# 1988–89 St. Louis Blues season

The 1988–89 St. Louis Blues season was the St. Louis Blues' 22nd season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

## Offseason

Team captain Brian Sutter retires to become the new head coach. Forward Bernie Federko is named team captain.

### NHL Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 9 | Rod Brind'Amour | Center | Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL) |
| 2 | 30 | Adrien Plavsic | Defense | University of New Hampshire (Hockey East) |
| 3 | 51 | Rob Fournier | Goaltender | North Bay Centennials (OHL) |
| 4 | 72 | Jaan Luik | Defense | Miami University (CCHA) |
| 5 | 105 | Dave LaCouture | Right wing | Natick High School (USHS-MA) |
| 6 | 114 | Dan Fowler | Defense | University of Maine (Hockey East) |
| 7 | 135 | Matt Hayes | Defense | New Hampton School (USHS-NH) |
| 8 | 156 | John McCoy | Left wing | Edina High School (USHS-MN) |
| 9 | 177 | Tony Twist | Left wing | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 10 | 198 | Bret Hedican | Defense | North High School (USHS-MN) |
| 11 | 219 | Heath DeBoer | Defense | Spring Lake Park High School (USHS-MN) |
| 12 | 240 | Mike Francis | Goaltender | Harvard University (ECAC) |
| S | 14 | Mike McNeill | Left wing | University of Notre Dame (CCHA) |

## Regular season

The Blues tied the Washington Capitals for most shutouts in the league, with 6.

### 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 |
| 3 | W | October 12, 1988 | 4–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 1–1–1 |
| 4 | T | October 14, 1988 | 8–8 OT | @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 2–1–1 |
| 5 | L | October 15, 1988 | 2–9 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) | 2–2–1 |
| 6 | W | October 20, 1988 | 2–0 | Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 3–2–1 |
| 7 | L | October 22, 1988 | 2–5 | Boston Bruins (1988–89) | 3–3–1 |
| 8 | W | October 27, 1988 | 4–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) | 4–3–1 |
| 9 | W | October 29, 1988 | 3–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 5–3–1 |
| 10 | L | November 2, 1988 | 4–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) | 5–4–1 |
| 11 | L | November 3, 1988 | 1–6 | @ Calgary Flames (1988–89) | 5–5–1 |
| 12 | W | November 5, 1988 | 5–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 6–5–1 |
| 13 | T | November 7, 1988 | 3–3 OT | @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 6–5–2 |
| 14 | T | November 10, 1988 | 5–5 OT | Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) | 6–5–3 |
| 15 | W | November 12, 1988 | 4–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 7–5–3 |
| 16 | L | November 15, 1988 | 2–4 | New Jersey Devils (1988–89) | 7–6–3 |
| 17 | W | November 17, 1988 | 3–1 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) | 8–6–3 |
| 18 | L | November 19, 1988 | 2–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) | 8–7–3 |
| 19 | L | November 21, 1988 | 0–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 8–8–3 |
| 20 | L | November 24, 1988 | 2–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) | 8–9–3 |
| 21 | T | November 26, 1988 | 4–4 OT | Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) | 8–9–4 |
| 22 | L | November 29, 1988 | 3–4 | @ Washington Capitals (1988–89) | 8–10–4 |
| 23 | W | December 1, 1988 | 8–0 | New York Islanders (1988–89) | 9–10–4 |
| 24 | W | December 3, 1988 | 3–0 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 10–10–4 |
| 25 | W | December 6, 1988 | 3–0 | Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) | 11–10–4 |
| 26 | L | December 8, 1988 | 1–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 11–11–4 |
| 27 | W | December 10, 1988 | 3–1 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) | 12–11–4 |
| 28 | L | December 11, 1988 | 2–5 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 12–12–4 |
| 29 | L | December 13, 1988 | 3–4 | @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) | 12–13–4 |
| 30 | T | December 15, 1988 | 3–3 OT | Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 12–13–5 |
| 31 | W | December 17, 1988 | 4–0 | Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 13–13–5 |
| 32 | L | December 19, 1988 | 3–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 13–14–5 |
| 33 | L | December 20, 1988 | 3–6 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 13–15–5 |
| 34 | T | December 22, 1988 | 4–4 OT | Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 13–15–6 |
| 35 | W | December 26, 1988 | 4–1 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 14–15–6 |
| 36 | L | December 28, 1988 | 2–6 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) | 14–16–6 |
| 37 | T | December 30, 1988 | 5–5 OT | Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) | 14–16–7 |
| 38 | L | December 31, 1988 | 2–6 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) | 14–17–7 |
| 39 | L | January 2, 1989 | 7–8 | @ Boston Bruins (1988–89) | 14–18–7 |
| 40 | L | January 4, 1989 | 2–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 14–19–7 |
| 41 | W | January 7, 1989 | 7–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) | 15–19–7 |
| 42 | L | January 12, 1989 | 4–7 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) | 15–20–7 |
| 43 | L | January 15, 1989 | 1–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) | 15–21–7 |
| 44 | W | January 17, 1989 | 5–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) | 16–21–7 |
| 45 | L | January 19, 1989 | 0–5 | New York Rangers (1988–89) | 16–22–7 |
| 46 | W | January 21, 1989 | 4–2 | Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 17–22–7 |
| 47 | T | January 25, 1989 | 3–3 OT | @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 17–22–8 |
| 48 | L | January 26, 1989 | 2–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1988–89) | 17–23–8 |
| 49 | T | January 28, 1989 | 4–4 OT | Washington Capitals (1988–89) | 17–23–9 |
| 50 | W | January 31, 1989 | 5–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) | 18–23–9 |
| 51 | W | February 2, 1989 | 7–3 | Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) | 19–23–9 |
| 52 | T | February 3, 1989 | 3–3 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) | 19–23–10 |
| 53 | W | February 5, 1989 | 5–4 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 20–23–10 |
| 54 | L | February 9, 1989 | 3–5 | Calgary Flames (1988–89) | 20–24–10 |
| 55 | W | February 11, 1989 | 5–0 | New York Islanders (1988–89) | 21–24–10 |
| 56 | L | February 12, 1989 | 2–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) | 21–25–10 |
| 57 | L | February 14, 1989 | 3–5 | Washington Capitals (1988–89) | 21–26–10 |
| 58 | L | February 16, 1989 | 3–7 | @ New York Islanders (1988–89) | 21–27–10 |
| 59 | L | February 18, 1989 | 2–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 21–28–10 |
| 60 | L | February 21, 1989 | 0–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) | 21–29–10 |
| 61 | L | February 24, 1989 | 3–4 | @ Calgary Flames (1988–89) | 21–30–10 |
| 62 | L | February 25, 1989 | 3–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) | 21–31–10 |
| 63 | W | February 27, 1989 | 7–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 22–31–10 |
| 64 | W | March 2, 1989 | 6–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) | 23–31–10 |
| 65 | L | March 4, 1989 | 4–5 OT | Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 23–32–10 |
| 66 | T | March 5, 1989 | 3–3 OT | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 23–32–11 |
| 67 | W | March 7, 1989 | 6–2 | New Jersey Devils (1988–89) | 24–32–11 |
| 68 | W | March 9, 1989 | 4–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 25–32–11 |
| 69 | T | March 11, 1989 | 2–2 OT | Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) | 25–32–12 |
| 70 | L | March 12, 1989 | 3–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) | 25–33–12 |
| 71 | W | March 14, 1989 | 3–2 | Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 26–33–12 |
| 72 | W | March 16, 1989 | 4–3 OT | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) | 27–33–12 |
| 73 | W | March 18, 1989 | 3–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 28–33–12 |
| 74 | L | March 20, 1989 | 4–7 | @ New York Rangers (1988–89) | 28–34–12 |
| 75 | W | March 22, 1989 | 2–1 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) | 29–34–12 |
| 76 | L | March 25, 1989 | 0–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 29–35–12 |
| 77 | W | March 27, 1989 | 3–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 30–35–12 |
| 78 | W | March 30, 1989 | 4–3 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 31–35–12 |
| 79 | W | April 1, 1989 | 4–3 OT | Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 32–35–12 |
| 80 | W | April 2, 1989 | 4–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 33–35–12 |

