The 2011–12 Philadelphia Flyers season was the franchise's 45th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the second round of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs to their local rivals, the New Jersey Devils, in five games.
In July 2011, veteran Jaromir Jagr joined the Flyers as a free agent, his first time in the NHL since the 2007–08 season. The season was also Chris Pronger's last in the NHL. After appearing in three Stanley Cup Final series and winning one with the 2006–07 Anaheim Ducks, Pronger had not played since November 2011 after battling several injuries and suffering from post-concussion syndrome. In 2013, Claude Giroux would replace Pronger as the Flyers' captain.
Off-season Following his penchant for making big moves, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren pulled off perhaps the most stunning move of his tenure, trading captain Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds and a 2012 second-round draft pick, as well as Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets for their 2011 first-round pick (Sean Couturier) and Jakub Voracek, all within the span of one hour on June 23. Later that same day, Holmgren addressed the Flyers' long-standing goaltending issues by signing the Phoenix Coyotes' Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year, $51 million contract. On July 1, the Flyers signed Jaromir Jagr to a one-year contract, Maxime Talbot to a five-year contract and Andreas Lilja to a two-year contract.
Regular season Chris Pronger was named the Flyers' captain; however, 13 games into the season, he was lost for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs with severe post-concussion syndrome.
Bryzgalov's play ranged from spectacular to subpar, including being benched in favor of Sergei Bobrovsky for the Flyers' 3–2 loss to the New York Rangers in the 2012 Winter Classic. Twelve rookies played for the Flyers during the season, with the play of Sean Couturier, Brayden Schenn and Matt Read standing out impressively.
The Flyers concluded the regular season with the most powerplay opportunities of all teams (335), the most powerplay goals scored (66) and the most powerplay opportunities against (319).
Season standings
Playoffs The Flyers drew the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs, a series in which the two teams combined for an NHL-record 45 goals in the first four games and a total of 309 penalty minutes in an intense, fight-filled series. The Flyers pulled off the upset in six games against a Pittsburgh team that was heavily favored to win the Stanley Cup. But in the second round against the New Jersey Devils, the Flyers' run-and-gun style of play was stymied by the Devils' forechecking and defense, and the Flyers were eliminated in five games. Claude Giroux missed the fifth and deciding game after being suspended for a hit to the head of New Jersey's Dainius Zubrus late in game four.
Schedule and results
Preseason
| 1 || September 20 || 4–0 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Bobrovsky || 18,480 || 1–0–0 ||
| 2 || September 21 || 2–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Bryzgalov || 19,452 || 1–1–0 ||
| 3 || September 22 || 3–4 (SO) || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Leighton || n/a || 1–1–1 ||
| 4 || September 23 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Bobrovsky || 14,310 || 2–1–1 ||
| 5 || September 26 || 5–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Bryzgalov || 19,657 || 3–1–1 ||
| 6 || September 29 || 2–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Bobrovsky || 19,722 || 4–1–1 ||
| 7 || October 1 || 1–2 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Bryzgalov || 12,729 || 4–2–1 || |- | colspan="8" style="text-align:center;"| Notes: Game played at John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario.
