1988–89 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1988–89 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 80th season of play. The Canadiens finished first in the Adams Division, as well as the Prince of Wales Conference, with a 53–18–9 record for 115 points. The team finished second overall in the league behind the Calgary Flames, who had 117 points. Montreal defeated the Hartford Whalers, Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs before meeting the Flames in the Stanley Cup Final. Calgary took the series 4–2, clinching the Cup in game six on the Canadiens' vaunted home ice, the Montreal Forum. This marked the only time that a visiting team defeated them to win the Stanley Cup on Forum ice.

The Canadiens were coached by Pat Burns and captained by Bob Gainey.

Regular season November 7, 1988 – The Canadiens traded RW John Kordic and a 6th-round choice (Michael Doers) to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for RW Russ Courtnall.

For the third straight season, the Canadiens allowed the fewest goals in the NHL (218), were the least penalized team (326 short-handed situations) and allowed the fewest power-play goals (58).

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|1||L||October 6, 1988||2–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres||0–1–0

|2||W||October 8, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars||1–1–0

|3||L||October 12, 1988||5–6 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques||1–2–0

|4||W||October 14, 1988||7–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils||2–2–0

|5||L||October 15, 1988||1–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders||2–3–0

|6||L||October 17, 1988||2–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs||2–4–0

|7||W||October 19, 1988||5–4 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers||3–4–0

|8||L||October 21, 1988||3–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres||3–5–0

|9||W||October 22, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres||4–5–0

|10||T||October 25, 1988||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Boston Bruins||4–5–1

|11||L||October 26, 1988||2–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings||4–6–1

|12||L||October 29, 1988||4–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins||4–7–1

|13||W||November 1, 1988||5–3 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers||5–7–1

|14||W||November 2, 1988||5–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings||6–7–1

|15||W||November 5, 1988||7–2 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets||7–7–1

|16||T||November 7, 1988||3–3 OT|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues||7–7–2

|17||T||November 9, 1988||6–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks||7–7–3

|18||W||November 11, 1988||3–1 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks||8–7–3

|19||L||November 13, 1988||3–7 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets||8–8–3

|20||W||November 16, 1988||5–4 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders||9–8–3

|21||W||November 17, 1988||5–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins||10–8–3

|22||W||November 19, 1988||5–3 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks||11–8–3

|23||W||November 21, 1988||4–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers||12–8–3

|24||W||November 23, 1988||2–0 || align="left"| Boston Bruins||13–8–3

|25||L||November 24, 1988||3–5 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques||13–9–3

|26||W||November 26, 1988||7–5 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers||14–9–3

|27||W||November 30, 1988||6–3 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers||15–9–3

|28||T||December 1, 1988||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers||15–9–4

|29||W||December 3, 1988||3–2 OT|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres||16–9–4

|30||W||December 5, 1988||7–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings||17–9–4

|31||T||December 7, 1988||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars||17–9–5

|32||W||December 8, 1988||5–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues||18–9–5

|33||T||December 10, 1988||0–0 OT|| align="left"| Washington Capitals||18–9–6

|34||W||December 12, 1988||3–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins||19–9–6

|35||L||December 15, 1988||4–6 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques||19–10–6

|36||W||December 17, 1988||6–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers||20–10–6

|37||W||December 19, 1988||2–1 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers||21–10–6

|38||W||December 21, 1988||6–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques||22–10–6

|39||W||December 22, 1988||4–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins||23–10–6

|40||W||December 27, 1988||3–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings||24–10–6

|41||W||December 29, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames||25–10–6

|42||W||December 31, 1988||4–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers||26–10–6

|43||W||January 1, 1989||4–0 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks||27–10–6

|44||W||January 7, 1989||3–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins||28–10–6

|45||L||January 9, 1989||2–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings||28–11–6

|46||W||January 11, 1989||1–0 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils||29–11–6

|47||W||January 12, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins||30–11–6

|48||W||January 14, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs||31–11–6

|49||W||January 18, 1989||3–1 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers||32–11–6

|50||L||January 19, 1989||4–6 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers||32–12–6

|51||W||January 21, 1989||4–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs||33–12–6

|52||L||January 23, 1989||1–3 || align="left"| Calgary Flames||33–13–6

|53||L||January 27, 1989||2–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres||33–14–6

|54||W||January 28, 1989||2–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres||34–14–6

|55||W||January 31, 1989||5–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||35–14–6

|56||W||February 2, 1989||6–1 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques||36–14–6

|57||W||February 4, 1989||7–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers||37–14–6

|58||W||February 11, 1989||5–4 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils||38–14–6

|59||L||February 13, 1989||2–3 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques||38–15–6

|60||W||February 16, 1989||7–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers||39–15–6

|61||W||February 18, 1989||4–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues||40–15–6

|62||T||February 19, 1989||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks||40–15–7

|63||W||February 22, 1989||6–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets||41–15–7

|64||W||February 25, 1989||6–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres||42–15–7

|65||W||February 26, 1989||5–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks||43–15–7

|66||L||March 1, 1989||0–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers||43–16–7

|67||W||March 2, 1989||3–2 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames||44–16–7

|68||W||March 4, 1989||6–1 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers||45–16–7

|69||W||March 8, 1989||3–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals||46–16–7

|70||W||March 9, 1989||5–2 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques||47–16–7

|71||W||March 11, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers||48–16–7

|72||L||March 13, 1989||3–5 || align="left"| New York Islanders||48–17–7

|73||W||March 15, 1989||5–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings||49–17–7

|74||L||March 17, 1989||1–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals||49–18–7

|75||W||March 18, 1989||7–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||50–18–7

|76||W||March 22, 1989||8–0 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques||51–18–7

|77||T||March 25, 1989||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Minnesota North Stars||51–18–8

|78||W||March 27, 1989||5–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins||52–18–8

|79||W||March 30, 1989||4–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres||53–18–8

|80||T||April 1, 1989||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers||53–18–9