## Playoffs

The Blues defeated the Minnesota North Stars in the Norris Division semifinals, in five games. They lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Norris Division finals, in five games.

## Player statistics
### Forwards

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points
| Player | GP | G | AST | PTS | PIM |
| Brett Hull | 78 | 41 | 43 | 84 | 33 |
| Bernie Federko | 66 | 22 | 45 | 67 | 54 |
| Cliff Ronning | 64 | 24 | 31 | 55 | 18 |
| Peter Zezel | 52 | 17 | 36 | 53 | 27 |
| Greg Paslawski | 75 | 26 | 26 | 52 | 18 |
| Tony Hrkac | 70 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 8 |
| Gino Cavallini | 74 | 20 | 23 | 43 | 79 |
| Tony McKegney | 71 | 25 | 17 | 42 | 58 |
| Rick Meagher | 78 | 15 | 14 | 29 | 53 |
| Sergio Momesso | 53 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 139 |
| Steve Tuttle | 53 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 6 |
| Doug Evans | 53 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 81 |
| Herb Raglan | 50 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 144 |
| Mike Bullard | 20 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 46 |
| Todd Ewen | 34 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 171 |
| Craig Coxe | 41 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 127 |
| Dave Lowry | 21 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 11 |
| Jim Vesey | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |

### Defensemen

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points
| Player | GP | G | AST | PTS | PIM |
| Brian Benning | 66 | 8 | 26 | 34 | 102 |
| Gordie Roberts | 77 | 2 | 24 | 26 | 90 |
| Paul Cavallini | 65 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 128 |
| Tom Tilley | 70 | 1 | 22 | 23 | 47 |
| Mike Lalor | 36 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 54 |
| Gaston Gingras | 52 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 6 |
| Dave Richter | 66 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 99 |
| Glen Featherstone | 18 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 22 |
| Robert Dirk | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| Tim Bothwell | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Dominic Lavoie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goaltending

Note: GP= Games played; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against
| Player | GP | W | L | T | SO | GAA |
| Greg Millen | 52 | 22 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 3.38 |
| Vincent Riendeau | 32 | 11 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 3.52 |

## Awards and honors

* Dan Kelly (sportscaster), Lester Patrick Trophy (posthumous selection)