1988–89 Vancouver Canucks
Division4th Smythe
Conference7th Campbell
1988–89 record33–39–8
Home record19–15–6
Road record14–24–2
Goals for251
Goals against253
Team information
General managerPat Quinn
CoachBob McCammon
CaptainStan Smyl
Alternate captainsPaul Reinhart
Garth Butcher
Rich Sutter
ArenaPacific Coliseum
Average attendance13,779
Team leaders
GoalsTrevor Linden and Petri Skriko (30)
AssistsPaul Reinhart (50)
PointsPetri Skriko (66)
Penalty minutesGarth Butcher (227)
WinsKirk McLean (20)
Goals against averageTroy Gamble (2.38)

The 1988–89 Vancouver Canucks season saw the Canucks finish in fourth place in the Smythe Division with a record of 33 wins, 39 losses, and 8 ties for 74 points. They met the first-place Calgary Flames in the Division Semi-finals and extended the series to a decisive seventh game. However, the Flames took the game and the series on a Joel Otto goal in overtime en route to a Stanley Cup championship.

Off-season

In June 1988, Nelson Skalbania attempted to broker a deal with his friend, Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington to acquire Wayne Gretzky for the Canucks.[1] Skalbania was also in talks with Gretzky's agent Mike Barnett. Pat Quinn secured a good chunk of the Canucks future by drafting Trevor Linden second overall in the Entry Draft, and would continue his wheeling and dealing that had begun the previous summer. The Canucks only had to part with a third-round pick in 1989 (Veli-Pekka Kautonen) to obtain the services of veterans Paul Reinhart and Steve Bozek from Calgary on September 6. The next day, defenseman Robert Nordmark and a second-round pick in 1989 (Craig Darby) arrived from St. Louis for Dave Richter. The Canucks would have their power-play point men for the coming season in order, and gave up hardly anything to get them. The free-agent signing of Harold Snepsts returned a familiar face to the Canucks blueline, and suddenly defence seemed to be a strength of the Canucks. Combined with solid netminding from Kirk McLean and Steve Weeks, only powerhouses Montreal and Calgary would surrender fewer goals than the Canucks this season. This would also be the grittiest team that Vancouver fans had seen in a while. With Garth Butcher, Rich Sutter, Stan Smyl, Jim Sandlak, Ronnie Stern, Darryl Stanley, and Snepsts in the line-up, Vancouver was suddenly a not-so-pleasant stop on a western road trip.

NHL Draft

Round Pick Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team
12Trevor Linden CanadaMedicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
233Leif Rohlin SwedenVasteras HK (Sweden)
344Dane Jackson United StatesVernon Vipers (BCJHL)
6107Corrie D'Alessio CanadaCornell University (ECAC)
6122Phil von Stefenelli CanadaBoston University (Hockey East)
7128Dixon Ward CanadaRed Deer Rustlers (AJHL)
8149Greg Geldart CanadaSt. Albert Saints (AJHL)
9170Roger Akerstrom SwedenLulea HF (Sweden)
10191Paul Constantin CanadaBurlington Cougars (CJBHL)
11212Chris Wolanin United StatesUniversity of Illinois at Chicago (CCHA)
12233Stefan Nilsson SwedenTroja (Sweden)
S2Andy Gribble CanadaBowling Green State University (CCHA)
S7Steve McKichan CanadaMiami University (CCHA)

