[Sctvman]

The Philadelphia Flyers began their first season in the National League, the 1947-48 season, with low expectations. Almost no one expected any more than a last-place finish in seventh, maybe beating the Black Hawks or somebody else for sixth.

They hoped to stop that with their first two games being a tough gauntlet, at Toronto, the defending Stanley Cup champions, followed by a home game against their potential rival coming up, the Rangers.

The new WFIL-TV Channel 6 would initially pick up ten home games and broadcast the entire game around the Delaware Valley, with more potentially coming to help introduce the sport of hockey to new viewers.

What happened in the first two games of the season shocked every observer of the NHL, and even the players on the Flyers themselves.

9/20: PHI 9, TOR 6; Goals- PHI: Burlington 2 (2), Bauer 2 (2), Evanshen (1), Halder (1), Hellyer (1), Smith (1), Rittinger (1); TOR: Apps 3 (3), Bodnar (1), Watson (1), Thomson (1); A- 14,550

A shocking outcome in Maple Leaf Gardens, as the Flyers were down 3-0 1:45 into the game, including two goals in the first 24 seconds, but came all the way back, scoring six goals in the 2nd period. The Flyers scored seven in a row between the 2nd and start of the 3rd period.

All of the goals were also at even strength making it even more shocking. The Maple Leafs got a hat trick from Syl Apps, including a short-handed goal, but it was not enough to stop the potent Philly attack. Only two dressed players, Clare Martin and Cliff Thompson did not get a point.