1988–89 Chicago Blackhawks season

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1988–89 Chicago Blackhawks
Division4th Norris
Conference8th Campbell
1988–89 record27–41–12
Home record16–14–10
Road record11–27–2
Goals for297
Goals against335
Team information
General managerBob Pulford
CoachMike Keenan
CaptainDenis Savard (Oct-Mar)
Dirk Graham (Mar-May)
Alternate captainsKeith Brown
Doug Wilson
ArenaChicago Stadium
Team leaders
GoalsSteve Larmer (43)
AssistsDenis Savard (59)
PointsSteve Larmer (87)
Penalty minutesDave Manson (352)
WinsAlain Chevrier (13)
Goals against averageAlain Chevrier (3.51)

The 1988–89 Chicago Blackhawks season saw the Blackhawks finish in fourth place in the Norris Division with a record of 27 wins, 41 losses, and 12 ties for 66 points. Chicago did not clinch a postseason berth until the season's final game, needing an overtime goal by Troy Murray against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Blackhawks proceeded to defeat the higher seeded divisional rivals, the Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues before falling in the Campbell Conference Finals to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames.

Offseason[edit]

The biggest move the Blackhawks made on the ice in the offseason was drafting Boston native Jeremy Roenick with the number 8 pick. Roenick completed his junior year of high school before the draft, and made his NHL debut later that season scoring 18 points in 20 games. The biggest move the Blackhawks made off the ice was GM Bob Pulford replacing Bob Murdoch as Coach with Mike Keenan. The Keenan years resulting in some of the most exciting hockey in Chicago since the Hull/Mikita years - both on the ice (as the Hawks would reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1992) and off the ice (as Keenan feuded with virtually every star on the team). Forward Denis Savard is named team captain.

NHL Draft[edit]

See also: 1988 NHL Entry Draft
Round Pick Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team
1 8 Jeremy Roenick (C)  United States Thayer Academy (USHS)
3 50 Trevor Dam (RW)  Canada London Knights (OHL)
4 71 Stefan Elvenes (RW)  Sweden Rogle BK (Sweden)
5 92 Joe Cleary (D)  United States Stratford Cullitons (MetJHL)
6 113 Justin Lafayette (C)  Canada Ferris State University (CCHA)
7 134 Craig Woodcroft (C)  United States Colgate University (ECAC)
8 155 Jon Pojar (LW)  United States Roseville High School (USHS-MN)
9 176 Matt Hentges (D)  United States Edina High School (USHS-MN)
10 197 Daniel Maurice (C)  Canada Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
11 218 Dirk Tenzer (D)  United States St. Paul's School (USHS-NH)
12 239 Andreas Lupzig (C)  West Germany EV Landshut (West Germany)
S 13 Todd Wolf (D)  United States Colgate University (ECAC)

Regular season[edit]

The Blackhawks had several prolongated losing streaks - opening the season by losing seven of the first nine, then losing nine straight from mid-November to mid-December, then finishing the year losing nine of the last 13. The Hawks struggled in shorthanded-situations, allowing the most regular season power play goals in the league, with 122.[1]

Offensively, Steve Larmer led the team with 43 goals and 87 points. Dennis Savard led the team in assists with 59, and was second in overall points with 82. In January 1988, the Blackhawks acquired Dirk Graham from Minnesota for Curt Fraser, in what would be one of the organization's better trades. Doug Wilson and Dave Manson led the defense in scoring with 62 and 54 points respectively.

In goal, the Blackhawks struggled to find the right netminder. Darren Pang started the season but his 4.38 goals against average resulted in only a 10-11-6 record. The Blackhawks acquired Alain Chevrier from Winnipeg in January 1989 and he fared slightly better with a 3.51 goals against average and a 13-11-2 record. The Hawks were hoping that 1987's first round draft choice Jim Waite would be the answer, but he failed to win a game, ending with a 0-7-1 record and a 5.22 goals against average. By year-end, they were forced to rely on an undrafted rookie named Eddie Belfour who only had a 4-12-3 record, but did have a respectable 3.87 goals against average.

In March, with Denis Savard out of the lineup due to injury, coach Mike Keenan named forward Dirk Graham as the new captain. A role Graham would keep, upon Savard's return.

