1989–90 Calgary Flames season explained

League:NHL
Season:1989–90
Year:1989
Team:Calgary Flames
Conferencerank:1st
Divisionrank:1st
Record:42–23–15
Homerecord:28–7–5
Roadrecord:14–16–10
Goalsfor:348 (1st)
Goalsagainst:265 (4th)
Captain:Jim Peplinski (Oct)
Brad McCrimmon (Oct-Apr)
Attendance:19,861
Goalsleader:Joe Nieuwendyk (45)
Assistsleader:Doug Gilmour (67)
Pointsleader:Joe Nieuwendyk (95)
Pimleader:Tim Hunter (279)
Winsleader:Mike Vernon (23)
Gaaleader:Mike Vernon (3.13)
Divisionwin:Yes

The 1989–90 Calgary Flames season was the Flames' eighteenth season, and their tenth in Calgary. In defense of their first Stanley Cup championship, despite losing both Lanny McDonald and Jim Peplinski to retirement, the Flames remained a dominant team on the ice, finishing atop the Smythe Division and the Campbell Conference for the third consecutive year, and 2nd overall in the NHL with 99 points – two points behind the Boston Bruins.

The regular season success did not translate in the postseason, however, as the Flames were stunned by the Los Angeles Kings in six games in the first round of the playoffs. The loss began 15 years of playoff frustration, as the Flames would not win another postseason round until the 2003–04 season.

Following the loss, the Flames fired head coach Terry Crisp, later replacing him with Doug Risebrough. In three seasons with the Flames, Crisp compiled a 144–63–33 record, with one Stanley Cup win and two Presidents' Trophies.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Individually, Russian superstar Sergei Makarov, who was drafted by the Flames in 1983, was allowed to leave the Soviet Union and play in the NHL. Makarov finished 4th in team scoring with 86 points. The 32-year-old Makarov captured the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year. The selection was controversial, as Makarov had played 11 pro seasons in the Soviet Union prior to joining the Flames. As a result, the league changed the rules for the following seasons, stating that only players under the age of 26 would be eligible for the award.[7]

Four Flames were named to represent the Campbell Conference at the 1990 All-Star Game: Forwards Joe Mullen and Joe Nieuwendyk, defenceman Al MacInnis and goaltender Mike Vernon.[8]

Regular season

The Flames finished first in scoring, with 348 goals for, and first in power-play percentage, with 27.73% (99 for 357).[9]

