Toronto Maple Leafs2–241–15–890Recap
65March 3@ New Jersey Devils4–142–15–892Recap
66March 5@ Washington Capitals3–442–16–892Recap
67March 6@ Pittsburgh Penguins5–343–16–894Recap
68March 8Chicago Black Hawks1–443–17–894Recap
69March 10Minnesota North Stars6–344–17–896Recap
70March 12@ Boston Bruins2–544–18–896Recap
71March 14@ New York Rangers2–844–19–896Recap
72March 17Montreal Canadiens6–445–19–898Recap
73March 19@ New York Islanders2–945–20–898Recap
74March 20Washington Capitals2–345–21–898Recap
75March 24Toronto Maple Leafs7–446–21–8100Recap
76March 25@ New Jersey Devils5–646–22–8100Recap
77March 27New Jersey Devils4–147–22–8102Recap
78March 31New York Rangers2–447–23–8102Recap :
April: 2–0–0, 4 points (home: 1–0–0; road: 1–0–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
79April 2@ Toronto Maple Leafs6–348–23–8104Recap
80April 3New York Islanders4–249–23–8106Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1983 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Patrick Division Semifinals vs. New York Rangers – Rangers win 3–0
GameDateOpponentScoreSeriesRecap
1April 5New York Rangers3–5Rangers lead 1–0Recap
2April 7New York Rangers3–4Rangers lead 2–0Recap
3April 9@ New York Rangers3–9Rangers win 3–0Recap :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## 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.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 16 | Bobby Clarke | C | 80 | 23 | 62 | 85 | 37 | 115 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 27 | Darryl Sittler | C | 80 | 43 | 40 | 83 | 17 | 60 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −4 | 4 |
| 26 | Brian Propp | LW | 80 | 40 | 42 | 82 | 35 | 72 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −4 | 8 |
| 2 | Mark Howe | D | 76 | 20 | 47 | 67 | 47 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −3 | 4 |
| 11 | Ron Flockhart | RW | 73 | 29 | 31 | 60 | 3 | 49 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 2 |
| 7 | Bill Barber | LW | 66 | 27 | 33 | 60 | 17 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −4 | 2 |
| 19 | Ray Allison | RW | 67 | 21 | 30 | 51 | 30 | 57 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 12 |
| 23 | Ilkka Sinisalo | LW | 61 | 21 | 29 | 50 | 18 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 |
| 17 | Paul Holmgren | RW | 77 | 19 | 24 | 43 | 18 | 178 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 6 |
| 18 | Lindsay Carson | C | 78 | 18 | 19 | 37 | 20 | 68 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 9 | Miroslav Dvorak | D | 80 | 4 | 33 | 37 | 27 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −5 | 0 |
| 15 | Mark Taylor | LW | 61 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 25 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 0 |
| 3 | Behn Wilson | D | 62 | 8 | 24 | 32 | 3 | 92 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 2 |
| 25 | Paul Evans | C | 58 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 16 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Brad McCrimmon | D | 79 | 4 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 61 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 29 | Glen Cochrane | D | 77 | 2 | 22 | 24 | 42 | 237 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 4 |
| 12 | Tim Kerr | RW | 24 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Tom Gorence | RW | 53 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 4 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 24 | Bob Hoffmeyer† | D | 35 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 40 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Brad Marsh | D | 68 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 20 | 52 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −4 | 0 |
| 5 | Frank Bathe | D | 57 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 72 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 12 |
| 13 | Dave Michayluk | RW | 13 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 31 | Pelle Lindbergh | G | 40 | 0 | 4 | 4 | | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 4 |
| 21 | John Paddock | RW | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | Dave Poulin | C | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| 34 | Andy Brickley | LW | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | Ron Sutter | C | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 35 | Bob Froese | G | 25 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Fred Arthur‡ | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 32 | Dave Brown | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 32 | Ross Fitzpatrick | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 33 | Michel Larocque† | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 30 | Rick St. Croix‡ | G | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 34 | Gord Williams | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### 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.
| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | GP | GS | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | GS | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 31 | Pelle Lindbergh | 40 | 39 | 23 | 13 | 3 | 1053 | 116 | 2.99 | .890 | 3 | 2,329 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 85 | 18 | 6.10 | .788 | 0 | 177 |
| 35 | Bob Froese | 25 | 23 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 569 | 59 | 2.52 | .896 | 4 | 1,405 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 30 | Rick St. Croix‡ | 16 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 431 | 54 | 3.45 | .875 | 0 | 938 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 33 | Michel Larocque† | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 56 | 8 | 4.00 | .857 | 0 | 120 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Frank J. Selke Trophy | Bobby Clarke |
| League (annual) | NHL All-Rookie Team | Pelle Lindbergh (Goaltender) |
| League (annual) | NHL first All-Star team | Mark Howe (Defense) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Mark Howe |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Pelle Lindbergh |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Darryl Sittler |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Month | Bob Froese (January) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Bobby Clarke (January 3) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Bob Froese (February 21) |
| Team | Barry Ashbee Trophy | Mark Howe |
| Team | Class Guy Award | Mark Howe |
| Miscellaneous | Viking Award | Pelle Lindbergh |

