The 1987–88 Philadelphia Flyers season was the franchise's 21st season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Washington Capitals in seven games.
Regular season The season was one of many ups and downs. With Ron Hextall lost to an eight-game suspension to start the year after slashing Kent Nilsson in the Stanley Cup Final, Tim Kerr lost indefinitely with a shoulder problem, and Brad McCrimmon traded to Calgary over a salary dispute, the club limped to a 3–6–2 record in October. Additionally, Dave Brown served a 15-game suspension for cross-checking New York Ranger Tomas Sandstrom in the face on October 26.
The free-fall continued until late November. After blowing a 4–1 lead into a 6–4 loss to the Islanders at home on November 21, the Flyers were at 6–13–3 and last in the division. However, just as quickly, the club rebounded with a 14-game unbeaten streak (12–0–2) from November 25 to December 26 – despite losing out to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Paul Coffey sweepstakes. The run was highlighted by Hextall becoming the first goaltender to shoot the puck into the opposing team's net on December 8, a game-winning two-man short tally by Murray Craven in Winnipeg on December 13, and a post-Christmas comeback win against the Capitals.
A 6–0–1 run through late February and early March saw Rick Tocchet post three hat tricks in a span of four games (Detroit, at Los Angeles, at Vancouver). On February 23, the club set a still-standing franchise road record with 11 goals in an amazing 11–6 win in Detroit, including a team-record 7 third-period tallies.
After a 7–3 win over the Canucks March 1, the Flyers finished the year in free-fall due to almost daily injuries, going 4–11–2, ending up the lower seed in a second-place tie with Washington. Kerr returned to the lineup finally on March 10, but was unable to find his range before the playoffs began.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Playoffs In their first round playoff series with the Washington Capitals, the Flyers blew a 3–1 series lead as Washington forced a Game 7. They then blew a 3–0 lead in Game 7 as Washington won 5–4, in overtime.
Afterwards, general manager Bobby Clarke fired head coach Mike Keenan citing a lack of enthusiasm from the club to continue playing for him.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 8 || 2–2 OT || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Laforest || 0–0–1 || 1 ||
| 2 || October 10 || 5–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars || Laforest || 1–0–1 || 3 ||
| 3 || October 11 || 3–5 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks || Laforest || 1–1–1 || 3 ||
| 4 || October 15 || 0–6 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Laforest || 1–2–1 || 3 ||
| 5 || October 17 || 4–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Young || 2–2–1 || 5 ||
| 6 || October 18 || 3–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Young || 3–2–1 || 7 ||
| 7 || October 22 || 1–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Young || 3–3–1 || 7 ||
| 8 || October 24 || 3–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Laforest || 3–4–1 || 7 ||
| 9 || October 26 || 2–2 OT || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Hextall || 3–4–2 || 8 ||
| 10 || October 27 || 0–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 3–5–2 || 8 ||
| 11 || October 31 || 4–7 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers || Hextall || 3–6–2 || 8 ||
| 12 || November 1 || 4–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings || Hextall || 4–6–2 || 10 ||
| 13 || November 3 || 1–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || 4–7–2 || 10 ||
| 14 || November 5 || 3–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks || Hextall || 4–8–2 || 10 ||
| 15 || November 7 || 4–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Hextall || 4–9–2 || 10 ||
| 16 || November 8 || 3–3 OT || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 4–9–3 || 11 ||
| 17 || November 10 || 2–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues || Hextall || 4–10–3 || 11 ||
| 18 || November 12 || 5–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || 5–10–3 || 13 ||
| 19 || November 14 || 0–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Hextall || 5–11–3 || 13 ||
| 20 || November 18 || 3–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 5–12–3 || 13 ||
| 21 || November 19 || 7–5 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings || Young || 6–12–3 || 15 ||
| 22 || November 21 || 4–6 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Young || 6–13–3 || 15 ||
| 23 || November 25 || 5–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Hextall || 7–13–3 || 17 ||
| 24 || November 28 || 6–3 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques || Hextall || 8–13–3 || 19 ||
| 25 || December 3 || 5–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers || Hextall || 9–13–3 || 21 ||
| 26 || December 6 || 1–1 OT || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 9–13–4 || 22 ||
| 27 || December 8 || 5–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Hextall || 10–13–4 || 24 ||
| 28 || December 10 || 5–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Hextall || 11–13–4 || 26 ||
| 29 || December 11 || 3–3 OT || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Laforest || 11–13–5 || 27 ||
| 30 || December 13 || 4–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets || Hextall || 12–13–5 || 29 ||
| 31 || December 15 || 5–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || 13–13–5 || 31 ||
| 32 || December 17 || 4–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Hextall || 14–13–5 || 33 ||
| 33 || December 19 || 5–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Hextall || 15–13–5 || 35 ||