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 1 || October 5 || Detroit || 7 – 10 || Calgary || || 1–0–0 || 2|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 2 || October 7 || NY Islanders || 3 – 6 || Calgary || || 2–0–0 || 4|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 3 || October 10 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || New Jersey || || 3–0–0 || 6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 4 || October 11 || Calgary || 4 – 5 || NY Rangers || || 3–1–0 || 6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 5 || October 14 || Calgary || 4 – 4 || Washington || OT || 3–1–1 || 7|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 6 || October 15 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Philadelphia || || 4–1–1 || 9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 7 || October 17 || Calgary || 8 – 8 || Quebec || OT || 4–1–2 || 10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 8 || October 18 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Montreal || || 4–2–2 || 10|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 9 || October 21 || Boston || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || 5–2–2 || 12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 10 || October 23 || Washington || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || 5–2–3 || 13|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 11 || October 25 || Calgary || 5 – 0 || Los Angeles || || 6–2–3 || 15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 12 || October 27 || Vancouver || 5 – 5 || Calgary || OT || 6–2–4 || 16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 13 || October 28 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Vancouver || || 6–3–4 || 16|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 14 || November 1 || Winnipeg || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || 7–3–4 || 18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 15 || November 3 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Edmonton || || 7–4–4 || 18|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 16 || November 4 || New Jersey || 3 – 7 || Calgary || || 8–4–4 || 20|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 17 || November 6 || Edmonton || 1 – 5 || Calgary || || 9–4–4 || 22|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 18 || November 8 || Calgary || 5 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 10–4–4 || 24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 19 || November 11 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || OT || 10–5–4 || 24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 20 || November 12 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Winnipeg || || 10–6–4 || 24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 21 || November 14 || Los Angeles || 8 – 6 || Calgary || || 10–7–4 || 24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 22 || November 16 || Buffalo || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 10–7–5 || 25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 23 || November 18 || Chicago || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 10–7–6 || 26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 24 || November 20 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Montreal || || 10–8–6 || 26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 25 || November 21 || Calgary || 4 – 4 || Quebec || OT || 10–8–7 || 27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 26 || November 24 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Detroit || || 10–9–7 || 27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 27 || November 25 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || St. Louis || OT || 10–9–8 || 28|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 28 || November 30 || Minnesota || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || 11–9–8 || 30|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 29 || December 2 || Toronto || 4 – 7 || Calgary || || 12–9–8 || 32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 30 || December 6 || Winnipeg || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || 12–10–8 || 32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 31 || December 10 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Winnipeg || || 12–11–8 || 32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 32 || December 11 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Edmonton || OT || 12–11–9 || 33|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 33 || December 14 || Quebec || 2 – 8 || Calgary || || 13–11–9 || 35|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 34 || December 16 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || 14–11–9 || 37|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 35 || December 19 || Calgary || 2 – 1 || Vancouver || || 15–11–9 || 39|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 36 || December 20 || Vancouver || 1 – 2 || Calgary || OT || 16–11–9 || 41|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 37 || December 23 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Edmonton || || 16–12–9 || 41|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 38 || December 27 || Calgary || 5 – 5 || Los Angeles || || 16–12–10 || 42|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 39 || December 29 || Winnipeg || 2 – 1 || Calgary || OT || 16–13–10 || 42|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 40 || December 30 || Montreal || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || 17–13–10 || 44|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 41 || January 2 || Philadelphia || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 17–13–11 || 45|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 42 || January 5 || Hartford || 4 – 6 || Calgary || || 18–13–11 || 47|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 43 || January 7 || Calgary || 3 – 1 || Edmonton || || 19–13–11 || 49|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 44 || January 9 || Edmonton || 3 – 2 || Calgary || OT || 19–14–11 || 49|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 45 || January 11 || Buffalo || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || 20–14–11 || 51|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 46 || January 13 || Calgary || 5 – 6 || Toronto || || 20–15–11 || 51|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 47 || January 14 || Calgary || 6 – 5 || Chicago || || 21–15–11 || 53|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 48 || January 16 || Calgary || 5 – 2 || St. Louis || || 22–15–11 || 55|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 49 || January 18 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Boston || OT || 22–15–12 || 56|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 50 || January 19 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Hartford || OT || 22–15–13 || 57|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 51 || January 25 || NY Rangers || 5 – 8 || Calgary || || 23–15–13 || 59|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 52 || January 27 || Minnesota || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || 24–15–13 || 61|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 53 || January 30 || Calgary || 7 – 2 || Vancouver || || 25–15–13 || 63|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 54 || February 1 || Vancouver || 3 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 26–15–13 || 65|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 55 || February 3 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 26–16–13 || 65|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 56 || February 6 || Los Angeles || 5 – 3 || Calgary || || 26–17–13 || 65|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 57 || February 10 || Calgary || 5 – 7 || Detroit || || 26–18–13 || 65|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 58 || February 11 || Calgary || 5 – 2 || NY Rangers || || 27–18–13 || 67|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 59 || February 13 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || NY Islanders || || 28–18–13 || 69|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 60 || February 15 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || Chicago || || 29–18–13 || 71|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 61 || February 18 || Calgary || 1 – 5 || Winnipeg || || 29–19–13 || 71|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 62 || February 20 || Boston || 5 – 3 || Calgary || || 29–20–13 || 71|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 63 || February 22 || Toronto || 2 – 12 || Calgary || || 30–20–13 || 73|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 64 || February 25 || Edmonton || 4 – 10 || Calgary || || 31–20–13 || 75|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 65 || March 1 || Philadelphia || 4 – 2 || Calgary || || 31–21–13 || 75|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 66 || March 3 || Vancouver || 1 – 5 || Calgary || || 32–21–13 || 77|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 67 || March 5 || Los Angeles || 0 – 5 || Calgary || || 33–21–13 || 79|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 68 || March 7 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 6 || Calgary || || 34–21–13 || 81|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 69 || March 9 || Calgary || 4 – 4 || Vancouver || OT || 34–21–14 || 82|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 70 || March 11 || Calgary || 6 – 4 || Winnipeg || || 35–21–14 || 84|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 71 || March 12 || Winnipeg || 4 – 5 || Calgary || OT || 36–21–14 || 86|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 72 || March 15 || New Jersey || 4 – 5 || Calgary || || 37–21–14 || 88|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 73 || March 17 || Hartford || 4 – 5 || Calgary || || 38–21–14 || 90|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 74 || March 19 || St. Louis || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || 39–21–14 || 92|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 75 || March 21 || Calgary || 4 – 5 || Buffalo || || 39–22–14 || 92|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"| 76 || March 24 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Pittsburgh || OT || 39–22–15 || 93|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 77 || March 25 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Washington || || 39–23–15 || 93|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 78 || March 27 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || NY Islanders || || 40–23–15 || 95|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 79 || March 30 || Edmonton || 2 – 6 || Calgary || || 41–23–15 || 97|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 80 || April 1 || Los Angeles || 4 – 8 || Calgary || || 42–23–15 || 99

