1988–89 Calgary Flames season

NHLTeamSeason
Season=1988–89
Team=Calgary Flames
Conference=Campbell
ConferenceRank=1st
Division=Smythe
DivisionRank=1st
Record=54–17–9
HomeRecord=32–4–4
RoadRecord=22–13–5
GoalsFor=354 (2nd)
GoalsAgainst=226 (2nd)
GeneralManager=Cliff Fletcher
Coach=Terry Crisp
Captain=Lanny McDonald
Jim Peplinski
AltCaptain=Tim Hunter
Arena=Olympic Saddledome
Attendance=19,458
GoalsLeader=Joe Mullen (51)
Joe Nieuwendyk (51)
AssistsLeader=Joe Mullen (59)
Doug Gilmour (59)
PointsLeader=Joe Mullen (110)
PIMLeader=Tim Hunter (375)
WinsLeader=Mike Vernon (37)
GAALeader=Mike Vernon (2.65)
StanleyCup=Yes
PresidentsTrophy=Yes
ConferenceWin=Yes
DivisionWin=Yes

The 1988–89 Calgary Flames season was the 9th National Hockey League season in Calgary. The Flames once again dominated the regular season, capturing their second consecutive Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular season club, dropping only four games at home all year. [1988–89 season, "2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide", pg.123.] The Flames capped off the season by capturing their first Stanley Cup championship, defeating the Montreal Canadiens in six games.Duhatschek, Eric, [http://www.collectionscanada.ca/hockey/024002–119.01-e.php?&hockey_id_nbr=186&&PHPSESSID=cekg0fujessppq1bdvbhudt7d7 Stanley Cup: Ours at last] , Calgary Herald, reproduced by collectionscanada.ca, May 26, 1989] In doing so, the Flames became the only visiting team to defeat the Canadiens to win the Stanley Cup at the Montreal Forum.McGourty, John, [http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/history/cup/mcdonald052301.html Lanny, Stanley into the sunset] , nhl.com, May 23, 2001] Al MacInnis won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, and at 31 points, became the first defenceman to lead the NHL in post-season scoring. [Flames rule Canadiens' Forum for first Stanley Cup, "Greatest Moments in Calgary Flames Hockey History, pgs. 79–80] The win also gave Flames co-owner, Sonia Scurfield, the distinction of being the first (and remains the only) Canadian woman to have her name engraved on Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Calgary's only serious challenge in the playoffs came in the first round against the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks, who finished 43 points behind the Flames, took Calgary to overtime of the seventh game of the Smythe Division semi-final before the Flames finally eliminated their Western Canadian rival. Goaltender Mike Vernon's glove save off a Stan Smyl partial breakaway in overtime of the seventh game remains a defining moment in Flames history. [McGourty, John, [http://www.calgaryflames.com/cgi-bin/news/comments.cgi?type=newsroom&file_num=0000001157 Talent, desire came in a small package in Vernon] , calgaryflames.com] Calgary would sweep the Los Angeles Kings to win the Smythe Division title, before defeating the Chicago Blackhawks in five games to win their second Clarence S. Campbell Bowl. [ [http://www.calgaryflames.com/history/yearbyyear/88_89.html 1988–89 season] , calgaryflames.com]

Lanny McDonald, the sentimental favourite to win the Cup, scored the go-ahead goal for the Flames in the clinching game, giving the Flames a lead they would not relinquish. McDonald, who scored his 500th career goal, and 1000th point during the season, announced following the season that he was retiring a champion after 16 seasons in the National Hockey League. McDonald would be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame three years later. [ [http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=P199204#photo Honoured Member:Lanny McDonald] , legendsofhockey.net]

The off-season also featured the surprising retirement of former 50-goal scorer Hakan Loob, who announced during the season that he had chosen to return to his native Sweden so that his son could grow up in his homeland. [ [http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1980/80181.html Hakan Loob] , hockeydraftcentral.com] On the flip side, however, Soviet star Sergei Pryakhin played three games with the Flames in 1988–89. Pryakhin was the first player from the Soviet national team to ever be permitted by the Soviet government to play in the NHL, helping to pave the way for the "European invasion" of the NHL that would follow. [Dolezar, John A., [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2002/09/27/soviet_legacy/ Sweeping changes] , cnnsi.com, September 27, 2002]

Joe Mullen captured his second Lady Byng Trophy for gentlemanly conduct, while also being named an NHL First Team All-Star. Al MacInnis and Mike Vernon were named to the Second All-Star team. Four players represented the Flames at the 1989 All-Star Game: Gary Suter and Joe Nieuwendyk joined Mullen and Vernon on the Campbell Conference squad. [All-Stars and Trophy Winners, "2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide", pgs. 22–23]

Regular season

eason standings

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Playoffs

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Player stats

katers

"Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes"

Free Agents

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, held in Montreal, Quebec. [ [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr000043.html Calgary Flames draft history] , hockeydb.com, accessed June 15, 2007]

ee also

*1988–89 NHL season

References

*Player stats: "2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide", pg 123
*Game log: "2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide", pg 139
*Team standings: [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/nhl19271989.html 1988–89 NHL standings] @hockeydb.com
*Trades: Individual player pages at [http://www.hockeydb.com hockeydb.com]