1988–89 Montreal Canadiens 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 first time that a visiting team had won the Stanley Cup on Forum ice.
==Off-season==
==Regular Season==
* November 7, 1988 – The Canadiens traded RW John Kordic and a 6th-round choice (Michael Doers) to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for RW Russ Courtnall.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results 	Regular Season Results
No. 	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 Stats==
===Forwards===
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Mats Näslund 	77	33	51	84 	14
Bobby Smith 	80	32	51	83 	69
Stephane Richer 	68	25	35	60 	61
Guy Carbonneau 	79	26	30	56 	44
Claude Lemieux 	69	29	22	51 	136
Shayne Corson 	80	26	24	50 	193
Brian Skrudland 	71	12	29	41 	84
Mike McPhee 	73	19	22	41 	74
Russ Courtnall 	64	22	17	39 	15
Mike Keane 	69	16	19	35 	69
Ryan Walter 	78	14	17	31 	48
Brent Gilchrist 	49	8 	16	24 	16
Bob Gainey 	49	10	7 	17 	34
Gilles Thibaudeau	32	6 	6 	12 	6
José Charbonneau 	9 	1 	3 	4 	6
Steve Martinson 	25	1 	0 	1 	87
Stéphan Lebeau 	1 	0 	1 	1 	2
Jocelyn Lemieux 	1 	0 	1 	1 	0
Benoît Brunet 	2 	0 	1 	1 	0
John Kordic 	6 	0 	0 	0 	13
===Defencemen===
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Chris Chelios 	80	15	58	73 	185
Petr Svoboda 	71	8 	37	45 	147
Larry Robinson 	74	4 	26	30 	22
Craig Ludwig 	74	3 	13	16 	73
Rick Green 	72	1 	14	15 	25
Éric Desjardins	36	2 	12	14 	26
Mike Lalor 	12	1 	4 	5 	15
Jyrki Lumme 	21	1 	3 	4 	10
Donald Dufresne	13	0 	1 	1 	43
===Goaltending===
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
Player 	GP	W 	L 	T	SO	GAA
Patrick Roy 	48	33	5 	6	4 	2.47
Brian Hayward	36	20	13	3	1 	2.90
Randy Exelby 	1 	0 	0 	0	0 	0.00
==Playoffs==
===Montreal Canadiens 4, Hartford Whalers 0===
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 Canadiens 4, Boston Bruins 1===
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 Canadiens 4, Philadelphia Flyers 2===
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 	
===Calgary Flames 4, Montreal Canadiens 2===
The Stanley Cup Finals was decided between the top two teams during the 1988–89 NHL regular season. Captain Lanny McDonald scored the second Flames goal in Game 6. This turned out to be the last goal in his NHL 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 	
==Awards and Records==
*Prince of Wales Trophy: Montreal Canadiens
*Frank J. Selke Trophy: Guy Carbonneau
*Jack Adams Award: Pat Burns
*James Norris Memorial Trophy: Chris Chelios
*William M. Jennings Trophy: Patrick Roy & Brian Hayward
*Vezina Trophy: Patrick Roy
*Patrick Roy, Goalie, NHL First Team All-Star
*Chris Chelios, Defence, NHL First Team All-Star
==Transactions==
==Draft Picks==
Round	Pick	Player 	Nationality	College/junior/club team
1 	20. 	Eric Charron (D)	 	Trois Rivieres Draveurs (QMJHL)
==Farm Teams==
==See Also==
* 1988–89 NHL season
==References==
*Canadiens on Hockey Database
*Canadiens on NHL Reference
Category:Montreal Canadiens seasons
Category:1988 in hockey
Category:1989 in hockey