1988–89 Montreal Canadiens season
NHL hockey team 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 Finals . Calgary took the series 4–2, clinching the Cup in Game 6 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 .
Offseason
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(July 2010 )
Regular season
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).[ 1]
Final standings
[ 2] 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
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1988–89 NHL records[ 3]
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Boston
—
0–5–3
5–3
0–7–1
4–1–3
9–16–7
Buffalo
5–0–3
—
3–5
3–5
3–4–1
14–13–5
Hartford
3–5
5–3
—
1–7
4–3–1
13–18–1
Montreal
7–0–1
5–3
7–1
—
4–4
23–8–1
Quebec
1–4–3
4–3–1
3–4–1
4–4
—
12–15–5
Vs. Patrick Division
1988–89 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Boston
2–0–1
2–1
1–0–2
2–1
1–1–1
1–1–1
9–4–5
Buffalo
2–1
3–0
3–0
1–2
2–1
0–3
11–7–0
Hartford
2–1
2–1
2–1
1–1–1
2–1
0–3
9–8–1
Montreal
3–0
1–2
3–0
1–0–2
2–1
1–1–1
11–4–3
Quebec
2–1
1–2
1–2
1–2
2–1
0–2–1
7–10–1
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1988–89 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
Boston
3–0
0–2–1
0–2–1
3–0
3–0
9–4–2
Buffalo
2–1
3–0
0–1–2
1–2
2–1
8–5–2
Hartford
2–1
2–1
2–1
1–0–2
2–1
9–4–2
Montreal
1–0–2
1–2
1–0–2
2–0–1
2–1
7–3–5
Quebec
0–2–1
2–1
2–1
0–3
0–3
4–10–1
Vs. Smythe Division
1988–89 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
Boston
1–2
3–0
2–1
2–1
2–1
10–5–0
Buffalo
2–1
0–2–1
0–3
1–2
2–1
5–9–1
Hartford
1–2
1–2
1–2
1–1–1
2–1
6–8–1
Montreal
2–1
2–1
3–0
3–0
2–1
12–3–0
Quebec
1–2
0–3
0–3
1–2
2–1
4–11–0
Schedule and results
#
R
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
1
L
Oct 6, 1988
2–3
@ Buffalo Sabres
0–1–0
2
W
Oct 8, 1988
4–3
Minnesota North Stars
1–1–0
3
L
Oct 12, 1988
5–6
Quebec Nordiques
1–2–0
4
W
Oct 14, 1988
7–3
@ New Jersey Devils
2–2–0
5
L
Oct 15, 1988
1–2
@ New York Islanders
2–3–0
6
L
Oct 17, 1988
2–6
Toronto Maple Leafs
2–4–0
7
W
Oct 19, 1988
5–4
Hartford Whalers
3–4–0
8
L
Oct 21, 1988
3–5
@ Buffalo Sabres
3–5–0
9
W
Oct 22, 1988
4–3
Buffalo Sabres
4–5–0
10
T
Oct 25, 1988
1–1 OT
@ Boston Bruins
4–5–1
11
L
Oct 26, 1988
2–4
@ Detroit Red Wings
4–6–1
12
L
Oct 29, 1988
4–5
Pittsburgh Penguins
4–7–1
13
W
Nov 1, 1988
5–3
@ Hartford Whalers
5–7–1
14
W
Nov 2, 1988
5–3
Los Angeles Kings
6–7–1
15
W
Nov 5, 1988
7–2
Winnipeg Jets
7–7–1
16
T
Nov 7, 1988
3–3 OT
St. Louis Blues
7–7–2
17
T
Nov 9, 1988
6–6 OT
@ Chicago Blackhawks
7–7–3
18
W
Nov 11, 1988
3–1
@ Vancouver Canucks
8–7–3
19
L
Nov 13, 1988
3–7
@ Winnipeg Jets
8–8–3
20
W
Nov 16, 1988
5–4 OT
