The 1988–89 Philadelphia Flyers season was the franchise's 22nd season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the Wales Conference finals to the Montreal Canadiens in six games.
Regular season With Mike Keenan's firing, the reins were handed off to Paul Holmgren, who presided over a club in flux with young players promoted to larger roles. The defense underwent a major overhaul, as Brad Marsh was claimed in the waiver draft by Toronto, and Doug Crossman was dealt to Los Angeles for Jay Wells. Gord Murphy and Jeff Chychrun cracked the lineup on the back line as well.
Tim Kerr was fully healed from his shoulder surgeries and subsequent infections, while Rick Tocchet, Scott Mellanby, Murray Craven, Pelle Eklund and Peter Zezel were counted on to carry the offense. After a promising 5–1–0 start, a 4–15–1 slide cost Zezel his job, shipped off to St. Louis for Mike Bullard after Thanksgiving.
Following the deal, the Flyers went 13–2–1 to climb back over .500 and into solid playoff footing. However, youth and constant inconsistency derailed much progress to the top of the standings, and the team never went higher than three games above even. Mark Laforest was replaced in March as backup by Maple Leafs castoff Ken Wregget with the team reeling.
On the last day of the season, they fell 6–5 in overtime to the Penguins and into fourth place, as Mario Lemieux scored into an empty net. If the Flyers had scored using the extra attacker, they would have leapt over the Rangers into third place in the Patrick Division. Despite their mediocre record, their positive goal differential was a positive indicator that the team still had some life left.
The Flyers finished the regular season with the league's best power-play percentage, at 26.70% (98 for 367).
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Playoffs Facing the first-place Washington Capitals in the first round, the Flyers pulled off the upset in six games. Ron Hextall managed to score another empty-net goal in the waning moments of Game 5, becoming the first NHL goalie to score a goal in the playoffs. The Flyers then came back from a 3 games to 2 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games to make the Wales Conference finals before bowing out to the Montreal Canadiens in six games. This would be the Flyers last playoff appearance until 1995.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 6 || 4–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 1–0–0 || 2 ||
| 2 || October 9 || 4–3 OT || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Hextall || 2–0–0 || 4 ||
| 3 || October 13 || 7–6 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars || Hextall || 3–0–0 || 6 ||
| 4 || October 15 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Hextall || 4–0–0 || 8 ||
| 5 || October 18 || 2–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || 4–1–0 || 8 ||
| 6 || October 20 || 5–2 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques || Hextall || 5–1–0 || 10 ||
| 7 || October 22 || 6–8 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers || Laforest || 5–2–0 || 10 ||
| 8 || October 23 || 4–5 OT || align="left"| Calgary Flames || Hextall || 5–3–0 || 10 ||
| 9 || October 26 || 3–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Hextall || 5–4–0 || 10 ||
| 10 || October 27 || 5–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Hextall || 6–4–0 || 12 ||
| 11 || October 29 || 5–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Hextall || 6–5–0 || 12 ||
| 12 || November 1 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 6–6–0 || 12 ||
| 13 || November 3 || 2–5 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks || Hextall || 6–7–0 || 12 ||
| 14 || November 4 || 4–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Laforest || 7–7–0 || 14 ||
| 15 || November 6 || 5–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Laforest || 8–7–0 || 16 ||
| 16 || November 9 || 3–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Hextall || 8–8–0 || 16 ||
| 17 || November 10 || 2–3 OT || align="left"| Calgary Flames || Laforest || 8–9–0 || 16 ||
| 18 || November 12 || 4–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Hextall || 8–10–0 || 16 ||
| 19 || November 15 || 3–3 OT || align="left"| New York Rangers || Hextall || 8–10–1 || 17 ||
| 20 || November 17 || 1–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues || Hextall || 8–11–1 || 17 ||
| 21 || November 19 || 5–6 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques || Hextall || 8–12–1 || 17 ||
| 22 || November 20 || 7–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 9–12–1 || 19 ||
| 23 || November 22 || 1–6 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings || Hextall || 9–13–1 || 19 ||
| 24 || November 24 || 1–2 OT || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Laforest || 9–14–1 || 19 ||
| 25 || November 26 || 3–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || 9–15–1 || 19 ||
| 26 || November 27 || 3–7 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Laforest || 9–16–1 || 19 ||
| 27 || November 29 || 5–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Hextall || 10–16–1 || 21 ||
| 28 || December 1 || 2–2 OT || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Hextall || 10–16–2 || 22 ||
| 29 || December 3 || 5–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Laforest || 11–16–2 || 24 ||
| 30 || December 4 || 6–2 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Laforest || 12–16–2 || 26 ||
| 31 || December 6 || 3–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Laforest || 12–17–2 || 26 ||
| 32 || December 8 || 4–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || 13–17–2 || 28 ||
| 33 || December 10 || 6–4 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks || Hextall || 14–17–2 || 30 ||
| 34 || December 15 || 4–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || 15–17–2 || 32 ||
| 35 || December 17 || 7–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Hextall || 16–17–2 || 34 ||
| 36 || December 18 || 5–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets || Hextall || 17–17–2 || 36 ||
| 37 || December 22 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Hextall || 18–17–2 || 38 ||
| 38 || December 23 || 5–4 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers || Hextall || 19–17–2 || 40 ||
| 39 || December 27 || 3–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || 19–18–2 || 40 ||
