# 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.
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. 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, and one of the highest totals in league history. The Flames also finished first in scoring during the regular season. Furthermore, the Flames led the league in short-handed goals scored (23) and power-play percentage (28.46%).
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.
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. In addition, Brad McCrimmon won the Emery Edge Award for leading the league in Plus/Minus at +48.
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.

## 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 |
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
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
Calgary
—4–3–14–46–0–23–4–117–11–4
Edmonton
3–4–1—4–2–27–0–14–1–318–7–7
Los Angeles
4–42–4–2—3–4–13–512–17–3
Vancouver
0–6–20–7–14–3–1—3–57–21–4
Winnipeg
4–3–11–4–35–35–3—15–13–4
Vs. Norris Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
Calgary
2–0–11–1–12–0–12–13–010–2–3
Edmonton
1–21–22–0–13–02–0–19–4–2
Los Angeles
2–11–23–02–11–1–19–5–1
Vancouver
1–21–22–11–21–1–16–8–1
Winnipeg
1–1–10–2–12–0–12–12–17–5–3
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Calgary
1–22–13–02–0–13–011–3–1
Edmonton
1–1–13–02–10–31–1–17–6–2
Los Angeles
0–2–11–20–31–22–14–10–1
Vancouver
1–21–1–10–1–20–2–13–05–6–4
Winnipeg
0–31–1–11–20–32–0–14–9–2
Vs. Patrick Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Calgary
2–11–22–13–00–2–12–110–7–1
Edmonton
1–21–22–12–13–01–210–8–0
Los Angeles
1–1–10–33–00–30–1–21–25–10–3
Vancouver
3–00–31–21–22–10–37–11–0
Winnipeg
2–0–11–20–2–10–32–12–17–9–2 :

