1987–88 Calgary Flames season

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1987–88 Calgary Flames
Smythe Division champions
Division1st Smythe
Conference1st Campbell
1987–88 record48–23–9
Home record26–11–3
Road record22–12–6
Goals for397 (1st)
Goals against305 (t-12th)
Team information
General managerCliff Fletcher
CoachTerry Crisp
CaptainLanny McDonald and
Jim Peplinski
Alternate captainsTim Hunter
ArenaOlympic Saddledome
Average attendance18,881
Team leaders
GoalsJoe Nieuwendyk (51)
AssistsGary Suter (70)
PointsHakan Loob (106)
Penalty minutesTim Hunter (337)
WinsMike Vernon (39)
Goals against averageMike Vernon (3.53)

The 1987–88 Calgary Flames season was the eighth National Hockey League season in Calgary and the 16th season in the NHL for the Flames franchise. The Flames finished atop the Smythe Division standings for the first time in team history, en route to winning their first ever Presidents' Trophy as the top club in the NHL.[1]

The Flames spent almost the entire month of February playing away games as the 1988 Winter Olympics were being held in Calgary at that time.

In the playoffs, the Flames easily defeated the Los Angeles Kings four games to one, setting a franchise record that still stands by scoring 30 goals in a five-game series.[2] The Flames season was ended by their provincial archrivals, again as the Edmonton Oilers swept Calgary out of the Smythe Division Finals en route to their fourth Stanley Cup in five years.

The Flames set numerous franchise records this season, including most wins (48), most home wins (26), most road wins (22), and most points (105), all of which that were tied or broken in 1988–89. The Flames 397 goals remains a franchise record,[3] and one of the highest totals in league history. The Flames also finished first in scoring during the regular season.[4] Furthermore, the Flames led the league in short-handed goals scored (23) and power-play percentage (28.46%).[5]

Freshman sniper Joe Nieuwendyk became the second rookie in NHL history to score 50 goals, as his 51 fell just two shy of Mike Bossy's record of 53 set in 1977–78. Nieuwendyk captured the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Rookie-of-the-Year for his effort.[6]

Lanny McDonald became the first player to win the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded to players who best exemplify leadership qualities and make notable humanitarian contributions to their community.[7] In addition, Brad McCrimmon won the Emery Edge Award for leading the league in Plus/Minus at +48.[8]

The Flames sent five players to the 1988 All-Star Game: Al MacInnis, Gary Suter, Brad McCrimmon, Joe Nieuwendyk and Mike Vernon. Nieuwendyk was also named to the NHL All-Rookie team.[9]

Regular season[edit]

Season standings[edit]

Smythe Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Calgary Flames 80 48 23 9 397 305 105
Edmonton Oilers 80 44 25 11 363 288 99
Winnipeg Jets 80 33 36 11 292 310 77
Los Angeles Kings 80 30 42 8 318 359 68
Vancouver Canucks 80 25 46 9 272 320 59

[10]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]

Smythe Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference[edit]

Vs. Wales Conference


Schedule and results[edit]

