{"id":51929,"date":"2019-07-19T09:00:14","date_gmt":"2019-07-19T13:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=51929"},"modified":"2019-07-18T11:23:38","modified_gmt":"2019-07-18T15:23:38","slug":"calgary-flames-biggest-game-in-franchise-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2019\/07\/19\/calgary-flames-biggest-game-in-franchise-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Calgary Flames Biggest Game in Franchise History"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to Last Word on Hockey\u2019s summer series where we look at the biggest game in team history. Each day we will be back with a new team to look at. Looking at things like the lead-up, what happened, followed, and why it makes it the biggest game. The biggest game does not automatically mean a win, either. Sometimes, it can be a loss that set the franchise back massively. Sit back and enjoy as we break down all 31 team\u2019s most important game. This is the Calgary Flames<\/a> biggest game in franchise history.\u00a0The full series is found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Calgary Flames Biggest Game in Franchise History<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Calgary Flames moved from Atlanta in 1980 and were immediately embraced by the city. Calgary did have a WHA team in the Cowboys, but they didn\u2019t really get off the ground. Cliff Fletcher<\/strong> started the makings of a winner in the mid-1980s and culmination was Game 6 of the 1989 Stanley Cup Final.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Leading Up to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Flames won the President\u2019s Trophy for the best regular-season record, but that didn\u2019t matter in the opening round. Calgary was nearly eliminated in the first round of the Smythe Division playoffs. Joel Otto<\/strong><\/a> got credit for the overtime winner in Game 7 to help the Flames get by the Canucks. Jim Peplinski<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s shot ricocheted off Otto\u2019s skate and was the difference.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Calgary needed another overtime-winner in Game 1 of the division final against the Los Angeles Kings<\/a> from Doug Gilmour<\/a>.<\/strong> However, the Flames ended up sweeping the Kings in four games to set up a showdown with Cinderella Chicago Blackhawks<\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The teams split the first two games in the Olympic <\/span>Saddledome<\/span>, but Calgary won out in five games. Al <\/strong><\/span>MacInnis<\/strong> got another OT-winner in Game 4 and Mike Vernon<\/a> <\/strong>played stellar in goal.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The 1989 Stanley Cup Final was a matchup between the two best teams in the league with the Flames taking on the vaunted Montreal Canadiens<\/a>. Montreal had beaten Calgary in the Flames only other Stanley Cup appearance in 1986.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Both teams won a game each at the Saddledome, but Montreal got the upper-hand in Game 3 after Ryan Walter<\/a>\u2019<\/strong>s game-winner in double overtime. However, Calgary bounced back in Game 4 with a pair of power-play goals by Joe Mullen<\/a><\/strong>. Calgary then took Game 5 at home to set up the Cup-clinching game.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

May 25, 1989: Stanley Cup Final Game 6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Colin Patterson<\/a> <\/strong>opened the scoring late in the first period to give the Flames the lead after one period. Claude Lemieux<\/strong><\/a> quickly tied the game in the second period for the <\/span>Habs<\/span>, but veteran Lanny McDonald<\/a> <\/strong>registered his only goal of the post-season three minutes and one second later to give the Flames the lead again. McDonald had 43 goals and 40 assists in 116 post-season games prior to Game 6. However, he had never hoisted the Stanley Cup in his long career.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n