| 40 || December 29 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || 20–18–2 || 42 ||
| 41 || December 31 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Hextall || 21–18–2 || 44 ||
| 42 || January 3 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Hextall || 22–18–2 || 46 ||
| 43 || January 5 || 3–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars || Hextall || 22–19–2 || 46 ||
| 44 || January 7 || 4–7 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues || Hextall || 22–20–2 || 46 ||
| 45 || January 10 || 3–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars || Hextall || 23–20–2 || 48 ||
| 46 || January 12 || 7–2 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques || Hextall || 24–20–2 || 50 ||
| 47 || January 15 || 4–8 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Laforest || 24–21–2 || 50 ||
| 48 || January 17 || 3–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks || Hextall || 24–22–2 || 50 ||
| 49 || January 20 || 1–1 OT || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers || Hextall || 24–22–3 || 51 ||
| 50 || January 21 || 7–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets || Hextall || 25–22–3 || 53 ||
| 51 || January 26 || 0–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || 25–23–3 || 53 ||
| 52 || January 28 || 7–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Hextall || 26–23–3 || 55 ||
| 53 || February 2 || 3–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || 26–24–3 || 55 ||
| 54 || February 5 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || 27–24–3 || 57 ||
| 55 || February 9 || 1–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers || Hextall || 27–25–3 || 57 ||
| 56 || February 11 || 3–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Hextall || 27–26–3 || 57 ||
| 57 || February 12 || 2–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks || Hextall || 27–27–3 || 57 ||
| 58 || February 14 || 3–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Hextall || 28–27–3 || 59 ||
| 59 || February 16 || 4–7 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Hextall || 28–28–3 || 59 ||
| 60 || February 18 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Hextall || 28–29–3 || 59 ||
| 61 || February 19 || 5–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Hextall || 29–29–3 || 61 ||
| 62 || February 22 || 6–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Hextall || 30–29–3 || 63 ||
| 63 || February 24 || 6–2 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 31–29–3 || 65 ||
| 64 || February 27 || 3–6 || align="left"| Calgary Flames || Hextall || 31–30–3 || 65 ||
| 65 || March 1 || 4–4 OT || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets || Hextall || 31–30–4 || 66 ||
| 66 || March 4 || 2–6 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Hextall || 31–31–4 || 66 ||
| 67 || March 7 || 4–4 OT || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers || Hextall || 31–31–5 || 67 ||
| 68 || March 9 || 4–4 OT || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Laforest || 31–31–6 || 68 ||
| 69 || March 11 || 7–2 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks || Laforest || 32–31–6 || 70 ||
| 70 || March 12 || 3–3 OT || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers || Laforest || 32–31–7 || 71 ||
| 71 || March 16 || 3–4 OT || align="left"| St. Louis Blues || Laforest || 32–32–7 || 71 ||
| 72 || March 18 || 3–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Wregget || 32–33–7 || 71 ||
| 73 || March 19 || 8–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Wregget || 33–33–7 || 73 ||
| 74 || March 22 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks || Hextall || 34–33–7 || 75 ||
| 75 || March 24 || 1–6 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || 34–34–7 || 75 ||
| 76 || March 25 || 6–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Hextall || 35–34–7 || 77 ||
| 77 || March 27 || 3–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 35–35–7 || 77 ||
| 78 || March 30 || 5–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || 36–35–7 || 79 ||
| 79 || April 1 || 2–2 OT || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Hextall || 36–35–8 || 80 ||
| 80 || April 2 || 5–6 OT || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || 36–36–8 || 80 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 5 || 2–3 OT || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || Capitals lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 6 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || Series tied 1–1 ||
| 3 || April 8 || 3–4 OT || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || Capitals lead 2–1 ||
| 4 || April 9 || 5–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || Series tied 2–2 ||
| 5 || April 11 || 8–5 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Hextall || Flyers lead 3–2 ||
| 6 || April 13 || 4–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || Flyers win 4–2 ||
| 1 || April 17 || 3–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || Penguins lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 19 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || Series tied 1–1 ||
| 3 || April 21 || 3–4 OT || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || Penguins lead 2–1 ||
| 4 || April 23 || 4–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || Series tied 2–2 ||
| 5 || April 25 || 7–10 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || Penguins lead 3–2 ||
| 6 || April 27 || 6–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || Series tied 3–3 ||
| 7 || April 29 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Wregget || Flyers win 4–3 ||
| 1 || May 1 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Wregget || Flyers lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || May 3 || 0–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Wregget || Series tied 1–1 ||
| 3 || May 5 || 1–5 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Wregget || Canadiens lead 2–1 ||
| 4 || May 7 || 0–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Hextall || Canadiens lead 3–1 ||
| 5 || May 9 || 2–1 OT || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Hextall || Canadiens lead 3–2 ||
| 6 || May 11 || 2–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Hextall || Canadiens win 4–2 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing