I am pretty sure we could do a Top Ten against Toronto alone.
I will give this more thought but upon first glance...
RED AND BOLD You have omitted one very critical series and that is
Bill Barber against Minnesota in 1980. I will put it among the best defensive series by any forward and the fact that he scored nine goals -- including an NHL record three shorties -- is exemplary. That one game where he scored a SHG, PPG and EvenSG... wow the Met Center was raucous. Flyers up 4-0, North Stars score three and on the PP with what four minutes to play and here came Barber yet again.
1985 NYR: Tim Kerr. This was one of the few times I will use the reference men against boys.
1987 Montreal: Pelle Eklund was a superstar!
1987 NYI: Mark Howe and Brad McCrimmon
Bob Dailey in 1977 especially against
Toronto. It wasn't too far thereafter when he was compared to both Denis Potvin and Larry Robinson by outsiders. He deserves at least an HM.
2008 Washington: Danny Briere.
1974 NYR: The entire second line of
Lonsberry-MacLeish-Dorhoefer. If it wasn't for their contributions, they don't win that series.
Bobby Clarke needs to be referenced at least once and I nominate
1974 vs. Boston.
For sleepers:
- Joe Paterson against Quebec in 1985.
- Ken Wregget against Pittsburgh in 1989. The pressure than man must have been under and to perform the way he did. Maybe it was better he didn't have time to think about it.
- Dave Poulin against NYI in 1987. One game played, two points. The one game was Game 7. The Flyers' version of Willis Reed.
For fillers:
- Rick MacLeish in 1975 against NYI.
- Reggie Leach against Toronto (well every opponent -- Conn Smythe despite being swept in the Finals) in 1976.
- Pete Peeters 1980 NYR. He was nearly invincible.