Final standings[edit]

Norris Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Detroit Red Wings 80 34 34 12 313 316 80
St. Louis Blues 80 33 35 12 275 285 78
Minnesota North Stars 80 27 37 16 258 278 70
Chicago Blackhawks 80 27 41 12 297 335 66
Toronto Maple Leafs 80 28 46 6 259 342 62

[2]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents[edit]

Norris Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference[edit]

Vs. Wales Conference


Schedule and results[edit]

No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1 T October 6, 1988 2–2 OT New York Rangers (1988–89) 0–0–1
2 L October 8, 1988 4–7 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 0–1–1
3 L October 9, 1988 4–8 Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 0–2–1
4 W October 12, 1988 10–1 Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) 1–2–1
5 L October 15, 1988 5–7 @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) 1–3–1
6 L October 16, 1988 3–10 Boston Bruins (1988–89) 1–4–1
7 L October 18, 1988 3–4 OT @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) 1–5–1
8 L October 20, 1988 0–2 @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 1–6–1
9 L October 22, 1988 4–7 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) 1–7–1
10 W October 25, 1988 7–4 @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) 2–7–1
11 L October 28, 1988 2–5 @ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) 2–8–1
12 W October 30, 1988 5–2 @ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) 3–8–1
13 L October 31, 1988 3–6 @ Calgary Flames (1988–89) 3–9–1
14 W November 3, 1988 4–1 Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 4–9–1
15 T November 5, 1988 5–5 OT @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 4–9–2
16 L November 6, 1988 3–5 Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) 4–10–2
17 T November 9, 1988 6–6 OT Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) 4–10–3
18 W November 11, 1988 6–5 OT @ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) 5–10–3
19 T November 13, 1988 5–5 OT Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) 5–10–4
20 W November 16, 1988 3–2 Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) 6–10–4
21 L November 19, 1988 3–5 @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) 6–11–4
22 L November 20, 1988 4–7 Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) 6–12–4
23 L November 23, 1988 3–4 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 6–13–4
24 L November 25, 1988 4–5 OT @ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) 6–14–4
25 L November 26, 1988 2–8 @ Boston Bruins (1988–89) 6–15–4
26 L November 29, 1988 2–5 @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 6–16–4
27 L December 3, 1988 4–6 @ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) 6–17–4
28 L December 6, 1988 6–7 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) 6–18–4
29 L December 10, 1988 4–6 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) 6–19–4
30 W December 11, 1988 5–2 St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 7–19–4
31 W December 14, 1988 4–3 Hartford Whalers (1988–89) 8–19–4
32 L December 17, 1988 0–4 @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 8–20–4
33 L December 18, 1988 3–5 New Jersey Devils (1988–89) 8–21–4
34 L December 21, 1988 3–4 Washington Capitals (1988–89) 8–22–4
35 W December 23, 1988 7–2 Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) 9–22–4
36 L December 26, 1988 1–4 St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 9–23–4
37 W December 28, 1988 4–3 Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 10–23–4
38 L December 31, 1988 1–4 @ New York Rangers (1988–89) 10–24–4
39 T January 1, 1989 3–3 OT Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 10–24–5
40 L January 7, 1989 3–6 @ Washington Capitals (1988–89) 10–25–5
41 W January 8, 1989 3–2 New York Islanders (1988–89) 11–25–5
42 T January 11, 1989 2–2 OT Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) 11–25–6
43 L January 12, 1989 5–6 @ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) 11–26–6
44 W January 14, 1989 5–3 @ New York Islanders (1988–89) 12–26–6
45 T January 16, 1989 2–2 OT Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) 12–26–7
46 L January 18, 1989 4–6 New York Rangers (1988–89) 12–27–7
47 W January 20, 1989 3–2 @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) 13–27–7
48 L January 21, 1989 2–4 @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 13–28–7
49 W January 24, 1989 4–2 @ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) 14–28–7
50 W January 25, 1989 6–3 @ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) 15–28–7
51 L January 28, 1989 4–5 OT @ Calgary Flames (1988–89) 15–29–7
52 W January 30, 1989 7–1 Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 16–29–7
53 W February 1, 1989 7–4 Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) 17–29–7
54 W February 4, 1989 3–1 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 18–29–7
55 L February 5, 1989 4–5 St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 18–30–7
56 W February 10, 1989 3–1 New York Islanders (1988–89) 19–30–7
57 L February 12, 1989 2–6 Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) 19–31–7
58 W February 14, 1989 4–2 @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 20–31–7
59 W February 15, 1989 7–4 Washington Capitals (1988–89) 21–31–7
60 W February 17, 1989 5–3 @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) 22–31–7
61 T February 19, 1989 4–4 OT Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) 22–31–8
62 T February 22, 1989 5–5 OT Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 22–31–9
63 L February 25, 1989 0–5 @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) 22–32–9
64 T February 26, 1989 4–4 OT Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) 22–32–10
65 W March 1, 1989 5–1 Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 23–32–10
66 T March 4, 1989 3–3 OT @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 23–32–11
67 T March 5, 1989 3–3 OT St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 23–32–12
68 L March 8, 1989 5–7 New Jersey Devils (1988–89) 23–33–12
69 L March 11, 1989 2–7 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) 23–34–12
70 L March 12, 1989 5–6 Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) 23–35–12
71 L March 14, 1989 2–3 @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 23–36–12
72 L March 16, 1989 1–6 @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 23–37–12
73 W March 18, 1989 3–1 @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) 24–37–12
74 W March 19, 1989 5–3 Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) 25–37–12
75 L March 22, 1989 2–3 Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) 25–38–12
76 L March 25, 1989 3–6 @ Boston Bruins (1988–89) 25–39–12
77 L March 26, 1989 5–7 Calgary Flames (1988–89) 25–40–12
78 W March 29, 1989 3–1 Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) 26–40–12
79 L April 1, 1989 1–6 @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) 26–41–12
80 W April 2, 1989 4–3 OT Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 27–41–12