Regular season

Things looked bright when the Canucks went 6-1-1 in the pre-season and on an early-season visit to Edmonton ended a three-year, 27-game winless streak against the Oilers with a 6–2 victory. Though they would only lose by more than three goals once all season, goal production was a problem. Both Tony Tanti (47 points) and Stan Smyl (25) had big drop-offs in production and, by association, so did Greg D. Adams (33) and Barry Pederson (41). The scoring slack was picked up somewhat by Petri Skriko (66 points), Linden (59), and by Reinhart (57) and Nordmark (41). Even with that, however, by mid-season the Canucks were only producing results that were marginally better than the previous few seasons and only remained in the playoff race due to an unexpectedly poor season by Winnipeg. A club-record seven-game winning streak in February changed the team's outlook. Jim Sandlak was the hero in the seventh win, a tight-checking game against Toronto that was played in front of a packed house and a national television audience. His rebound goal with 18 seconds to play in overtime off of a Snepsts point shot after an offensive-zone face-off win by Linden sent the home crowd into a frenzy. People around the league were now taking notice. Don Cherry hopped on the Canucks bandwagon and on Coach's Corner wore a button declaring "I vote Trevor Linden NHL Rookie-of-the-Year 1989". Those buttons became a common site around town that spring. In the game following the seventh win, the Canucks lost 3–2 in Montreal to end the streak, but Linden scored twice to tie and pass Ivan Hlinka's club record for rookie goal scoring. He finished with 30—tied with Skriko for the team lead. These new heroes would continue to delight the Coliseum faithful, as they racked up a 12-game home unbeaten streak (11-0-1). The Canucks nailed down a playoff spot on March 23 and threatened to overtake Edmonton for third place in the Smythe before tapering off in the last couple of weeks. The 74 points would earn them a playoff date against the NHL's number one team in the regular season, the Calgary Flames.

Despite finishing last in scoring, with just 251 goals scored, the Canucks had a solid defensive corps, finishing 3rd in fewest goals allowed (253).[2]

Season standings

Smythe Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Calgary Flames8054179354226117
Los Angeles Kings804231737633591
Edmonton Oilers803834832530684
Vancouver Canucks803339825125374
Winnipeg Jets8026421230035564