## Schedule and results

1987–88 Schedule :
October: 5–5–1 (home: 1–3–0; road: 4–2–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPoints
1October 8Detroit1 – 5Calgary1–0–02
2October 10Winnipeg5 – 1Calgary1–1–02
3October 12Calgary2 – 3Winnipeg1–2–02
4October 14Calgary5 – 4Edmonton2–2–04
5October 16Edmonton5 – 2Calgary2–3–04
6October 18Boston6 – 5CalgaryOT2–4–04
7October 20Calgary4 – 5NY Islanders2–5–04
8October 21Calgary5 – 4NY Rangers3–5–06
9October 24Calgary7 – 5Quebec4–5–08
10October 26Calgary5 – 3Montreal5–5–010
11October 30Calgary3 – 3VancouverOT5–5–111 :
November: 9–3–2 (home: 6–2–2; road: 3–1–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPoints
12November 3NY Rangers3 – 5Calgary6–5–113
13November 5Edmonton4 – 4CalgaryOT6–5–214
14November 8Buffalo6 – 3Calgary6–6–214
15November 10Calgary3 – 4Winnipeg6–7–214
16November 11Calgary4 – 3Minnesota7–7–216
17November 13Los Angeles7 – 10Calgary8–7–218
18November 15Vancouver4 – 8Calgary9–7–220
19November 17Boston6 – 3Calgary9–8–220
20November 19Quebec1 – 9Calgary10–8–222
21November 21Pittsburgh4 – 4CalgaryOT10–8–323
22November 23New Jersey2 – 9Calgary11–8–325
23November 25Calgary4 – 2Vancouver12–8–327
24November 28Calgary8 – 4Los Angeles13–8–329
25November 30Chicago0 – 4Calgary14–8–331 :
December: 9–3–1 (home: 5–2–1; road: 4–1–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPoints
26December 3Toronto3 – 5Calgary15–8–333
27December 5Minnesota4 – 4CalgaryOT15–8–434
28December 8Calgary5 – 4Washington16–8–436
29December 9Calgary2 – 5Pittsburgh16–9–436
30December 11Calgary5 – 1New Jersey17–9–438
31December 13Calgary7 – 1Buffalo18–9–440
32December 16Winnipeg4 – 5Calgary19–9–442
33December 19Calgary4 – 1Los Angeles20–9–444
34December 20Los Angeles6 – 3Calgary20–10–444
35December 22Hartford5 – 6CalgaryOT21–10–446
36December 26Edmonton5 – 4Calgary21–11–446
37December 28Montreal3 – 9Calgary22–11–448
38December 31Philadelphia4 – 5Calgary23–11–450 :
January: 9–3–2 (home: 6–1–0; road: 3–2–2)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPoints
39January 2Calgary3 – 5St. Louis23–12–450
40January 3Calgary5 – 3Chicago24–12–452
41January 6Winnipeg1 – 6Calgary25–12–454
42January 8NY Islanders4 – 7Calgary26–12–456
43January 10Washington2 – 8Calgary27–12–458
44January 13Calgary3 – 5Edmonton27–13–458
45January 15Calgary4 – 4VancouverOT27–13–559
46January 19Vancouver5 – 7Calgary28–13–561
47January 21Los Angeles5 – 4CalgaryOT28–14–561
48January 23Calgary4 – 4DetroitOT28–14–662
49January 25Calgary11 – 3Toronto29–14–664
50January 27Hartford1 – 5Calgary30–14–666
51January 29Calgary5 – 4Edmonton31–14–668
52January 30Vancouver3 – 4Calgary32–14–670 :
February: 5–6–1 (home: 0–1–0; road: 5–5–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPoints
53February 1New Jersey5 – 4Calgary32–15–670
54February 3Calgary0 – 9Winnipeg32–16–670
55February 5Calgary1 – 5Detroit32–17–670
56February 7Calgary5 – 2Los Angeles33–17–672
57February 12Calgary3 – 2Philadelphia34–17–674
58February 14Calgary4 – 5WashingtonOT34–18–674
59February 16Calgary3 – 9NY Islanders34–19–674
60February 17Calgary3 – 5NY Rangers34–20–674
61February 20Calgary6 – 3St. Louis35–20–676
62February 21Calgary3 – 3ChicagoOT35–20–777
63February 26Calgary5 – 3Vancouver36–20–779
64February 28Calgary3 – 2Edmonton37–20–781 :
March: 10–2–2 (home: 7–1–0; road: 3–1–2)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPoints
65March 3Philadelphia3 – 6Calgary38–20–783
66March 5Edmonton4 – 7Calgary39–20–785
67March 7Pittsburgh5 – 4Calgary39–21–785
68March 9Calgary6 – 6WinnipegOT39–21–886
69March 10Winnipeg3 – 5Calgary40–21–888
70March 12Buffalo4 – 10Calgary41–21–890
71March 15Calgary8 – 6Hartford42–21–892
72March 17Calgary7 – 5Boston43–21–894
73March 19Calgary5 – 4QuebecOT44–21–896
74March 21Calgary3 – 3MontrealOT44–21–997
75March 24Toronto1 – 7Calgary45–21–999
76March 26Vancouver1 – 6Calgary46–21–9101
77March 28St. Louis2 – 7Calgary47–21–9103
78March 30Calgary7 – 9Los Angeles47–22–9103 :
April: 1–1–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 0–0–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPoints
79April 1Los Angeles6 – 3Calgary47–23–9103
80April 3Minnesota1 – 4Calgary48–23–9105 :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

## Playoffs

1988 Stanley Cup Playoffs :
Smythe Division Semifinal – Flames win 4–1
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTSeries
1April 6Los Angeles2 – 9CalgaryCalgary leads 1–0
2April 7Los Angeles4 – 6CalgaryCalgary leads 2–0
3April 9Calgary2 – 5Los AngelesCalgary leads 2–1
4April 10Calgary7 – 3Los AngelesCalgary leads 3–1
5April 12Los Angeles4 – 6CalgaryCalgary wins 4–1 :
Smythe Division Final – Oilers win 4–0
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTSeries
1April 19Edmonton3 – 1CalgaryEdmonton leads 1–0
2April 21Edmonton5 – 4CalgaryOTEdmonton leads 2–0
3April 23Calgary2 – 4EdmontonEdmonton leads 3–0
4April 25Calgary4 – 6EdmontonEdmonton wins 4–0 :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | 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 | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | 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

Calgary's picks at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, held in Detroit, Michigan.
| Rnd | Pick | Player | Nationality | Position | Team (league) | NHL statistics | NHL statistics | NHL statistics | NHL statistics | NHL statistics |
| Rnd | Pick | Player | Nationality | Position | Team (league) | 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 |