Legend:
Regular season
| 1 || October 6 || 2–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Bryzgalov || 17,565 || 1–0–0|| 2 ||
| 2 || October 8 || 3–0 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Bryzgalov || 17,625 || 2–0–0 || 4 ||
| 3 || October 12 || 5–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks || Bryzgalov || 19,632 || 3–0–0 || 6 ||
| 4 || October 15 || 2–3 (OT) || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings || Bryzgalov || 19,644 || 3–0–1 || 7 ||
| 5 || October 18 || 7–2 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Bobrovsky || 18,059 || 4–0–1 || 9 ||
| 6 || October 20 || 2–5 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Bryzgalov || 19,658 || 4–1–1 || 9 ||
| 7 || October 22 || 2–4 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues || Bryzgalov || 19,593 || 4–2–1 || 9 ||
| 8 || October 24 || 4–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Bobrovsky || 19,569 || 5–2–1 || 11 ||
| 9 || October 26 || 1–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Bryzgalov || 21,273 || 5–3–1 || 11 ||
| 10 || October 27 || 8–9 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets || Bryzgalov || 19,588 || 5–4–1|| 11 ||
| 11 || October 29 || 5–1 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes || Bryzgalov || 19,683 || 6–4–1 || 13 ||
| 12 || November 2 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Bryzgalov || 18,299 || 7–4–1 || 15 ||
| 13 || November 3 || 3–4 (SO) || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Bobrovsky || 19,667 || 7–4–2 || 16 ||
| 14 || November 5 || 9–2 || align="left"| Columbus Blue Jackets || Bryzgalov || 19,784 || 8–4–2 || 18 ||
| 15 || November 9 || 1–2 (OT) || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning || Bryzgalov || 19,204 || 8–4–3 || 19 ||
| 16 || November 13 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers || Bryzgalov || 15,215 || 9–4–3 || 21 ||
| 17 || November 14 || 5–3 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes || Bobrovsky || 14,491 || 10–4–3 || 23 ||
| 18 || November 17 || 2–1 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes || Bryzgalov || 19,610 || 11–4–3 || 25 ||
| 19 || November 19 || 4–6 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets || Bobrovsky || 15,004 || 11–5–3 || 25 ||
| 20 || November 21 || 2–4 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes || Bryzgalov || 19,632 || 11–6–3 || 25 ||
| 21 || November 23 || 4–3 (OT) || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Bobrovsky || 11,086 || 12–6–3 || 27 ||
| 22 || November 25 || 3–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Bobrovsky || 19,991 || 13–6–3 || 29 ||
| 23 || November 26 || 0–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Bobrovsky || 18,200 || 13–7–3 || 29 ||
| 24 || December 2 || 4–3 (OT) || align="left"| @ Anaheim Ducks || Bryzgalov || 15,975 || 14–7–3 || 31 ||
| 25 || December 3 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes || Bryzgalov || 14,913 || 15–7–3 || 33 ||
| 26 || December 7 || 5–4 (OT) || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Bryzgalov || 18,690 || 16–7–3 || 35 ||
| 27 || December 8 || 3–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Bryzgalov || 19,936 || 17–7–3 || 37 ||
| 28 || December 10 || 5–2 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning || Bryzgalov || 19,772 || 18–7–3|| 39 ||
| 29 || December 13 || 5–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Bryzgalov || 18,506 || 19–7–3 || 41 ||
| 30 || December 15 || 4–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Bobrovsky || 21,273 || 20–7–3 || 43 ||
| 31 || December 17 || 0–6 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Bryzgalov || 19,948 || 20–8–3 || 43 ||
| 32 || December 19 || 2–3 (SO) || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche || Bryzgalov || 14,889 || 20–8–4 || 44 ||
| 33 || December 21 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars || Bobrovsky || 15,061 || 21–8–4 || 46 ||
| 34 || December 23 || 2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Bryzgalov || 18,200 || 21–9–4 || 46 ||
| 35 || December 27 || 1–5 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning || Bryzgalov || 19,204 || 21–10–4 || 46 ||
| 36 || December 29 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Bobrovsky || 18,602 || 22–10–4 || 48 ||
| 37 || January 2 || 2–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Bobrovsky || 46,967 || 22–11–4 || 48 ||
| 38 || January 5 || 5–4 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks || Bryzgalov || 19,877 || 23–11–4 || 50 ||