Legend:

Player statistics

Forwards Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes Player GP G A Pts PIM Mats Naslund 77 33 51 84 14 Bobby Smith 80 32 51 83 69 Stephane Richer 68 25 35 60 61 Guy Carbonneau 79 26 30 56 44 Claude Lemieux 69 29 22 51 136 Shayne Corson 80 26 24 50 193 Brian Skrudland 71 12 29 41 84 Mike McPhee 73 19 22 41 74 Russ Courtnall 64 22 17 39 15 Mike Keane 69 16 19 35 69 Ryan Walter 78 14 17 31 48 Brent Gilchrist 49 8 16 24 16 Bob Gainey 49 10 7 17 34 Gilles Thibaudeau 32 6 6 12 6 Jose Charbonneau 9 1 3 4 6 Benoit Brunet 2 0 1 1 0 Stephan Lebeau 1 0 1 1 2 Jocelyn Lemieux 1 0 1 1 0 Steve Martinson 25 1 0 1 87 John Kordic 6 0 0 0 13

Defencemen Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes Player GP G A Pts PIM Chris Chelios 80 15 58 73 185 Petr Svoboda 71 8 37 45 147 Larry Robinson 74 4 26 30 22 Craig Ludwig 74 3 13 16 73 Rick Green 72 1 14 15 25 Eric Desjardins 36 2 12 14 26 Mike Lalor 12 1 4 5 15 Jyrki Lumme 21 1 3 4 10 Donald Dufresne 13 0 1 1 43

Goaltending Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average Player GP W L T SO GAA Patrick Roy 48 33 5 6 4 2.47 Brian Hayward 36 20 13 3 1 2.90 Randy Exelby 1 0 0 0 0 0.00

Playoffs

Adams Division semi-finals Hartford Whalers vs. Montreal Canadiens Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 5 Hartford Whalers 2 Montreal Canadiens 6April 6 Hartford Whalers 2 Montreal Canadiens 3 April 8 Montreal Canadiens 5 Hartford Whalers 4 (OT)April 9 Montreal Canadiens 4 Hartford Whalers 3 Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 0.

Adams Division finals Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 17 Boston Bruins 2 Montreal Canadiens 3 April 19 Boston Bruins 2 Montreal Canadiens 3 (OT)April 21 Montreal Canadiens 5 Boston Bruins 4 April 23 Montreal Canadiens 2 Boston Bruins 3 April 25 Boston Bruins 2 Montreal Canadiens 3 Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 1.

Conference finals Philadelphia Flyers vs. Montreal Canadiens Date Away Score Home Score NotesMay 1 Philadelphia Flyers 3 Montreal Canadiens 1 May 3 Philadelphia Flyers 0 Montreal Canadiens 3May 5 Montreal Canadiens 5 Philadelphia Flyers 1May 7 Montreal Canadiens 3 Philadelphia Flyers 0 May 9 Philadelphia Flyers 2 Montreal Canadiens 1 (OT)May 11 Montreal Canadiens 4 Philadelphia Flyers 2 Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 2.

Stanley Cup Final Montreal Canadiens vs. Calgary Flames

The Stanley Cup Final was decided between the top two teams during the 1988–89 NHL regular season. Co-captain Lanny McDonald scored the second Flames goal in Game 6. This turned out to be the last goal in his Hockey Hall of Fame career because he retired during the following off-season. Doug Gilmour scored two goals in the third period, including the eventual game and Cup winner to cement the victory for the Flames. Date Away Score Home Score NotesMay 14 Montreal 2 Calgary 3May 17 Montreal 4 Calgary 2 May 19 Calgary 3 Montreal 4 (2nd OT)May 21 Calgary 4 Montreal 2 May 23 Montreal 2 Calgary 3May 25 Calgary 4 Montreal 2 Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 2.

Awards and records Prince of Wales Trophy Frank J. Selke Trophy: Guy Carbonneau Jack Adams Award: Pat Burns James Norris Memorial Trophy: Chris Chelios William M. Jennings Trophy: Patrick Roy/Brian Hayward Vezina Trophy: Patrick Roy Patrick Roy, goalie, NHL First All-Star Team Chris Chelios, defence, NHL First All-Star Team

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Nationality College/junior/club team120Eric Charron (D)Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)234Martin St. Amour (LW)Verdun Junior Canadiens (QMJHL)346Neil Carnes (C)Verdun Junior Canadiens (QMJHL)483Patric Kjellberg (LW)Falu IF (Sweden)593Peter Popovic (D)Västerås HK (Sweden)5104Jean-Claude Bergeron (G)Verdun Junior Canadiens (QMJHL)6125Patrik Carnback (RW)Västra Frölunda HC (Sweden)7146Tim Chase (D)Tabor Academy (USHS-MA)8167Sean Hill (D)East High School (USHS-MN)9188Harijs Vitolinsh (C)Dinamo Riga (USSR)10209Yuri Krivokhizha (D)Dinamo Minsk (USSR)11230Kevin Dahl (D)Bowling Green State University (CCHA)12251Dave Kunda (D)University of Guelph (CIAU)S25Peter Fish (G)Boston University (Hockey East)

See also 1988–89 NHL season

References Canadiens on Hockey Database Canadiens on NHL Reference