1988–89 NHL season

National Hockey League season

The 1988–89 NHL season was the 72nd season of the National Hockey League. Twenty-one teams each played 80 games. The Calgary Flames won an all Canadian Stanley Cup final against the Montreal Canadiens four games to two. To date, this is the last time two Canadian teams squared off for the Stanley Cup.

1988–89 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 6, 1988 – May 25, 1989
Number of games80
Number of teams21
Draft
Top draft pickMike Modano
Picked byMinnesota North Stars
Regular season
Presidents' TrophyCalgary Flames
Season MVPWayne Gretzky (Kings)
Top scorerMario Lemieux (Penguins)
Playoffs
Eastern championsMontreal Canadiens
  Eastern runners-upPhiladelphia Flyers
Western championsCalgary Flames
  Western runners-upChicago Blackhawks
Playoffs MVPAl MacInnis (Flames)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsCalgary Flames
  Runners-upMontreal Canadiens
NHL seasons

Regular season

Final standings

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Prince of Wales Conference

Adams DivisionGPWLTPtsGFGAPIM
Montreal Canadiens80531891153152181537
Boston Bruins80372914882892561929
Buffalo Sabres8038357832912992034
Hartford Whalers8037385792992901672
Quebec Nordiques8027467612693422004
Patrick DivisionGPWLTPtsGFGAPIM
Washington Capitals80412910923052591836
Pittsburgh Penguins8040337873473492670
New York Rangers8037358823103071891
Philadelphia Flyers8036368803072852317
New Jersey Devils80274112662813252499
New York Islanders8028475612653251822

Clarence Campbell Conference

Norris DivisionGPWLTPtsGFGAPIM
Detroit Red Wings80343412803133162245
St. Louis Blues80333512782752851675
Minnesota North Stars80273716702582781972
Chicago Blackhawks80274112662973352496
Toronto Maple Leafs8028466622593421740
Smythe DivisionGPWLTPtsGFGAPIM
Calgary Flames80541791173542262444
Los Angeles Kings8042317913763352215
Edmonton Oilers8038348843253061931
Vancouver Canucks8033398742512531569
Winnipeg Jets80264212643003551843

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Mario LemieuxPittsburgh Penguins7685114199100
Wayne GretzkyLos Angeles Kings785411416826
Steve YzermanDetroit Red Wings80659015561
Bernie NichollsLos Angeles Kings79708015096
Rob BrownPittsburgh Penguins684966115118
Paul CoffeyPittsburgh Penguins753083113193
Joe MullenCalgary Flames79515911016
Jari KurriEdmonton Oilers76445810269
Jimmy CarsonEdmonton Oilers80495110036
Luc RobitailleLos Angeles Kings7846529865

Stanley Cup playoffs

The Stanley Cup

Division semi-finals

Hartford Whalers vs. Montreal Canadiens

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 5Hartford Whalers2Montreal Canadiens6
April 6Hartford Whalers2Montreal Canadiens3
April 8Montreal Canadiens5Hartford Whalers4(OT)
April 9Montreal Canadiens4Hartford Whalers3

Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 0

Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 5Buffalo Sabres6Boston Bruins0
April 6Buffalo Sabres3Boston Bruins5
April 8Boston Bruins4Buffalo Sabres2
April 9Boston Bruins3Buffalo Sabres2
April 11Buffalo Sabres1Boston Bruins4

Boston wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 1

Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 5Philadelphia Flyers2Washington Capitals3
April 6Philadelphia Flyers3Washington Capitals2
April 8Washington Capitals4Philadelphia Flyers3(OT)
April 9Washington Capitals2Philadelphia Flyers5
April 11Philadelphia Flyers8Washington Capitals5
April 13Washington Capitals3Philadelphia Flyers4

Philadelphia wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 2

New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 5New York Rangers1Pittsburgh Penguins3
April 6New York Rangers4Pittsburgh Penguins7
April 8Pittsburgh Penguins5New York Rangers4(OT)
April 9Pittsburgh Penguins4New York Rangers3

Pittsburgh wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 0

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 5Chicago Blackhawks2Detroit Red Wings3
April 6Chicago Blackhawks5Detroit Red Wings4(OT)
April 8Detroit Red Wings2Chicago Blackhawks4
April 9Detroit Red Wings2Chicago Blackhawks3
April 11Chicago Blackhawks4Detroit Red Wings6
April 13Detroit Red Wings1Chicago Blackhawks7

Chicago wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 2

Minnesota North Stars vs. St. Louis Blues

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 5Minnesota North Stars3St. Louis Blues4(OT)
April 6Minnesota North Stars3St. Louis Blues4(OT)
April 8St. Louis Blues5Minnesota North Stars3
April 9St. Louis Blues4Minnesota North Stars5
April 11Minnesota North Stars1St. Louis Blues6

St. Louis wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 1

Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 5Vancouver Canucks4Calgary Flames3(OT)
April 6Vancouver Canucks2Calgary Flames5
April 8Calgary Flames4Vancouver Canucks0
April 9Calgary Flames3Vancouver Canucks5
April 11Vancouver Canucks0Calgary Flames4
April 13Calgary Flames3Vancouver Canucks6
April 15Vancouver Canucks3Calgary Flames4(OT)

Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 3

Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 5Edmonton Oilers4Los Angeles Kings3
April 6Edmonton Oilers2Los Angeles Kings5
April 8Los Angeles Kings0Edmonton Oilers4
April 9Los Angeles Kings3Edmonton Oilers4
April 11Edmonton Oilers2Los Angeles Kings4
April 13Los Angeles Kings4Edmonton Oilers1
April 15Edmonton Oilers3Los Angeles Kings6

Los Angeles wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 3

Division finals

Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 17Boston Bruins2Montreal Canadiens3
April 19Boston Bruins2Montreal Canadiens3(OT)
April 21Montreal Canadiens5Boston Bruins4
April 23Montreal Canadiens2Boston Bruins3
April 25Boston Bruins2Montreal Canadiens3

Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 1

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 17Philadelphia Flyers3Pittsburgh Penguins4
April 19Philadelphia Flyers4Pittsburgh Penguins2
April 21Pittsburgh Penguins4Philadelphia Flyers3(OT)
April 23Pittsburgh Penguins1Philadelphia Flyers4
April 25Philadelphia Flyers7Pittsburgh Penguins10
April 27Pittsburgh Penguins2Philadelphia Flyers6
April 29Philadelphia Flyers4Pittsburgh Penguins1

Philadelphia wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 3

Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 18Chicago Blackhawks3St. Louis Blues1
April 20Chicago Blackhawks4St. Louis Blues5
April 22St. Louis Blues2Chicago Blackhawks5
April 24St. Louis Blues2Chicago Blackhawks3
April 26Chicago Blackhawks4St. Louis Blues2

Chicago wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 1

Los Angeles Kings vs. Calgary Flames

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 18Los Angeles Kings3Calgary Flames4(OT)
April 20Los Angeles Kings3Calgary Flames8
April 22Calgary Flames5Los Angeles Kings2
April 24Calgary Flames5Los Angeles Kings3

Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 0

Conference finals

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Montreal Canadiens

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
May 1Philadelphia Flyers3Montreal Canadiens1
May 3Philadelphia Flyers0Montreal Canadiens3
May 5Montreal Canadiens5Philadelphia Flyers1
May 7Montreal Canadiens3Philadelphia Flyers0
May 9Philadelphia Flyers2Montreal Canadiens1(OT)
May 11Montreal Canadiens4Philadelphia Flyers2

Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 2

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Calgary Flames

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
May 2Chicago Blackhawks0Calgary Flames3
May 4Chicago Blackhawks4Calgary Flames2
May 6Calgary Flames5Chicago Blackhawks2
May 8Calgary Flames2Chicago Blackhawks1(OT)
May 10Chicago Blackhawks1Calgary Flames3

Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 1

Finals

Montreal Canadiens vs. Calgary Flames

The Stanley Cup Finals was decided between the top two teams during the 1988–89 NHL regular season. Captain Lanny McDonald scored the second Flames goal in Game 6. This turned out to be the last goal in his NHL Hall of Fame career because he retired during the following off-season. Doug Gilmour scored two goals in the third period, including the eventual game and Cup winner to cement the victory for the Flames.


