The 1988–89 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' 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

Playoffs

Player statistics

Scoring

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Among the team records set during the 1988–89 season was a trio of powerplay goal records on October 13. Brian Propp tied a team record by scoring three of the Flyers six powerplay goals in the game (also tied for the team record), including four overall by the team in the second period, which set the team record for a single period. From March 1 to March 19, Rick Tocchet scored a goal in a team record nine consecutive games. On March 7, Tim Kerr scored eight seconds into the start of a game, the fastest in team history. Ron Hextall set an NHL record for most penalty minutes (113) by a goaltender in a single season. The Flyers set a team record for most powerplay goals (98) and tied another for fewest shutouts (0). During game five of the division final playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Flyers allowed six goals during the first period, tying a team record, and ten goals during the game, setting a team record that was later tied. Pelle Eklund tied an NHL playoff record during the game for fastest goal from the start of a period, scoring six second into the second period. Kerr set team records for most goals (10), points (15), and powerplay goals (5) during the series. The Flyers also set records during the series for most shorthanded goals (4) and most penalties (94). In game one of the conference finals against the Montreal Canadiens, the Flyers tied a team record for most shorthanded goals scored (2). Tim Kerr set a team record during the playoffs for most powerplay goals scored (8) while Mark Howe's 15 assists is a franchise high among defensemen. The seven shorthanded goals scored and 610 penalty minutes by the team are franchise playoff highs.

Milestones

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 27, 1988, the day after the deciding game of the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 25, 1989, the day of the deciding game of the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

NHL entry draft

Philadelphia's picks at the 1988 NHL entry draft, which was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, on June 11, 1988.

NHL supplemental draft

Philadelphia's picks at the 1988 NHL supplemental draft.

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Hershey Bears of the AHL.