In 1989, the Calgary Flames won the Stanley Cup. But what is often forgotten is just how close they came to being eliminated by an upstart Vancouver Canucks team in the first round of that year’s playoffs. On April 15, 1989, the two teams clashed in a decisive game 7, and it would take overtime to decide the winner. Bob Cole and John Garrett had the call for CBC’s broadcast before a capacity crowd of just over 20,000 at Calgary’s Saddledome.
The game started with some frantic end-to-end action and scoring chances for each side. There was no conservative approach being taken to begin this game 7, but the pace did slow as the first period progressed. Joe Nieuwendyk opened the scoring for Calgary about 9 minutes in on a power play after Harold Snepsts high-sticked Theoren Fleury. The crowd was going crazy and Vancouver was back on their heels. Calgary continued to pour on the pressure, but Vancouver answered back with a power play goal of their own. Robert Nordmark scored from the point on a shot screened by Toni Tanti that Mike Vernon did not see. An Al Macinnis trip on Rich Sutter set up the power play for Vancouver. But MacInnis would redeem himself later in the period. He fired one of his trademark shots that went in and out so quickly, the officials did not even call it a goal at first. Referee Bill McCreary got on the phone in what was an early version of an instant replay review to confirm that the howitzer of a shot had indeed bounced off the back iron of the net. The goal was actually credited to Gary Roberts on a deflection, and it was now 2-1 for Calgary.
A young Trevor Linden would answer back for Vancouver 2 minutes in to the second period on a shot from the point to tie the game. A single (and brave) Vancouver fan rose from his seat to wave a towel, a Vancouver playoff tradition. The otherwise quiet Saddledome now seemed a bit more tense, as they realized they were in for a fight in this elimination game. Vancouver did seem to have the momentum for the rest of the period, as Vernon was called upon to make some sprawling athletic saves to keep it a tie game. That kind of style was definitely needed, as both Mike Vernon and Kirk McLean looked small in their nets compared to today’s heavily clad butterfly style goalies.
In spite of the Canucks strong second period, Rob Ramage would be the next goal scorer. He put Calgary ahead as he banked a shot off of Snepsts’ skate that McLean had no chance on. It was a tough break for Vancouver, as the goal came with under a minute left in the period.
So the stage was set for a great third period, as Calgary took a slim 3-2 lead into the last frame. After some exciting action to begin the period, Doug Lidster threw a harmless looking one at the net from a bad angle, but it was deflected in off Brad McCrimmon’s stick to tie the game. The hockey gods evened things up, as Vancouver was now the recipient of a puck bouncing off a Calgary defender and in. That would round out the scoring for the third, as we were headed to overtime tied 3-3.
Game 7 overtime was an unlikely event in this series, as the Flames were heavily favoured going in. The Flames finished 1989 first in the Smythe Division and the entire league with an impressive 117 points. Vancouver finished fourth in the Smythe with just 74 points, but the Canucks were giving the Flames all they could handle in a series that was back and forth the whole way through. The Canucks were definitely hanging tough, to quote a New Kids on The Block song from the same year.
If you’re a Flames fan, I suggest that you do not watch the overtime of this game. The quality of chances that Vancouver gets makes me think that they are bound to score on one of them eventually if the video gets replayed enough. Mike Vernon was definitely the hero in this one for Calgary, as he preserved their Cup run with some amazing saves with the season on the line.
So despite glorious chances for Petri Skriko, Stan Smyl, Doug Smith, and Tony Tanti, it would be a Jim Peplinski centring pass that ricocheted off Joel Otto in front that sealed the game and series for Calgary. (To be fair, McLean also made some amazing saves in what was a very exciting OT).
After this first round scare, Calgary went on to win the 1989 Stanley Cup, but Vancouver would have their revenge 5 years later. In 1994, a very similar scenario would play out with a powerful Flames club facing off against an underdog Canucks team in the first round of the playoffs. And just like in ’89, it would take game 7 overtime to decide the series. But this time, Pavel Bure of Vancouver was the hero with a beautiful goal that helped propel the Canucks all the way to the Stanley Cup finals that year. But unlike the Flames, the Canucks would come up just short against Mark Messier and the New York Rangers.
Not-so-instant-replay 