| 39 || January 7 || 3–2 (OT) || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Bryzgalov || 19,792 || 24–11–4 || 52 ||
| 40 || January 8 || 4–6 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Bryzgalov || 20,028 || 24–12–4 || 52 ||
| 41 || January 10 || 2–1 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes || Bobrovsky || 14,511 || 25–12–4 || 54 ||
| 42 || January 12 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Bobrovsky || 11,751 || 26–12–4 || 56 ||
| 43 || January 14 || 2–4 || align="left"| @ Nashville Predators || Bryzgalov || 17,113 || 26–13–4 || 56 ||
| 44 || January 17 || 5–1 || align="left"| Minnesota Wild || Bryzgalov || 19,787 || 27–13–4 || 58 ||
| 45 || January 19 || 1–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Bobrovsky || 19,796 || 27–14–4 || 58 ||
| 46 || January 21 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Bryzgalov || 16,251 || 28–14–4 || 60 ||
| 47 || January 22 || 5–6 (SO) || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Bryzgalov || 19,851 || 28–14–5 || 61 ||
| 48 || January 24 || 3–2 (SO) || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers || Bobrovsky || 17,737 || 29–14–5 || 63 ||
| 49 || January 31 || 1–2 (SO) || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets || Bryzgalov || 19,874 || 29–14–6 || 64 || |- | colspan="11" style="text-align:center;"| Notes: 2012 NHL Winter Classic played at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| 50 || February 2 || 4–1 || align="left"| Nashville Predators || Bryzgalov || 19,823 || 30–14–6 || 66 ||
| 51 || February 4 || 4–6 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Bobrovsky || 19,862 || 30–15–6 || 66 ||
| 52 || February 5 || 2–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Bryzgalov || 18,200 || 30–16–6 || 66 ||
| 53 || February 7 || 0–1 (SO) || align="left"| New York Islanders || Bryzgalov || 19,614 || 30–16–7 || 67 ||
| 54 || February 9 || 4–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Bobrovsky || 19,684 || 31–16–7 || 69 ||
| 55 || February 11 || 2–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Bobrovsky || 19,915 || 31–17–7 || 69 ||
| 56 || February 12 || 3–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Bobrovsky || 20,066 || 31–18–7 || 69 ||
| 57 || February 16 || 7–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Bryzgalov || 19,725 || 32–18–7 || 71 ||
| 58 || February 18 || 4–6 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Bobrovsky || 19,958 || 32–19–7 || 71 ||
| 59 || February 21 || 5–4 (OT) || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets || Bryzgalov || 15,004 || 33–19–7 || 73 ||
| 60 || February 23 || 0–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers || Bryzgalov || 16,839 || 33–20–7 || 73 ||
| 61 || February 25 || 5–4 (SO) || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames || Bryzgalov || 19,289 || 34–20–7 || 75 ||
| 62 || February 28 || 0–1 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks || Bryzgalov || 17,562 || 34–21–7 || 75 ||
| 63 || March 1 || 6–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Bryzgalov || 19,674 || 35–21–7 || 77 ||
| 64 || March 4 || 1–0 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Bryzgalov || 18,506 || 36–21–7 || 79 ||
| 65 || March 6 || 3–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Bryzgalov || 19,892 || 37–21–7 || 81 ||
| 66 || March 8 || 5–0 || align="left"| Florida Panthers || Bryzgalov || 19,675 || 38–21–7 || 83 ||
| 67 || March 10 || 1–0 (SO) || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Bryzgalov || 19,559 || 39–21–7 || 85 ||
| 68 || March 11 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Bobrovsky || 15,107 || 39–22–7 || 85 ||
| 69 || March 13 || 3–0 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Bryzgalov || 19,724 || 40–22–7 || 87 ||
| 70 || March 15 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Bryzgalov || 13,827 || 41–22–7 || 89 ||
| 71 || March 17 || 2–3 (SO) || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Bryzgalov || 17,565 || 41–22–8 || 90 ||
| 72 || March 18 || 3–2 (OT) || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Bryzgalov || 19,927 || 42–22–8 || 92 ||
| 73 || March 20 || 1–2 || align="left"| Florida Panthers || Bryzgalov || 19,568 || 42–23–8 || 92 ||
| 74 || March 22 || 2–1 (SO) || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Bryzgalov || 19,948 || 43–23–8|| 94 ||
| 75 || March 24 || 4–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Bryzgalov || 19,931 || 44–23–8 || 96 ||