On May 31^st, 1983 Moses Malone led the Sixers to their 3^rd NBA Championship in franchise history. The Sixers beat the New York Knicks 4 games to none, the Milwaukee Bucks 4 games to 1, and swept the Lakers 4 games to none to win the NBA Title.  It was the 4^th Finals appearance for the Sixers in 7 years, and the win gave Philadelphia its 4^th Championship in ten years (Flyers 1974 and 1975, Phillies 1980).    It would be 25 years before Philly tasted another championship. 

On May 30^th, 1985 the 1984-85 NHL season came to a close as the Flyers were beaten 8-3 by the Edmonton Oilers losing the Stanley Cup Final 4 games to 1.  The Flyers took game 1 of the series, but lost the next 4.   The Flyers led the league in points that season with 113, and Pelle Lindbergh won the Vezina Trophy. Oilers Wayne Gretzky had an insane 208 points, and Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year.  

Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay threw a perfect game vs Florida Marlins on May 29^th, 2010.   It was just the 20th perfect game in MLB history and just the 8th in the NL.  Halladay retired all 27 batters he faced, striking out 11.  

Flyers defenseman Ed Van Impe was born on this date, May 27^th, in 1940 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Van Impe was the Flyers 2nd team captain, and played on both Flyers Stanley Cup Championship teams. Van Impe is also remembered for his hit on Soviet Red Army forward Valeri Kharlamov in the 1976 Super Series, prompting the Soviets to leave the ice. Van Impe won his 2nd Stanley Cup on his 35th birthday!  Van Impe turns 78 today! Happy Birthday Eddie!

On May 27^th, 1975 the Flyers defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-0  in game six of the Stanley Cup Final to win their 2^nd consecutive Stanley Cup Championship. Flyers Bob “the hound” Kelly out-muscled Sabres defenseman King Kong Korab  behind the net and slid the puck behind Sabres netminder Gerry Desjardins just 11 seconds into the 3rd period.  Bill Clement added an insurance goal late in the period, and Bernie Parent shut the door on the Sabres.  The series had a very unusual game #3. Sabres center Jim Lorentz killed a bat with his stick, and the hot day in Buffalo, coupled with no air conditioning in The Aud made for a foggy ice surface. Buffalo won the fog game 4-2, but the Flyers won the series 4-2. Bernie Parent was awarded his 2nd Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. 

On this date… Flyers #25 Peter Zezel passed away on May 26th, 2009 at the age of 44. Zezel was not only a gifted hockey player, he was an outstanding soccer player as well. Zezel debuted with the Flyers as a 19 year old for the 1984-85 season that also featured rookies Derrick Smith and Rick Tocchet and a Stanley Cup Finals run. Zezel appeared in the 1986 movie Youngblood, and was 1st cousins with guitarist Alex Lifeson of Rush.

On May 25^th, 1997 the Flyers defeated the New York Rangers 4-2 to win their Eastern Conference Championship 4 games to 1. Eric Lindros had a hat trick in game 3, and 5 goals in the series. It was the 1^st time the Flyers defeated a Wayne Gretzky-led team in the postseason. The win sent the Flyers to their 7th Stanley Cup Final.

On May 24^th, 1980 the Flyers fell to the New York Islanders 5-4 in overtime and lost their Stanley Cup Finals series 4 games to 2. It was a disappointing loss after the Flyers 116-point regular season and record 35-game unbeaten streak. Flyers fans will always remember the missed offside call that could have changed the outcome. Linesman Leon Stickle acknowledged the missed call and apologized afterward.  A coach’s challenge back then would’ve been nice!

@phillybynumbers

On May 24th, 2010 the Flyers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 to win their Eastern Conference Championship 4 games to 1. The series featured 3 shutouts by Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton. The win sent the Flyers to their 8th Stanley Cup Finals appearance. @phillybynumbers

On May 24^th, 1935, in Cincinnati, the Phillies played in the first ever night game in MLB history. The Cincinnati Reds won the game 2-1.