[3]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. Wales Conference

Schedule and results

No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1TOctober 6, 19882–2 OTWinnipeg Jets (1988–89)0–0–1
2TOctober 8, 19883–3 OTDetroit Red Wings (1988–89)0–0–2
3LOctober 10, 19882–3New York Islanders (1988–89)0–1–2
4WOctober 12, 19886–2@ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)1–1–2
5LOctober 14, 19883–4 OT@ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)1–2–2
6LOctober 16, 19882–3@ New York Rangers (1988–89)1–3–2
7LOctober 18, 19882–3@ New York Islanders (1988–89)1–4–2
8WOctober 19, 19884–0@ New Jersey Devils (1988–89)2–4–2
9WOctober 23, 19886–5Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)3–4–2
10LOctober 25, 19883–4 OTWashington Capitals (1988–89)3–5–2
11WOctober 28, 19885–2Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)4–5–2
12WOctober 30, 19882–1Calgary Flames (1988–89)5–5–2
13LNovember 1, 19883–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)5–6–2
14WNovember 3, 19885–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)6–6–2
15WNovember 5, 19883–2 OT@ Hartford Whalers (1988–89)7–6–2
16LNovember 6, 19882–4@ Boston Bruins (1988–89)7–7–2
17TNovember 9, 19881–1 OTHartford Whalers (1988–89)7–7–3
18LNovember 11, 19881–3Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)7–8–3
19LNovember 13, 19882–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)7–9–3
20LNovember 15, 19884–6@ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)7–10–3
21LNovember 17, 19886–7@ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)7–11–3
22WNovember 19, 19883–2@ St. Louis Blues (1988–89)8–11–3
23WNovember 20, 19887–4@ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)9–11–3
24WNovember 22, 19884–2Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)10–11–3
25TNovember 25, 19882–2 OTNew Jersey Devils (1988–89)10–11–4
26WNovember 27, 19885–2Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)11–11–4
27TNovember 29, 19883–3 OT@ Calgary Flames (1988–89)11–11–5
28LNovember 30, 19882–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)11–12–5
29LDecember 2, 19883–6@ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)11–13–5
30LDecember 6, 19883–5New York Rangers (1988–89)11–14–5
31LDecember 9, 19882–4Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)11–15–5
32WDecember 11, 19888–6Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)12–15–5
33LDecember 15, 19880–2@ Calgary Flames (1988–89)12–16–5
34LDecember 16, 19883–5Calgary Flames (1988–89)12–17–5
35WDecember 19, 19885–1Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)13–17–5
36WDecember 21, 19882–1@ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)14–17–5
37LDecember 23, 19882–5Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)14–18–5
38LDecember 26, 19882–3 OTCalgary Flames (1988–89)14–19–5
39WDecember 29, 19886–3@ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)15–19–5
40LJanuary 1, 19890–4Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)15–20–5
41LJanuary 4, 19892–4@ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)15–21–5
42TJanuary 6, 19892–2 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)15–21–6
43WJanuary 7, 19897–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)16–21–6
44LJanuary 9, 19890–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)16–22–6
45LJanuary 13, 19891–3Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)16–23–6
46WJanuary 15, 19892–1St. Louis Blues (1988–89)17–23–6
47WJanuary 17, 19895–3Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)18–23–6
48LJanuary 21, 19894–5 OTNew York Rangers (1988–89)18–24–6
49LJanuary 24, 19892–4Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)18–25–6
50WJanuary 26, 19896–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)19–25–6
51TJanuary 29, 19894–4 OTCalgary Flames (1988–89)19–25–7
52WJanuary 31, 19896–2Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)20–25–7
53LFebruary 1, 19893–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)20–26–7
54LFebruary 4, 19892–5@ Calgary Flames (1988–89)20–27–7
55LFebruary 5, 19894–5@ Calgary Flames (1988–89)20–28–7
56LFebruary 9, 19892–3@ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)20–29–7
57WFebruary 10, 19895–4@ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)21–29–7
58WFebruary 12, 19893–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)22–29–7
59WFebruary 14, 19895–2Boston Bruins (1988–89)23–29–7
60WFebruary 16, 19893–2Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)24–29–7
61WFebruary 19, 19893–2Washington Capitals (1988–89)25–29–7
62WFebruary 21, 19892–0St. Louis Blues (1988–89)26–29–7
63WFebruary 23, 19892–1 OTToronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)27–29–7
64LFebruary 26, 19892–5@ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)27–30–7
65WFebruary 28, 19893–2@ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)28–30–7
66LMarch 2, 19891–2@ Hartford Whalers (1988–89)28–31–7
67LMarch 4, 19894–6@ Boston Bruins (1988–89)28–32–7
68LMarch 5, 19890–3@ Washington Capitals (1988–89)28–33–7
69WMarch 8, 19893–0Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)29–33–7
70WMarch 10, 19894–2Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)30–33–7
71TMarch 14, 19892–2 OTDetroit Red Wings (1988–89)30–33–8
72WMarch 16, 19893–0Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)31–33–8
73WMarch 18, 19892–1New York Islanders (1988–89)32–33–8
74LMarch 20, 19891–3@ New Jersey Devils (1988–89)32–34–8
75LMarch 22, 19893–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)32–35–8
76LMarch 24, 19892–5@ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)32–36–8
77WMarch 26, 19897–3@ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)33–36–8
78LMarch 29, 19892–5Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)33–37–8
79LApril 1, 19894–6@ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)33–38–8
80LApril 2, 19894–5Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)33–39–8

Transactions

Trades

September 6, 1988 To Calgary Flames
3rd round pick in 1989		 To Vancouver Canucks
Paul Reinhart
Steve Bozek

Player statistics

Forwards

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Player GP G AST PTS PIM
Petri Skriko7430366657
Trevor Linden8030295941
Tony Tanti7724254969
Brian Bradley7118274542
Barry Pederson6215264122
Jim Sandlak7220204099
Steve Bozek7117183564
Greg D. Adams6119143324
Rich Sutter75171532122
Stan Smyl7571825102
Dan Hodgson234131725
David Bruce53771465
Mel Bridgman1543710
Doug Smith103474
Greg C. Adams1242635
Ken Berry132135
José Charbonneau130116
Rob Murphy80112
Ron Stern1710149
Jay Mazur10000
Todd Hawkins40009
Jeff Rohlicek20004

