In the 1984/85 season, Pelle Lindbergh was at the peak of his career.
He led the Philadelphia Flyers to three games from the title – and made a penalty save that is still talked about today.
This was the season when Pelle Lindbergh from Södermalm in Stockholm went from a promising goaltender to a superstar in the NHL.
Met Edmonton in the final
Lindbergh was the single biggest reason why a very young and inexperienced Philadelphia Flyers roared all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in the spring of 1985.
There they faced the then impossible Edmonton Oilers, led by a certain Wayne Gretzky. The Flyers failed to disrupt the Oilers enough in the Finals, but Lindbergh was still praised.
He was named the NHL’s best goaltender and the Vezina Trophy, and was also close to taking home the Hart Trophy.
The highlights of the regular season were many, but one game and one save has stuck with Flyers fans a little extra.
Got the chance for a penalty
It was a game against the Minnesota North Stars in November and Scott Bjugstad was called a penalty, something that didn’t happen often in the 80s.
Bjugstad also does everything right. He actually fools Pelle Lindbergh completely – but still not.
Another detail that all hockey lovers will notice: check how little protection the goalies had at the time. How little Lindbergh covers with just the shields. It’s like hockey was a completely different sport.
See the punishment in this feature: