1988–89 NHL 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
League National Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Duration October 6, 1988 – May 25, 1989
Number of games 80
Number of teams 21
Draft
Top draft pick Mike Modano
Picked by Minnesota North Stars
Regular season
Presidents' Trophy Calgary Flames
Season MVP Wayne Gretzky (Kings)
Top scorer Mario Lemieux (Penguins)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Montreal Canadiens
  Eastern runners-up Philadelphia Flyers
Western champions Calgary Flames
  Western runners-up Chicago Blackhawks
Playoffs MVP Al MacInnis (Flames)
Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup champions Calgary Flames
  Runners-up Montreal Canadiens
NHL seasons

← 1987–88

1989–90 →

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 Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Montreal Canadiens 80 53 18 9 115 315 218 1537
Boston Bruins 80 37 29 14 88 289 256 1929
Buffalo Sabres 80 38 35 7 83 291 299 2034
Hartford Whalers 80 37 38 5 79 299 290 1672
Quebec Nordiques 80 27 46 7 61 269 342 2004
Patrick Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Washington Capitals 80 41 29 10 92 305 259 1836
Pittsburgh Penguins 80 40 33 7 87 347 349 2670
New York Rangers 80 37 35 8 82 310 307 1891
Philadelphia Flyers 80 36 36 8 80 307 285 2317
New Jersey Devils 80 27 41 12 66 281 325 2499
New York Islanders 80 28 47 5 61 265 325 1822

Clarence Campbell Conference

Norris Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Detroit Red Wings 80 34 34 12 80 313 316 2245
St. Louis Blues 80 33 35 12 78 275 285 1675
Minnesota North Stars 80 27 37 16 70 258 278 1972
Chicago Blackhawks 80 27 41 12 66 297 335 2496
Toronto Maple Leafs 80 28 46 6 62 259 342 1740
Smythe Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Calgary Flames 80 54 17 9 117 354 226 2444
Los Angeles Kings 80 42 31 7 91 376 335 2215
Edmonton Oilers 80 38 34 8 84 325 306 1931
Vancouver Canucks 80 33 39 8 74 251 253 1569
Winnipeg Jets 80 26 42 12 64 300 355 1843

Scoring leaders

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

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh Penguins 76 85 114 199 100
Wayne Gretzky Los Angeles Kings 78 54 114 168 26
Steve Yzerman Detroit Red Wings 80 65 90 155 61
Bernie Nicholls Los Angeles Kings 79 70 80 150 96
Rob Brown Pittsburgh Penguins 68 49 66 115 118
Paul Coffey Pittsburgh Penguins 75 30 83 113 193
Joe Mullen Calgary Flames 79 51 59 110 16
Jari Kurri Edmonton Oilers 76 44 58 102 69
Jimmy Carson Edmonton Oilers 80 49 51 100 36
Luc Robitaille Los Angeles Kings 78 46 52 98 65

Stanley Cup playoffs

Division semi-finals

Hartford Whalers vs. Montreal Canadiens

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 5 Hartford Whalers 2 Montreal Canadiens 6
April 6 Hartford Whalers 2 Montreal Canadiens 3
April 8 Montreal Canadiens 5 Hartford Whalers 4 (OT)
April 9 Montreal Canadiens 4 Hartford Whalers 3

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

Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 5 Buffalo Sabres 6 Boston Bruins 0
April 6 Buffalo Sabres 3 Boston Bruins 5
April 8 Boston Bruins 4 Buffalo Sabres 2
April 9 Boston Bruins 3 Buffalo Sabres 2
April 11 Buffalo Sabres 1 Boston Bruins 4

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

Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 5 Philadelphia Flyers 2 Washington Capitals 3
April 6 Philadelphia Flyers 3 Washington Capitals 2
April 8 Washington Capitals 4 Philadelphia Flyers 3 (OT)
April 9 Washington Capitals 2 Philadelphia Flyers 5
April 11 Philadelphia Flyers 8 Washington Capitals 5
April 13 Washington Capitals 3 Philadelphia Flyers 4

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

New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 5 New York Rangers 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 3
April 6 New York Rangers 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 7
April 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 5 New York Rangers 4 (OT)
April 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 4 New York Rangers 3