New York Islanders
9–8–3
21
W
Nov 17, 1988
5–2
@ Boston Bruins
10–8–3
22
W
Nov 19, 1988
5–3
Chicago Blackhawks
11–8–3
23
W
Nov 21, 1988
4–2
@ New York Rangers
12–8–3
24
W
Nov 23, 1988
2–0
Boston Bruins
13–8–3
25
L
Nov 24, 1988
3–5
@ Quebec Nordiques
13–9–3
26
W
Nov 26, 1988
7–5
Edmonton Oilers
14–9–3
27
W
Nov 30, 1988
6–3
@ Hartford Whalers
15–9–3
28
T
Dec 1, 1988
2–2 OT
@ Philadelphia Flyers
15–9–4
29
W
Dec 3, 1988
3–2 OT
Buffalo Sabres
16–9–4
30
W
Dec 5, 1988
7–2
Detroit Red Wings
17–9–4
31
T
Dec 7, 1988
2–2 OT
@ Minnesota North Stars
17–9–5
32
W
Dec 8, 1988
5–1
@ St. Louis Blues
18–9–5
33
T
Dec 10, 1988
0–0 OT
Washington Capitals
18–9–6
34
W
Dec 12, 1988
3–1
Boston Bruins
19–9–6
35
L
Dec 15, 1988
4–6
@ Quebec Nordiques
19–10–6
36
W
Dec 17, 1988
6–3
New York Rangers
20–10–6
37
W
Dec 19, 1988
2–1
Hartford Whalers
21–10–6
38
W
Dec 21, 1988
6–4
Quebec Nordiques
22–10–6
39
W
Dec 22, 1988
4–2
@ Boston Bruins
23–10–6
40
W
Dec 27, 1988
3–2
@ Los Angeles Kings
24–10–6
41
W
Dec 29, 1988
4–3
@ Calgary Flames
25–10–6
42
W
Dec 31, 1988
4–2
@ Edmonton Oilers
26–10–6
43
W
Jan 1, 1989
4–0
@ Vancouver Canucks
27–10–6
44
W
Jan 7, 1989
3–1
Boston Bruins
28–10–6
45
L
Jan 9, 1989
2–3
@ Detroit Red Wings
28–11–6
46
W
Jan 11, 1989
1–0
New Jersey Devils
29–11–6
47
W
Jan 12, 1989
5–3
@ Boston Bruins
30–11–6
48
W
Jan 14, 1989
5–3
@ Toronto Maple Leafs
31–11–6
49
W
Jan 18, 1989
3–1
Hartford Whalers
32–11–6
50
L
Jan 19, 1989
4–6
@ Hartford Whalers
32–12–6
51
W
Jan 21, 1989
4–3
Toronto Maple Leafs
33–12–6
52
L
Jan 23, 1989
1–3
Calgary Flames
33–13–6
53
L
Jan 27, 1989
2–4
@ Buffalo Sabres
33–14–6
54
W
Jan 28, 1989
2–1
Buffalo Sabres
34–14–6
55
W
Jan 31, 1989
5–1
@ Pittsburgh Penguins
35–14–6
56
W
Feb 2, 1989
6–1
@ Quebec Nordiques
36–14–6
57
W
Feb 4, 1989
7–5
New York Rangers
37–14–6
58
W
Feb 11, 1989
5–4
New Jersey Devils
38–14–6
59
L
Feb 13, 1989
2–3
Quebec Nordiques
38–15–6
60
W
Feb 16, 1989
7–4
@ Philadelphia Flyers
39–15–6
61
W
Feb 18, 1989
4–2
@ St. Louis Blues
40–15–6
62
T
Feb 19, 1989
4–4 OT
@ Chicago Blackhawks
40–15–7
63
W
Feb 22, 1989
6–3
Winnipeg Jets
41–15–7
64
W
Feb 25, 1989
6–1
Buffalo Sabres
42–15–7
65
W
Feb 26, 1989
5–2
Vancouver Canucks
43–15–7
66
L
Mar 1, 1989
0–3
@ Edmonton Oilers
43–16–7
67
W
Mar 2, 1989
3–2
@ Calgary Flames
44–16–7
68
W
Mar 4, 1989
6–1
@ Hartford Whalers
45–16–7
69
W
Mar 8, 1989
3–2
Washington Capitals
46–16–7
70
W
Mar 9, 1989
5–2
@ Quebec Nordiques
47–16–7
71
W
Mar 11, 1989
5–3
Hartford Whalers
48–16–7
72
L
Mar 13, 1989
3–5
New York Islanders
48–17–7
73
W
Mar 15, 1989
5–2
Los Angeles Kings
49–17–7
74
L
Mar 17, 1989
1–4
@ Washington Capitals
