The Spectrum opened in 1967, a monumental year in Flyers history as Ed Snider’s franchise was born and hockey made its way to Philadelphia.
The orange and black went on to win 696 regular-season games, 79 playoff contests and a Stanley Cup at the Spectrum, a treasured building among Flyers fans because of its memories and meaning.
With the Flyers’ golden anniversary of 50 years now upon us, let’s relive five special Spectrum moments.
1. May 19, 1974: There was just one goal scored at the Spectrum that day and it will go down in Flyers folklore. The lone puck to find the back of the net was all the Broad Street Bullies needed to win their first Stanley Cup and send Philadelphia into pandemonium. It was a Rick MacLeish marker on a deflection to fulfill Snider’s vision, as the Flyers became the first expansion team to ever hoist the Cup. Bernie Parent pitched a shutout in net en route to winning his first of two Conn Smythe trophies for MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Prior to puck drop, Kate Smith serenaded fans with “God Bless America,” one of four times she ever performed at the Spectrum live. Can only imagine the building’s aura that day.
2. It’s an effort often overshadowed considering the Flyers won the Stanley Cup the previous two seasons and failed to three-peat. But in 1975-76, Reggie Leach had a season for the Flyers’ record books. He scored a single-season franchise record 61 goals. He then made NHL history in the playoffs, thanks in large part to an unforgettable performance at the Spectrum. On May 6, 1976, “The Rifle” netted five goals — five — to singlehandedly lift the Flyers into the Stanley Cup Final with a 6-3 Eastern Conference clincher over the Bruins. That total remains tied for the most in single-game playoff history. The Flyers were swept away by the Canadiens, but Leach finished with 19 goals in 16 games that postseason, a mark that also remains tied for an NHL record.
3. The Flyers fell short in the 1987 Stanley Cup Final. They made it memorable, though, for their resilience, which had the Spectrum palpitating all series. After dropping Games 1 and 2 in Edmonton, the Flyers appeared dead in the water in Game 3, trailing Wayne Gretzky and company, 3-0, at the Spectrum. However, behind the 22-year-old rookie Ron Hextall, the Flyers mounted a furious comeback to win, 5-3, and eventually force a seven-game thriller. Scott Mellanby tied the game in the third period before Brad McCrimmon gave the Flyers the lead just 17 seconds later. The Flyers stumbled in Game 4, but found a way to win the next two, including an electric Game 6 at the Spectrum won on J.J. Daigneault’s goal. Hextall was so good he won the Conn Smythe and Vezina trophies. Some say Games 3 and 6 were the loudest the Spectrum had ever been.
4. The season before (1972-73) the Flyers won both of their Stanley Cups, Gary Dornhoefer scored one of the most signature goals in Spectrum history when he deposited an overtime winner in Game 5 of the quarterfinals to hand the Flyers a 3-2 series lead over the Minnesota North Stars. The Flyers won Game 6 to notch the franchise’s first-ever playoff series win. The goal, which Dornhoefer celebrated in midair as he went sprawling to the ice, was made into a statue outside the Spectrum. It now stands by XFINITY Live! In a sense, Dornhoefer’s goal signified the arrival of the Flyers. Despite losing to the Canadiens in the semifinals, the Flyers and fans knew their team wasn’t far away — and proved it the following season.
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5. Eric Lindros’ first home goal in a Flyers sweater was a thing of beauty. No. 88 stripped Hall of Famer Scott Niedermayer — also a rookie at the time — at the center-ice line and barreled down on goalie Chris Terreri. As the netminder went for the puck, Lindros made his move — a highlight-reel reach around. The sound of the Spectrum going from anticipation to celebration was incredible and amplified given all the hype surrounding Lindros’ rookie season in 1992-93. The play was a perfect blend of the No. 1 overall pick’s size and skill. Lindros had 41 goals and 75 points that season as a 19-year-old. He’s now headed to the Hall of Fame.