By the Numbers: Back-to-Back Glory—How the Philadelphia Flyers Changed the NHL Map Forever in ’75
From the 1967 expansion until 1973, the Stanley Cup remained the exclusive property of the "Original Six" powerhouses. That tradition finally shattered in 1974 when the Philadelphia Flyers hoisted the trophy. And—again, in 1975—Philadelphia continued its winning ways by hoisting the Stanley Cup for a second consecutive season.
‘75: Breaking the “Original Six” Stranglehold
By capturing their second consecutive Stanley Cup, the Philadelphia Flyers proved they weren't just a flash in the pan. Winning in '75 was the ultimate statement to the hockey world: the expansion era had truly arrived, and Philadelphia was holding the crown with a grip that wouldn't slip. They proved an expansion team could outwork and out-save traditional “Original Six” powerhouses (e.g., Montreal, Toronto, Boston).
The Wall: Two Seasons of “Parent Perfection”
While captain Bobby Clarke provided the grit and leadership up front, the backbone of this Flyers’ dynasty was undoubtedly Bernie Parent. Many hockey historians refer to Parent’s 1973-74 and 1974-75 campaigns as the greatest two-year stretch a netminder has ever produced. The numbers help tell the story. In ‘75, for the second consecutive year, Parent achieved a feat that remains the gold standard for individual dominance. He swept the three biggest prizes a goalie can win:
Stanley Cup: Philadelphia Flyers (Back-to-Back in 1974 & 1975)
Vezina Trophy: Bernie Parent (Back-to-Back in 1974 & 1975)
Conn Smythe Trophy: Bernie Parent (Back-to-Back 1974 & 1975)
Parent: Clinching with a Zero
Bernie Parent seemed to have an uncanny knack for rising to the occasion when the pressure was highest. Just as he had shut out the Boston Bruins to win the Cup in ’74 with a 30-save performance, he delivered another masterpiece in Game 6 of the ‘75 Finals against the Buffalo Sabres. Facing 32 shots, Parent was a "Wall"—leading the Flyers to a 2-0 shutout victory.
By winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in back-to-back seasons, he became the first player in NHL history to do so—a feat later matched only by Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby. As we look at the significance of the number ‘75 in NHL history, we remember 1975 as the year the Philadelphia Flyers sat atop the hockey world, led by a man who simply refused to let the puck pass. In the history of the crease, ‘75 belongs to Bernie Parent.