Skip to content
Flyers
Link copied to clipboard

Unlucky No. 7: A quick look at the Flyers and the other teams that have gone through seven goalies

Mike McKenna became the seventh goaltender to play for the Flyers this season, tying a record matched by only three other teams.

The Flyers tied an NHL record in Tuesday night's loss to Washington. By giving Mike McKenna the start, he became the seventh goaltender to play for the team this season. (Nick Wass / AP Photo)
The Flyers tied an NHL record in Tuesday night's loss to Washington. By giving Mike McKenna the start, he became the seventh goaltender to play for the team this season. (Nick Wass / AP Photo)Read moreNick Wass / AP
    by Nick Tricome
    Updated 
    Published 

The Flyers’ long run of goalie issues have been at their worst this season.

With Mike McKenna’s start in Washington on Tuesday, he became the seventh goaltender to play for the Flyers in the 2018-19 campaign, tying an NHL record reached by just three other teams (the 2007-08 Los Angeles Kings, the 2002-03 St. Louis Blues and the 1989-90 Quebec Nordiques).

It’s not exactly a record you want attached to your club’s name, especially when the Flyers reached it just over halfway through the season. It isn’t one that bodes well for playoff hopes either, as the 2002-2003 Blues are the only ones to have made postseason despite their instability in goal.

Injuries, quick-fix waiver claims and call-ups and the sooner-than-expected arrival of Carter Hart have led the Flyers to this point. Here’s how they compare to the other three teams that had to use just as many goalies...

2018-2019 Philadelphia Flyers

15-22-6 (36 points), 8th in Metropolitan Division

Brian Elliott
GP
14
GS
13
W-L-OTL
6-7-0
SA
384
SVS
350
GA
34
SV%
.911
GAA
2.59
SO
1
Calvin Pickard
GP
11
GS
8
W-L-OTL
4-2-2
SA
227
SVS
196
GA
31
SV%
.863
GAA
4.0
SO
1
Carter Hart
GP
6
GS
6
W-L-OTL
2-3-1
SA
151
SVS
136
GA
15
SV%
.901
GAA
2.80
SO
0
Anthony Stolarz
GP
9
GS
7
W-L-OTL
2-3-2
SA
242
SVS
213
GA
29
SV%
.880
GAA
3.90
SO
0
Michal Neuvirth
GP
7
GS
6
W-L-OTL
1-4-1
SA
184
SVS
158
GA
26
SV%
.859
GAA
4.27
SO
0
Alex Lyon
GP
2
GS
1
W-L-OTL
0-1-0
SA
31
SVS
25
GA
6
SV%
.806
GAA
5.08
SO
0
Mike McKenna
GP
1
GS
1
W-L-OTL
0-1-0
SA
25
SVS
21
GA
4
SV%
.840
GAA
4.00
SO
0

Of note...

  1. The Flyers have allowed the third most goals in the NHL (155) following Tuesday’s loss.

2007-2008 Los Angeles Kings

32-43-7 (71 points), 5th in Pacific Division, missed playoffs

Of note...

  1. Jonathan Quick, at 21 years old, made his debut in an 8-2 win over Buffalo on Dec. 6, 2007. He stopped 15 of 17 shots, but would only appear in two more games for the 2007-08 campaign. He started in half the Kings' games the next season and emerged as their full-time starter going forward.

  2. Los Angeles gave up 263 goals, the third most in the NHL for the year.

2002-2003 St. Louis Blues

41-24-11-6 (99 points), 2nd in Central Division, made playoffs (lost first round to Vancouver in seven games)

1989-90 Quebec Nordiques

12-61-7 (31 points), 5th in Adams Division, missed playoffs

Of note...

  1. Quebec allowed 407 goals that season, the most in the NHL.

  2. Flyers interim coach Scott Gordon played 10 of his 23 NHL games for the Nordiques that season. He has a career .830 save percentage and a 5.60 goals against average.