On This Date in Sports May 25, 1989: Red Hot Flames
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
The Calgary Flames are burning bright after winning the Stanley Cup for the first time. The Flames in a rematch of the 1986 Stanley Cup Finals beat the Montreal Canadiens in six games, winning the finale at the Montreal Forum 4-2. Al MacInnis who became the first defenseman to lead the postseason in scoring wins the Conn Smythe as the NHL’s MVP of the playoffs.
After moving from Atlanta to Calgary in 1980, the Flames became one of the top teams in the Campbell Conference thanks to players like Lanny McDonald, Al MacInnis, and Joe Mullen. However, with Wayne Gretzky in the midst of leading the Edmonton Oilers to a dynasty, the Flames were often doused in the Smythe Division Finals. In 1986, the Flames would provide a one-year interruption of the Oilers run, as Steve Smith’s own goal led to an upset as Calgary went to the Stanley Cup Finals and lost to the Montreal Canadiens. Even with the disappointing finish as their music video suggested the Flames were red hot.
Following the trade of Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings, the Flames became the team to beat as the won the President’s Trophy with the best record for the 1988/89 season at 54-17-9 under Coach Terry Crisp. The Flames were pushed to the limit in the opening round of the playoffs, as they needed an overtime goal in Game 7 by Joel Otto to escape the Vancouver Canucks. For there it was much easier as Calgary swept Gretzky’s Kings and beat the Chicago Blackhawks in five games to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Montreal Canadiens meanwhile were the beasts of the East in 1989 under Coach Pat Burns, as they posted a record of 53-18-9 as Patrick Roy won the Vezina for the first time in his career. After sweeping the Hartford Whalers in the first round, the Canadiens resumed their postseason mastery of the Boston Bruins, winning the Adams Division Finals in five games. A year earlier, the Bruins ended a 17-series losing streak against the Habs. With this win, Montreal had won 18 of 19 playoff series against Boston dating back to 1946. The Canadiens would get to the Stanley Cup Finals after taking the Philadelphia Flyers in six games in Wales Conference Finals.
The Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames were the top two teams in the NHL all season, and the only teams to top 100 points in the standings. It was the second time in four years the teams met with the Stanley Cup on the line and stands, both series are the only two Stanley Cup Finals that have involved two teams from Canada since expansion in 1967.
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In Game 1 at the Olympic Saddledome, both teams got going quickly scoring a pair of goals in the first period as Al MacInnis scored twice for Calgary, while the Canadiens got a goal from Stephane Richer and Larry Robinson. In the second period, Theo Fleury the tiny rookie spark gave the Flames a 3-2 lead that would stand, as Mike Vernon stopped 29 of 31 shots. Vernon was shaky in Game 2, as the Canadiens won 4-2 to even the series. The Canadiens had again scored early with Robinson scoring in the first period, while Bobby Smith scored in the second. However, the Flames roared back with goals by Joe Nieuwendyk and Joel Otto to tie the game. In the third, it was all Montreal as the Canadiens got goals from Chris Chelios and Russ Cournall to win the game.
As the series shifted to the Montreal Forum, the Canadiens got an early tally from Mike McPhee. However, Calgary held a 2-1 lead after two periods, thanks to a pair of goals by Joe Mullen. Bobby Smith tied the game, early in the third with Doug Gilmour again putting the Flames in front. As time was ticking away, Montreal tied the on a Mats Naslund goal forcing overtime. From there the teams battled late into a second overtime before Ryan Walter won the game for the Canadiens 4-3. Down 2-1 in the series, the Flames clamped down on defense in Game 4, limiting the Canadiens to just 19 shots. Meanwhile, Gilmour scored the game’s first goal midway through the second period, with Mullen later making it 2-0. In the third period, the Flames answered every time they had to as Russ Courtnall cut the lead in half only for Al MacInnis to make it 3-1. When Claude Lemieux scored with 27 seconds left to give the Canadiens a shot to tie the game, it was Mullen again putting it away in a chippy battle to even the series with a 4-2 win.
Back in Calgary, Game 5 proved to be the swing game of the series as Joel Otto, Joe Mullen and Al MacInnis scored first period goals for the Flames, s the Canadiens were unable to recover, losing 3-2, as goals by Bobby Smith and Mike Keane were not enough for the Canadiens.
In 65 years of hockey at the Montreal Forum, only once before had a visiting team skated with the Stanley Cup, and that was the New York Rangers in 1928 after beating the Montreal Maroons. The Canadiens had never let an opposing to team win hockey’s Holy Grail on their hallowed ice. Collin Peterson gave the Flames a 1-0 lead with a goal late in the first period. After Claude Lemieux tied the game in the second, it was Lanny McDonald with his only goal of the playoffs to give the Flames a 2-1 lead they would take into the third period. As their defense frustrated the Canadiens, the Flames added to the lead when Doug Gilmour tapped in his own rebound. Rick Green kept hope alive in Montreal with a goal less than a minute later, but the Flames were not to be denied. Gilmour scored into the empty net with just over a minute left to clinch the cup as the Flames won the game and the series 4-2.
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The Flames were unique in 1989 in that three players split the captain, duties, Lanny McDonald, the old grizzled veteran with the famous bushy red mustache raised the Stanley Cup with Jim Peplinski and Tim Hunter. It would be the crowning glory for McDonald’s 16-year career as he retired following the game, scoring exactly 500 goals in his career.