1987–88 Schedule
October: 5–5–1 (home: 1–3–0; road: 4–2–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Points
1 October 8 Detroit 1 – 5 Calgary 1–0–0 2
2 October 10 Winnipeg 5 – 1 Calgary 1–1–0 2
3 October 12 Calgary 2 – 3 Winnipeg 1–2–0 2
4 October 14 Calgary 5 – 4 Edmonton 2–2–0 4
5 October 16 Edmonton 5 – 2 Calgary 2–3–0 4
6 October 18 Boston 6 – 5 Calgary OT 2–4–0 4
7 October 20 Calgary 4 – 5 NY Islanders 2–5–0 4
8 October 21 Calgary 5 – 4 NY Rangers 3–5–0 6
9 October 24 Calgary 7 – 5 Quebec 4–5–0 8
10 October 26 Calgary 5 – 3 Montreal 5–5–0 10
11 October 30 Calgary 3 – 3 Vancouver OT 5–5–1 11
November: 9–3–2 (home: 6–2–2; road: 3–1–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Points
12 November 3 NY Rangers 3 – 5 Calgary 6–5–1 13
13 November 5 Edmonton 4 – 4 Calgary OT 6–5–2 14
14 November 8 Buffalo 6 – 3 Calgary 6–6–2 14
15 November 10 Calgary 3 – 4 Winnipeg 6–7–2 14
16 November 11 Calgary 4 – 3 Minnesota 7–7–2 16
17 November 13 Los Angeles 7 – 10 Calgary 8–7–2 18
18 November 15 Vancouver 4 – 8 Calgary 9–7–2 20
19 November 17 Boston 6 – 3 Calgary 9–8–2 20
20 November 19 Quebec 1 – 9 Calgary 10–8–2 22
21 November 21 Pittsburgh 4 – 4 Calgary OT 10–8–3 23
22 November 23 New Jersey 2 – 9 Calgary 11–8–3 25
23 November 25 Calgary 4 – 2 Vancouver 12–8–3 27
24 November 28 Calgary 8 – 4 Los Angeles 13–8–3 29
25 November 30 Chicago 0 – 4 Calgary 14–8–3 31
December: 9–3–1 (home: 5–2–1; road: 4–1–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Points
26 December 3 Toronto 3 – 5 Calgary 15–8–3 33
27 December 5 Minnesota 4 – 4 Calgary OT 15–8–4 34
28 December 8 Calgary 5 – 4 Washington 16–8–4 36
29 December 9 Calgary 2 – 5 Pittsburgh 16–9–4 36
30 December 11 Calgary 5 – 1 New Jersey 17–9–4 38
31 December 13 Calgary 7 – 1 Buffalo 18–9–4 40
32 December 16 Winnipeg 4 – 5 Calgary 19–9–4 42
33 December 19 Calgary 4 – 1 Los Angeles 20–9–4 44
34 December 20 Los Angeles 6 – 3 Calgary 20–10–4 44
35 December 22 Hartford 5 – 6 Calgary OT 21–10–4 46
36 December 26 Edmonton 5 – 4 Calgary 21–11–4 46
37 December 28 Montreal 3 – 9 Calgary 22–11–4 48
38 December 31 Philadelphia 4 – 5 Calgary 23–11–4 50
January: 9–3–2 (home: 6–1–0; road: 3–2–2)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Points
39 January 2 Calgary 3 – 5 St. Louis 23–12–4 50
40 January 3 Calgary 5 – 3 Chicago 24–12–4 52
41 January 6 Winnipeg 1 – 6 Calgary 25–12–4 54
42 January 8 NY Islanders 4 – 7 Calgary 26–12–4 56
43 January 10 Washington 2 – 8 Calgary 27–12–4 58
44 January 13 Calgary 3 – 5 Edmonton 27–13–4 58
45 January 15 Calgary 4 – 4 Vancouver OT 27–13–5 59
46 January 19 Vancouver 5 – 7 Calgary 28–13–5 61
47 January 21 Los Angeles 5 – 4 Calgary OT 28–14–5 61
48 January 23 Calgary 4 – 4 Detroit OT 28–14–6 62
49 January 25 Calgary 11 – 3 Toronto 29–14–6 64
50 January 27 Hartford 1 – 5 Calgary 30–14–6 66
51 January 29 Calgary 5 – 4 Edmonton 31–14–6 68
52 January 30 Vancouver 3 – 4 Calgary 32–14–6 70
February: 5–6–1 (home: 0–1–0; road: 5–5–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Points
53 February 1 New Jersey 5 – 4 Calgary 32–15–6 70
54 February 3 Calgary 0 – 9 Winnipeg 32–16–6 70
55 February 5 Calgary 1 – 5 Detroit 32–17–6 70
56 February 7 Calgary 5 – 2 Los Angeles 33–17–6 72
57 February 12 Calgary 3 – 2 Philadelphia 34–17–6 74
58 February 14 Calgary 4 – 5 Washington OT 34–18–6 74
59 February 16 Calgary 3 – 9 NY Islanders 34–19–6 74
60 February 17 Calgary 3 – 5 NY Rangers 34–20–6 74
61 February 20 Calgary 6 – 3 St. Louis 35–20–6 76
62 February 21 Calgary 3 – 3 Chicago OT 35–20–7 77
63 February 26 Calgary 5 – 3 Vancouver 36–20–7 79
64 February 28 Calgary 3 – 2 Edmonton 37–20–7 81
March: 10–2–2 (home: 7–1–0; road: 3–1–2)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Points
65 March 3 Philadelphia 3 – 6 Calgary 38–20–7 83
66 March 5 Edmonton 4 – 7 Calgary 39–20–7 85
67 March 7 Pittsburgh 5 – 4 Calgary 39–21–7 85
68 March 9 Calgary 6 – 6 Winnipeg OT 39–21–8 86
69 March 10 Winnipeg 3 – 5 Calgary 40–21–8 88
70 March 12 Buffalo 4 – 10 Calgary 41–21–8 90
71 March 15 Calgary 8 – 6 Hartford 42–21–8 92
72 March 17 Calgary 7 – 5 Boston 43–21–8 94
73 March 19 Calgary 5 – 4 Quebec OT 44–21–8 96
74 March 21 Calgary 3 – 3 Montreal OT 44–21–9 97
75 March 24 Toronto 1 – 7 Calgary 45–21–9 99
76 March 26 Vancouver 1 – 6 Calgary 46–21–9 101
77 March 28 St. Louis 2 – 7 Calgary 47–21–9 103
78 March 30 Calgary 7 – 9 Los Angeles 47–22–9 103
April: 1–1–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 0–0–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Points
79 April 1 Los Angeles 6 – 3 Calgary 47–23–9 103
80 April 3 Minnesota 1 – 4 Calgary 48–23–9 105

