# 1988–89 Minnesota North Stars season

The 1988–89 Minnesota North Stars season, was the team's 22nd season. It saw the North Stars finish in third place in the Norris Division with a record of 27 wins, 37 losses, and 16 ties for 70 points. They lost the Division Semi-finals in five games to the St. Louis Blues.

## Offseason
### NHL Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/junior/club team |
| 1 | 1 | Mike Modano (C) | United States | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) |
| 2 | 40 | Link Gaetz (D) | Canada | Spokane Chiefs (WHL) |
| 3 | 43 | Shaun Kane (D) | United States | Springfield Olympics (EJHL) |
| 4 | 64 | Jeffrey Stolp (G) | United States | Greenway High School (USHS-MN) |
| 8 | 148 | Ken MacArthur (D) | Canada | University of Denver (WCHA) |
| 9 | 169 | Travis Richards (D) | United States | Robbinsdale Armstrong High School (USHS-MN) |
| 10 | 190 | Ari Matilainen (RW) | Finland | Assat (Finland) |
| 11 | 211 | Grant Bischoff (LW) | United States | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 12 | 232 | Trent Andison (LW) | United States | Cornell University (ECAC) |
| S | 1 | Mike McHugh (LW) | United States | University of Maine (Hockey East) |
| S | 6 | Dave Schofield (D) | United States | Merrimack College (Hockey East) |

## Regular season
### Final standings

Norris Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 313 | 316 | 80 |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 33 | 35 | 12 | 275 | 285 | 78 |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 27 | 37 | 16 | 258 | 278 | 70 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 80 | 27 | 41 | 12 | 297 | 335 | 66 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 28 | 46 | 6 | 259 | 342 | 62 |
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. Campbell Conference

1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | CHI | DET | MIN | STL | TOR | Total |
| Chicago | — | 4–2–2 | 4–2–2 | 1–6–1 | 3–3–2 | 12–13–7 |
| Detroit | 2–4–2 | — | 5–3 | 3–3–2 | 5–3 | 15–13–4 |
| Minnesota | 2–4–2 | 3–5 | — | 2–3–3 | 3–4–1 | 10–16–6 |
| St. Louis | 6–1–1 | 3–3–2 | 3–2–3 | — | 6–2 | 18–8–6 |
| Toronto | 3–3–2 | 3–5 | 4–3–1 | 2–6 | — | 12–17–3 |
1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | CGY | EDM | LAK | VAN | WIN | Total |
| Chicago | 0–3 | 2–0–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 6–8–1 |
| Detroit | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–0–3 | 2–0–1 | 4–7–4 |
| Minnesota | 0–2–1 | 0–1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 5–7–3 |
| St. Louis | 0–3 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–1–1 | 3–11–1 |
| Toronto | 1–0–2 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 3–10–2 |
Vs. Wales Conference
1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | BOS | BUF | HFD | MTL | QUE | Total |
| Chicago | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–1–2 | 2–0–1 | 4–8–3 |
| Detroit | 2–0–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 6–8–1 |
| Minnesota | 2–0–1 | 1–0–2 | 1–2 | 0–1–2 | 1–2 | 5–5–5 |
| St. Louis | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–1–2 | 0–2–1 | 3–0 | 5–7–3 |
| Toronto | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 6–9–0 |
1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | NJD | NYI | NYR | PHI | PIT | WSH | Total |
| Chicago | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–2–1 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 5–12–1 |
| Detroit | 0–2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–2–1 | 1–1–1 | 9–6–3 |
| Minnesota | 1–1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 7–9–2 |
| St. Louis | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 1–1–1 | 0–2–1 | 7–9–2 |
| Toronto | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 7–10–1 |

