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.1987–88 season, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 124.
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.Playoff Records, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 224. 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,Year-by-year Results, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 106. and one of the highest totals in league history. The Flames also finished first in scoring during the regular season. Furthermore, the Flames led the league in short-handed goals scored (23) and power-play percentage (28.46%).
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.Joe Nieuwendyk profile, legendsofhockey.net, accessed August 20, 2007.
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.King Clancy Memorial Trophy at nhl.com, accessed August 20, 2007. In addition, Brad McCrimmon won the Emery Edge Award for leading the league in Plus/Minus at +48.Award Winners, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 23.
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.All-Star Selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 22.
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 79 || April 1 || Los Angeles || 6 – 3 || Calgary || || 47–23–9 || 103
| 80 || April 3 || Minnesota || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || 48–23–9 || 105
Legend:
Playoffs
| 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
| 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
Legend:
Player statistics
Skaters 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 1280505610647919106 Mike Bullard 227948551036860226 Joe Nieuwendyk 25755141922383472 Gary Suter 2075217091124919106 Joe Mullen 78040448430724610 Al MacInnis 280255883114736918 John Tonelli 27741741588462578 Joel Otto 2962133952194932524 Jim Peplinski 2475203151234905545 Brett Hull‡ 165226245012 – – – – - Brad McCrimmon 4807354298923522 Carey Wilson‡ 33349112018 – – – – - Gary Roberts 1074131528282923529 Lanny McDonald 9601013235793146 Perry Berezan 21297121966802213 Brian Glynn 3267514198710000 Colin Patterson 1139711182891018 Ric Nattress 663213153761340 Tim Hunter 19688513337940432 Dana Murzyn† 541651194520213 Steve Bozek‡ 2626371012 – – – – - Neil Sheehy‡ 53626873 – – – – - Jiri Hrdina 179257210000 Rob Ramage† 551216737913421 Mike Vernon 30640774790222 Shane Churla† 1529156132701117 Craig Coxe† 18723532210116 Paul Reinhart 23140441082796 Kevan Guy 3110338 – – – – - Doug Dadswell 36250222 – – – – - Rich Chernomaz 3321010 – – – – - Randy Bucyk 1820000 – – – – - Rick Wamsley 312000010000 Bob Bodak 28300022 – – – – -
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only. ‡Traded mid-season.
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 Player # GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA GP TOI W L GA SO GAA Mike Vernon 306435653916721013.539515443403.96 Rick Wamsley† 31273100504.1113301203.64 Doug Dadswell 362512218728904.37 – – – – – – - †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
Transactions The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1988–89 season.
Trades 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 ChurlaDana Murzyn To Hartford Whalers Neil SheehyCarey Wilsonrights to Lane MacDonald March 6, 1988 To Calgary Flames Craig Coxe To Vancouver Canucks Peter BakovicBrian BradleyKevan Guy March 7, 1988 To Calgary Flames Rob RamageRick Wamsley To St. Louis Blues Steve BozekBrett Hull
Free agents 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