| 34 || December 22 || 6–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Hextall || 16–13–5 || 37 ||
| 35 || December 23 || 5–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars || Hextall || 17–13–5 || 39 ||
| 36 || December 26 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || 18–13–5 || 41 ||
| 37 || December 30 || 0–6 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers || Hextall || 18–14–5 || 41 ||
| 38 || December 31 || 4–5 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames || Laforest || 18–15–5 || 41 ||
| 39 || January 2 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks || Hextall || 19–15–5 || 43 ||
| 40 || January 5 || 1–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || 19–16–5 || 43 ||
| 41 || January 7 || 6–4 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues || Hextall || 20–16–5 || 45 ||
| 42 || January 9 || 3–3 OT || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Hextall || 20–16–6 || 46 ||
| 43 || January 10 || 5–7 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Laforest || 20–17–6 || 46 ||
| 44 || January 14 || 3–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Hextall || 21–17–6 || 48 ||
| 45 || January 15 || 5–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || 22–17–6 || 50 ||
| 46 || January 17 || 2–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Hextall || 23–17–6 || 52 ||
| 47 || January 21 || 3–1 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers || Hextall || 24–17–6 || 54 ||
| 48 || January 23 || 6–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Hextall || 25–17–6 || 56 ||
| 49 || January 24 || 3–5 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars || Hextall || 25–18–6 || 56 ||
| 50 || January 28 || 2–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Hextall || 25–19–6 || 56 ||
| 51 || January 30 || 4–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets || Laforest || 26–19–6 || 58 ||
| 52 || January 31 || 0–1 OT || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || 26–20–6 || 58 ||
| 53 || February 4 || 6–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Hextall || 27–20–6 || 60 ||
| 54 || February 6 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues || Hextall || 28–20–6 || 62 ||
| 55 || February 12 || 2–3 || align="left"| Calgary Flames || Hextall || 28–21–6 || 62 ||
| 56 || February 13 || 4–7 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Hextall || 28–22–6 || 62 ||
| 57 || February 15 || 5–4 OT || align="left"| Hartford Whalers || Hextall || 29–22–6 || 64 ||
| 58 || February 18 || 3–3 OT || align="left"| New York Islanders || Hextall || 29–22–7 || 65 ||
| 59 || February 19 || 5–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Hextall || 30–22–7 || 67 ||
| 60 || February 21 || 5–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Hextall || 31–22–7 || 69 ||
| 61 || February 23 || 11–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Laforest || 32–22–7 || 71 ||
| 62 || February 27 || 8–6 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Hextall || 33–22–7 || 73 ||
| 63 || March 1 || 7–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks || Hextall || 34–22–7 || 75 ||
| 64 || March 3 || 3–6 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames || Hextall || 34–23–7 || 75 ||
| 65 || March 4 || 4–7 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers || Laforest || 34–24–7 || 75 ||
| 66 || March 6 || 2–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 34–25–7 || 75 ||
| 67 || March 10 || 5–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || 35–25–7 || 77 ||
| 68 || March 12 || 5–6 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 35–26–7 || 77 ||
| 69 || March 13 || 4–5 OT || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks || Hextall || 35–27–7 || 77 ||
| 70 || March 15 || 1–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Hextall || 35–28–7 || 77 ||
| 71 || March 17 || 3–4 OT || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks || Hextall || 35–29–7 || 77 ||
| 72 || March 19 || 0–7 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || 35–30–7 || 77 ||
| 73 || March 20 || 4–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Laforest || 36–30–7 || 79 ||
| 74 || March 22 || 0–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Laforest || 36–31–7 || 79 ||
| 75 || March 25 || 3–5 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Laforest || 36–32–7 || 79 ||
| 76 || March 26 || 6–0 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets || Laforest || 37–32–7 || 81 ||
| 77 || March 29 || 3–5 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Laforest || 37–33–7 || 81 ||
| 78 || March 31 || 4–4 OT || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques || Hextall || 37–33–8 || 82 ||
| 79 || April 2 || 7–4 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques || Hextall || 38–33–8 || 84 ||
| 80 || April 3 || 2–2 OT || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || 38–33–9 || 85 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 6 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || Flyers lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 7 || 4–5 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || Series tied 1–1 ||
| 3 || April 9 || 4–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || Flyers lead 2–1 ||
| 4 || April 10 || 5–4 OT || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Laforest || Flyers lead 3–1 ||
| 5 || April 12 || 2–5 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || Flyers lead 3–2 ||
| 6 || April 14 || 2–7 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || Series tied 3–3 ||
| 7 || April 16 || 4–5 OT || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || Capitals win 4–3 ||
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.