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 6, 1988 | 3–8 | St. Louis Blues (1988–89) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | L | October 8, 1988 | 3–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 0–2–0 |
| 3 | L | October 9, 1988 | 1–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 0–3–0 |
| 4 | L | October 13, 1988 | 6–7 | Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) | 0–4–0 |
| 5 | W | October 15, 1988 | 5–1 | Boston Bruins (1988–89) | 1–4–0 |
| 6 | T | October 17, 1988 | 3–3 OT | @ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) | 1–4–1 |
| 7 | L | October 19, 1988 | 1–2 | @ Calgary Flames (1988–89) | 1–5–1 |
| 8 | L | October 22, 1988 | 2–8 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) | 1–6–1 |
| 9 | L | October 26, 1988 | 2–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 1–7–1 |
| 10 | L | October 28, 1988 | 1–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 1–8–1 |
| 11 | W | October 29, 1988 | 3–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 2–8–1 |
| 12 | L | November 3, 1988 | 1–4 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 2–9–1 |
| 13 | T | November 5, 1988 | 5–5 OT | Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 2–9–2 |
| 14 | L | November 9, 1988 | 3–6 | Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 2–10–2 |
| 15 | T | November 10, 1988 | 5–5 OT | @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) | 2–10–3 |
| 16 | L | November 12, 1988 | 1–3 | Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 2–11–3 |
| 17 | W | November 14, 1988 | 5–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 3–11–3 |
| 18 | L | November 15, 1988 | 2–4 | @ Washington Capitals (1988–89) | 3–12–3 |
| 19 | W | November 17, 1988 | 7–6 | Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) | 4–12–3 |
| 20 | L | November 19, 1988 | 1–4 | New York Rangers (1988–89) | 4–13–3 |
| 21 | T | November 23, 1988 | 3–3 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) | 4–13–4 |
| 22 | W | November 25, 1988 | 5–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 5–13–4 |
| 23 | W | November 26, 1988 | 6–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 6–13–4 |
| 24 | W | November 29, 1988 | 5–2 | Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 7–13–4 |
| 25 | W | December 1, 1988 | 4–1 | @ Boston Bruins (1988–89) | 8–13–4 |
| 26 | W | December 3, 1988 | 4–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 9–13–4 |
| 27 | L | December 6, 1988 | 0–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) | 9–14–4 |
| 28 | T | December 7, 1988 | 2–2 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 9–14–5 |
| 29 | L | December 10, 1988 | 1–3 | St. Louis Blues (1988–89) | 9–15–5 |
| 30 | L | December 13, 1988 | 4–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 9–16–5 |
| 31 | T | December 15, 1988 | 2–2 OT | Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) | 9–16–6 |
| 32 | W | December 17, 1988 | 3–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) | 10–16–6 |
| 33 | L | December 19, 1988 | 1–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) | 10–17–6 |
| 34 | L | December 21, 1988 | 6–8 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) | 10–18–6 |
| 35 | W | December 26, 1988 | 5–1 | Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) | 11–18–6 |
| 36 | L | December 28, 1988 | 3–4 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 11–19–6 |
| 37 | T | December 30, 1988 | 5–5 OT | @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) | 11–19–7 |
| 38 | W | December 31, 1988 | 6–2 | St. Louis Blues (1988–89) | 12–19–7 |
| 39 | L | January 2, 1989 | 2–3 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) | 12–20–7 |
| 40 | W | January 5, 1989 | 5–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) | 13–20–7 |
| 41 | L | January 10, 1989 | 2–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) | 13–21–7 |
| 42 | L | January 12, 1989 | 2–9 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) | 13–22–7 |
| 43 | T | January 14, 1989 | 1–1 OT | Calgary Flames (1988–89) | 13–22–8 |
| 44 | W | January 15, 1989 | 4–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) | 14–22–8 |
| 45 | T | January 18, 1989 | 3–3 OT | @ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) | 14–22–9 |
| 46 | T | January 19, 1989 | 3–3 OT | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 14–22–10 |
| 47 | L | January 21, 1989 | 6–8 | @ New York Islanders (1988–89) | 14–23–10 |
| 48 | W | January 23, 1989 | 7–2 | @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) | 15–23–10 |
| 49 | W | January 26, 1989 | 5–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 16–23–10 |
| 50 | T | January 28, 1989 | 4–4 OT | New Jersey Devils (1988–89) | 16–23–11 |
| 51 | T | January 30, 1989 | 4–4 OT | Washington Capitals (1988–89) | 16–23–12 |
| 52 | T | February 1, 1989 | 4–4 OT | Boston Bruins (1988–89) | 16–23–13 |
| 53 | L | February 4, 1989 | 3–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 16–24–13 |
| 54 | W | February 5, 1989 | 5–3 | @ New York Rangers (1988–89) | 17–24–13 |
| 55 | W | February 9, 1989 | 3–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) | 18–24–13 |
| 56 | L | February 11, 1989 | 1–5 | Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 18–25–13 |
| 57 | L | February 14, 1989 | 2–4 | Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 18–26–13 |
| 58 | L | February 15, 1989 | 2–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 18–27–13 |
| 59 | L | February 18, 1989 | 3–4 | Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 18–28–13 |
| 60 | W | February 21, 1989 | 2–1 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) | 19–28–13 |
| 61 | T | February 22, 1989 | 5–5 OT | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 19–28–14 |
| 62 | L | February 25, 1989 | 2–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 19–29–14 |
| 63 | W | February 28, 1989 | 4–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1988–89) | 20–29–14 |
| 64 | L | March 1, 1989 | 1–5 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 20–30–14 |
| 65 | W | March 4, 1989 | 4–3 | New York Islanders (1988–89) | 21–30–14 |
| 66 | L | March 5, 1989 | 0–2 | @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) | 21–31–14 |
| 67 | W | March 7, 1989 | 5–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 22–31–14 |
| 68 | T | March 11, 1989 | 2–2 OT | @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) | 22–31–15 |
| 69 | W | March 12, 1989 | 5–3 | St. Louis Blues (1988–89) | 23–31–15 |
| 70 | L | March 14, 1989 | 3–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 23–32–15 |
| 71 | W | March 16, 1989 | 6–1 | Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 24–32–15 |
| 72 | W | March 18, 1989 | 3–0 | Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) | 25–32–15 |
| 73 | W | March 20, 1989 | 7–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) | 26–32–15 |
| 74 | L | March 22, 1989 | 1–3 | @ New York Rangers (1988–89) | 26–33–15 |
| 75 | L | March 23, 1989 | 1–3 | @ New York Islanders (1988–89) | 26–34–15 |
| 76 | T | March 25, 1989 | 1–1 OT | @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 26–34–16 |
| 77 | L | March 27, 1989 | 2–3 | Calgary Flames (1988–89) | 26–35–16 |
| 78 | L | March 29, 1989 | 1–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 26–36–16 |
| 79 | W | March 31, 1989 | 5–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 27–36–16 |
| 80 | L | April 2, 1989 | 2–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) | 27–37–16 |