### Records

Among the team records set during the 1982–83 season was the 35 seconds it took to score the fastest three goals during the season opener on October 7, which is tied for the team record. Later that month on October 28, the 31 seconds it took to score the fastest two goals from the start of a period is also tied for the team record. Goaltender Pelle Lindbergh set three consecutive wins records. From December 22 to February 10, Lindbergh won nine consecutive games, which is tied for the team record among all goalies and the record for rookie goaltenders. His eight consecutive road wins from December 22 to March 3 is also the team record. The team's eight consecutive road wins from December 22 to January 16 is the longest in team history. Brian Propp's twelve game-winning goals on the season is tied for the team record.

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Miroslav Dvorak | October 7, 1982 |
| First game | Ron Sutter | November 28, 1982 |
| First game | Ross Fitzpatrick | December 5, 1982 |
| First game | Bob Froese | January 8, 1983 |
| First game | Andy Brickley | March 10, 1983 |
| First game | Dave Brown | March 12, 1983 |
| First game | Dave Poulin | April 2, 1983 |
| 1000th game played | Bobby Clarke | October 23, 1982 |
| 1000th point | Darryl Sittler | January 20, 1983 |

## Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 17, 1982, the day after the deciding game of the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 17, 1983, the day of the deciding game of the 1983 Stanley Cup Finals.

### Trades

| Date | Details | Details |
| June 9, 1982 (1982-06-09) | To Philadelphia Flyers Brad McCrimmon | To Boston Bruins Pete Peeters |
| August 20, 1982 (1982-08-20) | To Philadelphia Flyers Mark Howe3rd-round pick in 1983 | To Hartford Whalers Greg AdamsKen Linseman1st-round pick in 19833rd-round pick in 1983 |
| October 22, 1982 (1982-10-22) | To Philadelphia Flyers Bob Hoffmeyer | To Edmonton Oilers Peter Dineen |
| January 10, 1983 (1983-01-10) | To Philadelphia Flyers Michel Larocque | To Toronto Maple Leafs Rick St. Croix |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Via | Ref |
| January 4, 1983 (1983-01-04) | John Paddock | Maine Mariners (AHL) | Free agency | |
| March 8, 1983 (1983-03-08) | Dave Poulin | University of Notre Dame (CCHA) | Free agency | |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| August 24, 1982 (1982-08-24) | Bob Dailey | | Retirement |
| August 25, 1982 (1982-08-25) | Reggie Leach | Detroit Red Wings | Free agency |
| September 9, 1982 (1982-09-09) | Reid Bailey | Edmonton Oilers | Release |
| September 9, 1982 (1982-09-09) | Al Hill | Edmonton Oilers | Release |
| September 9, 1982 (1982-09-09) | Gary Morrison | | Release |
| N/A | Mike Busniuk | SG Brunico (Serie A) | Free agency |
| October 4, 1982 (1982-10-04) | Bob Hoffmeyer | Edmonton Oilers | Waiver draft |
| October 6, 1982 (1982-10-06) | Jimmy Watson | | Retirement |
| October 25, 1982 (1982-10-25) | Fred Arthur | | Retirement |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term |
| May 24, 1982 (1982-05-24) | Andre Villeneuve | multi-year |
| May 24, 1982 (1982-05-24) | Taras Zytynsky | multi-year |
| June 4, 1982 (1982-06-04) | Len Hachborn | 3-year |
| August 4, 1982 (1982-08-04) | Miroslav Dvorak | multi-year |
| September 10, 1982 (1982-09-10) | Ron Sutter | multi-year |

## Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1982 NHL entry draft, which was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, on June 9, 1982.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | Team (league) |
| 1 | 4 | Ron Sutter | Center | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) |
| 3 | 46 | Miroslav Dvorak | Defense | Czechoslovakia | HC České Budějovice (CZE) |
| 3 | 47 | Bill Campbell | Defense | Canada | Montreal Juniors (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 77 | Michael Hjalm | Wing | Sweden | Modo Hockey (Elitserien) |
| 5 | 98 | Todd Bergen | Forward | Canada | Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL) |
| 6 | 119 | Ron Hextall | Goaltender | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 7 | 140 | Dave Brown | Forward | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 8 | 161 | Alain Lavigne | Right wing | Canada | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 182 | Magnus Roupe | Left wing | Sweden | Färjestad BK (Elitserien) |
| 10 | 203 | Tom Allen | Goaltender | United States | Michigan Tech University (WCHA) |
| 11 | 224 | Rick Gal | Forward | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) |
| 12 | 245 | Mark Vichorek | Defense | United States | Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) |

## Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Maine Mariners of the AHL and the Toledo Goaldiggers of the IHL.