Defencemen

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Player GP G AST PTS PIM
Paul Reinhart647505744
Robert Nordmark806354197
Doug Lidster635172278
Garth Butcher7802020227
Larry Melnyk743111482
Jim Benning65391248
Harold Snepsts5908869
Daryl Stanley2031414
Kevan Guy4522434
Randy Boyd20110
Ian Kidd10000

Goaltending

Note: GP= Games played; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against

Player GP W L T SO GAA
Kirk McLean422017343.08
Steve Weeks351119502.98
Troy Gamble523002.38

[5]

Playoffs

Smythe Division Semi-finals

This was going to be a short series. Nobody was predicting more than five games. Jim Taylor of The Province even predicted that it would be the first best-of-seven series to be settled in three. The Flames were given 3:1 odds to win the Stanley Cup, while the long shot Canucks' odds were set at 100:1. In the first game, however, the Canucks managed to stay within a goal of the powerful Flames until Robert Nordmark tied the game on a third-period power-play. In the dying minutes, Harold Snepsts made a game-saving stop when Kirk McLean was caught out of position. At the 2:33 mark of the extra frame, ex-Flame Paul Reinhart exacted revenge on the team that was so quick to part with him by sending a wrist shot through traffic over Mike Vernon's left shoulder. To the surprise of many, the Canucks had won 4-3 and struck first blood in the series. In the next two games, however, the Flames showed everybody how they managed 117 points during the regular season, dominating the Canucks in all facets of the game in scoring 5-2 and 4-0 victories. It looked doubtful that the series would last longer than five games. But the Vancouver Canucks weren't going to roll over. They bothered and pestered the more talented Flames into taking stupid penalties, resulting in four power-play goals and a shocking 5–1 lead, which chased Vernon from the game. Trevor Linden, who would earn a reputation as a clutch playoff performer, had four points on the night, including his first ever playoff goal. The Flames scored two late goals to make it a 5–3 final, and the series was now even. But four games in five nights had taken its toll, and the overworked Canucks were no match for the depth of the Flames in Game Five. The Calgarians cruised to another 4–0 win, and looked to end the series two nights later. Unfortunately for the Flames, the 16,553 fans that packed the Coliseum on the night of April 13 had no intention of seeing that happen. The building was alive in a way that hadn't been seen in Vancouver since 1982. Trailing 1–0 in the second period, Linden brought the crowd to its feet when he split the defense and scored a beautiful goal to tie the score. The Flames regained the lead, but three goals in 2:18 late in the period, scored by Brian Bradley, Rich Sutter, and Garth Butcher (with his first goal all season), gave the Canucks a 4-2 cushion heading into the final frame. The Flames did not want to go to a seventh game and demonstrated that in the third period. They got to within a goal and were pressing hard for the equalizer. The team defense of the Canucks was showing, though, as they were forcing most shots from the outside. With less than four minutes to play, a deflection off of two sticks caused two Flame skaters to be caught flat-footed. Speedy Brian Bradley, another ex-Flame, beat them both to the puck and found himself on a breakaway. He skated in on Vernon, faked to the forehand, deked to the backhand, and scored to give the Canucks a 5–3 lead, which turned the Coliseum into a madhouse. The deal was sealed with an empty-netter at 19:56 and the series was, incredibly, headed back to "CowTown" for a seventh game.