Player stats[edit]

Forwards[edit]

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

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Steve Larmer 80 43 44 87 54
Denis Savard 58 23 59 82 110
Dirk Graham 80 33 45 78 89
Troy Murray 79 21 30 51 113
Wayne Presley 72 21 19 40 100
Steve Thomas 45 21 19 40 69
Adam Creighton 43 15 14 29 92
Rick Vaive 30 12 13 25 60
Mike Hudson 41 7 16 23 20
Jeremy Roenick 20 9 9 18 4
Brian Noonan 45 4 12 16 28
Bob Bassen 49 4 12 16 62
Duane Sutter 75 7 9 16 214
Mike Eagles 47 5 11 16 44
Everett Sanipass 50 6 9 15 164
Dan Vincelette 66 11 4 15 119
David Mackey 23 1 2 3 78
Bill Gardner 6 1 1 2 0
Mike Stapleton 7 0 1 1 7
Jari Torkki 4 1 0 1 0
Bill Watson 3 0 1 1 4
Steve Ludzik 6 1 0 1 8
Mike Rucinski 1 0 0 0 0
Wayne Van Dorp 8 0 0 0 23
Warren Rychel 2 0 0 0 17
Greg Gilbert 4 0 0 0 0

Defensemen[edit]

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

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Doug Wilson 66 15 47 62 69
Dave Manson 79 18 36 54 352
Trent Yawney 69 5 19 24 116
Keith Brown 74 2 16 18 84
Steve Konroyd 57 5 7 12 40
Bob Murray 15 2 4 6 27
Gary Nylund 23 3 2 5 63
Bob McGill 68 0 4 4 155
Bruce Cassidy 9 0 2 2 4
Mario Doyon 7 1 1 2 6
Marc Bergevin 11 0 0 0 18
Glen Cochrane 6 0 0 0 13
Kent Paynter 1 0 0 0 2
Jim Playfair 7 0 0 0 28

Goaltending[edit]

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

Player GP W L T SO GAA
Alain Chevrier 27 13 11 2 0 3.51
Darren Pang 35 10 11 6 0 4.38
Ed Belfour 23 4 12 3 0 3.87
Chris Clifford 1 0 0 0 0 0.00
Jimmy Waite 11 0 7 1 0 5.22

Playoffs[edit]

Despite their awful 27-41-12 record, the Blackhawks made the playoffs by finishing in fourth place in the weak Norris Division after beating the Maple Leafs on the last day of the regular season. After three straight years of first-round defeats in the playoffs, the Blackhawks raised their level of play considerably by stunning the Detroit Red Wings in six games. Denis Savard's 13 points in the series (4 goals and 9 assists) tied a team record shared by Hull and Mikita.

  • Norris Division Semi-Finals

Detroit Red Wings vs. Chicago Blackhawks

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

  • Norris Division Finals

Staying hot in the Norris Division Final, the Hawks beat the St. Louis Blues in five games.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues

Date Away Score Home Score
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

  • Campbell Conference Finals

After a great playoff run, the Blackhawks Cup dreams ended up in ashes as they were beaten by the eventual Stanley Cup champions Calgary Flames in five games. Denis Savard and Steve Larmer led the team throughout the playoffs averaging more than a point a game. Dave Manson set a team record that still stands with 84 penalty minutes in the playoffs.

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

References[edit]

  1. ^ "1988-89 NHL Summary".
  2. ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
  3. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
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