Playoffs

The Flames defense of their first Stanley Cup championship ended quickly as Calgary was stunned by the Los Angeles Kings in six games. The loss would begin a string of playoff disappointments for the Flames, who would not win another playoff round until the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Flames 12–4 defeat in game four of the series remains a Flames team record for most goals against in one playoff game.[10]

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 1 || April 4 || Los Angeles || 5 – 3 || Calgary || || 19,172 || Los Angeles leads 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 2 || April 6 || Los Angeles || 5 – 8 || Calgary || || 20,168 || Series tied 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 3 || April 8 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Los Angeles || OT || 16,005 || Los Angeles leads 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 4 || April 10 || Calgary || 4 – 12 || Los Angeles || || 16,005 || Los Angeles leads 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 5 || April 12 || Los Angeles || 1 – 5 || Calgary || || 20,107 || Los Angeles leads 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 6 || April 14 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Los Angeles || 2OT || 16,005 || Los Angeles wins 4–2|-| colspan=11 align="center"|Legend:

Player statistics

Skaters

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

  Regular season Playoffs
PlayerGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
257945509540646104
39782467915463148
2792862908262358
42802462865560663
207616607697601112
1078393372222625741
7783633692463030
1480313566157623510
28802628542361342
27652018382660228
34788273570603310
297513203311662242
17641218303160112
5787132014062242
479415197860228
649114152662028
116153820-----
182225710-----
221023539-----
196723527960004
213505548-----
1620224020000
30 470332160000
Jim Korn 26902226410112
2461014-----
3210000-----
120002-----
35300017-----
3350004-----
55500010-----
3136000410000

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

Goaltenders

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
PlayerGPTOIWLTGASOGAAGPTOIWLGASOGAA
304727952314914613.136342231903.33
31361969188610703.26149019011.02
12119110804.03-------

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1989–90 season.

Trades

June 16, 1989To Calgary Flames
2nd round pick in 1989 (Kent Manderville)
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Rob Ramage
March 6, 1990To Calgary Flames
Jim Korn
To New Jersey Devils
5th round pick in 1990 (Petr Kuchyna)

Free Agents

Draft picks

See main article: List of Calgary Flames draft picks.

Calgary's picks at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, held in Bloomington, Minnesota.[11]

RndPickPlayerNationalityPositionTeam (league)NHL statistics
GPGAPtsPIM
224Kent MandervilleN/A6463767104348
2 42 C N/A414415293367
3 50 DHIFK Helsinki (FNL)
3 63 Corey Lyons RWLethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
4 70 CCHZ LITVÍNOV (CZE)830252378630388
4 84 Ryan O'Leary CN/A
5 105 Toby Kearney LWN/A
7 147 LWCornell (ECAC)
8 168 DN/A50002
9 189 RWTraktor Chelyabinsk (USSR)
10 210 Dan Sawyer DN/A
11 231 DHC Dynamo Moscow (USSR)
12 252 DDjurgårdens IF (SEL)
S26Shawn HeaphyCN/A10002

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: May 8, 1990 . SPORTS PEOPLE: HOCKEY; Crisp Is Dismissed As Coach of Flames . February 20, 2024 . New York Times.
  2. Web site: Archives . L. A. Times . 1990-05-07 . A Year After Cup, Flames Oust Crisp : NHL: Defending champion Calgary fires its coach in the wake of a first-round playoff loss to the Kings. No successor is named. . 2024-02-20 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  3. Web site: 1990-05-08 . CRISP FIRED BECAUSE OF HIS PERSONALITY . 2024-02-20 . Deseret News . en.
  4. Web site: Flames fire coach - UPI Archives . 2024-02-20 . UPI . en.
  5. Web site: Archives . L. A. Times . 1990-05-18 . Flames Name Risebrough as Coach : Hockey: Former Calgary player replaces Terry Crisp, who was fired last month. . 2024-02-20 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  6. Web site: Archives . L. A. Times . 1990-05-19 . Flames Replace Fired Crisp With Risebrough . 2024-02-20 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  7. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4DA103EF933A15755C0A966958260 New Rules for Rookies
  8. All-Stars, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 22
  9. Web site: 1989-90 NHL Summary.
  10. Playoff Records, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 225
  11. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr000043.html Calgary Flames draft history