1987–88 Calgary Flames season

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]

1987–88 Calgary Flames
Presidents' Trophy winners
Smythe Division champions
Division	1st Smythe
Conference	1st Campbell
1987–88 record	48–23–9
Home record	26–11–3
Road record	22–12–6
Goals for	397 (1st)
Goals against	305 (t-12th)
Team information
General manager	Cliff Fletcher
Coach	Terry Crisp
Captain	Lanny McDonald and Jim Peplinski
Alternate captains	Tim Hunter
Arena	Olympic Saddledome
Average attendance	18,881
Team leaders
Goals	Joe Nieuwendyk (51)
Assists	Gary Suter (70)
Points	Hakan Loob (106)
Penalty minutes	Tim Hunter (337)
Wins	Mike Vernon (39)
Goals against average	Mike Vernon (3.53)
← 1986–87 1988–89 →

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

Season standings

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

Smythe Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Smythe Division 1987–88 NHL records[11] Team CGY EDM LAK VAN WIN Total Calgary — 4–3–1 4–4 6–0–2 3–4–1 17–11–4 Edmonton 3–4–1 — 4–2–2 7–0–1 4–1–3 18–7–7 Los Angeles 4–4 2–4–2 — 3–4–1 3–5 12–17–3 Vancouver 0–6–2 0–7–1 4–3–1 — 3–5 7–21–4 Winnipeg 4–3–1 1–4–3 5–3 5–3 — 15–13–4 Vs. Norris Division 1987–88 NHL records Team CHI DET MIN STL TOR Total Calgary 2–0–1 1–1–1 2–0–1 2–1 3–0 10–2–3 Edmonton 1–2 1–2 2–0–1 3–0 2–0–1 9–4–2 Los Angeles 2–1 1–2 3–0 2–1 1–1–1 9–5–1 Vancouver 1–2 1–2 2–1 1–2 1–1–1 6–8–1 Winnipeg 1–1–1 0–2–1 2–0–1 2–1 2–1 7–5–3 Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Adams Division 1987–88 NHL records Team BOS BUF HFD MTL QUE Total Calgary 1–2 2–1 3–0 2–0–1 3–0 11–3–1 Edmonton 1–1–1 3–0 2–1 0–3 1–1–1 7–6–2 Los Angeles 0–2–1 1–2 0–3 1–2 2–1 4–10–1 Vancouver 1–2 1–1–1 0–1–2 0–2–1 3–0 5–6–4 Winnipeg 0–3 1–1–1 1–2 0–3 2–0–1 4–9–2 Vs. Patrick Division 1987–88 NHL records Team NJD NYI NYR PHI PIT WSH Total Calgary 2–1 1–2 2–1 3–0 0–2–1 2–1 10–7–1 Edmonton 1–2 1–2 2–1 2–1 3–0 1–2 10–8–0 Los Angeles 1–1–1 0–3 3–0 0–3 0–1–2 1–2 5–10–3 Vancouver 3–0 0–3 1–2 1–2 2–1 0–3 7–11–0 Winnipeg 2–0–1 1–2 0–2–1 0–3 2–1 2–1 7–9–2

Schedule and results

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

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

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	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

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

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 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

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

Main article: List of Calgary Flames draft picks

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

• 1987–88 NHL season

References

• 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.