By the Numbers: ’89 —The Stanley Cup Stays in Alberta, But Travels South
For any hockey fan in Calgary, the number "89" isn't just a number—it’s a badge of honour. It marks the year the Calgary Flames won the Stanley Cup; setting a legacy that still defines the organization today. That 1988-89 season wasn't just a winning run; it was the moment a powerhouse roster finally kicked the door down and took what was theirs.
A Season of Pure Dominance
The Flames didn’t just stumble into the playoffs in '89; they steamrolled the rest of the league. They spent the regular season making a statement, racking up 54 wins and a massive 117 points to lock up their second straight Presidents' Trophy. Look at that roster today and it’s like reading a Hall of Fame ballot: Lanny McDonald, Joe Mullen, Joe Nieuwendyk, Al MacInnis, and Mike Vernon. They were a juggernaut in every sense of the word. But in Calgary, everyone knew the regular season was just the prologue. The real test—the one that would define their careers—started in 1989 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Survival and Conquest
The road to the Stanley Cup nearly ended before it truly began. In Round 1, the Flames found themselves pushed to the absolute limit by the Vancouver Canucks. It took a heart-stopping Game 7 to keep the dream alive.
Once they moved beyond Round 1, the Flames became an unstoppable force. In Round 2, they swept the Los Angeles Kings in four straight, sending a clear message to the rest of the league. They maintained that momentum in the Round 3, getting past the Chicago Blackhawks in five games.
Silencing the Forum
The ultimate test was a heavyweight rematch against the Montreal Canadiens. The ‘89 Stanley Cup Final was a gritty, high-stakes battle for redemption after Calgary’s loss to Montreal in the ‘86 Stanley Cup Final. The series moved to Game 6 at the legendary Montreal Forum, a building where visiting teams went to watch their championship dreams die.
The night was filled with storybook moments. The veteran captain Lanny McDonald, playing in his final NHL game, scored a crucial second-period goal that remains one of the most iconic images in Calgary sports history. Doug Gilmour notched two goals in the third period, and Al MacInnis—whose booming slapshot was a nightmare for goalies—claimed the Conn Smythe Trophy.
‘89: A Lasting Legacy
When the game ended, the Flames had secured a 4-2 victory, becoming the first and only visiting team to ever hoist the Stanley Cup on the Montreal Forum’s ice. For the Calgary Flames organization, ’89 isn't just a memory; it’s the gold standard of what it means to be a champion.