Calgary won series 4–2

Playoff scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Al MacInnisCalgary Flames2272431

NHL awards

Presidents' Trophy:Calgary Flames
Prince of Wales Trophy:Montreal Canadiens
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl:Calgary Flames
Art Ross Memorial Trophy:Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:Tim Kerr, Philadelphia Flyers
Calder Memorial Trophy:Brian Leetch, New York Rangers
Conn Smythe Trophy:Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames
Frank J. Selke Trophy:Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens
Hart Memorial Trophy:Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
Jack Adams Award:Pat Burns, Montreal Canadiens
James Norris Memorial Trophy:Chris Chelios, Montreal Canadiens
King Clancy Memorial Trophy:Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:Joe Mullen, Calgary Flames
Lester B. Pearson Award:Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings
NHL Plus/Minus Award:Joe Mullen, Calgary Flames,
William M. Jennings Trophy:Patrick Roy/Brian Hayward, Montreal Canadiens
Vezina Trophy:Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens
Lester Patrick Trophy:Dan Kelly, Lou Nanne, Lynn Patrick, Bud Poile

All-Star teams

First Team  Position  Second Team
Patrick Roy, Montreal CanadiensGMike Vernon, Calgary Flames
Chris Chelios, Montreal CanadiensDAl MacInnis, Calgary Flames
Paul Coffey, Pittsburgh PenguinsDRay Bourque, Boston Bruins
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh PenguinsCWayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
Joe Mullen, Calgary FlamesRWJari Kurri, Edmonton Oilers
Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles KingsLWGerard Gallant, Detroit Red Wings

First games

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1988–89 (listed with their first team, stars(*) mark start in playoffs):

  • Don Sweeney, Boston Bruins
  • Stephane Quintal, Boston Bruins
  • Sergei Priakin, Calgary Flames
  • Paul Ranheim, Calgary Flames
  • Theoren Fleury, Calgary Flames
  • Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks
  • Jeremy Roenick, Chicago Blackhawks
  • Randy McKay, Detroit Red Wings
  • Tim Cheveldae, Detroit Red Wings
  • Martin Gelinas, Edmonton Oilers
  • Mike Modano*, Minnesota North Stars
  • Eric Desjardins, Montreal Canadiens
  • Jyrki Lumme, Montreal Canadiens
  • Mike Keane, Montreal Canadiens
  • Eric Weinrich, New Jersey Devils
  • Paul Ysebaert, New Jersey Devils
  • Tom Fitzgerald, New York Islanders
  • Tony Granato, New York Rangers
  • Mike Richter*, New York Rangers
  • John Cullen, Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Mark Recchi, Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Curtis Leschyshyn, Quebec Nordiques
  • Joe Sakic, Quebec Nordiques
  • Rod Brind'Amour*, St. Louis Blues
  • Trevor Linden, Vancouver Canucks
  • Bob Essensa, Winnipeg Jets

Last games

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1988–89 (listed with their last team):

  • Mark Napier, Buffalo Sabres
  • Hakan Loob, Calgary Flames
  • Lanny McDonald, Calgary Flames
  • Doug Halward, Edmonton Oilers
  • Tomas Jonsson, Edmonton Oilers
  • John Anderson, Hartford Whalers
  • Ron Duguay, Los Angeles Kings
  • Craig Hartsburg, Minnesota North Stars
  • Dennis Maruk, Minnesota North Stars
  • Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens
  • Billy Smith, New York Islanders
  • Marcel Dionne, New York Rangers
  • Anton Stastny, Quebec Nordiques
  • Mel Bridgman, Vancouver Canucks
  • Bengt Gustafsson, Washington Capitals

References