Playoffs[edit]

1988 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Smythe Division Semifinal – Flames win 4–1
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Series
1 April 6 Los Angeles 2 – 9 Calgary Calgary leads 1–0
2 April 7 Los Angeles 4 – 6 Calgary Calgary leads 2–0
3 April 9 Calgary 2 – 5 Los Angeles Calgary leads 2–1
4 April 10 Calgary 7 – 3 Los Angeles Calgary leads 3–1
5 April 12 Los Angeles 4 – 6 Calgary Calgary wins 4–1
Smythe Division Final – Oilers win 4–0
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Series
1 April 19 Edmonton 3 – 1 Calgary Edmonton leads 1–0
2 April 21 Edmonton 5 – 4 Calgary OT Edmonton leads 2–0
3 April 23 Calgary 2 – 4 Edmonton Edmonton leads 3–0
4 April 25 Calgary 4 – 6 Edmonton Edmonton wins 4–0

Player statistics[edit]

Skaters[edit]

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

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
Hakan Loob 12 80 50 56 106 47 9 1 9 10 6
Mike Bullard 22 79 48 55 103 68 6 0 2 2 6
Joe Nieuwendyk 25 75 51 41 92 23 8 3 4 7 2
Gary Suter 20 75 21 70 91 124 9 1 9 10 6
Joe Mullen 7 80 40 44 84 30 7 2 4 6 10
Al MacInnis 2 80 25 58 83 114 7 3 6 9 18
John Tonelli 27 74 17 41 58 84 6 2 5 7 8
Joel Otto 29 62 13 39 52 194 9 3 2 5 24
Jim Peplinski 24 75 20 31 51 234 9 0 5 5 45
Brett Hull 16 52 26 24 50 12 -
Brad McCrimmon 4 80 7 35 42 98 9 2 3 5 22
Carey Wilson 33 34 9 11 20 18 -
Gary Roberts 10 74 13 15 28 282 9 2 3 5 29
Lanny McDonald 9 60 10 13 23 57 9 3 1 4 6
Perry Berezan 21 29 7 12 19 66 8 0 2 2 13
Brian Glynn 32 67 5 14 19 87 1 0 0 0 0
Colin Patterson 11 39 7 11 18 28 9 1 0 1 8
Ric Nattress 6 63 2 13 15 37 6 1 3 4 0
Tim Hunter 19 68 8 5 13 337 9 4 0 4 32
Dana Murzyn 5 41 6 5 11 94 5 2 0 2 13
Steve Bozek 26 26 3 7 10 12 -
Neil Sheehy 5 36 2 6 8 73 -
Jiri Hrdina 17 9 2 5 7 2 1 0 0 0 0
Rob Ramage 55 12 1 6 7 37 9 1 3 4 21
Mike Vernon 30 64 0 7 7 47 9 0 2 2 2
Shane Churla 15 29 1 5 6 132 7 0 1 1 17
Craig Coxe 18 7 2 3 5 32 2 1 0 1 16
Paul Reinhart 23 14 0 4 4 10 8 2 7 9 6
Kevan Guy 3 11 0 3 3 8 -
Doug Dadswell 36 25 0 2 2 2 -
Rich Chernomaz 33 2 1 0 1 0 -
Randy Bucyk 18 2 0 0 0 0 -
Rick Wamsley 31 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Bob Bodak 28 3 0 0 0 22 -

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
Traded mid-season.