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

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 5 Chicago Blackhawks 2 Detroit Red Wings 3
April 6 Chicago Blackhawks 5 Detroit Red Wings 4 (OT)
April 8 Detroit Red Wings 2 Chicago Blackhawks 4
April 9 Detroit Red Wings 2 Chicago Blackhawks 3
April 11 Chicago Blackhawks 4 Detroit Red Wings 6
April 13 Detroit Red Wings 1 Chicago Blackhawks 7

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

Minnesota North Stars vs. St. Louis Blues

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 5 Minnesota North Stars 3 St. Louis Blues 4 (OT)
April 6 Minnesota North Stars 3 St. Louis Blues 4 (OT)
April 8 St. Louis Blues 5 Minnesota North Stars 3
April 9 St. Louis Blues 4 Minnesota North Stars 5
April 11 Minnesota North Stars 1 St. Louis Blues 6

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

Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 5 Vancouver Canucks 4 Calgary Flames 3 (OT)
April 6 Vancouver Canucks 2 Calgary Flames 5
April 8 Calgary Flames 4 Vancouver Canucks 0
April 9 Calgary Flames 3 Vancouver Canucks 5
April 11 Vancouver Canucks 0 Calgary Flames 4
April 13 Calgary Flames 3 Vancouver Canucks 6
April 15 Vancouver Canucks 3 Calgary Flames 4 (OT)

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

Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 5 Edmonton Oilers 4 Los Angeles Kings 3
April 6 Edmonton Oilers 2 Los Angeles Kings 5
April 8 Los Angeles Kings 0 Edmonton Oilers 4
April 9 Los Angeles Kings 3 Edmonton Oilers 4
April 11 Edmonton Oilers 2 Los Angeles Kings 4
April 13 Los Angeles Kings 4 Edmonton Oilers 1
April 15 Edmonton Oilers 3 Los Angeles Kings 6

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

Division finals

Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 17 Boston Bruins 2 Montreal Canadiens 3
April 19 Boston Bruins 2 Montreal Canadiens 3 (OT)
April 21 Montreal Canadiens 5 Boston Bruins 4
April 23 Montreal Canadiens 2 Boston Bruins 3
April 25 Boston Bruins 2 Montreal Canadiens 3

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

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 17 Philadelphia Flyers 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 4
April 19 Philadelphia Flyers 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 2
April 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 4 Philadelphia Flyers 3 (OT)
April 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 1 Philadelphia Flyers 4
April 25 Philadelphia Flyers 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 10
April 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 2 Philadelphia Flyers 6
April 29 Philadelphia Flyers 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 1

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

Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 18 Chicago Blackhawks 3 St. Louis Blues 1
April 20 Chicago Blackhawks 4 St. Louis Blues 5
April 22 St. Louis Blues 2 Chicago Blackhawks 5
April 24 St. Louis Blues 2 Chicago Blackhawks 3
April 26 Chicago Blackhawks 4 St. Louis Blues 2

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

Los Angeles Kings vs. Calgary Flames

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 18 Los Angeles Kings 3 Calgary Flames 4 (OT)
April 20 Los Angeles Kings 3 Calgary Flames 8
April 22 Calgary Flames 5 Los Angeles Kings 2
April 24 Calgary Flames 5 Los Angeles Kings 3

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

Conference finals

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Montreal Canadiens

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
May 1 Philadelphia Flyers 3 Montreal Canadiens 1
May 3 Philadelphia Flyers 0 Montreal Canadiens 3
May 5 Montreal Canadiens 5 Philadelphia Flyers 1
May 7 Montreal Canadiens 3 Philadelphia Flyers 0
May 9 Philadelphia Flyers 2 Montreal Canadiens 1 (OT)
May 11 Montreal Canadiens 4 Philadelphia Flyers 2

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

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Calgary Flames

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
May 2 Chicago Blackhawks 0 Calgary Flames 3
May 4 Chicago Blackhawks 4 Calgary Flames 2
May 6 Calgary Flames 5 Chicago Blackhawks 2
May 8 Calgary Flames 2 Chicago Blackhawks 1 (OT)
May 10 Chicago Blackhawks 1 Calgary Flames 3

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

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Al MacInnis Calgary Flames 22 7 24 31

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 Canadiens G Mike Vernon, Calgary Flames
Chris Chelios, Montreal Canadiens D Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames
Paul Coffey, Pittsburgh Penguins D Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins C Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
Joe Mullen, Calgary Flames RW Jari Kurri, Edmonton Oilers
Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles Kings LW Gerard 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):

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):

References