The tone of nervousness that set across Southern Alberta was unmistakable. A loss to the lowly Canucks would not be tolerated. Surely Terry Crisp would not keep his job should the Flames lose this game. The Saddledome was eerily quiet as the game began, which was a stark contrast to the raucous Coliseum two nights earlier. Joe Nieuwendyk and Robert Nordmark traded power-play goals in the first thirteen minutes. With two minutes to play in the period, Al MacInnis' shot hit Gary Roberts in front and appeared to ring off the cross-bar. The goal judge turned the red light on, and referee Bill McCreary stopped play to check it out. After conferring at length with the goal judge and the linesmen, McCreary ruled it a goal. Replays showed his ruling was correct. Early in the second, with Rob Ramage off for high-sticking Rich Sutter, Trevor Linden unleashed a powerful shot that beat Vernon to tie the game. In the final minute of the middle stanza, Garth Butcher was sent off for high-sticking Gary Roberts (the two were at each other constantly in the series). Seconds later, Joe Mullen's shot toward the net hit the skate of Harold Snepsts and directed through McLean's legs to give the lead back to Calgary with a period to play.  The Canucks were the dominant team in the third period, outshooting the Flames 13–10. At the 7:12 mark, Doug Lidster took a shot on goal as Tony Tanti skated across the goalmouth to screen Vernon. He actually bumped Vernon's arm as the puck hit Calgary defenseman Brad McCrimmon's skate and slid into the net. The goal stood, to the outrage of Vernon, and the game was tied. In the final minute of regulation time, a screened Vernon made a quick glove save off of Greg D. Adams to preserve the tie. In overtime, there were numerous chances for each team, especially the Canucks. On one chance, Petri Skriko appeared to have a lot of net to shoot at as Vernon was slow coming across, but he didn't get everything on his shot and Vernon managed to kick it out with his left skate. Stan Smyl had two glorious chances. He beat Vernon on a wrap-around but hit the far post. Minutes later, the Flames were caught on a bad change and he had a breakaway, but Vernon was quick with the glove again. Then Vernon made yet another great glove save off the stick of Tony Tanti. The Flames had some chances of their own. Nordmark turned over the puck behind his net and Doug Gilmour fed Mullen alone in front. Mullen made a move to put McLean down and out, but they young netminder flung his goal-stick out in desperation and knocked the puck away at the goal line. On another occasion, the Flames did put the puck over the line, but the net had been dislodged an instant before. Finally, in the last minute of the first overtime period, the Flames rushed into the Vancouver zone. Jim Peplinski sent a seemingly harmless shot toward the net that re-directed, perhaps intentionally, off the skate of Joel Otto and into the net. Only Otto knows for sure what his intentions were, and years later he claimed that he did not even see the shot coming. Perhaps he's right, as Doug Lidster was trying to clear him from the front of the net at the time. There was a lot of confusion, but the goal stood. David had come so close to knocking off Goliath, but it was not to be. The game was a classic. And the Canucks could take solace in being the only team to take the Stanley Cup Champion Flames to the brink of elimination that spring.

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 5Vancouver Canucks4Calgary Flames3(OT)
April 6Vancouver Canucks2Calgary Flames5
April 8Calgary Flames4Vancouver Canucks0
April 9Calgary Flames3Vancouver Canucks5
April 11Vancouver Canucks0Calgary Flames4
April 13Calgary Flames3Vancouver Canucks6
April 15Vancouver Canucks3Calgary Flames4(OT)

Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 3

Awards and records

That summer, several Canucks were acknowledged for their performances during the season by becoming the first Canucks to be nominated for post-season awards. Though Trevor Linden (Calder Memorial Trophy), Kirk McLean (Vezina Trophy), Stan Smyl (Masterton Trophy), and coach Bob McCammon (Jack Adams Trophy) came away empty-handed, they, along with all of their teammates, had truly given the fans of Vancouver a series to remember.

References

  1. ↑ Brunt, Stephen (2009). Gretzky's Tears. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-307-39729-4.
  2. ↑ "1987-88 NHL Summary".
  3. ↑ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
  4. ↑ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  5. ↑ 1988–89 Vancouver Canucks on Hockey Database
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