49–18–7
75
W
Mar 18, 1989
7–2
@ Pittsburgh Penguins
50–18–7
76
W
Mar 22, 1989
8–0
Quebec Nordiques
51–18–7
77
T
Mar 25, 1989
1–1 OT
Minnesota North Stars
51–18–8
78
W
Mar 27, 1989
5–2
Boston Bruins
52–18–8
79
W
Mar 30, 1989
4–2
@ Buffalo Sabres
53–18–8
80
T
Apr 1, 1989
2–2 OT
Philadelphia Flyers
53–18–9
Player statistics
Forwards
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
Defencemen
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
Goaltending
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
Playoffs
Adams Division semi-finals
Hartford Whalers vs. Montreal Canadiens
Date
Away
Score
Home
Score
Notes
April 5
Hartford Whalers
2
Montreal Canadiens
6
April 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
Notes
April 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
Notes
May 1
Philadelphia Flyers
3
Montreal Canadiens
1
May 3
Philadelphia Flyers
0
Montreal Canadiens
3
May 5
Montreal Canadiens
5
Philadelphia Flyers
1
May 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 finals
Montreal Canadiens vs. Calgary Flames
The Stanley Cup Finals 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
Notes
May 14
Montreal
2
Calgary
3
May 17
Montreal
4
Calgary
2
May 19
Calgary
3
Montreal
4
(2nd OT)
May 21
Calgary
4
Montreal
2
May 23
Montreal
2
Calgary
3
May 25
Calgary
4
Montreal
2
Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 2.
Awards and records
Transactions
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(July 2010 )
Draft picks
Round
Pick
Player
Nationality
College/junior/club team
1
20
Eric Charron (D)
Canada
Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
2
34
Martin St. Amour (LW)
Canada
Verdun Junior Canadiens (QMJHL)
3
46
Neil Carnes (C)
Canada
Verdun Junior Canadiens (QMJHL)
4
83
Patric Kjellberg (LW)
Sweden
Falu IF (Sweden)
5
93
Peter Popovic (D)
Sweden
Västerås HK (Sweden)
5
104
Jean-Claude Bergeron (G)
Canada
Verdun Junior Canadiens (QMJHL)
6
125
Patrik Carnback (RW)
Sweden
Västra Frölunda HC (Sweden)
7
146
Tim Chase (D)
United States
Tabor Academy (USHS-MA)
8
167
Sean Hill (D)
United States
East High School (USHS-MN)
9
188
Harijs Vitolinsh (C)
Soviet Union
Dinamo Riga (USSR)
10
209
Yuri Krivokhizha (D)
Soviet Union
Dinamo Minsk (USSR)
11
230
Kevin Dahl (D)
Canada
Bowling Green State University (CCHA)
12
251
Dave Kunda (D)
Canada
University of Guelph (CIAU)
S
25
Peter Fish (G)
United States
Boston University (Hockey East)
Farm teams
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(July 2010 )
See also
References
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Patrick Adams Norris Smythe See also