## Transactions
### Trades

| March 4, 1989 | To Calgary Flames Brian MacLellan 4th round pick in 1989 | To Minnesota North Stars Perry Berezan Shane Churla |
| March 7, 1989 | To Washington Capitals Dino Ciccarelli Bob Rouse | To Minnesota North Stars Mike Gartner Larry Murphy |

## Player statistics
### Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Dave Gagner | 75 | 35 | 43 | 78 | 104 |
| Dino Ciccarelli | 65 | 32 | 27 | 59 | 64 |
| Neal Broten | 68 | 18 | 38 | 56 | 57 |
| Marc Habscheid | 76 | 23 | 31 | 54 | 40 |
| Brian Bellows | 60 | 23 | 27 | 50 | 55 |
| Brian MacLellan | 60 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 104 |
| Dave Archibald | 72 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 14 |
| Basil McRae | 78 | 12 | 19 | 31 | 365 |
| Stewart Gavin | 73 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 34 |
| Bob Brooke | 57 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 57 |
| Dusan Pasek | 48 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 30 |
| Mike Gartner | 13 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 2 |
| Don Barber | 23 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 8 |
| Larry DePalma | 43 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 102 |
| Curt Fraser | 35 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 76 |
| Wally Schreiber | 25 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| Perry Berezan | 16 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Warren Babe | 14 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 19 |
| Steve Gotaas | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Ken Hodge Jr. | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Terry Ruskowski | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Tom Martin | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Dennis Maruk | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Shane Churla | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 54 |
| Mitch Messier | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Kevin Kaminski | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Richard Zemlak | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Mike McHugh | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |

### Defencemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Shawn Chambers | 72 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 80 |
| Frank Musil | 55 | 1 | 19 | 20 | 54 |
| Craig Hartsburg | 30 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 47 |
| Bob Rouse | 66 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 124 |
| Curt Giles | 76 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 77 |
| Ville Siren | 38 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 58 |
| Larry Murphy | 13 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 12 |
| Reed Larson | 11 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 18 |
| Moe Mantha Jr. | 16 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 10 |
| Dean Kolstad | 25 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 42 |
| Mark Hardy | 15 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 26 |
| Mark Tinordi | 47 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 107 |
| Link Gaetz | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 53 |
| Gord Dineen | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Mike Berger | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Paul Jerrard | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Rob Zettler | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | GP | W | L | T | SO | GAA |
| Jon Casey | 55 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 1 | 3.06 |
| Kari Takko | 32 | 8 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 3.48 |
| Jarmo Myllys | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5.55 |
| Don Beaupre | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.05 |

## Playoffs

Norris Division semi-finals
* Minnesota North Stars vs. St. Louis Blues
| Date | Away | Score | Home | Score | Notes |
| April 5 | Minnesota North Stars | 3 | St. Louis Blues | 4 | (OT) |
| April 6 | Minnesota North Stars | 3 | St. Louis Blues | 4 | (OT) |
| April 8 | St. Louis Blues | 5 | Minnesota North Stars | 3 | |
| April 9 | St. Louis Blues | 4 | Minnesota North Stars | 5 | |
| April 11 | Minnesota North Stars | 1 | St. Louis Blues | 6 | |
St. Louis wins the series 4–1