1988–89 Calgary Flames season



The 1988–89 Calgary Flames season was the 9th National Hockey League season in Calgary. The Flames finished 1st in the Smythe Division and won the only Stanley Cup in their history, defeating the Montreal Canadiens in the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals 4 games to 2.

Regular Season
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. The Flames capped off the season by capturing their first Stanley Cup championship, defeating the Montreal Canadiens in six games. In doing so, the Flames became the only visiting team to defeat the Canadiens to win the Stanley Cup at the Montreal Forum. 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. 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. 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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

Skaters
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.

‡Traded mid-season

Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

Awards and Records

 * Stanley Cup: Calgary Flames
 * Presidents' Trophy: Calgary Flames
 * Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Calgary Flames
 * Conn Smythe Trophy: Al MacInnis
 * Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Joe Mullen
 * NHL Plus-Minus Award: Joe Mullen
 * Joe Mullen, Right Wing, NHL First Team All-Star
 * Al MacInnis, Defense, NHL Second Team All-Star
 * Mike Vernon, Goalie, NHL Second Team All-Star

Transactions
The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1988–89 season.

Draft Picks
Calgary's picks at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, held in Montreal, Quebec.