The 1988–89 NHL season was the 72nd season of the National Hockey League. Twenty-one teams each played 80 games. The Calgary Flames won an all Canadian Stanley Cup final against the Montreal Canadiens four games to two. To date, this is the last time two Canadian teams squared off for the Stanley Cup.
Regular season
Final standings
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Philadelphia wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 2
New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Date
Away
Score
Home
Score
Notes
April 5
New York Rangers
1
Pittsburgh Penguins
3
April 6
New York Rangers
4
Pittsburgh Penguins
7
April 8
Pittsburgh Penguins
5
New York Rangers
4
(OT)
April 9
Pittsburgh Penguins
4
New York Rangers
3
Pittsburgh wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 0
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings
Date
Away
Score
Home
Score
Notes
April 5
Chicago Blackhawks
2
Detroit Red Wings
3
April 6
Chicago Blackhawks
5
Detroit Red Wings
4
(OT)
April 8
Detroit Red Wings
2
Chicago Blackhawks
4
April 9
Detroit Red Wings
2
Chicago Blackhawks
3
April 11
Chicago Blackhawks
4
Detroit Red Wings
6
April 13
Detroit Red Wings
1
Chicago Blackhawks
7
Chicago wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 2
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 best-of-seven series 4 games to 1
Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames
Date
Away
Score
Home
Score
Notes
April 5
Vancouver Canucks
4
Calgary Flames
3
(OT)
April 6
Vancouver Canucks
2
Calgary Flames
5
April 8
Calgary Flames
4
Vancouver Canucks
0
April 9
Calgary Flames
3
Vancouver Canucks
5
April 11
Vancouver Canucks
0
Calgary Flames
4
April 13
Calgary Flames
3
Vancouver Canucks
6
April 15
Vancouver Canucks
3
Calgary Flames
4
(OT)
Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 3
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
Date
Away
Score
Home
Score
Notes
April 5
Edmonton Oilers
4
Los Angeles Kings
3
April 6
Edmonton Oilers
2
Los Angeles Kings
5
April 8
Los Angeles Kings
0
Edmonton Oilers
4
April 9
Los Angeles Kings
3
Edmonton Oilers
4
April 11
Edmonton Oilers
2
Los Angeles Kings
4
April 13
Los Angeles Kings
4
Edmonton Oilers
1
April 15
Edmonton Oilers
3
Los Angeles Kings
6
Los Angeles wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 3
Division finals
Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens
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 wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 1
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Date
Away
Score
Home
Score
Notes
April 17
Philadelphia Flyers
3
Pittsburgh Penguins
4
April 19
Philadelphia Flyers
4
Pittsburgh Penguins
2
April 21
Pittsburgh Penguins
4
Philadelphia Flyers
3
(OT)
April 23
Pittsburgh Penguins
1
Philadelphia Flyers
4
April 25
Philadelphia Flyers
7
Pittsburgh Penguins
10
April 27
Pittsburgh Penguins
2
Philadelphia Flyers
6
April 29
Philadelphia Flyers
4
Pittsburgh Penguins
1
Philadelphia wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 3
Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues
Date
Away
Score
Home
Score
Notes
April 18
Chicago Blackhawks
3
St. Louis Blues
1
April 20
Chicago Blackhawks
4
St. Louis Blues
5
April 22
St. Louis Blues
2
Chicago Blackhawks
5
April 24
St. Louis Blues
2
Chicago Blackhawks
3
April 26
Chicago Blackhawks
4
St. Louis Blues
2
Chicago wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 1
Los Angeles Kings vs. Calgary Flames
Date
Away
Score
Home
Score
Notes
April 18
Los Angeles Kings
3
Calgary Flames
4
(OT)
April 20
Los Angeles Kings
3
Calgary Flames
8
April 22
Calgary Flames
5
Los Angeles Kings
2
April 24
Calgary Flames
5
Los Angeles Kings
3
Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 0
Conference finals
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Montreal Canadiens
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
Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 2
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Calgary Flames
Date
Away
Score
Home
Score
Notes
May 2
Chicago Blackhawks
0
Calgary Flames
3
May 4
Chicago Blackhawks
4
Calgary Flames
2
May 6
Calgary Flames
5
Chicago Blackhawks
2
May 8
Calgary Flames
2
Chicago Blackhawks
1
(OT)
May 10
Chicago Blackhawks
1
Calgary Flames
3
Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 1
Finals
Montreal Canadiens vs. Calgary Flames
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.