Goaltenders[edit]

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Mike Vernon 30 64 3565 39 16 7 210 1 3.53 9 515 4 4 34 0 3.96
Rick Wamsley 31 2 73 1 0 0 5 0 4.11 1 33 0 1 2 0 3.64
Doug Dadswell 36 25 1221 8 7 2 89 0 4.37 -

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.

Transactions[edit]

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1988–89 season.

Trades[edit]

June 13, 1987 To Calgary Flames
Ric Nattress
To St. Louis Blues
4th round pick in 1987 (Andy Rymsha)
5th round pick in 1988 (Dave Lacouture)
August 26, 1987 To Calgary Flames
Brad McCrimmon
To Philadelphia Flyers
3rd round pick in 1988 (Dominic Roussel)
1st round pick in 1989
(traded to Toronto Maple Leafs;
Maple Leafs selected Steve Bancroft)
September 17, 1987 To Calgary Flames
5th round pick in 1988 (Scott Matusovich)
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Dale DeGray
January 3, 1988 To Calgary Flames
Shane Churla
Dana Murzyn
To Hartford Whalers
Neil Sheehy
Carey Wilson
rights to Lane MacDonald
March 6, 1988 To Calgary Flames
Craig Coxe
To Vancouver Canucks
Peter Bakovic
Brian Bradley
Kevan Guy
March 7, 1988 To Calgary Flames
Rob Ramage
Rick Wamsley
To St. Louis Blues
Steve Bozek
Brett Hull

Free agents[edit]

Player Former team
C Randy Bucyk Montreal Canadiens
RW Rich Chernomaz New Jersey Devils
Player New team
G Reggie Lemelin Boston Bruins
F Nick Fotiu Philadelphia Flyers

Draft picks[edit]

Calgary's picks at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, held in Detroit, Michigan.[12]

Rnd Pick Player Nationality Position Team (league) NHL statistics
GP G A Pts PIM
1 19 Bryan Deasley  Canada LW University of Michigan (CCHA)
2 25 Stéphane Matteau  Canada LW Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) 848 144 172 316 742
2 40 Kevin Grant  Canada D Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
3 61 Scott Mahoney  Canada RW Oshawa Generals (OHL)
4 70 Tim Harris  Canada RW LSSU (CCHA)
5 103 Tim Corkery  Canada D Ferris State University (CCHA)
6 124 Joe Aloi  Canada D Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
7 145 Peter Ciavaglia  United States C N/A 5 0 0 0 0
8 166 Theoren Fleury  Canada RW Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) 1084 455 633 1088 1840
9 187 Mark Osiecki  United States D N/A 93 3 11 14 43
10 208 Bill Sedergren  United States D N/A
11 229 Peter Hasselblad  Sweden D N/A
12 250 Magnus Svensson  Sweden D N/A 46 4 14 18 31
S2 20 Peter Lappin  United States RW St. Lawrence University 7 0 0 0 2

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  • Player stats: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 124.
  • Game log: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 139.
  • Team standings: 1987–88 NHL standings @hockeydb.com
  • Trades: Individual player pages at hockeydb.com
  1. ^ 1987–88 season, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 124.
  2. ^ Playoff Records, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 224.
  3. ^ Year-by-year Results, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 106.
  4. ^ "1987-88 NHL Summary".
  5. ^ "1987-88 NHL Summary".
  6. ^ Joe Nieuwendyk profile, legendsofhockey.net, accessed August 20, 2007.
  7. ^ King Clancy Memorial Trophy at nhl.com, accessed August 20, 2007.
  8. ^ Award Winners, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 23.
  9. ^ All-Star Selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 22.
  10. ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
  11. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  12. ^ Calgary Flames draft history, hockeydb.com, accessed August 19, 2007.