December 31, 1997
As the schedule has normally placed the Flyers on a West coast swing over the holidays for many years, the 1997-98 season was no different. After an uninspiring loss in Calgary, 5-2, and a tough 3-1 win in Edmonton, the Flyers looked to close out the trip in Vancouver on a winning note.
I think an 8-0 drubbing would do the trick.
In a game that gave you plenty of Flyers scoring, fighting and John LeClair hitting the 30-goal mark, the orange and black dominated the Canucks for 60 minutes.
Eric Lindros notched four assists as he gave out helpers on three of the four first-period goals for the Flyers. Lindros assisted on goals by Trent Klatt, LeClair — his 30th on the year — and Pat Falloon. The other goal was an unassisted tally, the ninth of the year by Chris Gratton.
Although there were no goals scored in the second period, there was plenty of action as Brantt Myhres, Colin Forbes and even Petr Svoboda all dropped the gloves as the game started to get "chippy" as they say. Tough guys Gino Odjick and Scott Walker for the Canucks were involved as they tried to do anything to spark their club.
A fantastic pair of saves by goalie Ron Hextall on the "Russian Rocket" Pavel Bure from a breakaway chance kept the Canucks off the scoreboard.
In the third period, Forbes scored at 4:51 to make it 5-0 and the rout was on. Less than two minutes later, Daniel Lacroix would get his first of the year, beating Canucks goalie Corey Hirsch on a two-on-one to make it 6-0. Odjick gave the Flyers another power play, and LeClair would get number 31 on the season to make it 7-0.
This goal was a microcosm to the game, which was a complete embarrassment to the Canucks and its captain, Mark Messier.
The Big E would set up LeClair off a quick two on one after a face-off right outside the Canucks blue line. Lindros won the draw through the legs of Messier and by the time he could figure out what happened, No. 88 was 20 feet behind him. He feathered over a pass to LeClair and he buried past Hirsch to make it a touchdown lead.
To rub a little more salt in on the wound, just over three minutes later, Forbes scored his second of the game on the power play to complete the 8-0 rout.
It was a great way to leave 1997 and enter into 1998 for the Flyers. You can see the highlights, fights and great action from this blowout win below.
Mike Watson is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @Mwats_99.
